Democrats won on affordability. Can they deliver it?

Two business owners, half a country apart, want the same thing for different reasons.In Texas, Kim Hanks, who owns Tillies, a hotel, restaurant and spa business near Austin, says rising grocery and fuel costs are forcing her to raise wages for her 300 staff."It's been such a moving target for us on affordability," she told the BBC World Service.In Indiana, Danny Reynolds, who runs Stephenson's of Elkhart, a clothing and bridalwear store, simply wants Washington to get its act together."My hope is that we can just find some consistency, some working together," he said.Democrats say they heard both messages."We ran on affordability, we won on affordability, and now it's our job to govern on affordability," said House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries on MS Now's Morning Joe.But here comes the difficult part. Democrats will hold Congress. Donald Trump still has the power to block their plans.President Trump told CNBC he could work with Democrats on "many more things than people understand".Healthcare might be one of them.Yaros sees the possibility of a big political trade-off: Democrats agree to extend Republican tax cuts in return for restoring health insurance subsidies. But he doesn't expect a deal until late 2027, with the economic benefits arriving in 2028. That's a long time to wait for anyone struggling with bills today.Democrats could also turn up the pressure on businesses.Henrietta Treyz of consultants Veda Partners says Democrats will question companies that passed on the cost of tariffs to customers.After the Supreme Court ruling in February, she says, the question will be: "Did you turn around, take that tariff rebate, and then lower prices for consumers?"Companies will also be asked: "What did you get in exchange?"Democrats, she adds, will "pick and choose very carefully."In the Senate, Ron Wyden, the Oregon Democrat set to chair the Finance Committee, has summed up his approach in five words: "affordability for us, accountability for them."He says he will use the committee to "reassert congressional authority" over trade policy. Insurers, drugmakers and banks should expect to be called to explain themselves.And some of the biggest changes may happen closer to home. State governors and regulators have a say in electricity prices, while local authorities decide where new homes can be built.Democrats have won governorships in Texas, Ohio and Georgia, where the rising cost of electricity for data centres is already a concern.