Education

I’ve spent my career in education, from beginnings as an outdoor educator to my last 20+ years as a public school teacher. Government is for funding classrooms, not meddling in them. Relentless focus and battles over the minutiae of education material is harmful to teachers and students, and waste of taxpayer funds and educator, legislator, and administrative time.

Freedom:

• From the red tape of book bans and extreme censorship
• To educate based on student needs and community values
• From standardized testing and top-down regulation
• For Utah children to have a great education, regardless of their ZIP code

Economy

Through the campaign, I’ll be teaching Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 PM. I can’t afford to give up my job for politics, and I know the stresses of making sure a household budget gets food on the table, cars repaired, and children to college. While the economy is improving, it’s not working for many people. The cost of living has to come down, and companies that take advantage of Utahns must be held accountable. While rising interest rates are keeping inflation down recently, they have extraneous consequences, from sky-high mortgages to car loans. Let’s strive for a balance

Freedom:

• To pay a reasonable amount at the pump
• From price gouging at the grocery store
• To support oneself by working one full time job
• To afford housing, transportation, and other essential costs of living

Fiscal responsibility:

• Our country must rein in the out of control spending that’s been prevalent for the last 20 years, and was capped off by record spending and increase of the deficit under the Trump Administration. Additional checks must be put in place to review government expenditures, audit appropriations, and hold contractors accountable. The practice of slipping massive line item spending into huge omnibus bills like the NDAA is inconsistent with fiscal responsibility and duty to taxpayers. Freedom from the government wasting our tax dollars.

Housing

Every Utahn deserves the chance to work hard and achieve the dream of homeownership. The housing market in our state has been distorted by a variety of factors, and that hurts working Utahns and families. Additionally, landlords are protected by the law, giving them wide ranging ability to levy inappropriate fees and unfair practices. Federal advances in pro-tenant legislation will positively impact renters in states like Utah that lag behind in protections.

Freedom:

• To work towards achievable homeownership *To stay in the communities Utahns were raised in, from rural areas in the Southwest to the Salt Lake valley, and live where you work
• From predatory landlords and property management companies who leverage inappropriate fees, taking advantage of renters

Labor

A member of AFT and the AFL-CIO, I’m a strong labor Democrat. I’ve supported labor-friendly legislation in the State Senate with every chance, and will vote with organized labor at the federal level, including supporting the PRO Act.

Freedom:

• For every worker to be a member of a union
• To bargain collectively without fear of retribution by employers
• To protect American and Utah jobs from outsourcing and automation

Veterans

From a family of veterans and first responders, I know what those who have served deserve. The Utah delegation’s opposition to the PACT Act, vital legislation for veterans impacted by their service, and past votes against the first responders bill were grave betrayals, and compelled me to run for Congress.

Freedom:

• For first responders and veterans to have life-long top-notch healthcare after exposure to toxic substances
• To serve without the worry of being abandoned by services and the government after returning home

Healthcare

I’m a staunch advocate for affordable healthcare, and is committed to expanding access and affordable care for Utahns as a Congresswoman. Rural America, including Utah, is losing high quality healthcare as providers retreat to populated areas. I support expanding Medicare and Medicaid and fighting to keep the cost of prescription drugs down through caps. Congressional Republicans are attempting to roll back the prescription caps for those on Medicare instituted by the Inflation Reduction Act - these are crucial programs for seniors and Americans with chronic health conditions that need expansion, not elimination.

Freedom:

• From predatory drug companies and unjust price gouging at the pharmacy
• To access high quality healthcare services in rural areas
• To afford good health insurance, regardless of employer and income

Seniors

Utah’s seniors have worked their whole lives to ensure financial and healthcare stability in their latter years. I will defend Social Security and Medicare, making sure that Utah’s senior citizens are guaranteed what they are owed and deserve.

Freedom:

• From Republican intrusion into entitlement programs
• To retire with Social Security benefits and healthcare
• To afford to not work into your 70s
• To access senior services in rural areas, not just in more populated areas

Democracy

Utah’s always had a close relationship with democratic principles and freedoms at the ballot box. While Republicans try to tear down our systems, it’s imperative to maintain the democratic mechanisms that the founders designed.

Freedom:

• From extreme partisan gerrymandering and one-party rule
• From efforts to restrict voting and tamper with democratic systems
• To vote freely and safely

Artificial intelligence

There are no positive outcomes for American workers with the rise in artificial intelligence in creative fields. We’ve suffered a loss of American manufacturing through previous waves of automation–let’s not make the same mistake twice. I will support intense regulation and thorough review of AI technology and use across industries in Congress. Freedom to keep our jobs.