DENVER — Today, Conservation Colorado and Centennial State Prosperity are launching a data dashboard showing increased costs and lost economic opportunities facing hardworking Coloradans. The new dashboard quantifies the experiences shared by Coloradans, as most families are paying more for basic needs. Organized by congressional districts, the dashboard highlights the impact of federal spending cuts in Colorado, the effects of tariffs on everyday Coloradans, the drastic increases to health insurance premiums faced by Coloradans and the ongoing increases in gas and energy prices. Coloradans want policies that lower costs and put more money in people’s pockets. When people have the tools and opportunities to build a good life, the economy grows and businesses prosper.

“Costs are going up because of policy decisions at the federal level and Coloradans want relief. We need Congress to pass a federal budget that is focused on giving hardworking Coloradans a real chance to succeed by investing in affordable healthcare, education, and housing,” said Laura “Pinky” Reinsch, executive director of Centennial State Prosperity. “A strong economy comes from working people doing well and having money to spend in their communities.”

The increased costs Colorado families are facing are even more timely as, in April, President Trump announced his proposed budget for next year that would increase defense spending by $1.5 trillion and fails to give Coloradans who are facing high costs for health care, gas, and groceries any relief. Trump’s proposed budget proposes funding a flush of defense spending through broad cuts across the federal government, including to K‑12 grant programs, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act energy and environmental justice programs, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Hospital preparedness, among many others. Congress is also discussing a reconciliation bill to boost defense funding, which they intend to pass before the August recess.

“The Trump administration is putting corporate polluters and a costly war over making life more affordable, safer and healthier for Coloradans. The result is higher energy costs for working families and less economic opportunity,” said Aly Ferrufino-Coqueugniot, deputy vice president of programs & politics at Conservation Colorado. “Congress needs to stop opposing vital clean energy projects and clean energy incentives. We want clean energy and lower electricity bills. When Coloradans working full-time still struggle to afford their utility bills, it holds back our entire economy.”

As demonstrated on the dashboard, H.R. 1 — passed last year — already has had devastating impacts on Coloradans’ household budgets.

The methodology for the dashboard is available at centennialstateprosperity.org/costs.