Advancing American Freedom, a conservative organization founded by former Vice President Mike Pence, is releasing a new policy report titled "Affordability 101" ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The document, obtained by Fox News Digital prior to its Capitol Hill rollout, presents more than 100 recommendations aimed at lowering costs in housing, energy, food, and healthcare through supply-side economics and regulatory reduction.
The report serves as a strategic resource for Republican lawmakers and congressional staff as economic concerns dominate the campaign landscape. While the blueprint aligns with several Trump administration priorities, such as expanding domestic energy production, it diverges on key issues including childcare subsidies and trade tariffs.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic lawmakers and progressive economists have generally advocated for federal subsidies, expanded social safety nets, and targeted regulations to manage costs and ensure equity. While the source material does not include direct Democratic rebuttals to this specific report, the political landscape suggests Democrats will likely argue that supply-side measures alone are insufficient to address immediate household burdens.
Progressive critics typically contend that reducing regulations can lead to market instability or environmental harm, and that tariffs, while complex, can be used strategically to protect domestic industries. The emphasis on reducing the size of government in the Republican plan contrasts with Democratic platforms that often call for increased federal investment in social programs and infrastructure to mitigate cost-of-living pressures.
What the Right Is Saying
Advancing American Freedom President Tim Chapman stated that the report is designed to provide Republican candidates with concrete ideas rather than just partisan opposition. "We want free market conservative candidates to go out there and not just put on the red jersey or not just fight against the blue jersey, but to go there and give people ideas that actually work," Chapman said. He argued that the size and scope of government significantly impact affordability, noting that interest rates are fueled by debt and deficit issues.
The report challenges several current administration positions. On childcare, Richard Stern, vice president of the Plymouth Institute for Free Enterprise at Advancing American Freedom, criticized Vice President JD Vance's proposal to expand Child Care and Development Fund eligibility. "His proposal sounds great, right? But the truth is, in many cases, it's a $9,000 divorce bonus," Stern said, referring to potential subsidies for married families with a stay-at-home parent. On trade, Chapman noted, "If you look at your grocery bill, how much of that is impacted by tariffs? That's driving up the price of goods and it's hurting people in their pocketbooks."
What the Numbers Show
The "Affordability 101" report estimates that government regulations add 26.4% to the cost of a new single-family home. It proposes permitting, zoning, and land-use reforms to lower these construction costs. The report also addresses the potential financial impact of Vice President JD Vance's childcare proposal, which could provide up to approximately $9,000 per child annually to some eligible families.
In terms of energy and technology, the report argues that expanding domestic production and easing regulations on artificial intelligence data centers can lower consumer costs. Richard Stern noted that counties hosting data centers are generating revenue from them, which he claimed is reducing energy prices for local homes, despite growing concerns over electricity demand.
The Bottom Line
The release of "Affordability 101" signals an effort by conservative groups to shape the Republican economic message for the 2026 midterms, focusing on deregulation and supply expansion. The report's critique of specific administration policies, such as tariffs and childcare subsidies, highlights internal debates within the party regarding the most effective methods to address inflation and household costs. Lawmakers will likely use these recommendations to frame their campaign platforms, emphasizing market-based solutions over federal subsidies as a central pillar of their appeal to voters concerned with affordability.