Opinion By State Rep. Gino Bulso
Walk into a grocery store in Franklin or Dickson and you’ll see what families already know: rising prices are no longer an abstraction — they’re a daily struggle around the kitchen table.
Whether it’s at the gas pump or on your monthly utility bill, inflation eats into every household’s budget and leaves less room for school supplies, groceries, or medical care. The root cause lies in Washington’s refusal to live within its means. When the federal government racks up massive deficits and funds endless programs, the hidden inflation tax falls on those least able to shoulder it. Tennesseans — who balance their own household books — deserve a government that does the same. Energy is another pressure point. Relying heavily on foreign sources invites volatile price swings we can’t control.
By reinforcing domestic energy production — from oil and gas to renewables — we can stabilize costs for fuel, power, and heating across our region. Jobs must come home. Manufacturing and supply chains that serve places like Dickson—and rural communities beyond—depend on resilient, local infrastructure. When critical parts and inputs are produced abroad, global disruptions translate into layoffs and price hikes here at home.
Small businesses in towns and rural counties are squeezed by every layer of regulation. Every regulatory burden and compliance cost from Washington is passed down to Main Street. With less red tape, local shops can hire more, invest locally, and offer lower prices. We must also honor our farmers. Family farms in Hickman, Wayne, and Decatur counties anchor our food supply. Supporting domestic agriculture safeguards grocery prices and strengthens rural communities across the district.
Tennesseans work hard, live within their means, and refuse to rest easy when their government betrays that principle. Every paycheck should go further, and every family should feel secure -not anxious about the next price hike. Here’s the prescription: cut wasteful spending, restore fiscal discipline, reclaim energy independence, and bring jobs back to our communities. The burdens of inflation might be national, but they land squarely on local families balancing the books night after night. They deserve leadership that remembers who pays the bills.
