L – Local Housing
We live in the richest country in the world, so why can’t working families afford the roof over their heads? Skyrocketing rents, stagnant wages, and companies buying up all the houses to turn into playgrounds for vacationers. A house used to be a part of the American Dream, but now it’s just a fantasy for too many. That’s why we need to:
● Unlock federal funding that local developers can use to build affordable homes.
● Common sense zoning so homes actually get built.
● No tariff wars that drive up the cost of building supplies.
● Balance short-term rentals for the tourist economy with the need for full-time residents. Private equity shouldn’t price us out of homes.
I – Income
American billionaires and corporations are making more money than ever. Meanwhile, we are working harder and are more productive than ever, but wages haven’t budged for the last 50 years. We deserve better, that’s why we need to:
Pass common-sense tax policy,
so the rich pay their fair share and working families aren’t stuck with the bill. In 1960, the tax rate for the richest 1% was over 90%, today it is just 37%. We need to implement fair tax rates, and we need to take additional practical steps to eliminate tax workarounds that favor the ultrawealthy, like the “Angel of Death” loophole (where heirs do not pay tax on capital gains that occurred during the lifetime of the deceased).
Expand internet access.
A quarter of the district still doesn’t have reliable internet access. How can we compete in the age of AI, if we can’t even access the internet? Much like the age of electrification, access to the internet should be nonnegotiable.
Invest in the local economy with federal dollars for small businesses, farmers, and infrastructure.
The federal government should encourage growth, not stifle it or raise prices with tariffs. We need continued local investment with low cost lending opportunities, impact investing, grants and training of grant writers.
Protect Social Security.
That’s your money. You paid into the system for years out of your paycheck – it’s not a benefit. Remove the cap on social security.
Provide affordable childcare for ALL.
Childcare is sometimes more than rent or a mortgage, and there are parents who are working just to pay for child care so they can continue working. Investing in childcare is an investment in our economy. New Mexico did it. We can, too.
Support labor unions.
In an age of massive income inequality, the rise of artificial intelligence, the gig economy – we need to be thinking about work and jobs into the future, and how we are protected as a working class. Unions protect workers, raise wages, ensure fair and safe working conditions. Instead of dismantling them, we need to strengthen them. There hasn’t been pro-labor legislation in over 100 years. It’s time for it. Pass the PRO-Act.
F – Food
As a mother, one of my biggest worries is putting food on the table – not just the cost, but making sure it’s healthy. Too much of our food is filled with chemicals that make us sick and mess with our kids’ hormones. That’s why we need to:
● End tariffs that are hurting our farmers.
● Expand mobile markets to combat food deserts.
Support farmers and the local food supply
with programs that help farmers and fill food banks for families in need.
Reverse SNAP cuts.
This is the first time in modern American history that the federal government is not guaranteeing the disabled, elderly, and children have access to food.
E – Essential Care
We spend more money on healthcare than any other nation in the world, yet we die sooner and get sicker than any other advanced country. We pay more for prescription drugs than any other nation, but our Congressman voted against doing something about it. That’s why we need to:
● Repeal the Medicaid cuts that will devastate our rural hospitals and nursing homes.
● Extend the ACA subsidies.
Healthcare for everyone.
We must pass a strong, public option for all who want it, so you can actually see a doctor when you’re sick without worrying about the bill.
Bring down the cost of prescription drugs
by letting the government negotiate prices like every other country where costs are far lower.
Pass comprehensive insurance reform,
so we can let doctors be doctors rather than spending their time fighting insurance companies over claims and denials that have no basis. And we must punish insurance companies that do not comply.
Transparency.
End non-disclosure agreements for medical services or medication. We should know what things cost.
Care for our veterans by fully funding the VA.
We must put an end to the random job cuts when the VA is already severely understaffed and veterans face long wait times. We must make sure those who serve our veterans can actually do their jobs.
Oppose the CHOICE for Veterans Act.
We cannot let for-profit companies prey on veterans by charging them thousands of dollars to file benefit claims when that service is already offered for free, and when it is, by law, illegal to charge for that service. Veterans shouldn’t have to pay to access the benefits they’ve already earned, but our Congressman Jack Bergman is on the side of these shady companies after they donated tens of thousands of dollars to his campaign. This Act is opposed by both the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans.
Ensure concurrent receipt of military benefits and VA disability
without clawbacks for early buyouts. These are payments for two different things, and we only shortchange our veterans when we don’t pay them what they have earned and deserve.
Automatic citizenship for veterans.
If you serve four years honorably in the US military, you should automatically become a US citizen. Full stop.
An affordable life is about a lot more than just our wallets, it’s about freedom.
We’re not free when we spend every waking hour worrying about how to pay rent. We’re not free when we have to work two or three jobs to make ends meet. We’re not free when we can’t afford to see the doctor when we’re sick.
An affordable life means the freedom to live on our own terms. Life. Liberty. The pursuit of happiness.
The fight for an affordable life is a fight for freedom. For our democracy.
Join me.