Lubbock’s own Congressman Jodey Arrington took to a Washington press conference this week to announce something truly groundbreaking: living is expensive. Standing alongside the Republican Study Committee, Arrington unveiled “Reconciliation 2.0,” a sequel nobody asked for but apparently everyone needs—especially if they’ve noticed rent, groceries, and mortgage payments creeping up while paychecks politely lag behind.
According to Arrington, rising costs are the result of federal spending, expanded government programs, and energy regulations—basically a Greatest Hits album of conservative talking points. Grocery bills, housing, and mortgage payments are all higher, he says, and not because capitalism is doing capitalism things, but because of policy decisions made over the past several years. Conveniently vague, very on brand.
To prove things are improving now, Arrington cited a $1,000 jump in average monthly mortgage payments during the previous administration, followed by a $200 decline more recently. Translation: things are still wildly expensive, but hey, it’s slightly less painful now—so clearly the plan is working. He also rattled off a list of positive economic indicators like real wage growth, declining interest rates, business investment, and a 4.3% growth rate, which is reassuring if you pay rent with charts.
“Reconciliation 2.0,” we’re told, will focus on lowering health care costs, locking in Trump-era trade policies, and cracking down on waste, fraud, and abuse—Washington’s version of “we’ll totally clean our room, Mom.” Border security and foreign policy also make an appearance, because no affordability pitch is complete without changing the subject halfway through.
Arrington wrapped it all up by reminding West Texans that federal policy affects local costs like fuel, food, and housing—a bold claim in a city where $1,800 rent somehow coexists with “record economic growth.” But don’t worry: if we just go back to the policies he likes, prosperity will surely trickle down any day now.
If groceries are still expensive, rent is still brutal, and mortgages still hurt—how many more versions of “Reconciliation” do we need before affordability actually shows up in Lubbock?
https://kfmx.com/ixp/190/p/jodey-arrington-reconciliation-initiative/