Why Everything Costs More—and the Common-Sense Way to Cut Costs
Rep. Tarik Khan September 19, 2025
By Rep. Tarik Khan
As submitted for publication in East Falls Now, The Chestnut Hill Local, and The Roxborough Review
When I talk to neighbors and patients, I hear the same concern: people are working harder than ever, but the cost of living keeps climbing. From groceries to clothes, from rent to the doctor’s office—everything feels more expensive. That’s because it is. Inflation has surged to its highest rate since January and there’s no end it sight.
We can’t ignore why. Under Donald Trump and Washington Republicans, policies that favored billionaires and big corporations left working families paying the bill.
Trump promised to fight for working people. Instead, he fought for big banks and billionaires. His Big Budget Bill handed the ultra wealthy massive giveaways while families got stuck with the bill. His rollback of clean energy progress kept us tied to volatile gas prices and higher car costs. His tax breaks for the wealthy ballooned the national debt, driving up interest rates on mortgages, credit cards, and student loans— and sticking Gen Z and Millenials with the check. He scrapped student loan forgiveness so banks could profit. And his attacks on health care left families paying more for less coverage. Washington’s reckless tariffs alone are already costing families an extra $2,300 a year on average.
But here’s the good news: while Washington keeps piling on costs, my colleagues and I in the House Democratic majority are focused on easing the burden. Here are three things we’re doing to help working families right now:
Protecting Your Wallet from Junk Fees
The cost of living is high enough without unfair add-ons. That’s why I voted to:
• Ban junk fees on concert tickets so you only pay the price you see (HB 1216)
• Ban “speculative ticketing,” where sellers list tickets they don’t even own (HB 463).
• Cap ticket resales at no more than 5% above the original price (HB 967).
We also passed bills to make canceling subscriptions easier and to require companies to get your clear permission before charging you (HB 1299). Those “silent” renewals add up, draining bank accounts and credit cards.
And we told banks enough is enough: overdraft fees must be capped at $15—or the actual cost of the transaction, whichever is lower (HB 1553).
Protecting the American Dream of Homeownership
You shouldn’t have to struggle to buy a home. That’s why I helped deliver a bill in the House to lower interest rates and crack down on scams in real estate agreements (HB 1406)
We also passed legislation to protect older adults from predatory reverse mortgages by requiring face-to-face counseling with an approved financial counselor before any senior signs one (HB 1466).
Both bills are now waiting on the State Senate.
Keeping Families Safe from Medical Debt
Finally, no one should go broke just because they get sick or injured. That’s why I introduced a bill with Rep Venkat to make sure Pennsylvanians are informed about financial assistance programs that can help avoid crushing medical debt (HB 79).
What’s Next
All of these bills have passed the State House and now sit in the Senate. That’s where you come in. Call your senator and tell them to stand up for working families.
And it’s important to note: while costs keep rising, wages remain flat. Pennsylvania’s minimum wage is still just $7.25 an hour. That’s why I introduced a bill (HB 1549) with Reps. Jason Dawkins and Roni Green to raise it to $15 an hour and tie it to inflation—so paychecks keep up with the cost of living.
Trump and Washington Republicans made life more expensive. House Democrats are using common sense make life affordable again— because you and your family deserve a break.