$2 Million Campaign Across Five Districts Builds on Prior Six-Figure Summer Effort
WASHINGTON, September 23, 2025 – Today EDF Action launched new ads calling out Congressman Tom Barrett for his vote to pass the Republican budget law. The ads remind Barrett’s constituents that his vote is making them pay more on electric bills while the ultra-wealthy pay less on their taxes. The $464,000 ad buy in his district homes in on the harms to befall the residents of Barrett’s central Michigan district due to his vote.
“Tom Barrett voted to take the residents of central Michigan in the wrong direction: higher bills and less health care, lower taxes for the highest earners,” said David Kieve, president of EDF Action. “These ads will ensure that when Michiganders’ energy bills keep going up, they’ll know who is responsible.”
The new ads are airing on television and premium digital and streaming services like Hulu and YouTube. They were informed by recent polling commissioned by EDF Action and conducted by Global Strategy Group that showed the Republican budget law is unpopular with two-thirds of voters and only gets worse as the public learns more about it. New data indicates Michiganders’ energy bills are expected to see an annual increase of $160 by 2030 and $320 by 2035. Nationwide, energy costs have increased at more than twice the overall rate of inflation. Analysis of utility filings shows that this problem will get worse before it gets better. Michigan utilities have requested approval from their regulator to raise rates six different times already across 2025 and 2026.
The campaign is the latest part of EDF Action’s broader effort to shine a light on the detrimental impact of a law that favors special interests over ordinary Americans and hold lawmakers accountable for their votes.
Watch the ads here:
“Already Know” 30s, MI-07 https://youtu.be/PIaTrT-OJ5o
“Already Know” 15s, MI-07 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_15Y86NWP0