My family believes that we all share the faith that the Minnesota Dream should be attainable for all Minnesotans.  The ‘bread-and-butter’ elements of this Dream that affect each one of us every day center upon education, taxes, health care, jobs, security, and recreation.  I believe that the steps below would help make the Minnesota Dream a reality:

Education

• Fully fund all-day, every-day kindergarten
• Enable our students to compete globally and live locally
• Reduce schools’ dependence upon local property taxes
• Invest fully in early childhood education
• Demand that Congress fund its special education mandate
• Measure the individual academic growth of each child
• Invest properly in higher education
• Partner with local trade organizations for “schools-to-skills” vocational education

Health Care

• Ensure affordable, accessible health care for all Minnesotans
• Restore access to MinnesotaCare for farmers, small business owners, and others
• Pursue a Leave No Child Uninsured plan
• Strengthen a statewide prescription drug plan for seniors and the uninsured

Investing in Our Area’s Future: Jobs, Agriculture, and the Environment

• Increase and dedicate funding for outdoor habitats and wetlands
• Reduce property taxes, especially as they affect seniors and those on fixed incomes
• Promote state-sponsored research into renewable energy sources
• Pursue the 20% by 2020 initiative for renewable energy
• Encourage a labor-agriculture partnership in renewable energy
• Fix ‘the forgotten Highway 14′ and other roads in Nicollet and Sibley counties
• Commit to a clean, clear dedication of funding for Greater Minnesota’s roads
• Address 10-ton road needs and “post down” signage issues
• Review the effects of rising land prices upon local farmers
• Protect clean air, clean water, and clean habitats
• Restore the local government aid especially needed in rural Minnesota