After many conversations in our community, I identified the issues below as top priorities. I also support unions, LGBTQIA rights, voting expansion, public housing reform, common sense gun laws, and protecting our environment.
Racial Justice
The fight for racial justice goes beyond police reform. We must fight for policy change in the education system, in healthcare, in housing, to the voting system, and regarding employment. I am committed to fighting for racial justice and policy change in all of these areas.
We also need to implement the following policies in the police department:
- Local control of the KCPD with the requirement that officers continue to reside in the communities they serve
- Require officers to utilize and prioritize using de-escalating techniques
- Ban the use of choke holds
- Require officers to intervene in, stop, and report any use of excessive force by their fellow officers
- Ban shooting at moving vehicles by police officers
- Require police officers to provide a verbal warning before shooting
- Require officers to report each time they use force or threaten to use force
Increasing Access to Affordable Healthcare
Many people across the state struggle to afford the healthcare they need. Approximately 250,000 Missourians make too much money to be eligible for Medicaid but too little to afford health insurance. Until Missouri passes Medicaid Expansion, these low-income adults, most of whom are working, will struggle to access healthcare. Plus, Missouri will continue to leave Federal money on the table.
No one plans to have a health crisis, and unexpected medical bills leave many Missourians struggling. As your state representative, I will work to implement policies that will increase access to healthcare throughout the state.
Supporting Public Education
Every child in Missouri deserves a quality education, but every year the Missouri legislature shortchanges public education funding. In recent years, lawmakers have reduced the total amount of money allocated for K-12 education and failed to appropriately reimburse school districts for transportation. This year Governor Mike Parson cut $209 million from our state's budget with the largest cut coming from K-12 schools, public universities, and colleges. This restriction includes $131 million from our public schools and $41 million in higher education.
I’ll work for a funding formula that provides adequate support for Missouri schools and policies that ensure all students have access to a high-quality public education, regardless of race, class, gender or sexual orientation.
Protecting Reproductive Rights
Reproductive health care, including access to safe, legal abortion, is essential to a person's equality and autonomy. Laws that restrict access to abortion care threaten a person's ability to make the best decision for themself and their family, may jeopardize a person's health and disproportionately impact people of color and the underprivileged communities.
Roe v. Wade affirmed abortion as a constitutional right in 1973, yet a person's right to choose has been under attack in Missouri for years. I’ll work to protect this right so Missourians can access the reproductive health care they need -- and Missouri can focus on more pressing issues like addressing climate change, the fight for $15, and achieving equality for all.