Charting a New Path Forward – The Economy Must Work For Us All

Elections can be hard things. One side wins, one side loses. Too many people feel lost. More feel apathetic. But our last several elections have existed in categories of their own. So much was at stake this year: the economy, inflation, funding for affordable housing, women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, DACA, immigration reform, Obamacare and the future of Social Security and Medicare. It was all on the table. And people were fully invested with their whole hearts. People gave their time, their money and their hope to one side of the political divide.

I know some of you are jubilant at the outcome while others feel crestfallen. But here’s the thing: Just because the election is over, it doesn’t mean we stop fighting for better policies that can improve the lives of everyday Americans.

What was lost in the noise of the election is that the United States has very real issues that we don’t spend enough time talking about. Tuesday’s results made it clear that Americans are unhappy with the status quo. As this new administration begins, we have two tasks ahead: First, try to learn from what happened and second, we make a plan. 

Even though the Biden economy produced strong economic growth while reining in inflation, it’s a simple reality that this economy does not work for many Americans. We see that most clearly where policy was on the ballot. Alaska voted to increase the minimum wage. Missouri voted for paid sick leave. Arizona, Missouri, Colorado, New York, Maryland, Montana and Nevada voted to protect abortion rights. Those are bread and butter issues. They are also Democratic policies. Conservative and swing states voted for Democratic policies while also voting for a Republican President that echoed what they were feeling: that this economy is broken, that it doesn’t work for people just trying to get by.

I could not be happier that those states voted for a higher minimum wage, for paid sick leave, and to protect a woman’s right to choose. However, it was the issues that weren’t on the ballot that Americans would need the most help. On paper, the U.S. economy is the strongest in the world. Yet going to the grocery store is just painful. A stop at the gas pump can feel like it’s going to break the bank. Add in the cost of housing, health care and childcare … and the economy just feels stacked against far too many of us.

So, that’s the first part. On Tuesday, Nov. 5, Americans went to the polls and said none of this is working for me. Now comes the second part: moving forward with a plan to address the issues. 

I’ve spent my career fighting for the environment, transportation, health care and housing. While I’m transitioning from the California State Legislature to the United States Congress, I will not stop fighting for those priorities. I will not stop fighting for an economy that works better for us all.

Our current tax code as it is written now favors giant corporations over people. There are two well-known Fortune 500 companies, one of which paid out $7 billion in dividends to its shareholders last year while receiving a $423 million tax refund. Another brought in $10.9 billion in profits but paid only $42 million, a tax rate of about 0.38%. By comparison, most taxpayers average between 22%-32%. Middle class Americans are being asked to subsidize lush corporate tax breaks while they themselves can barely afford to buy groceries or purchase their first home. That’s not right. I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to fix this, to accomplish real change that puts people first.
As we all dust ourselves off, pack up the lawn signs and look down the road ahead, we’ll also be rolling up our sleeves. Democrats in Congress, and California’s State Legislature, will continue to fight against the eradication of environmental protections and against efforts to strip away women’s rights. We will continue to fight for livable wages and for an economy that works for us all. 

It’s been an honor to represent our corner of California in the California State Legislature for the past eight years. As I transition from the Assembly to Congress, I want to thank my constituents for putting your trust in me to fight for the things that matter: housing, consumer protections, the environment, education, transportation and so much more. I will continue to fight for a better way of life for us all!