Hey, y’all, Colin Allred here. You deserve to know what your elected officials stand for – and how they plan to turn those values into action. That’s why today, I’m sharing my Affordability Agenda with you: a focused plan to tackle rising costs that are putting real pressure on families here in Texas and across the country. But first, I want to confront some hard truths: In the last election, people overwhelmingly said the economy was their No. 1 issue. And many of them voted for a party that promised inflation would simply go away and the economy would come roaring back. What we’ve gotten from the Trump administration and Senate Republicans like my opponent, John Cornyn, is the exact opposite: higher costs, fewer benefits, and a government that would rather cater to billionaires than fight for the people who elected them. I believe we need to directly acknowledge this, look people in the eye, and say: I understand where you’re coming from – but those were false promises. I understand what it looks like when wages don’t keep up with costs because I grew up watching my mom swipe her debit card at the grocery store and pray it would go through. I understand that the cost of education is out of control because, even with a full college scholarship, I had to take out student loans just to be able to afford three meals a day. And I understand the cruelty behind attacks on people’s health care benefits because, without Medicare, my mom’s breast cancer treatment would have bankrupted us. That’s why I’ve put this plan together – because I’ve heard the empty promises and seen the skyrocketing costs, and I know that Texans, and all Americans, deserve better. I hope you’ll take a minute to read through it, share your thoughts in the comments, and join me in this fight for the future we all deserve. Thanks for reading, Colin A More Affordable Texas: Lowering Costs, Tackling Greed, & Putting Texans First Colin Allred’s Affordability Agenda to Confront America’s Cost Crisis When Donald Trump promised to “immediately bring prices down, starting on Day One,” Texans were told relief was on the way. Instead, families got record-high tariffs, skyrocketing energy bills, higher grocery prices, and a budget that rewarded billionaires and punished working people. It doesn’t have to be this way. Colin Allred grew up with a single mom who stretched every dollar at the grocery store. He knows what it’s like to feel the squeeze when costs rise and wages stay flat. Later, as the first member of Congress to take paid paternity leave, he made clear that affordability isn’t an abstract policy issue — it’s about whether families can care for their kids without going broke. Many of Colin’s steps to lower costs for Texas families, like ending grocery price gouging or repealing Trump’s tariffs, won’t cost taxpayers a dime. And some, like negotiating prescription drug prices, will save billions. Our federal budget is awash in loopholes for the wealthy and corrupt giveaways to insiders. Simply repealing the giveaways in Trump’s disastrous budget bill would save taxpayers tens of billions of dollars per year. Requiring the richest Americans to pay into Social Security at the same rate as everyone else would stabilize the program for the next 75 years. And we can close the billionaire hedge fund loophole and instead provide incentives for first-time homebuyers and rural housing development. Colin’s values are rooted in experience. He knows that when families can’t afford the basics, opportunity disappears. That’s why Colin is rolling out A More Affordable Texas Agenda – to tackle the cost crisis head-on, put money back in Texans’ pockets, and build an economy where families can thrive. Colin’s Record of Fighting for Texas Families Colin isn’t waiting for Washington to fix itself. He’s already shown how he’ll lead on affordability:
Section I: Cutting Everyday Costs for Every Texan Colin grew up with a single mom who stretched every dollar at the grocery store. He knows what it means when prices jump, bills rise, or paychecks don’t go far enough. For Colin, lowering everyday costs is about making sure Texas families don’t have to make impossible choices between groceries, gas, and medicine. 1. Repeal Trump’s Tariff Tax The Problem: Trump’s tariffs are the largest tax hike on working families in modern history, costing households an average of $2,300 this year — hitting everything from bananas and coffee to auto parts and clothing. The Solution: Repeal Trump’s tariffs with targeted exceptions for national security and reassert the constitutional authority of Congress over trade policy. Pass the Small Business Liberation Act to exempt 34 million small businesses from tariffs immediately. The Impact: Families save hundreds of dollars at the grocery store, small businesses get breathing room, and every Texan keeps more of their paycheck. 2. Ban Price Gouging on Groceries and Consumer Goods The Problem: Grocery prices are rising faster than overall inflation, and we know big chains exploit market turmoil to rake in “excessive profits.” Families see it every week in the checkout line. The Solution: Pass the Price Gouging Prevention Act to prohibit price gouging on groceries and other consumer goods like toilet paper and cleaning supplies, nationwide, with real penalties for violations. Pass the Stop Price Gouging in Grocery Stores Act to end “surveillance pricing” and empower the FTC to hold big corporations accountable. The Impact: Texans shouldn’t have to pay extra so corporations can pad their profits. This will stop unfair markups, support local farmers and ranchers, and bring prices back to earth. 3. Lower Utility Bills by Restoring Texas Renewables The Problem: Household energy bills have jumped 10% since Trump’s re-election. His budget gutted low-cost renewable energy that keeps Texas power affordable, raising prices and risking 100,000 energy jobs. The Solution: Reverse Trump’s cuts to renewable power and eliminate costly energy tariffs. Keep Texas #1 in energy production. The Impact: The average Texas family would save nearly $480 a year on utilities — almost $5,000 over the next decade — while protecting good-paying jobs. 4. Cut Rx Drug Costs through Universal Negotiation and Expanded Generics The Problem: Americans pay three to four times more than other countries for the same drugs, even when our tax dollars funded the research; and Big Pharma reaps outrageous profits charging Texans for those same drugs. Trump’s Tariff Tax will worsen the crisis, potentially worsening shortages and raising prices. The Solution: Require Medicare and Medicaid to negotiate prices on all drugs – and require pharmaceutical companies to license the production of generic versions of certain expensive, taxpayer-funded drugs (so called “march-in” rights). The Impact: Prescription drugs priced fairly, billions saved in taxpayer dollars, and Texans no longer forced to choose between groceries and medicine. 5. Lower Housing Costs The Problem: For too many Texans, the dream of homeownership has become a nightmare. In Texas, a six-figure income is now required to afford a home. Renters — nearly 40% of Texans — face costs outpacing wages. The Solution: Expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to spur construction of affordable housing. Provide a refundable tax credit for first-time homebuyers. Reform the Rural Housing Service to help small towns build more homes. And ban companies from using anti-competitive algorithms to gouge renters. The Impact: More homes built, rents stabilized, and first-time buyers supported with up to $50,000 in tax relief — so every Texan can afford a roof over their head. Section II: Supporting Families, Kids, and Seniors 1. Expand and Protect Social Security for Seniors, Future Generations The Problem: 80% of older adults are financially struggling or at risk in retirement. Too many depend on Social Security as their only lifeline and are finding it won’t cover the cost of basic necessities as the costs of essentials climb. And a majority of US adults believe the program will not be there in their retirement. The Solution: Pass the Social Security Expansion Act — extend solvency 75 years, require the wealthiest Americans to pay in at the same rate as everyone else, and expand benefits by $2,400 a year for every senior. The Impact: Texans who worked hard their whole lives can retire with dignity and confidence that Social Security will be there for them — and every worker has a real path to retirement security. 2. Paid Family Medical Leave and Caregiver Tax Credit The Problem: Millions of Texans face impossible choices — go to work or care for a new baby, aging parent, or sick spouse. Caregivers already spend an average of $7,200 a year out-of-pocket. The Solution: Pass the Family Act to provide 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave. Enact the Credit for Caring Act to provide a tax credit up to $5,000 for working family caregivers. The Impact: Parents can take leave without going broke, and caregivers get financial relief while supporting loved ones. Families are stronger, healthier, and more secure. 3. Affordable Childcare Now The Problem: Childcare costs have risen 29% since 2020, even outpacing inflation. In more than half of Texas counties, there are three children under the age of five for every available childcare slot. Texas parents spend more on child care for two kids than on rent. The Solution: Expand the Child Tax Credit to 2021 levels — with fully refundable monthly payments of $3,600 for young children and $3,000 for older kids. The Impact: Immediate relief for parents struggling with bills today. 4. Make Higher Education Affordable The Problem: For many families and students, the dream of higher education is feeling more and more out of reach as tuition and student loans have soared, leaving graduates with nearly $30,000 in debt on average, and shutting too many young people out. The Solution: Guarantee two years of free community college for every student, increase Pell Grants, and expand affordable federal loan programs so no Texan has to choose between getting ahead and going into debt. The Impact: Young Texans can train for good-paying jobs, graduate with less debt, and contribute to our economy without being crushed by loans. The Bottom Line
Colin Allred’s A More Affordable Texas Agenda is simple: end the price gouging, repeal the bad policies, and put Texans first. That means lower costs, more opportunity, and a government that finally works for working families again. Paid for by Allred for Texas
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Wednesday, October 8, 2025
My plan to tackle a rigged economy.
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