Becky Kroll for Missouri State Representative

Access to public education is one of the most important commitments we make to the next generation. No matter where someone lives, what their family earns, or what challenges they may face, every child deserves access to a good and safe school and a fair opportunity to learn. In communities across Missouri, public schools are more than classrooms. They are gathering places for communities, major local employers, and a source of pride for the towns that built them.

I believe that families should have the freedom to choose the educational path that best fits the needs of their children. Private schools, home schools, trade programs, and traditional public schools all play a role in that landscape. However, public schools have a unique responsibility to educate every child who walks through their doors. Because of this commitment, I believe our public dollars should first serve the system that supports all students.

When funding is diverted from public schools, the consequences can be felt for years, especially in rural communities. Many of these schools already operate on tight budgets, and even small funding changes can mean fewer teachers, fewer programs, and fewer educational opportunities for students. Education should not become a political tug of war. It should be about stability, fairness, and making sure every community has the resources to prepare its students for the future.

Preparing young people for the future also means recognizing that success does not look the same for everyone. College is a great path for some students, but other paths include trade schools, technical training, and career education that deserve strong support as well. Missouri’s future depends on skilled workers, strong communities, and an education system that reflects those opportunities. If we want to remain competitive in today’s job market, education in all its forms must remain a top priority.

Access to healthcare is one of the most basic needs a community can have. No matter where someone lives, what job they hold, or how much money they make, people should be able to see a doctor when they need one. Healthcare should not feel like a luxury or something people have to delay because they are worried about the cost. Healthy families build strong communities, and strong communities build a stronger Missouri.

In many parts of our state, especially rural areas, access to care is becoming harder to find. Hospitals have closed, specialists are scarce, and people often have to travel long distances for services that should be available close to home. When healthcare disappears from a community, it affects everything from local jobs to whether families choose to stay in the area. Protecting and strengthening access to healthcare is not just about medicine. It is about the long term stability of our communities.

I believe healthcare policy should focus on practical solutions that help people get the care they need without unnecessary barriers. Programs that expand access to services, support rural hospitals, and improve maternal and infant health outcomes are investments in the wellbeing of our state. Preventive care, mental health services, and basic medical treatment should not be out of reach for working families.

Missouri’s future depends on healthy people who are able to work, raise families, and contribute to their communities. When we focus on common sense healthcare solutions that improve access and strengthen local services, everyone benefits. Healthcare should not be a partisan issue. It should be a shared commitment to making sure our neighbors can live healthier and more secure lives

Fiscal responsibility means more than balancing a budget. It means spending with intention, accounting for every dollar, and ensuring that public funds are used in ways that improve the lives of as many Missourians as possible. Government has a responsibility to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars while remaining responsive to the real needs of the people it serves.

I believe our current system too often prioritizes tax policies that benefit a small percentage of top earners, while shifting the burden onto working families. When those with the most resources are able to influence policy to protect their own interests, it creates an imbalance that undermines trust and fairness. Fiscal policy should be thoughtful, balanced, and designed to serve the broader public, not just those with access to influence.

A responsible budget must protect the foundations that support strong communities. This includes education, healthcare, housing, and services for vulnerable populations. These are not optional expenses. They are essential investments in the long-term strength and stability of our state.

At the same time, fiscal responsibility requires discipline. Tax decisions must be evaluated carefully to ensure they do not shift costs onto those who can least afford it. Every dollar collected in taxes is a dollar that a family cannot use for groceries, rent, or daily needs. That reality should guide every budget decision.

Missourians deserve to feel confident that their tax dollars are being used responsibly and with clear purpose. By maintaining a lean and accountable budget, while investing in the services that strengthen our communities, we can build a government that reflects both common sense and a commitment to putting neighbors first.

Housing stability means more than having a place to live. It means being able to afford your rent or mortgage, live in a safe community, and have access to good schools and opportunities. For Missouri families, stable housing is the foundation that everything else is built on.

Right now, that foundation is becoming harder to reach. Housing costs continue to rise, often beyond what families can reasonably afford. Rent frequently exceeds traditional affordability standards, and the age of first time homeownership continues to climb, putting homeownership further out of reach for many. When housing takes up too much of a household budget, even a small emergency can create a crisis.

I am especially concerned about those most impacted by these challenges, including single parents, seniors, veterans, and young people trying to build a future. These are Missourians who are working hard, contributing to their communities, and still struggling to secure stable and affordable housing.

Government has a role to play in addressing this issue in a thoughtful and balanced way. That means creating incentives to encourage the development of quality, affordable housing, while also ensuring appropriate oversight of rent and mortgage practices. The goal should be to lower barriers to stability without placing undue strain on property owners or those working to provide housing.

At the same time, we cannot ignore the problem or rely on inaction. Responsible policy must acknowledge the reality families are facing and work toward practical solutions that keep housing within reach.

Housing is not just an economic issue. It is a community issue. When people have stable housing, neighborhoods are stronger, schools are more consistent, and families are better positioned to succeed. Putting neighbors first means making sure Missourians can afford to live, grow, and thrive in the communities they call home

A good job should provide more than just a paycheck. It should offer fair wages, a healthy balance between work and life, and the ability to afford basic needs like housing, food, and healthcare. Work should create stability and opportunity, not constant financial stress.

I come from a working family where that reality was understood early. My father was a member of the Carpenters Union, and my brother built his career as a Millwright through apprenticeship training. Growing up around that environment taught me that strong jobs, fair pay, and worker protections are what build stable families and strong communities.

Too many workers today feel like they are falling behind. Wages have not kept pace with the cost of living, and many people feel undervalued in the workplace. At the same time, access to healthcare is often tied to employment, leaving individuals and families in difficult positions when job conditions are not sustainable.

I am concerned about every Missourian who depends on a paycheck to support themselves or their family. That includes young people entering the workforce, skilled trades workers, small business employees, those changing careers, and families working hard to make ends meet. Work is a part of nearly every household, whether it happens in the home, on a farm, in a small business, or in a larger workplace, and it deserves to be respected and supported.

Missouri must take a more intentional approach to workforce development. That means investing in education at every level, including trade schools, apprenticeship programs, colleges, and continuing education. Strong educational systems are directly tied to strong employment opportunities, and cutting funding to these institutions limits long term growth for our state.

We should support policies that strengthen both workers and the businesses that employ them. That includes encouraging job growth, supporting workforce training, and ensuring safe and fair working conditions. Respecting the right to organize is part of that conversation, just as supporting small businesses and local employers is essential to a healthy economy. These priorities can and should work together.

Jobs are not just about the economy. They are about people. When Missourians have access to good paying jobs and safe workplaces, families are stronger, communities are more stable, and our state is better positioned to grow. Putting neighbors first means recognizing the value of work in all its forms and making sure every Missourian has the opportunity to succeed.

Tax policy should be guided by one simple principle: fairness. Missourians work hard for their income, and they deserve a system that treats them with respect and uses their contributions responsibly.

Right now, many families are feeling the pressure of rising costs in their everyday lives. Groceries, gas, healthcare, and housing continue to take up a larger share of household budgets. At the same time, proposed tax policies often focus on reducing taxes that primarily benefit higher income earners, while shifting the overall burden toward consumption-based taxes that impact working families more directly.

Most Missouri families do not rely on capital gains as a primary source of income, but every family buys groceries, pays for transportation, and covers basic living expenses. When tax policy shifts away from income and toward sales, it can unintentionally increase the burden on those who are already stretching their budgets the most.

I believe Missouri should take a balanced and thoughtful approach to taxation. That means evaluating who benefits from tax changes, understanding how those changes affect everyday families, and ensuring that we are not creating unintended consequences that make it harder for people to get ahead.

Fiscal responsibility and tax policy go hand in hand. Every dollar collected in taxes is a dollar that a family cannot spend on their own needs. That is why government must be disciplined, transparent, and accountable in how it uses public funds. At the same time, we must make sure we are adequately funding the essential services that keep our communities strong, including education, healthcare, infrastructure, and public safety.

Missourians do not expect perfection from their government, but they do expect common sense. A fair tax system should reflect the realities of everyday life, support long term economic stability, and ensure that everyone contributes in a way that is reasonable and equitable.

Putting neighbors first means recognizing that tax policy is not just about numbers. It is about people, families, and the ability to build a stable future right here in Missouri.