RESPECT & PROTECT Our Environment, Equal Rights, and One Another INVEST WISELY & THRIVE In Education, Healthcare, Enterprise, Infrastructure, Tourism, Agriculture, Recreation & Resiliency COLLABORATE & GET THINGS DONE For a Better Today and Future

For decades more and more clinics have closed, leaving behind rural Wisconsinites searching for accessible healthcare. I will focus on fixing the rural healthcare crisis and ensure everyone has their right to affordable and accessible healthcare, starting with expanding Medicaid as 42 other states in the Union have already successfully done.

Our legislature over the past decade has refused to expand Medicaid, which would  help folks and their rural hospitals.  These are dollars we have already paid, and were to receive back from the Federal Government.   It was our money, and it was a shortsighted decision that affects so many in need.

Education is the backbone of our community and future workforce--and the basis for opportunity regardless of one's background.  Education starting with early childhood, and throughout life, creates opportunity, no matter what family you born into--wealthy, comfortable, or struggling to make ends meet.

We need funding reform (not new taxes) that support our public schools and University system.

 An indicator that we are not doing our best is that over 50% of our school systems in need of referendums just to stay in operation. 

We need to ensure teachers are being paid a living wage so we can attract the best to teach our kids.  We must address the realities and limitations of our current funding calculations so all  students have access to reliable  and safe school infrastructure, and parents can trust in their children's learning. Republican Legislative leaders have not addressed these issues with meaningful reform, debate, or thought, that would greatly benefit our educational system. We need leaders who will stand up for education and fund it fully--yielding a return on that investment for generations. 

Rural Wisconsin is famous for its graceful blend of productive farms of all sizes, and recreational assets.  In this beautiful and productive setting, smaller communities and their families provide the backbone to Wisconsin's  wealth.  This is the basis of our economy--a unique environment and economy that in addition to highly productive farmland, is also a place of destination resorts & recreational opportunities. The 41st District is part of the Driftless Region, which enjoys a growing reputation for opportunities of all types, but growth requires attention to protection. We know the land and its water resources deserve careful treatment.  We need to enforce our laws and rebuild the DNR that helps to protect us all from polluters, and hold them accountable--rather than "socialize" the costs of their bad behavior.

Our rural lands and water are essential to our economy. Our job is to preserve and improve it while we are here on earth for generations to come.

Just as all persons should have equal rights, a woman must have her own full rights to make her own medical decisions and manage her own body--and life--without political interference.  No one wants an abortion--but for some, an unplanned pregnancy it is an impossible situation---either due to their lack of ability or available support system that could support a child, domestic violence, or health.  There is no such thing as aborting a viable baby in late term--late term procedures are due to terrible health situations.  Maternal and Infant mortality rates have increased since the roll back of Roe v. Wade, and our shortsighted policies that do not ensure early intervention for vulnerable mom's and kids.  I will make sure to protect a woman's right to choose in her life,  and to access the healthcare all women need in all stages of life--for all women.

Our shared environment is a priority.  This impacts recreational tourism, our agricultural economy, and our rights to live healthy lives. Shrinking biodiversity, polluters not held accountable, and knowledge of water quality issues and what we can do require education so all folks can take positive action. 

 We need to stop “socializing” or spreading the cost of what polluters do on the general population, and instead, hold those polluters accountable.  That requires research, data, and enforcement.  Agencies and the University Extension system that provide these critical services have been decimated over the past decade, and need to be robustly supported so they can do their work.  

Our farmers make a huge difference--attention to soil health, water edges, pollutions, nitrates, and bringing much needed biodiversity, competition and options in the marketplace --all help make good food accessible and affordable.  Micro, small, and larger operations all do their part--and all need to be available and supported in the marketplace.  

It started with gerrymandering districts so Republicans could gain majority control-despite our more balanced population and consistent Democratic leaning votes.  Under their majority Republican legislative control in Wisconsin, remember who has controlled the purse strings and the legislation--and even the debate. We have watched our tax dollars wasted on projects that haven't come to fruition--often in the rush to "privatize" meaning profits for a few and often less effective services--and "giveaways" to large corporations.  Setting us back in 2010 by cancelling high speed rail projects from the previous administration just to prove a political point also cost millions of loss.    We also have witnessed the baffling refusal of our own federal tax dollars to improve improve our lives via expanding medicaid--over $2.1 Billion of what we had already paid in Federal taxes.    

Democratic leadership has a track record of stopping wasteful programs, insisting on investing in people, places, and our future. 

 That is the legacy --and I think we can do better than we have been able to with an unfairly obtained  Republican control in our legislature.  

We need to INVEST SMARTLY to reclaim the Wisconsin tradition of going FORWARD!

 Unions bring stability, ensure proper training in skilled trades, and create a level of growth and prosperity that provides benefits rippling through our national lives.  It is no coincidence that Unions keep workers safe, and our economy thriving--because Unions protect workers and negotiate to have living wages.  That raises "all boats" the saying goes.  It is true that not all companies are suited to become a "union shop".  Much of our economies' growth these days is coming from micro companies (less than 5 workers) and gig work.  These too have a seat at the table and need to be understood and improved for worker protection and a chance to grow.  Our robust economy depends on it.  Migrant workers that contribute to our economy and production in construction & agriculture and service industries are also part of the picture.       Union busting through misleading legal language such as "right to work" strategies, are just a race to the bottom.  Giving all of our people not just a “right to work”, but actual jobs and career opportunities that pay living wages. That comes from a good education, work ethic,  and skill sets, but also good wages, and legal pathways so people can get ahead in life.    

AI and automation will be an issue for all workers. So is immigration in the construction and agricultural trades. We need to honor skilled workers that build this country, our production and delivery systems, with reasonable and fair compensation for their work.

 The biggest challenge is the storm of misinformation that surrounds us is getting the truth heard.  We must address the rampant misleading smear tactics against Democrats, which often are not true.  

Fear and rage tear us all down, not bring us up.  Truth, facts, and understanding trends and results matter.  

If elected,  I will do what I can to provide factual information where possible in the context of complex decision making--not just soundbites and diversions.  These are the basic tenants of civilization--to reject liars, and, those that falsely accuse others. 

That is the basis of civil society.

We must return to a place that when faced with  cheating, lying, misinformation, outrageous accusations, and scare tactics--it just doesn't work.   

We all must do our part in rejecting untrue or misleading messaging,  while taking positive steps towards collaborative thinking and respect.  

I have built my career on these values.

" We must get serious about the trauma that exists in the fear these days due to guns, and the reality of gun violence.  We also need to understand the real need for the “tools” that are guns--and  in many situations, the recreational aspect and enjoyment.  There are also  personal safety needs for some.  Gun safety is paramount.  Simple and popular legislation proposed to address these needs is ready, but not  heard or debated at this time in our legislature due to our Republican leadership refusing to bring this legislation to the floor--even for much needed debate.  Gun violence in all of our communities show up in different ways–domestic violence, suicides, mass shootings, and homicide.  Our rural communities suffer with 11x  the suicide rate that our urban communities do. Our kids and adults are exhibiting lots of stress, and without safety top of mind, we are asking for trouble.  This doesn’t have to be this way, we have the opportunity to care better for our people and face our fears together head on." 

Safety for our police, safety for our good citizens, and accountability and preventing access for bad actors.  

We can do better.

 I think to truly be "pro life",  then we need as a society to make pregnancy more doable for mothers.     It means making life itself more affordable and accessible:  healthcare, financially, maternal support, adoption,  early childhood development and strong schools are the most basic of ways.  That is what I call “Pro Living” focus.  Since the reversal of Roe V. Wade, Maternal and infant mortality has increased. More children live in poverty without early childhood options or good nutrition--which this short window of life determines success for so many.  Families are strapped with the choice of working vs. affording childcare.  These are the consequences of our current legislative priorities-- and Democrats want "PRO LIVING" strategies to be part of our lives.

"To have such a large budget surplus, ($3+ Billion) AND 50% of our schools going to Operational Referendums, our University's two year colleges closing,  AND having so many people in need for healthcare and refusing our own tax paid dollars to fund those needs (refusing at this date over $2Billion of our own tax dollars to expand Medicaid) indicates some very unbalanced decision making at the legislative level has been in play for years.  This impacts rural hospitals, schools, caregivers and drives up untreated addictions and mental illness numbers.  We can do better at the state level, and certainly better by working with the Federal government.

This Republican controlled body touts "fiscal conservative", but it isn't conservative to starve our basic systems to the point of failure and to allow so many children to again start and live their early childhoods in poverty, affecting their level of success for their entire lives.   It is time to rebalance our legislature to be more representative of our people, and to negotiate and collaborate to achieve smart decisions that invest in people--that is how you truly have a robust economy.  Much can be done WITHOUT raising taxes." 

"it's the ECONOMY stupid" was a familiar phrase back in the 90s for the winning Democratic candidate.  That focus resulted in a political win, and a boom time, and at the end of that administration, NO National Debt. It also ushered in the unfettered attacks that we experience now in our political lives.

 The fact is, over the past 50 years, Democratic administrations have always been able to pick up the pieces of the previous administration's policies that increased the federal debt, or had resulted in a flailing economic situation.  

Democrats--that big tent--want balance and opportunity for all.  

   We are in time of action--to deal with AI, misinformation, and those that want to take advantage of others.  

We can do better.

Currently we have the largest increases in employment (that isn't counting the COVID recovery) due to various investment Acts into our country--all remarkably achieved without a House Majority.  There is also a very profitable stock market--for those able to invest.  We are dealing with investing into our infrastructure, creating new jobs that once did not exist in the energy market, resulting in more income and stability for many.  Manufacturing jobs are returning to US soil. 

All indicators are that we are not just 'doing fine" but leading in the world.  

Still, the reality is, many of our people have been left behind, as the wealth of the lower 50% of our population has migrated to the top 1% of our population.  

How?  Consolidation of huge corporations that charge whatever they want for basic needs--and find a way to dominate the marketplace--healthcare, housing, food, fuel, privatization of services, elimination and starving of crucial "equalizing opportunities" that only the government can provide and to lift our vulnerable citizens--kids, the elderly, anyone in need of a boost-- out of a desperate living situation.  Administrations (and the legislature that controls funding)-- that oversee the dismantling of important oversight agencies that keep us safe--the EPA and the DNR--undermine fundamental protections.

We can do better with Democratic administration and a balanced House and Congress. 

VOTE BLUE.