It's time for state lawmakers to tackle affordability issues for Missourians. Suzanne has heard from hundreds of Jefferson City residents who are concerned about making ends meet. The cost of groceries, utilities, medical expenses, housing, and child care continue to rise. She will work to keep Missouri affordable for those who call it home. Part of that strategy is ensuring a fair tax system for all taxpayers, not one that shifts more of the burden onto working people. Fair taxes mean everyone pays their share so the state can invest in the building blocks that make our communities strong - good schools, safe roads, public safety, and quality health care. Missouri won’t grow by making life harder for people who live here. It grows when working people earn good wages and people can afford the basics. It’s then more money is spent at local businesses and our entire state benefits.
It’s time for the State Legislature to invest in Missouri's future to revive the state’s sluggish economy which hasn’t grown for 20 years. Suzanne realizes that to attract businesses who offer good jobs, lawmakers must invest in what people and employers depend on - safe roads and bridges, strong public schools, accessible health care, available childcare, and affordable utilities. Missourians are doing their part. They’re working hard, paying taxes, raising families, caring for parents, keeping local businesses alive, and holding their communities together. The problem is that the economy stopped working for the people who make it run. When working people can afford to live, work, care for their families, and participate fully in their communities, Missouri’s economy gets stronger.
It's time that our lawmakers put the well-being of the people and our local communities first, rather than serving the interests of political parties and power brokers. Suzanne is ready to restore power where it belongs - in the hands of the people of Missouri. She supports the right of citizens to propose their own laws through the ballot initiative process without legislative interference. She will work to ensure that passing ballot initiatives isn't made more difficult. She will insist on creating fair voting districts to make sure everyone’s voice is heard. Democracy works best when leaders respect the people's decisions.
It's time for a state representative who is accountable to Missouri residents rather than to political insiders and special interests. As a leader, Suzanne puts people first. Known for her professionalism and integrity, she will be a fair-minded voice for all Missourians. She will listen with an open mind and will work across party lines to address issues that are important to Missourians. She believes that laws should help people, not make their lives more difficult. She recognizes that wasteful spending is giving away public money without accountability or demonstrated return on investment. Special interests are writing rules that benefit their clients while working people pay the bill. Real economic growth relies on making sure public dollars deliver for the people who pay them.
It’s time for the state to fully invest in public education to help build a healthy economy. Strong public schools help communities attract businesses, workers, and families. Employers expect a well-trained workforce. As a former elected school board member and longtime educator, Suzanne will work to ensure our public schools and universities have the resources they need to provide quality education for their students. She will work toward full funding for Lincoln University, including stable core funding and the land-grant match Missouri is obligated to provide. Last session, Republican leaders made education funding less stable. They advanced a plan to cut Lincoln University’s core funding by almost 40%, they left K-12 schools $190 million short, and they launched a task force to rewrite the funding formula to keep public education funding flat. That kind of uncertainty is exactly why our community needs a representative who will fight for reliable, fair funding for our public schools and universities. Public dollars should strengthen the schools that serve our communities. Suzanne will advocate for a single set of rules and full accountability for any school receiving public funds, whether public or private. Our state suffers when public schools are underfunded. Strong schools are one of the best economic investments Missouri can make.
It’s time for lawmakers to address affordable and accessible healthcare that helps keep Missouri communities livable, workable, and attractive for growth. Communities struggle if people have to drive an hour in a health crisis, if expectant mothers cannot find maternity care, or if people cannot get basic checkups before a manageable problem becomes an emergency. If we want families to stay in Missouri, workers to move here, and businesses to invest here, we have to protect the basic healthcare services that make a community desirable. Suzanne believes that every woman in Missouri deserves safe healthcare. Missouri rates 44th in the country for maternal deaths. Such poor maternal health is a warning sign that Missouri’s healthcare system is under serious strain. When obstetric units close, doctors face legal confusion in emergencies, and healthcare workers move out-of-state, Missourians pay the price. Young families, healthcare professionals, and employers pay attention to whether a community is a safe, stable, and reliable place to have children, raise a family, recruit workers, and invest for the long term. The State Legislature has a responsibility to protect access to basic healthcare, keep hospitals and clinics open, and let medical decisions be guided by patients and their doctors.