“As a native Oregonian, Katie understands that having a good-paying job and a good quality of life is central to our future.”
Putting Oregonians Back to Work
As a native Oregonian, Katie understands that having a good-paying job and a good quality of life is central to our future. But the recession means too many Oregon families are struggling right now. Katie is concerned that many people, particularly those nearing retirement, have been laid off and are not able to obtain new jobs.
Katie knows small businesses are the engine of our economy. She believes that Oregon needs to cut red tape and expand access to loans to help our small business sector begin to thrive again. We need to help our small businesses first so they can hire more Oregonians. It’s time to end tax breaks for out-of-state corporations and companies that ship jobs overseas.
Affordable and Accessible Health Care
One in three Oregonians does not have health insurance and over 75% of those uninsured are part of working families. To help ease this burden health care needs to be more affordable for everyone. Insurance companies need to reveal how much they spend on administrative costs rather than patient care and include the essential preventive care services that will decrease trips to the emergency room.
Keeping Government Accountable to Us
Katie has years of practical experience effectively managing multi-million dollar projects. She believes that state agencies can be more accountable and efficient, ensuring that we are not wasting taxpayer money. She also supports more oversight for state pension fund investments, and holding big banks accountable to everyday Oregonians.
Protecting Schools
Quality education is the foundation of the economy and the future of Oregon and its citizens. Katie supports full-year funding for Oregon schools and increased access to college grants and loans. Early childhood education and kindergarten are extremely important in preparing children for entry into the formal K-12 system. In addition, Katie believes that college tuition needs to be affordable so no Oregonian is priced out of an education.
Vocational training and workforce development programs are vital for those who do not plan to attend college. Katie supports protecting education programs that enrich our community and attract new industry to our state.
Positive Programs for Kids
Adolescents who participate in positive extracurricular activities are less likely to engage in risky behavior (drugs, alcohol, sex, crime) during out-of-school time. Community school programs provide recreational activities, classes, and service learning that contributes to teen growth and to the welfare of their community.
As taxpayers, we own the schools and they should be accessible to the community for the benefit of all. Programs can be coordinated with schools to provide an extension of learning, thereby not causing an extra burden on school staff.
Protecting our Environment for the Future
As responsible stewards of Oregon’s natural resources, Katie knows we must work to preserve our environment for our children and our grandchildren. And we can do it while strengthening our economy. Oregon needs to continue to be a national leader in sustainability while creating jobs in the clean and renewable energy sector. More clean energy jobs need to be brought to our communities while protecting the farms, forests, and open spaces that make Oregon such a wonderful place to live.
Protecting Consumers from Deceptive Practices
Katie wants Oregonians to have access to information regarding the products and services they use. She supports having government hold big banks, insurance corporations, and credit card companies accountable by putting an end to the deceptive practices that caused the current recession. Katie also supports the Attorney General’s prosecution of Wall Street companies that use fraudulent information to deceive consumers into bad loans.