Policies for an America we can Afford

We need large transformative policies to make our lives affordable and accessible.

Increasing Supply Drives Affordability

Housing prices are too high. Recently, a study came out showing that only 16% of Californians can afford the median-priced home. That is a crisis that deserves our undivided attention. Our leaders are not thinking big enough and are too stuck in the old ways of how things are. Democrats need to show that we see this as the crisis it is and put in decisive action to solve it.

I want to build homes—and lots of them. There is no silver bullet when it comes to complex issues, but this one comes close. We have made it too hard to build homes in CA. People will tell you this is a local issue, but we have been saying that for decades, and now California is millions of homes in the red. Increasing the supply will not only help bring down the costs but will have knock-on effects as well, such as job creation, stimulating the economy, and helping to end homelessness.

The opponents will tell you, and you may believe yourself, that homelessness is caused by mental illness or drug abuse. I understand that argument; in some ways, it resonates with me too, and those issues deserve solutions. But even if we cured all drug and mental illness, we would still have homelessness because California is playing a game of musical chairs. There are 10 of us and only 8 chairs. When the music stops, it is the people in our society most down on their luck who don't get to sit. Imagine a world where we played the game with 10 people and 10 chairs, that is what we need to do.

Being Competitive on a Global Scale

America needs more energy. China currently produces more than double the energy output of the United States. As a result, energy costs there are lower, allowing both individuals and businesses to benefit significantly. Energy, like all commodities in America, functions as a marketplace whether it's the volts and amps, gasoline for vehicles, or the natural gas that powers homes. When the U.S. increases production, prices naturally decrease. Imagine a world where air conditioning bills cost tens of dollars rather than hundreds. The good news is America already has the technology to achieve this vision and must act now to maintain competitiveness on the global stage.

The future of energy must be clean and renewable; otherwise, the price reductions mentioned won't materialize. The U.S. needs to develop extensive solar farms, rapidly scale sodium battery production to store power when the sun isn't shining, and invest in clean base load energy. When Robby discusses this with people, many nod in agreement yet mistakenly assume he's talking about building just one solar farm. To clarify, he's advocating for America to triple its current energy production. This ambitious project will energize the American economy both through the construction phase and from the affordable electricity it generates. For too long, special interests have influenced politics, causing America to fall behind. It’s time for Americans to reclaim their voice, acknowledge what's best for the country, and put taxpayer dollars to work for the benefit of all.

Affordable Health Care for All

Healthcare should be a right granted to all of our people. Your socioeconomic class should not determine how long or how healthy of a life you get to live.

Beyond the profound moral issues at stake here there is an economic one as well. America has some of the highest healthcare costs in the western world. We can change this by removing the shackles that special interests and corporate lobbyist have placed on our government to push for competition and pay a fair price. There is no reason that our own healthcare companies should charge other nations far less for drugs then they do the United States.

One of the largest factors inhibiting economic growth is that we tie our health insurance to our employer. This causes us all to become handcuffed to a job. How many times have you heard or you yourself thought “I would love to do something else but I need the benefits here”. That sentiment harms people's ability to be mobile in the workforce. We should instead have a healthcare system that allows us to have healthcare regardless of employer.

Additionally for small business owners our current system of healthcare causes the small business owner to have yet another factor stacked against them. A small business can not afford the benefits of large corporations and that is a competitive advantage we should not want large corporations to wield.

A Government For Us

It is time our representatives represent us, the people. We should take lessons from the business world and implement real accountability and transparency into the office. If elected, we will develop, maintain, and publish a scorecard that will be publicly visible, displaying our progress on key initiatives and metrics that are key to our fight for a country that works for the people.

We will publish a monthly poll that allows you, the voter, to tell us what issues are top of mind, and we will commit to responding to those issues so you can be kept informed of our stance and progress on the issues affecting you most.

Town Halls
Monthly Town Halls—I value the people who have to pay babysitters to come talk with us more so than the lobbyists that are paid to speak with us. We want to hear your support, and we want to hear when you disagree. Representatives need to hear the voice of the people; we will not hide from you.

Open Office
We will, on a quarterly basis, open our doors for meetings to hear the concerns of the public/organizations. For too long access has been restricted; we believe in an office of the people, for the people.

The Backbone of Our Economy

Robby owns a small manufacturing company and knows firsthand what it takes to start, grow, and run a small business. His commitment extends beyond his own company. Robby also serves on the board of a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping small businesses succeed by sharing best practices and working collaboratively to address common challenges. Robby has been doing this work for years. He believes this practical experience is sorely lacking in Congress and that representation from someone who truly understands small business is urgently needed. Politicians frequently claim to support small businesses, but Robby knows few actually follow through, and fewer still possess the knowledge to do so effectively. Robby firmly believes small business is the backbone of the country and insists it’s time our leaders started treating it that way.

While Robby recognizes that the SBA is a valuable organization, he sees clear opportunities to improve and streamline it, ensuring small businesses get the timely support they need to launch and grow. Robby acknowledges that government has an essential role in mitigating capitalism’s harshest effectsbut insists it must do so in common-sense ways, carefully balancing the interests of business owners and the public good.

Higher Education Should Be Free

Education should be incredibly expensive to the government and completely free to the people. Education is the shining light on the hill that lifts people out of poverty, allows society to invent solutions to problems, and keeps the country at the forefront of progress. Education, however, has become far too expensive. Since 1980, inflation has grown by 300%, while tuition has risen nearly 1,300%. This increase is not due to significant improvements in educational quality since the 1980s; rather, it stems from a well-intentioned democratic ideal. The goal was to make college affordable but the chosen solution has produced unintended consequences that people and their children continue to feel today.

When the government began federally backing all student loans, colleges and universities realized they could charge far higher rates, knowing banks would always lend money with government guarantees. Initially, this approach achieved the intended effect, allowing anyone with the desire to attend college to secure funding—a goal previously impossible without government backing. However, this also allowed educational institutions to charge unrestricted rates. This mistake has reached a critical tipping point that must be resolved. Instead of backing federal student loans, the federal government should directly fund higher education, similar to the K–12 system.

Invest in Trade Education to Build America's Future

America needs to invest in more pathways for its young people. A nation that prioritizes manufacturing and construction must begin with education. The trades still provide excellent pay and offer a reliable path to the American dream. The country must fully invest in this pathway by supporting publicly funded educational facilities and job programs that reward employers who invest in their workforce.

End Corporate Money in Government

If you want to know how someone is going to act, look at the incentives on offer. Our political process currently encourages money to drive the agenda. The only way we are going to solve this is by switching to a model of publicly financed campaigns. Additionally we must pass legislation to restrict congress and their spouses from trading in the stock market. This is a corruption in plain sight and erodes the public trust in our institutions.