Our society has reached the point where no matter how talented or hardworking a young adult is, they cannot prosper without familial assistance of some kind, whether that’s in the form of shared housing, childcare, or help with education and other expenses. Younger generations simply do not have the same financial opportunities their grandparents and grandparents once had.
We must return to middle-class capitalism.
Although inflation and the unemployment rate continue to drop significantly under the current presidential administration, there is still work to be done, and Jenny will work tirelessly to improve voters’ financial situation.
Increase minimum wage to $17/hour.
A fair day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. In 1968, minimum wage paid not only enough to live self-sufficiently, but to support a spouse and child as well. Today, a person working a fulltime, minimum-wage job makes $7.25/hour, or $15,800 annually. This is not enough to survive. Not only does Georgia need to increase minimum wage to a livable wage, but state lawmakers also need to ensure it increases with inflation.
Create accessible housing options.
In Coweta County, it is impossible to find a house to rent for less than $1,000/month. Citizens in Heard and Carroll Counties face similar circumstances. In addition to supporting Kamala Harris’ $25,000 down payment assistance plan, Jenny recognizes that we need smarter growth locally. This means keeping rural areas rural while increasing obtainable housing in our towns. We need more varied-size units in walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods versus the tract-style housing that outside developers create.
Expand Medicaid & require guaranteed sick leave.
We pay federal taxes, yet Georgia GOP politicians block us from receiving the federal services we’ve paid for. Expanding Medicaid will return billions to Georgia, create tens of thousands of healthcare jobs in rural areas, and empower small businesses and entrepreneurs to compete with large corporations. To ensure that Georgians can take prioritize of their health, we also need legislation that requires employers to provide 1 hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked.
Institute paid parental leave.
Unlike most developed nations around the world, the United States does not invest in young families with guaranteed paid maternity leave and paternity leave. We need to institute state-funded parental leave–12 weeks for maternity leave and 2 weeks for one additional adult in the household, or a total of 14 weeks per household in cases of surrogacy or adoption. Under Jenny’s plan, foster parents would receive one week of state-funded minimum wage for each child entering their home.
Empower unions.
Union labor is the backbone of the American economy. It’s the reason we have safety standards in the workplace and why the typical work week in the United States is only 40 hours and includes two days. The middle class is always stronger when unions are strong, and they are also a needed ally in the struggle to fix gender and racial pay gaps; at present, women and racial minorities still make far less doing the exact same job in the exact same field as white men.
Support families.
Many young people would like to have a family but cannot do so without falling into poverty. We need progressive lawmakers who prioritize families. This means providing free birth control to anyone who would like it, ensuring no child in Georgia goes hungry, and creating cheaper, more accessible, and better-quality childcare. When we invest in families, our overall economy improves, crime goes down, and fewer social services are needed.
