Legislative Priorities

As a member of the VT House of Representatives, I will always focus on:

Housing: 

I moved to South Burlington in 2005 as a renter. I know first-hand about the difficulties of affordable housing in our city. Housing, and more specifically affordable housing, is critical to the health of our community and state. It’s inextricably linked to our local economy, moving Vermonters out of poverty, the physical health and welfare of families, and addressing climate change. For the past decade plus I have worked with affordable housing groups and organized alongside legislative leaders, and currently serve on South Burlington’s Housing Trust Committee. This experience has shown me we need to:

  • Increase the stock of both public and private perpetually affordable housing

  • Reduce barriers to accessing rental and homeownership subsidies

  • Ensure that rental housing meets safety standards

  • Promote energy efficiency in new construction and update existing housing stock with energy efficient technology and materials

Climate:

The World Health Organization (WHO) calls climate change the 21st century’s greatest threat to global health and it will take all of us working together to change the path we’re on. Vermont’s primary energy sources have to be renewable and sustainable, and built and maintained by businesses right here in the state whenever possible. I will work to:

  • Meet the goal of 90% of our state’s energy coming from renewable sources by 2050

  • Improve options for public transportation and telecommuting to reduce dependence on cars

  • Create policies and actions that limit the financial impact on low-income Vermonters

  • Name clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment as a basic human right

Healthcare: 

Every Vermonter should have access to quality healthcare when they need it regardless of income or employer. No one should be faced with the impossible decision of choosing between putting food on the table and paying for their prescription medications or a visit to their doctor. Though we have a high rate of people with health insurance in our state, far too many can’t afford to use theirs. While we work toward universal healthcare, we need to:

  • Increase price transparency for all healthcare providers in the state so that individuals can make informed choices

  • Increase the availability of mental health and substance use treatment for both adults and children and remove the stigma associated with accessing these supports

  • Place controls on the cost of prescription drugs

  • Support flexible home and community-based care options that reduce dependency on emergency rooms and allow seniors to age in place

Affordability:

When I talk with my neighbors here in South Burlington, the most common economic issue that I hear is that South Burlington’s property tax burden is too high. I am committed to finding solutions that reduce the tax burden on seniors, support our small businesses, and encourage growth while protecting the social services and safety net policies that are vital to our community’s success. I support:

  • A livable minimum wage

  • Paid family and medical leave

  • Increased funding for high-quality childcare for all families 

Education:

I’ve had many amazing teachers in my school career but no one taught me more than my own mother, a special educator for over 45 years. As the daughter of educators, I firmly believe that when students, teachers, and schools have the resources they need, our whole community thrives. From preschool through college, we need to support public educators and education that lifts up youth of all abilities and backgrounds. We need:

  • Fully-staffed high-quality special education programming

  • Policies that promote racial and social equity and give schools the tools to become truly inclusive spaces

  • Expanded affordable educational opportunities for every age

Vermont for all: 

I believe in the importance of elevating diverse, underrepresented, and marginalized voices. Rather than seeing equity as its own separate issue, we need to see it as the core value of everything that happens at the statehouse. A government that only works for some is unacceptable. While we work toward a goal of true inclusion, we need to take an honest look at existing barriers and do everything we can to dismantle them, even when it’s difficult. In my role as a state representative I am committed to:

  • Fully supporting equity and inclusion work in state government and in our community

  • Identifying and eliminating policies and programs that negatively affect Vermonters based on their race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion, or economic resources

  • Advocating for solutions that come directly from underrepresented communities

  • Implementing policies that make democracy and the work of government accountable to those with the least access to it