In the Fox Valley, we know the basics matter: keeping groceries affordable, paying the bills, and making sure property taxes are fair.

But families are stretched thin because Madison and Washington keep kicking the can down the road.

The Problem

Across Wisconsin, families are feeling squeezed. Groceries cost more, property taxes keep rising, childcare is unaffordable, and wages haven’t kept up with the price of living. Meanwhile, politicians keep promising “tax cuts” that help corporations and the wealthiest few — not the people sitting around the kitchen table trying to figure out how to make the next paycheck stretch far enough.

Too many of our neighbors are working hard but still can’t get ahead. Small businesses are struggling to find workers because parents can’t find childcare. Rural towns can’t grow when housing, broadband, and infrastructure are falling behind.

I know what it’s like to sit at that kitchen table and do the math — budgeting for groceries, gas, student loans, and school supplies, and still wonder what happens if someone gets sick or a car breaks down. It shouldn’t be this hard to build a stable life in Wisconsin.

What I’ll Do

Lower everyday costs by expanding access to affordable childcare, capping prescription drug prices, and protecting working families from sudden spikes in utility and grocery costs.

1. Support small businesses and family farms with targeted tax credits, fair lending, and programs that keep dollars circulating locally instead of flowing to out-of-state corporations.

2. Invest in rural infrastructure — roads, bridges, broadband, and local utilities — to attract employers and make it easier for people to live and work where they grew up.

3. Boost the local workforce by supporting apprenticeship programs, technical colleges, and paid family leave so people can stay in the workforce while caring for loved ones.

4. Promote housing affordability through state partnerships with municipalities, incentivizing the construction and renovation of workforce housing.

Why It Matters

When working families can afford to stay, small businesses thrive, schools stay strong, and communities grow.

Lowering costs isn’t just about economics — it’s about stability, dignity, and fairness. It’s about making sure every Wisconsinite, whether they’re farming, teaching, running a business, or raising kids, has a fair shot at a good life.

We measure success not by how the stock market is doing, but by whether families can save for the future, take a night off without worry, and feel proud of the community they’re helping to build.

That’s what kitchen table economics really means — not political slogans, but practical solutions that make life work better for real people.