Building An Economy For Working People, Not The Powerful

For too long, Alabama’s economy has worked from the top down, serving the wealthy and major corporate interests while leaving working families and small businesses to fight for what’s left. It’s time we built an economy that works for everyday people, where prosperity is available to all and hard work is actually rewarded.

That means fair wages, stronger unions, and real investment in local businesses, not tax breaks for multinational corporations. It means building a better tax structure where the wealthiest among us actually pay their fair share. It means giving small business owners the same opportunities as the big guys, and ensuring every worker has dignity, security, and a voice on the job.

We can’t keep relying on Washington to bail our state out. Alabama receives more federal aid than we contribute in tax dollars. This is a sign not of strength, but of how our state’s leaders have continually failed to build a self-sustaining economy. With the current administration in DC, that federal support is evaporating and far from guaranteed. We need to take our future into our own hands by investing in our people, our workers, and our small businesses.

Alabamians are strong, hard working, and dream big. It’s time our economy reflected that by putting people, labor, and small businesses at the center of everything we do.

These are some of the solutions that I will pursue in the legislature:

• Build a Truly Fair Tax Structure: Alabama’s tax system is upside down. Working families pay a higher share of their income in state and local taxes than the wealthiest Alabamians because we rely heavily on sales taxes and a nearly flat income tax. We need to raise revenue by taxing the wealthiest among us fairly, not by draining those who are already struggling. By asking the richest Alabamians to pay their fair share, we can invest in healthcare, education, and public services without increasing the burden on working people.

• Empower Workers & Support Unions: When workers have a voice, communities thrive. Every major workplace protection we have today was won through collective organizing, and strong unions will help build a fairer economy in Alabama. I’ll fight to for the right to organize, against union busting, and support fair pay and safe workplaces. Growing good, union jobs leads to higher wages, stronger local economies, and more rights for working people.

• Raise the Minimum Wage: No one working full-time should be living in poverty. I’ll fight for a real minimum wage in Alabama and tie it to inflation so that workers don’t fall behind. Raising wages will strengthen local economies by putting more money into communities. And with gradual, predictable increases and accountability for large corporations, we can raise pay without hurting small businesses.

• End the Grocery Tax: Food is not a luxury. Alabama is one of the only states that still taxes groceries. This places an additional unfair burden on working families. I’ll fight to permanently eliminate the grocery tax and close corporate loopholes so families aren’t punished for buying a basic necessity.

• Lower Energy Costs: We as Alabamians face some of the highest electricity bills in the country, all while utility companies operate with little to no accountability. I’ll fight for stronger oversight, expanded renewable energy access, and explore public power models similar to the TVA. Energy should be a public service, not a profit center. We shouldn’t be paying the price for corporate greed.

• Legalize and Regulate Marijuana: HB445 was a massive step backward that wastes resources, destroys businesses, and harms everyday people. I’ll work to repeal HB445, legalize marijuana for adult use, expunge past non-violent convictions, and regulate the industry responsibly. Legalization will reduce incarceration, create jobs, and generate revenue for healthcare, education, and other services.

• Establish a State Lottery & Legalize Gaming: Alabamians already spend hundreds of millions of dollars on lotteries and gaming in neighboring states. I witnessed this firsthand growing up on the Florida line. Legalizing and regulating gaming along with establishing a state lottery will keep that money here to fund schools, job training, healthcare, and infrastructure.

• Tuition-Free Community College & Technical Training: Education is far and away one of the strongest investments we can make. I’ll work to direct new revenue into an Education Trust that provides tuition-free community college and technical training. This will reduce student debt, strengthen our workforce, and give Alabamians the opportunity to build stable, prosperous futures.

• Universal Daycare: Childcare costs are crushing families and forcing many out of the workforce. I’ll fight to expand access to affordable childcare, fully fund childcare programs, and raise pay for childcare workers. I’ll also support tax relief and assistance for stay-at-home parents. Families that choose to have children deserve options and our support.

• Support Small Business, Not Corporate Monopolies: Small businesses are the backbone of Alabama’s economy, yet many pay higher effective tax rates than multinational corporations. I’ll fight to close loopholes, level the playing field, and invest in local entrepreneurship, apprenticeships, and workforce development. Alabama should be working for small businesses, not profit hungry corporate monopolies.

• Fair Housing, Property Ownership, and Renter Rights: Everyone deserves a fair shot at stable housing. I’ll fight to end personal property taxes for homeowners so people truly own their homes once they’re paid off. Large corporations and investors should pay higher property taxes and contribute fairly to our communities. I’ll also expand access to homeownership, support co-ops and land trusts, and strengthen renter protections against corporate abuse, all while ensuring small, local landlords aren’t crushed by unnecessary red tape. The goal is simple: more homeowners, more local ownership, and fewer absentee corporate landlords.