I’ve been no stranger to taking on special interests; during my time at the Communications Workers of America, we took on big fights against corporate greed to ensure that our workers were getting the benefits they deserved.
As Chairwoman of the Arizona Democratic Party, I’ve taken on similar fights with the backing of the most pro-union president in our nation’s history, working to ensure that Arizonans are getting an economy that works for them.
Reduced Inflation, Growing Job Market
One year ago today, President Biden and Democrats took on special interests, passing the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to lower costs for working families. The IRA delivers on the promises that won him critical battleground states like Arizona.
In the year since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, the IRA is doing exactly what Democrats said it would: reducing inflation and cutting costs for working families. Despite every single Arizona Republican in Congress voting against it, the IRA has added a total of 13,000 clean-energy jobs for Arizonans.
Making Climate Action Accessible
As Arizonans face the climate crisis head-on this summer—the hottest in recorded history—with near-daily extreme heat warnings, Biden and Arizona Democrats have worked tirelessly to take on special interests and reduce Arizonans’ energy costs.
RELATED: Hobbs Demands Accountability From Utilities Amid Historic Heat Wave
When it comes to tackling the climate crisis, the Inflation Reduction Act is the most consequential investment in US history- protecting our climate while relieving Arizonans’ wallets.
The IRA puts more than $1,000 per year back into the pockets of families who take advantage of clean energy and electric vehicle tax credits. This tax credit makes it more affordable for families to switch to energy-efficient appliances, which brings down the cost of a family’s energy bill by an estimated $500 a year.
More Affordable Healthcare
Ensuring that healthcare is more affordable for Arizonans means taking on big pharma and industries whose bottom line is profit over people. The Arizona Democratic Party believes no one should choose between health and other necessary expenses. This is why Democrats worked hard to ensure that the IRA makes healthcare more affordable for those who need it most.
In January, the IRA capped insulin costs at $35 per month, saving nearly 4 million seniors on Medicare with diabetes hundreds of dollars a month. The IRA also will save a projected $400 per year on prescription drugs when the $2,000 out-of-pocket cap goes into effect in 2025.
Democrats took on big pharma and won Arizonan’s big results with the IRA—allowing families to feel more relieved when making critical healthcare decisions for their loved ones.
The Real-World Impact of Voting
These results are Bidenomics in action and could have only happened because of the work of Arizona Democrats delivering the White House and Senate for Democrats. I’ve watched as the Biden administration’s economic relief has helped my former neighbors in Roll, workers in the East Valley gain new skills and opportunities, and families all across Arizona see more money in their wallets every month.
RELATED: Republicans’ Potential Repeal of Clean Energy Law Threatens Jobs, Communities, and Climate
Arizonans rejected the extremism of far-right members of the Arizona GOP—like Kari Lake and Blake Masters—last election cycle because they knew that Republicans were more interested in election denialism than bringing real results. Republicans like Reps. Andy Biggs and David Schweikert are too busy cozying up to special interests and advocating for the end of social programs than they are thinking about the working class.
As 2024 comes, Arizonans must reject extremists in Congress such as Reps. Biggs and Scweikert—who refused to vote for the Inflation Reduction Act and continue to bring division rather than progress for Arizona.
As the daughter of working-class immigrants and the Chairwoman of the Arizona Democratic Party, I understand the importance of standing up to the billionaire class and know that Arizona Democrats across the Grand Canyon State are ready to continue fighting for us.
CONTINUE READING: One Year In, Here’s How the Inflation Reduction Act Has Helped Arizona
Yolanda Bejarano Yolanda Bejarano is the daughter of immigrants and a lifelong Arizonan raised in Roll. Most recently, she was the Field Director for Communications Workers of America, where she trained and recruited union members to build worker power. Yoli is an organizer at heart and values grassroots movements.
