Affordability
Cost of Living
The cost of living is rising faster than many paychecks. These cost pressures impact working families despite stable employment. Current relief programs are often out of reach for low and middle income families.
I’ll support common-sense policies that lower out-of-pocket costs for working families while keeping Indiana fiscally strong. The goal is to make it easier to live, work, and raise a family here. This includes:
Evaluating affordability impacts of tax and fee structures on working families
Expanding preventative supports that reduce crisis-driven assistance
Improving coordination between wage, housing, and benefit policies to reduce cost burdens holistically
Housing and Utilities
Housing and utility costs are some of the biggest monthly expenses for Hoosier families. Affordable housing supply has not kept pace with population and workforce growth. Utility costs volatility increases housing instability, especially for seniors and low-income households. I’ll support practical, fiscally responsible policies that:
Increase investment in workforce and affordable housing development
Expand consumer protections and affordability measures for utilities
Strengthen early intervention programs to prevent eviction and utility shutoffs
Wages
Hoosiers who work hard deserve a paycheck that keeps up. I’ll support programs that emphasize workforce development through career and technical education programs, wage growth that matches rising living costs, and access to training despite living in rural or urban areas. I will work to:
Expanding apprenticeships and employer led training statewide
Improve alignment between training programs and regional labor needs
Ensure wage growth strategies are integrated with affordability policies
Support for working families
Working families shouldn’t have to choose between paying bills and putting food on the table. As changes to SNAP and other assistance programs affect Hoosiers, I'll support practical policies that protect food access, reduce unnecessary barriers, and ensure families can meet basic needs as they work, raise children, and care for their loved ones. This includes:
Reducing administrative barriers to nutrition assistance
Expand community-based food access initiatives
Coordinate food policy with employment and childcare supports
Jobs and Labor
A strong economy works best when workers and employers both succeed. Across the state, worker protections and job quality vary widely across industries. Meanwhile, workforce shortages persist in healthcare, trades, and public services like child welfare. I’ll focus on supporting working Hoosiers while keeping Indiana competitive and open for business by:
Strengthening labor standards that promote job quality and retention
Expanding worker protections alongside economic development
Investing in long-term workforce sustainability rather than short-term job growth alone
