Priorities
Legalize Cannabis
Fund Public Education
Make Housing Affordable
Protect Family Farms
Expand Medicare and Medicaid
Fix the Damn Roads
Mental Health Matters
Fund First Responders
Government Accountability
It's high time we legalized cannabis in Indiana. After all, Hoosiers are already buying it, whether it be legally from a neighboring state or illegally from a drug dealer. It's only common sense that we legalize it and finally open up a new industry that will bring thousands of jobs to this state, and open up new revenue streams. After all, our neighboring states have raked in nearly ONE BILLION dollars from taxes on weed.
Cannabis legalization isn't just about opening new revenue streams; it's also about criminal justice reform. According to NORMAL, from 2018-2023, there have been almost 50,000 pot-related arrests in Indiana. If we legalized cannabis, it would not only significantly reduce our prison population, but it would also free up law enforcement to focus on more serious crimes.
There are also serious medical advantages to legalizing cannabis. Hoosiers suffering from a wide array of medical conditions, ranging from PTSD to chronic pain, can finally legally get the relief they so desperately need.
Legalize Cannabis
Public education is the cornerstone of our state. Unfortunately, leaders at the State House are determined to defund public education through voucher programs. I would not be the leader I am today had it not been for my experiences in the public school system. After all, that is where I cut my advocacy teeth. A FULLY FUNDED public education system means paying teachers what they deserve, increasing the per-student funding we give school districts, and ensuring that ALL Hoosier kids get a well-rounded education. This also means that school kids in rich areas shouldn't get more opportunities than kids in poorer areas. We need EQUAL funding for ALL school districts proportional to their student population.
Fully Fund Public Education
Affordable Housing
A house is a must. Back in the 20th century, a good-paying union job could afford a single-family home with a white picket fence. Now, what once took one job to afford a house can take many people two or three. Let's lower our housing rates and ensure that wages meet current cost-of-living demands so that we, the youth of today, can afford that white picket fence. The base of Maslow's Hierarchy is shelter. Without a safe place to lie your head, everything else in life becomes so much harder. There is no reason that in the richest nation on Earth, we have people facing housing insecurity or living on the streets.
Protect Family Farms
Farmers are the backbone of Indiana's economy. At our core, we are a farming state, and without our family farms, we would be nothing. Unfortunately, we are seeing massive, out-of-state corporations come in and buy out small, family farms. We must PROTECT our family farms, or we risk losing one of the things that defines Indiana. I fully support the subsidies we give our farmers, but we need to do more to ensure that small family farms can survive in this economy. That starts by encouraging people to buy local and BANNING corporations from buying up too much of our precious farm lands
The people are the bosses of elected government officials, and we demand accountability. The state government should work for the people, not the elected officials. We need more government transparency and accountability when it comes to where our taxpayer dollars are going. Are they going to projects that benefit ALL Hoosiers, or are they going to helipads and new SUVs that benefit a few at the top? We MUST root out corruption in our government and ensure that the government works for ALL Hoosiers, not just a select few! When we increase transparency and accountability, we all benefit. I propose that we have an independent committee made up of business leaders and regular, everyday Hoosiers that reguarlly audits the State government and holds it accountable.
Government Accountability
As someone who has been fighting depression for going on five years, I am acutely aware of the mental health crisis facing America. 20% of American young people suffer from depression and other mental health issues. With all of the shit young people - and people of all ages - have to deal with, its no surprise why that rate is the highest its ever been. Unfortunately, there are still massive societal stigmas around mental heath, especially when it comes to men. We need leaders who know the mental health problems people face, and have ideas on how to help. It's time to destigmatize mental heath and start championing ways to get help.
Mental Health Matters
Robust public safety is crucial for a functioning society. We must fully fund every part of our public safety system. Recent tax legislation meant that many local departments saw budget cuts. Small towns like Pendleton and rural communities like Vernon now had less money to spend on public safety. Many of those communities already rely on a volunteer fire/rescue department, and some even have a volunteer police force. Cutting funding from these departments means that more people are going to have to wait longer for the help they need. Firefighters will take longer to get to burn scenes, EMTs will take longer to get to patients in critical condition, and police will take longer to answer calls. In situations where a few seconds could mean the difference between life and death, every second counts. We need to be funding these services, not cutting them.
Funding First Responders