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Issues
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Education Our colleges and universities have told us that the biggest factor to their rising tuition costs is providing for their employee health care coverage. If we contain these costs, it will go a long way to solving our rising tuition problems. Additionally, I would support a fixed tuition rate that follows the student from start to finish, so that students and their families can budget accordingly, the same as they would a mortgage or a car.
On the other end of the spectrum, I believe that the state needs to live up to its obligation to support public schools and not push this burden back on to the districts. We need to ensure, also, that our public education remains free to all our children and not charge for All Day Kindergarten.* * * * * Health Care We've heard a lot of talk about health care reform. Now it's time for action.
We have "well baby" care in the state because we recognize the importance of providing every child with a healthy start in life. I would like to see us carry that into a proactive approach to health care by making available health screenings to all Minnesotans in the same way we now cover babies. And while health screenings are our best way to find an illness before it becomes serious, many people will still shy away from a screening for fear of being labeled with a pre-existing condition, preferring ignorance and better coverage over treatment.
Clearly, the only way to solve this is to do away with pre-existing conditions. We can achieve this if we open insurance coverage to every Minnesotan and increase the pool of contributors to the fund.* * * * * Transportation Bridges and roads are the infrastructure that support our economic prosperity. As Scott county grows, we need to see that our voice is heard by the planners of that infrastructure so that we are included in decisions that will affect us all.
I will fight to have Scott County represented in the Met Council, and see that our tax dollars are spent in our community and not just those across the river. The 169 bridge was a key component to our growth. I will work to continue funding transportation to our communities so that more families and businesses will continue to move here.* * * * * Unemployment All indicators point to a recession on the horizon. I believe the best approach is to listen to local business, provide them with an infrastructure that allows them to transport their goods efficiently and safely, and to provide a tax base that is competitive with other states, as well as a housing market that will attract new businesses and their employees to our state.
Recessions, however, do not disappear overnight. While we recover, it's imperative we protect our labor force who are currently unemployed. We need to be ready with additional benefits, if necessary, along with training, financial planning, and counseling, so that they never lose hope in our state or in themselves.
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