A Republican congressman dismissed Americans struggling with high prices by suggesting they just don't work hard enough — a bad look for the GOP as most people say they're barely getting by.

• Texas Rep. Tony Nehls mocked the affordability crisis, saying people who can't keep up maybe don't work as hard as he does.
• He's not running for re-election, so he's speaking freely — even though he skips a chunk of his own votes.
• Around 70% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, and most rate the economy as poor and blame Trump's policies.
• Food, housing, health care, and electricity costs top people's worries, with many taking on credit card debt just to cover basics.
• Trump himself said housing prices bore him and that he wants them to go up, not down, breaking his campaign promise on affordability.

Outlook: Anger over the cost of living is building and could hit Republicans and incumbents at the ballot box.