New Hampshire Rep. Pappas talks affordability

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Affordability is the top issue for American’s. It’s something leaders in Washington have been trying to tackle for years. A new Bankrate survey finds just 30 percent of people have enough savings for an emergency expense of a $1,000 or more. Prices continue to rise at the same time income remains stagnant according to the Department of Commerce.

“Over the course of the last year, costs have gone up on average $1,600 dollars for every American household,” Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) said.

He said his office recently ran a constituent survey about affordability. Housing, energy, healthcare topped the list of costs that are getting harder for families to pay. Pappas said he wants to make sure Congress is focused on the issue impacting Americans the most.

“I’m concerned because the administration and the president seems to be spiking the ball in the end zone saying that inflation has been defeated and affordability is a hoax,” Pappas said. “These are real kitchen table issues, and we have to make more progress to make life affordable.”

President Donald Trump recently spoke about American affordability at the World Economic Foru .

“We have economic growth of 5.4 percent,” the president said. “That number can double and triple if we do the right thing. If we change thinking so that if we announce good numbers the market goes up, instead of announcing bad numbers and the market goes down because everyone tries to kill it.”

Even though Trump said the economy is back on track, there are little things the White House believes will make a big difference in your life.

“I’m asking congress to cap credit card rates at 10 percent for one year,” Trump said.

Pappas, who’s currently running for the open Senate seat in New Hampshire, asks Americans to remain hopeful and confident that congress is making your life easier.

“I’m working on an infrastructure bill,” he said. “Hopefully our committee will see success and see the bipartisan infrastructure bill come to the floor.”

The White House and Congress need to work together if they want to solidify any major changes for the American economy.