Issues in Our Community

Health Care    Education    Job Creation and Job Retention    Eminent Domain/Property Rights    Taxes    Crime and Public Safety    Minimum Wage    Stem Cell Research

Medicaid Cuts / Health Care:

I understand the challenges faced by families dealing with serious health issues. My youngest sister Liz is severely developmentally disabled and my 75 year old Dad battles Parkinson, diabetes and heart problems.

Governor Blunt and the Republicans in Jefferson City are being cruel - and it's completely unnecessary. They cut 21,500 lower-income children from the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). They cut 87,000 elderly adults from Missouri's Medicaid program, and took life-sustaining home medical equipment away from patients still in the program. There are better ways to balance our budget than on the backs of children and the elderly. Further, the cuts did not make economic sense for Missourians. For each dollar Governor Blunt and his allies cut from the Medicaid budget, Missouri lost approximately two dollars from the federal government. The cuts also will result in a loss of healthcare related-jobs in our community. Also, we know that sick people who were cut from Medicaid will still need to access healthcare services; now they will just access them in more expensive ways such as emergency room visits. These increased healthcare costs will of course be passed on to all Missourians.

I have two solutions to our health care crisis: Stop the waste and make big corporations pay. As State Representative, I'll work to stop corrupt and inaccurate billing by medical service providers, which costs TAXPAYERS $575 million per year. By cutting that waste, we can have a balanced budget and continue services for the people who need them most. I also support a plan to require large corporations that don't provide employee health insurance to pay into a state account to fund medical coverage for the uninsured. Both of these solutions can help balance the budget and provide more health insurance coverage without raising taxes or hurting kids and seniors. It just takes the will to do what's right.

I agree with my fellow Democrats regarding a call for a special session this fall so we can restore the Medical Assistance for Working Disabled Program. This program allows approximately 3,000 disabled individuals to receive health care and personal assistance services. It is irresponsible to take away a person's independence and self reliance when they are already facing such hardships. This special session can occur at no additional cost to the tax payers and is the right thing to do. I call on Governor Blunt to call this special session and to stop playing politics with people's lives and independence.
Frankly, we can do better for our families, seniors, and neighbors who need our help the most.

Education:

Public education must be one of our highest priorities because our children are our most precious resource. But under Governor Blunt and the Republicans, education is under serious attack in Missouri. I strongly oppose any and all measures, including vouchers and "scholarship charity" tax credits, which reallocate public funds to private, religious and home schools. Our public schools are inadequately funded, and measures such as "No Child Left Behind", Governor Blunt's "65% Solution", vouchers and "scholarship charity" tax credits are nothing more than gimmicks that deprive local communities of local control and/or much needed tax dollars. Blunt and the Republicans could have found money to fund education by closing corporate tax loopholes, taxing casinos and making sure all gaming proceeds went to education, but they didn't. The Republicans didn't help our schools, they've only hurt them.
Frankly, we can do better for our children.

I oppose taking money and local control away from public schools. As State Representative, I'll work hard to bring money back to improve our schools, not destroy them. I'll make sure money goes to providing real resources for the classroom and keeping students safe. And I'll ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent on our public schools, not ridiculous schemes.

Job Creation and Retention:

I believe that the best way to create jobs in our community and strengthen our economy is through education and incentives for small businesses. An increase in incentives for small businesses is a way to decrease the initial obstacles to starting a small business, and an educated work force is a way for these businesses to grow. Frankly, we can do better to create jobs in our community.

Eminent Domain/Property Rights:

Missourians should not live in fear that the home or business they have worked hard to acquire and maintain will be taken from them, even for fair market value, at the whim of private developers. In narrowly appropriate circumstances, eminent domain is a useful tool to acquire privately owned property necessary for an important and direct public purpose. However, we must protect private property rights by enacting new laws which will define both "public purpose" and the term "blight" narrowly in order to prevent abuse, and which will adequately and fairly compensate property owners in those rare instances.
Frankly, we can do better for our home and business owners.

Property Taxes:

I believe that property taxes for seniors on a small fixed income should be capped. This will allow them to stay in their homes and not be pushed out by high property taxes. These years should be lived in ease and comfort, not in a financial struggle with the State.
Frankly, we can do better for our seniors.

Crime and Public Safety:

I will work closely with our local Police, Fire Department, and First Responders to ensure that they are given all needed and available resources.

My brother-in-law and my husband's closest friend since childhood are police officers. As much as someone is able who is not actually on the job, I understand the challenges they face. I want them and their colleagues to be as safe as possible and to be able to do their jobs - keeping us and our communities safe, as effectively as possible.
Frankly, we can do better for the men and women who risk their lives every day.

Current Initiatives on the Ballot

Stem Cell Research:

I strongly support the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative. We cannot and must not deprive tens of thousands of Missourians suffering from incurable diseases and debilitating injuries the chance to be treated and cured with this new and wonderful technology.

My dad is 75 years old and suffers from Parkinson's disease. It has sapped his strength and vitality, but not his determination. He still volunteers at his parish food pantry three days a week and helps my mom baby sit my niece Gabby while her parents are at work teaching. He's always doing good for others, with little

regard for himself. I'd like to be able to do good for my dad - and for all Missourians who are suffering - by working to pass stem cell legislation that would make them better.

We need to move forward here in Missouri, not backward - we've been doing that for too long and in too many ways. That's why I oppose all efforts to ban and criminalize stem cell research conducted in a safe and ethical manner. And I would support efforts to make Missouri a leader in biotechnology and stem cell research - it will bring much needed jobs and high-caliber workers to our state.
Frankly, we can do better for people who are suffering.

Minimum Wage:

I am a strong supporter of increasing the minimum wage. I believe it is an insult to working families who have waited for over 10 years for an increase in their base pay, while at the same time inflation has risen and politicians locally and nationally have repeatedly increased their own pay. In 2006 Governor Blunt signed a bill increasing Legislators Per Diem pay by 19%. Please join me in voting yes on this important initiative.
Frankly, we can do better for our working families.