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Conservative group rolls out more than 100 proposals to help Republicans center campaigns on living costs
Advancing American Freedom released a policy package on housing, energy, food and healthcare ahead of the 2026 midterms. Fox News Digital reported that the blueprint overlaps with several Trump priorities but also departs from the administration on subsidies and tariffs.
Conservative organization Advancing American Freedom has unveiled a package of more than 100 recommendations aimed at giving Republicans an economic message focused on lowering living costs ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, according to Fox News Digital.
The report, titled Affordability 101, lays out proposals to reduce the costs of housing, energy, food and healthcare by expanding supply, increasing competition and removing government barriers. The group was founded by former Vice President Mike Pence and argues that lower costs should come through fewer regulations, stronger domestic production and no new federal subsidies.
Tim Chapman, president of Advancing American Freedom, told Fox News Digital the goal is to equip free-market conservative candidates with concrete policy ideas rather than only partisan attacks. He also argued that the size of government has a major effect on the economy and linked high interest rates to debt and deficit levels.
Fox News Digital reported that many of the proposals align with Trump administration priorities, including expanding domestic energy production, building more homes, cutting regulations and encouraging innovation. At the same time, the document breaks with the administration on several issues.
One of those disputes involves Vice President JD Vance’s proposal to expand childcare subsidies through the Child Care and Development Fund. Richard Stern, vice president of the Plymouth Institute for Free Enterprise at Advancing American Freedom, criticized that approach in comments to Fox News Digital and said it could, in some cases, create a financial incentive tied to divorce.
On housing, the report says government regulations add 26.4% to the cost of a new single-family home and calls for reforms to permitting, zoning and land use in order to lower construction costs. Stern told Fox News Digital that those proposals could be among the most significant for improving affordability.
The blueprint also argues that tariffs push consumer prices higher, another point of disagreement with the administration. Chapman told Fox News Digital that tariffs affect everyday expenses, including grocery bills.
It also backs expanded domestic energy production and lighter regulation for artificial intelligence and data centers as ways to reduce costs. On that front, Stern told Fox News Digital that counties hosting data centers make money from them and that this can help reduce household energy prices.
Sources
About this piece. Written by El Notero with AI assistance, from reporting published by the outlet cited above. El Notero did no original reporting on this story.
