Too many candidates, including our current representative Ray Cox, make
vague promises regarding "affordable" health care. The current healthcare system is bloated and unsustainable,
and is putting more and more Minnesotans at risk every day. By implementing a universal, single-pay healthcare system
for every resident of the state we can lead the nation in REAL health care reform. Universal healthcare is in our future -
we can take the initiative today and build a system of health care that benefits workers, their children, employers, and the
elderly, or we can wait for the crisis to become a disaster.
Early Childhood
Education
Early childhood education is beneficial on many levels - it supports working parents and provides
care for their children, it gives our youngest children access to a high-quality education that they can use to build a successful
school career. The people of this state will benefit from the proven returns on this investment.
K-12
Every child in this state deserves equal access to a world-class
education, regardless of where they live. Education is the wisest investment that we can make to ensure the long-term success
our state. We all know the affects of the state budget cuts - larger class sizes, soaring property taxes, and fewer resources
for our society's greatest asset - teachers. When I am in the legislature, I will fight to restore funding and promote
education initiatives that will enable our students to excel in the national economy and compete in the global marketplace.
Higher Education
There is no greater tragedy than a student whose
education is stymied at their high school graduation because of rising tuition costs and lack of proper preparation. Any hardworking
student should be able to attend any of our world-class institutions without burying themselves in a mountain of debt. We
must reverse the short-sighted cuts that have forced institutions to cut vital programs and raise tuitions and forced student
debt to record highs.
Since moving to Belle Plaine over 20 years ago, I have seen
the affects that uncontrolled growth and development can have on our quality of life - congestion, accidents,
environmental damage to name a few. While it may be unfeasible to bring light rail to our district today, it is
not impractical to assume that rising gas prices and long transit times will drive up the demand for more public transportation
options. We must take action to prepare for these demands, and study the best ways for our district to create livable and
sustainable communities.
Minnesota used to be a national leader in renewal energy research
and devleopment. Now our energy policies are stuck in the past. Rising costs, harmful environmental effects, and shortsighted
deregulation all make the need for change obvious. Finding new means of producing sustainable and healthy energy will be one
of the most critical issues of the coming years. We can meet it head-on and find the best ways to provide clean, renewable
energy to the people of this state.
Minnesotans are fair and responsible people. The kind of folks that
go to work, take care of their families and pay their bills. The deserve a state government that does the same. When our state
budget is "balanced" by tax gimmicks and accounting shifts, that's not fair or responsible. When costs are shifted
to local governments so legislators can keep their "no new taxes" plege that's not fair or responsible.
If you've been watching the news, you know that Representative
Cox's health impact "fee" is really just another broken promise of the failed "no new taxes" pledge. If you pay property taxes,
you know that the massive funding cuts for our counties, schools and local governments have forced local goverments and school
districts to both cut services AND raise property taxes. We must reverse this unsustainable financial folly, and
restore a fair and responsible taxation structure for the state. I will fight to ensure progressive, fair taxation across
all income levels.
All of the issues discussed above - health care, education, transportation,
tax policy and renewable energy - tie into providing well-paying jobs that will empower and sustain the middle class.
By taking on these intiatives, we can promote job growth in the most vital sectors of our economy. With a universal,
single-pay ealthcare program, we can lessen the huge burden of healthcare cost on employers, giving them more chances to create
jobs. With a world-class education system that is open to all students, we can ensure that we are qualified for the jobs of
today and tomorrow. With a high-quality, diverse transit system, we can put the best workers in the best careers, regardless
of where they live.
I have found that environmentalists come in all shapes and sizes.
From the greenest of greens to sportsmen and women, all Minnesotans share a sense of responsibility to keep our air and
waters clean and our natural habitat healthy.
In my time as the Vice President of the Friends of the Minnesota
Valley, I was proud to find that folks in the river valley truly care about keeping our waters clean, and will gladly offer
volunteer their time to ensure as much. I can bring our devotion to the state legislature, and preserve our greatest resources
for the enjoyment and benfit of future generations.
Our first responders - police, firefighters, emergency aid workers
and emergency communication workers - are often the only barrier between our citizens and loss of life and property.
However, funding cuts to local government aid have hampered the ability of cities to pay for the vital disaster management
and crimefighting services that should always be at the ready. When I am in the legislature, the safety of our citizens will
always come first. As we saw in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, preparing for disaster is just as crucial
as dealing with it as it comes.
Abortion
I support a woman's right to choose. I do believe the
legislature can to more to support women and their families and thus reduce the number of abortions. Many women choosing
abortion face that choice because of poor health care, poverty and low-wage jobs, lack of education, domestic abuse and the
lack of available and affordable birth control. My opponent Ray Cox would solve this complex social issue by
sending women and their doctors to jail.
Gay Marriage Amendment
I will not support any measure to use our constitution to discriminate
against any group of people. The ugly, divisive rhetoric surrounding this issue is simply a distraction. The struggle for
equal rights has been waged ever since the founding of our country - this is simply a new chapter.
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