PLATFORM
Money in politics
It's time we decide as a state and as a country that the big money interests that consistently buy our elections should be removed from the political process. We need to once and for all put an end to legalized bribery in this country.
Prison labor reform
In 1865 we formally ended the practice of slavery, however, it still persists in our prison industrial complex. Work for no or very little pay is a form of slavery plain and simple. I don't believe work should be eliminated in prison but we need to pass legislation to bring prison wages up to match the minimum wage and make sure that every prison commissary maintains affordable goods. While prisoners are convicted criminals they are still human and deserve to be treated as such.
$15 Dollar minimum wage
The minimum wage was always designed to be a living wage. Adjusted for inflation and productivity our minimum wage would be sitting at twenty-one dollars an hour. So when we ask for a fifteen dollar minimum wage we are asking to be paid what we’re owed, it’s not out of greed. A living wage would change the lives of millions of Iowans who live paycheck to paycheck and it would transform our economy. When we put money in the hands of consumers they spend it, which in turn would stimulate our economy and lift hundreds of thousands of Iowans out of poverty and put us on a path of growth and prosperity.
Remove the luxury tax on feminine hygiene products
A tax on tampons is a tax on women. A product that is necessary for the health and wellbeing of women is not a luxury item and shouldn't be taxed as such. These products are already very expensive, we should not be forcing women to pay extra for something so essential. It's wrong, it’s sexist, and I will do everything I can to put an end to it.
Restore collective bargaining rights for teachers & other public workers
The 2017 decision to limit collective bargaining rights for teachers was a mistake. This has incentivized great teachers who teach at rural districts to move to larger more urban districts with higher base pay. Teachers join unions so they can have a say in the decisions that affect not only themselves but also their students, what this legislation did was cause a lack of enthusiasm for new teachers entering the field and deprive smaller schools of the same opportunities of their larger counterparts.
Expand and protect union rights
Ever since the labor movement ended our unions have slowly drifted away from the effectiveness they once had. This is because of years of lobbying by giant corporations to make it harder for unions to continue to fight for workers’ rights all across America. I believe we need to pass legislation to make it harder for companies to take part in union-busting practices and make it easier for a worker from any profession to join a union.
Restore felon voting rights
I firmly believe that our current system of dehumanization of former felons is a disgrace to our state and a burden on our democracy. These people served their time. When felons reintroduced to society they should be entitled to all the rights they previously had before conviction. Prison should not be a lifelong punishment, if you served your time then you paid your debt to society.
Advocate for clean water
If you grew up in Iowa chances are you’ve heard of runoff. Its been an issue ever since I was a kid and it still persists today. Farmers are not to blame, poor government regulation and lack of resource allocation is the issue. The State has the money and research to address this problem but has failed to do anything about it. As a house representative, I will introduce and sponsor legislation that will keep our water clean while protecting the environment.
Increase funding for planned parenthood
Planned Parenthood provides hundreds of free or low-cost services for women and parents in Iowa. Attempts to defund or eliminate these facilities not only cost Iowa jobs but it deprives women of lowcost service options and leaves lower class Iowans in desperate need of quality care services.