I believe in a strong public educational system. Public schools are the backbone of a solid democracy and a prosperous business climate.  Quality teachers are essential, and should be paid accordingly. Public school funding should be a top priority for the MO State Legislature.

We should be examining our environmental policies in all things that we do, to protect and preserve the environment. Green jobs and a green economy as well as converting our energy sources to less toxic and wasteful methods are essential for long-term growth and preserving our world for future generations.

Creating jobs is necessary for our future economic development, because it raises living standards and builds an experienced workforce. Providing incentives for businesses to hire more employees will strengthen our economy by increasing our state revenues and reducing our unemployment and social services expenditures. Our unemployment laws need to be reformed to allow greater access to benefits to those who need it, when they need it and give them the assistance they need to find and keep long-term employment.

Small businesses are the backbone of our State economy. I want to provide them with the tools they need to grow and prosper. We should make sure that the legislation we enact protects the consumer without inhibiting the ability for small businesses to expand and succeed.

Restore funding for the Area Agencies on Aging that provide access to senior care coordination services and enhanced information and assistance. Raising assets level on Missouri HealthNet to ensure seniors receive the healthcare they need. Senior centers provide millions of home delivered and dining hall meals each year. But many senior centers don’t have the proper kitchen equipment that the they need to produce these meals. As your representative, I will work to ensure they have the tools they need to continue these important programs.

I will work to see that Missouri law provides protection for property owners. I believe properties should only be taken out of necessity rather than convenience and compensated for fairly. If property owners are paid well for their properties they are less likely to be taken at all.  I want to ensure that in Missouri, family property stays in the family.

I believe that we should have a balanced and simplified tax code. I support a progressive tax code that allows our lower and middle class families to live a happy and productive life. I recognize our state is facing budget shortfalls and we must find new and creative ways to provide income sources for the state. Some of that should come from additional revenue sources, some should come from streamlining programs and tax codes and closing loopholes for corporations that take business away from MO workers.

I will work to make sure that we have a fair and equitable distribution of state revenue and that any stimulus funds benefit all citizens of the state. Our social programs should be implemented in a cost effective and efficient manner, and I will do everything in my power to make sure that happens.

Protecting our food supply will be one of our greatest challenges in the coming years. Creating appropriate legislation with incentives to farmers to produce a healthy and safe product as well as maintaining a  prosperous farming community will determine how we move into the next generation. Balancing the advantages of genetically modified seed stock against public health and a farmer’s right to use heritage seed stock will be difficult but necessary. Looking towards locally grown products where you know the origin rather than imported products that have fewer controls and oversight than locally grown goods might be a solution towards food safety without hindering farm profits. Also,we should examine the importance of sustainable farming practices that reduce the amount of chemicals we use in food production including the reexamination of the guidelines now in place concerning “organically” grown products as opposed to “naturally” grown products.