A Plan for Affordability and Helping Working Families

Every single day on the campaign trail, whether I am speaking with voters at a diner in Reidsville or a community gathering in Glennville, I hear the exact same concern from families across District 157: the cost of everything is going up, but our paychecks are staying the same.

Whether it is filling up the gas tank for the long commute to work, buying groceries for a growing family, or simply trying to pay the monthly utility bills, working people are being forced to make incredibly tough decisions. I have spoken with seniors who are rationing their medication to pay for electricity, and young families who are giving up on the dream of homeownership because property taxes and interest rates have skyrocketed. It shouldn’t be this hard to keep food on the table and keep the lights on in Southeast Georgia.

While federal inflation continues to squeeze our household budgets, the reality is that the state government in Atlanta has a massive role to play in easing this burden. Georgia currently boasts a historic state budget surplus. I believe that surplus belongs to you, the taxpayer, not the state government. We must deploy smart, defensive state policies to deliver immediate, tangible financial relief to working families across Tattnall, Jeff Davis, Appling, and Evans counties.

The Hidden Costs of Rural Living

When politicians in Atlanta talk about the cost of living, they often view the problem through the lens of urban centers. But living in a rural district comes with its own unique set of hidden costs that require targeted legislative solutions.

First, we drive further for everything. A trip to a specialist doctor, a large grocery store, or even a well-paying job often requires a significant commute. This makes rural families highly vulnerable to spikes in gas prices. Second, the cost of utility delivery in rural areas is inherently higher. We pay more for electricity and internet access because the infrastructure costs are spread across fewer households. Finally, the lack of competition in rural broadband providers means we are often paying premium prices for subpar service.

We need a State Representative who understands these rural realities and is willing to fight for policies that directly address them.

Concrete Steps to Lower the Cost of Living

We cannot control national monetary policy from the State House, but we can control how Georgia treats its taxpayers. Here is my plan to deliver real affordability for District 157:

1. Accelerate and Expand State Income Tax Cuts

Georgia has taken steps to lower the state income tax, but we need to move faster. I will vote to aggressively accelerate the scheduled state income tax cuts. In a time of record state surpluses, there is absolutely no excuse for the government to hoard your money. By accelerating these tax cuts, we can ensure that more of your hard-earned paycheck stays in your own pocket, where it belongs. I will also advocate for targeted tax credits for working families with children, helping to offset the staggering cost of childcare and basic necessities.

2. Double the State Homestead Exemption

Property taxes are quietly devastating older homeowners and working families across our district. As property values have artificially inflated, local tax bills have surged, threatening to tax people out of the very homes they have lived in for decades. We need aggressive property tax reform at the state level. I propose doubling the standard state homestead exemption, providing robust and immediate property tax relief. No family in Tattnall or Appling County should ever have to choose between paying their property tax bill and buying groceries.

3. Cap Arbitrary Utility Fee Increases

Utility conglomerates have a virtual monopoly in many parts of our district, and they have been allowed to pass the costs of their own poor planning onto the consumer through arbitrary rate hikes and hidden fees. This disproportionately harms our low-income families and fixed-income seniors. I will introduce legislation to rein in the Public Service Commission and cap the annual percentage increase that utility companies can impose on residential customers. If a utility company wants to raise rates, they must prove it is absolutely necessary for infrastructure maintenance, not just to pad their corporate profit margins.

4. Drive Down the Cost of Healthcare

Medical debt is one of the leading causes of bankruptcy for families in our district. We must lower the cost of healthcare by increasing competition and access. I will fight to reform Georgia’s outdated Certificate of Need (CON) laws, which currently allow large hospital monopolies to block new, affordable medical clinics from opening in rural areas. By removing this red tape, we can attract new healthcare providers to Southeast Georgia, driving down costs and improving access to care.

A Georgia that Works for Everyone

Lowering the cost of living is not a partisan issue; it is a survival issue for the working families of District 157. We need a representative who will go to Atlanta and fight for your wallet, not for the special interests. Let’s make Georgia the absolute best state to raise a family, build a career, and enjoy a prosperous life.