Yuma Democratic leaders came together Thursday to call out Arizona Republican Congressmen Andy Biggs and David Schweikert on rising gas prices.
Local elected officials and the chair of the Yuma County Democratic Party say the congressmen have voted against efforts to end the war in Iran. That, they said, has led to higher gas prices for Arizonans.
In Yuma, the average for regular gasoline on Thursday was $4.89, according to AAA.
The local leaders mentioned a report from the Joint Economic Committee report that found Arizona families are paying $457 more in transportation costs.
"I see every day how financial stress affects families," said Yuma Councilwoman Carol Smith. "People are already struggling with the rising costs of groceries, child care, housing and health care. And when gas prices spike, it puts even more pressure on working families trying to make ends meet."
A representative for Congressman Biggs told KAWC later Thursday that Gov. Katie Hobbs is to blame for Arizona's affordability crisis.
"Arizona now ranks in the bottom five for affordability because of Katie Hobbs' weak and ineffective leadership," Drew Sexton, Senior Advisor to the Biggs for Arizona campaign for governor, said in a released statement to KAWC. "From vetoing a $1.1 billion tax cut for Arizonans to her terrible mismanagement of the state's finances, Katie Hobbs has done nothing to address rising costs for Arizona families and businesses while she's doling out millions of taxpayer dollars to political cronies and donors. Arizonans cannot trust Katie Hobbs and we certainly cannot afford Katie Hobbs."
KAWC also reached out to Congressman Schweikert's office but had not heard back as of Thursday evening.
Yuma County Board of Supervisors Chairman Martin Porchas said working families in Yuma County are having to endure higher costs without relief from Washington.
“(Congressmen) Andy Biggs and David Schweikert spent years complaining about high gas prices and inflation. They repeatedly told Arizona families they understood the pressure people were under and promised they would lower costs," Porchas said. "But when they had the chance to stand up against a reckless war that experts warned would send fuel prices skyrocketing, both Biggs and Schweikert voted to keep the war going and keep raising gas prices. Now Arizona families are paying the price.”
Both Smith and Porchas mentioned Donald Trump's comments to a reporter earlier this week when Trump said "I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I don’t think about anybody. I think about one thing — we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That’s all.”
YCDP Chair Xanthe Bullard said Trump, Biggs and Schweikert are out of touch with everyday Arizonans.
“So families are now getting hit from every direction — higher fuel costs, higher transportation costs and higher prices on everyday necessities," Bullard said. "And what are Andy Biggs and David Schweikert doing to help? Nothing. They are not offering relief. They are not fighting to lower costs. They are not standing up for Arizona families. Instead, they continue backing the same reckless Washington agenda that is making life more expensive.”
Also on Thursday, Arizona State Rep. Michele Peña, whose district include part of Yuma County, endorsed Biggs for governor. She joins State Rep. Nick Kupper and Congressman Paul Gosar as Yuma-area representatives who have endorsed Biggs.
