PRIORITIES
Fund Education for all Students
Great public schools help everyone in the community. They boost the economy and improve our democracy. As a father I know that a quality education can give our children a lifelong foundation to build on. That’s why we need to end the policies that have caused schools in our area to face multi-million dollar deficits and rely on special levies to fund critical services.
But education isn’t a one-size-fits all game. That’s why I support increasing access to trade schools, internship programs, and magnet schools. These programs help give students and families choices that best fit their dreams, situations, and careers. Each of our students are unique. We need to give agency, direction and support to all our children.
Lowering Costs and Increasing Affordability
Life has been getting less and less affordable as costs for basic necessities rise and wages do not keep up with them.
I have a vision of a vibrant economy that supports working families with affordable child-care and housing while lowering grocery bills. Families should not have to live paycheck to paycheck, we need an economy where people feel safe and secure in their work. Minnesotans deserve strong union jobs, living wages, and paid family & medical leave. No family should have to choose between a paycheck and raising their newborns or caring for aging parents. In the legislature, I will continue to seek ways to bolster our economic policies so that all Minnesotans have the ability to thrive.
Improve Health Care Access and Affordability
Our public health system is vital for our success and the recent attacks against that system have made us all more vulnerable. We need to return to a science based public health approach. In Minnesota we are proud to have the most skilled and dedicated health care professionals as well as the best research and innovation. But, we still struggle with access to that system. It works for many, but we still leave too many people mired in insurance bureaucracy and with a lack of affordability. I will work in the Legislature to help improve access, lower costs, lower drug prices, improve care and expand MinnesotaCare to small businesses and individuals.
And, availability of and access to a full range of women’s reproductive choices and family planning resources are crucial to the economic and emotional health of Minnesota families. Private medical decisions should remain private, not controlled by legislators.
Mental Health and Addiction Care
We are facing a public health crisis around mental health and addiction. Especially in our teens and young people we have seen levels of anxiety and depression skyrocket. We need to create systems to support and treat these conditions. The level of support that is necessary is not being meant from expanded school counselors to easier access to therapists and social workers. We are seeing an alarming increase in suicides across the state of Minnesota; the increased availability of mental health care would save lives. Addiction treatment is also in need of more resources as those who are suffering from addiction are at their most vulnerable.
Protect our Environment and Combat Climate Change
Some of Minnesota’s most cherished treasures are our clean air and beautiful lakes. We value our natural resources and know we need to preserve and protect them. Protecting our environment helps all Minnesotans. Cleaner air helps combat rising childhood asthma. Water pollution ruins the fishing and game-hunting populations that both residents and visitors enjoy. Now is the time to invest in renewable energy, create high quality jobs and secure Minnesota’s energy independence!
We are already feeling the effects of climate change, with higher-than-normal temperatures, more extreme storms with intense flooding, and changes to our unique ecosystems. Not only is this a detriment to the habitats we cherish so much, it also accelerates the deterioration of our infrastructure and forces us to complete early and costly repairs. We need to step up and enact bold solutions to address the climate crisis before us so the cost of inaction doesn’t fall on the shoulders of future Minnesotans.
Protecting Democracy and Defending the Constitution
Every day we see new attacks against our democracy from attempts to create barriers to voting to the overreach of executive authority. Our right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy. I’ll protect our ability to conveniently vote by mail and at early in-person locations in Dakota County. Democracy works best when we all participate, and I believe our voting laws should encourage that.
Separation of powers is embedded in our democracy and the dangerous overreach of executive authority at the federal level has imperiled our rights and freedoms. The President’s failure to spend allocated funds has harmed our state by witholding money that helps the people of this state afford to live.
Common Sense Solutions for Public Safety
The recent tragedies in Minnesota have laid clear the prevalence of gun violence in our community. Hunting is a big part of Minnesota’s culture, but gun violence doesn’t need to be. We need to do something to address this issue. Let’s invest in public health research so we know what works to keep communities and gun-owners safe. Let’s borrow techniques from product safety and public health to drive solve the problem.
This issue doesn’t need to divide us. We all want safety for our schools, communities, and gun-owners. The worst thing we can do is to do nothing.
Support Senior Independence
Seniors deserve to have financial security and access to affordable housing and healthcare. I will fight for lower prescription drug prices and will advocate to increase the number of home health aides to help seniors live in their homes longer.
Seniors also deserve to be able to get where they want to go when they want to go there. I will advocate for improved public transit services to make it easier to get around.
We also need to improve end of life care. Too often the medical community attempts to solve medical problems over improving quality of life. We need more and easier access to hospice and palliative care services, and to provide them in the comfort and familiarity of our homes when possible.