Q&A
What do you consider the two most important issues facing Hoosiers who will see your name on their ballot this November? And if elected, what policies will you push for to address each one?
The concerns I hear most from my district are the lack of reproductive freedoms and increases in general living expenses, including property taxes.
We must work to reinstate reproductive freedoms. We are currently under a near total abortion ban where even victims of SA and women with high risk pregnancies cannot access critical healthcare past 10 weeks.* We are seeing the dangerous impact of this as we have more and more OBGYN deserts and women loosing their ability to conceive in the future and now we are seeing women die. I will fight for the right for women and families to access critical healthcare to keep them safe and to protect their ability to have reproduce in the future.
IN is number 2 in the nation for businesses but 48 for quality of life.** It is time that we start focusing on the wellbeing of Hoosiers, not just businesses. There is a middle ground where both can thrive. Business and corporations are making record profits.*** We must hold them accountable for price gouging. We must continue the bi-partisan work already underway in the legislature to reduce the property tax burden on Hoosiers but not at the expense of our farmers and local municipalities.
*Editor's note: Indiana’s near total abortion ban has limited exceptions for when the health or the life of the pregnant person is at risk, and in case of a lethal fetal anomaly but only up to 20 weeks post-fertilization, and in case of rape or incest but only up to 10 weeks post-fertilization.
**Editor's note: For context, Forbes lists Indiana as the 2nd best state to start a business, but the definition of “quality of life” varies in national ratings, and so do the rankings. The USNews ranking for overall best state has Indiana at 30. CNBC has Indiana in top ten for worst quality of life. And CNBC ranks Indiana at 11 for top states for business.
***Editor's note: WFYI cannot independently verify that all or most businesses and corporations are making record profits.
We've heard from many in our audience that they feel frustrated — sometimes disenfranchised — by our current political landscape. These feelings sometimes contribute to people deciding not to vote, and Indiana consistently ranks near the bottom of the list on voter turnout. What would you say to a potential voter who feels this way?
I have definitely had this challenge as I knock on doors. The number one thing I tell voters is that whether you vote or not, the folks at the Statehouse are going to continue to create legislation and policy that impacts our lives. I share that some races, at the state and local level, are decided by just a few hundred votes or less. Folks need to understand and feel like their vote matters. With the electoral college it can often feel like a single vote doesn't matter but in races like mine, every single vote does matter. It is up to us to help them see that. Further, it is up to those of us who want to represent our communities to build back the trust by being available, by being present and accessible to our communities. Until they trust their leaders it will be hard to convince folks who feel disenfranchised to vote.
Economic anxiety is top of mind for many in our audience and around the country, with a common concern being inflation and the high price of basic needs. In all the complexity around economic issues, what specific changes need to happen to help Hoosiers and their families?
We must balance our desire to bring and start business in IN with ensuring that our PEOPLE are thriving. We need to hold businesses and corporations accountable. We need to make sure that all Hoosiers have access to high quality education that will lead to good paying jobs. We need to raise the minimum wage and ensure that a person who works a full time job has the ability to not just live but thrive.
Endorsements - Source
Our Choice Coalition
AFT
Planned Parenthood
Moms Demand Action
United Steelworkers
Notable Donors - Source
ActBlue Donations
Carol Newman
Stephanie Jo Yocum
Linda Genrich
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