Elimination of mandatory minimums for crimes is a big step to criminal justice reform and many courts have removed them. It is imperative that we leave justice to the jurisdiction as there is more familiarity with the offender and mitigating circumstances. Many municipal and circuit judges are now utilizing more diversion programs to mitigate and they should be allowed to expand where possible as our justice system should be rehabilitative, not punitive in cases involving substance abuse/use.

Nothing short of the legalization of marijuana is my goal because there is no evidence that it is more harmful than alcohol. My opinion is simple, we are wasting too much money chasing something that is only harmful while it’s illegal as it tears apart communities. It is time to move on from this outdated polity because the revenue we can gain from legalization, regulation, and taxation could help us combat our debt problem. 

As stated by the Department of Defense, our greatest enemy right now is climate change as is a matter  of 100 years or less, with no action, we will have seaports underwater due to a rise in sea levels, we will  see an increase in droughts and unfarmable land. We have a responsibility to be good stewards of the  planet and as we see technology evolve to enable us to change, we need to change.

Citizens United changed the landscape of campaign finance. By defining what constitutes a person, we can begin to move some of the big money out of politics. I think the American people would be better served with publicly financed campaigns with hard caps on private funding.

The Second Amendment is enshrined in the Constitution and as such should be enforced. Responsible gun ownership should be promoted and encouraged. According to D.C. v. Heller, the right to bear arms can be limited. The romantic view of owning a gun should not outweigh common-sense reforms that will save lives. I will not support any legislation that rescinds the right to bear arms but will support policies aimed at curbing gun violence and reducing suicides.

No one is better than making decisions for their family than the families themselves. I have 4 children because I planned for 4 children. We should afford every family the right to make their own decision.  The government has no place making decisions on how any family grows.

No American family should ever go broke from the onset of a major illness or injury. It is imperative that we ensure that every American has access to quality care my goal as your representative is to get to  Medicare for all. Simply put, we have problems taking care of our service members when they leave service, and Medicare for all makes sure we cover those who have covered us.

The American family farm is struggling more than ever with restrictions on things that used to make them generally self-sufficient. Passage of a farmer’s bill of rights and the establishment of a public service commission on patents and trade will help return some autonomy that has sorely been missed.

Our federal minimum wage has not risen since 2010 and yet the cost of living has. It is time to take the federal minimum wage off the table for politicians and establish a federal commission to study and raise the minimum wage commensurate with market conditions and not the whim of politicians. Until we  establish that commission, we must raise the minimum wage to at least $15 per hour as companies are  experiencing record profits while worker productivity has never been higher while wages are generally  flat

Once the rival of the world, America led on infrastructure but now we are in a race to catch up. Passage of the bi-partisan infrastructure bill and the President’s ‘Build Back Better plan will catch the United  States up with several countries but we need more to ensure America’s place as a world leader on infrastructure.

Internet

Our rural communities have been left behind in our technology boon which has led to struggles for them to keep up with technology jobs that have overwhelmingly gone to our urban and suburban centers. We can revitalize our rural communities with the installation of reliable high-speed internet service allowing them to compete for those tech sector jobs.  

It is vital that we restore net neutrality so that internet service providers are not allowed to favor the service of one site over another. 

Energy

As technology improves, we need to make an active transition to renewable energy and improve our electrical grid. As we move away from fossil fuels to renewables, we need to ensure that we are not trading one form of pollution for another. Transition to renewable energy can be part of standard updates and maintenance of existing federal buildings and installations meaning a minimal impact on the budget.

The American criminal justice system is principled to believe that no person is above the law and that  everyone deserves a day in court and should be held accountable regardless of income or access to  power.  

We are witnessing a justice system struggling to live up to the standards to which it was originally set.  My campaign will seek reforms that will grant people the opportunity to see their day in court,  regardless of means to insure ‘equal justice under the law. 

Reforms we are seeking to sponsor and enact include:

• Bail reform- Bail should not be an impediment to a person getting out and continuing to earn  toward their defense and take care of their family. Our objective should be corrective, not punitive.
• Expansion of access to mental health services- People suffering from mental health disorders do not belong in prison and proper assessment and access can get offenders the help they require without putting them in prison.
• Decriminalization/legalization of marijuana- With proper warnings, adults should have autonomy to do essentially as they please with regard to their recreational activities. Legalization/decriminalization will lead to additional revenue that can be used for treatment programs, mental health programs, and a fully funded public defender’s office.