THE ISSUES
Whether it is price controls for prescription drugs, per-pupil spending on public education, environmental stewardship, the cost of childcare, or many other daily issues that face North Dakotans, I recognize that we have to work together in order to solve problems and improve our lives.
THE ENVIRONMENT
The Stakes are High
I support an all-of-the-above approach to energy production because abundant
energy production will increase supply and lower costs for working families. I support
investing in wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources so we can produce enough energy
to meet all of our needs while bringing costs down for families. Some examples of renewable energy projects include community solar farms and/or solar panel installation on resident's homes. Many other states help subsidize solar panel installation in addition to the federal government subsidy. Community solar projects can be a great way to save a little money while also reducing carbon emission.
EDUCATION
For a Better Future
Public education "is the great equalizer". I support strong funding for public education at every level - from early childhood education, through K-12, to higher education.
I support an increase to K-12 per-pupil funding in the next biennium so that districts can address growing problems like teacher retention and student well-being. The State must continue to honor its commitment of funding 80% of the costs of K-12 education. If the State doesn't keep up with the growing needs of districts and inflation, then either more burden shifts to property taxpayers or programs must be cut.
Recently, the legislature passed an "anti-Critical Race Theory" law that is a waste of time in terms of actual thoughtful legislation. It is a law which seeks to silence any sort of discussion in the classroom in terms of systemic racism. The tenets of "Critical Race Theory" are not taught in K-12 public education and therefore this entire legislation was a "solution in search of a problem".
Along with the entire ND Dem-NPL, I support a family's right to choose private school or home school but I oppose shifting public tax dollars to private schools. Many Republican legislators have repeatedly tried to shift public dollars to private schools through voucher programs or "savings accounts". That would siphon money away from public education.
HEALTH CARE
Key Policy
The ND Dem-NPL continues to support Medicaid Expansion in North Dakota. That helps more than 20,000 North Dakotans access health insurance coverage and helps our critical access hospitals keep their doors open so residents across the state have access to care.
I support more price controls on prescription drugs in order to make them more affordable for all. The ND Dem-NPL has sponsored legislation to bring down costs for medication, such as insulin, and those efforts have ultimately failed to pass because a slim majority of Republicans voted it down in the most recent session.
Behavioral health is a high priority issue for myself and the Dem-NPL. I want to improve care for substance use and mental health. The legislature must implement expert recommendations like maximizing telepsychiatry, fixing licensing challenges, and equipping providers to assess and stabilize patients and find the appropriate levels of care.
CHILDCARE
For a Better Future
Childcare continues to be a significant challenge for both families and providers. Childcare providers have a difficult time finding employees and families have a difficult time finding childcare openings. When families don't have childcare, they have more difficulty working a job. I support solutions that assist providers with paying their workforce a competitive living wage and solutions that assist families directly. The crisis has worsened under Republican leadership; it’s time to send new people to Bismarck to do something about it.
ADDICTION AND RECOVERY
Create a life for yourself that you don't want to escape.
North Dakota has improved in the area of addiction and recovery with many services available for those who may need it. We still have a long way to go for true substantive change.
I attended an "Overdose Awareness" event in early September of this year. It featured many vendors who offer a wide array of mental health and addiction care. Speakers included people in recovery from addiction and their inspiring and challenging stories. I was moved by one speaker in particular who shared their story about how they lived their life after so many years of drug addiction. She said she strove to "create a life for yourself that you don't want to escape." An ideal that can only come through work, ideas, supportive community, and community options.
I spoke to another person in the area who has experienced hardship through his own past addiction, now recovered for many years, as well as through the loss of family members because of addiction and mental health. This particular person advocated for a law that expunges felonies for people who have gone 10 years without recidivism or re-incarceration. Many states have options for people to expunge felonies and/or misdemeanors from their permanent record; North Dakota is not one of them. If a person has served their time in prison and has gone on to live a life free of recidivism then they should not continue with that past criminal history hanging over their head.
All of this speaks to the idea that a community should have consequences for harm to its neighbors. However, we should also be able to carry on after those consequences have been carried out. We should also be able to enrich our lives with the abundance that a healthy community can give: meaningful work, friendship, affordable housing, creative outlets, etc.