Issues

Public Education

I believe in quality public education, and I have strongly opposed efforts to fund private schools with public dollars. I support teachers and believe we must stand up against national and local efforts by extremist groups to ban books and turn our children’s classrooms into another battlefield in a never-ending culture war.

Healthcare

The physical and mental health of all Nebraskans is essential, and I support policies to ensure quality, affordable healthcare for all. I am partnering in efforts to find a solution to our mental health needs in Nebraska, not just from a healthcare standpoint but also for public safety. And I believe that it is not the government or any politician’s place to substitute our judgment for the judgment of any individual in consultation with their doctor.

Equality for all

Nebraska’s state motto is “Equality Before The Law,” but for too long we have failed to live up to that motto. I support laws that will protect all Nebraskans from discrimination, and I will continue to strongly oppose proposed legislation that seeks to discriminate against LGBTQ+ Nebraskans. No one should be afraid because of who they are or who they love. I will fight to ensure our laws reflect our values, that everyone deserves equal protections and equal opportunity regardless of race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or nation of birth.

Criminal Justice Reform

My experience as a public defender has strongly informed my work in the Legislature. I have introduced a number of bills seeking to address our prison overcrowding crisis, because I strongly believe that we cannot simply build our way out of it. I successfully sponsored legislation to streamline the process for incarcerated Nebraskans to get healthcare upon reentry. Our jails are the largest mental health care providers in the state and are not equipped for that task. This is why I have partnered with other senators to find solutions to our mental health care capacity in order to protect public safety.

police and public safety

The Black Lives Matter protests brought attention to the issue of police misconduct nationwide. I support policies that will hold police who violate constitutional rights accountable. Bad actors endanger our public safety by eroding the trust between police and the communities they are sworn to protect and serve. Making sure that our law does not protect bad actors and provides a way to hold them accountable is crucial to restoring trust.

I have worked and will continue to work with police and prosecutors to find common ground on a number of issues related to public safety. Whether that is keeping illegal guns off the streets of our community, investing in early intervention and prevention efforts, or making sure that police have the resources they need to solve crimes, I will continue to work with partners in law enforcement to make our communities safer.

Infrastructure and Transportation

I am an advocate for transportation alternatives and reimagining our city around mobility and away from being so car-focused. I support public transportation and sustainable infrastructure in the Legislature. I will continue to work to expand transit options and ensure that everyone can get around Omaha in a way that is most convenient for them. Access to transportation is access to jobs, and I will approach transportation as an economic development tool.

Gun Control

I support reasonable, common-sense solutions to reduce gun violence, including universal background checks in Nebraska.

Workers Rights

I support the minimum wage increase that Nebraska voters approved, and I will oppose efforts to change or undo it. I support paid family leave and equal pay for equal work. I believe everyone should have the right to join a union and bargain collectively with their employer. As a state senator, I am committed to protecting the collective bargaining rights of Nebraskans.

tax reform

Taxes should be fair, reasonable, and support working families, not just the wealthy. I support reasonable efforts to provide property tax relief to Nebraskans who are feeling the effect of ever-rising valuations. I will not support proposals which shift the tax burden to low-income Nebraskans by increasing sales taxes in order to give tax breaks to corporations and large landowners.

Environment and public power

As a member of the Natural Resources Committee in the Legislature, I have the spent the last four years working on issues of public power, energy, and water quality. I am committed to protecting Nebraska’s unique public power, the Nebraska Environmental Trust, and our abundant water resources. I support efforts to encourage renewable energy and alternatives to fossil fuels.

reproductive health

I am pro-choice, I believe access to contraception is fundamental to physical and mental health and that it is important to success in life. I believe all kids should have a scientifically based sexual education. I believe sexuality is an essential part of the human experience and everyone should have the freedom and education to experience it in the way that is right and safe for them. I have opposed and will continue to oppose efforts to insert the government in health care decisions between Nebraskans and their doctors.

housing and tenant rights

More than sixty percent of District 9 residents rent their homes, and rents continue to increase. Landlords exercise outsized political influence over politicians of both parties while developers get tax breaks for luxury apartments. We need better housing policy that prioritizes affordable housing and tenant rights. As a former Public Defender I recognize the importance of having counsel in serious matters. In the Legislature, I have proposed bills to grant tenants a right to counsel in eviction proceedings. I have passed protections for renters including provisions to allow domestic violence survivors legal protection. I will continue to stand up for the rights of Nebraska tenants.

Legalize cannabis

I support the legalization of cannabis for medicinal and for recreational use. I support coupling legalization with measures to vacate the convictions and expunge the records of individuals convicted of violating marijuana laws. I support taxing and regulating cannabis in the same way the state currently taxes and regulates alcohol and tobacco.

Campaign Finance

Nebraska currently allows individuals and businesses to contribute unlimited amounts of money directly to campaigns, with virtually no restrictions. This has a negative effect on our democracy. In the Legislature I have proposed bills to curb the influence of money on our elections. I have passed a law that prohibits the use of foreign money in ballot initiative campaigns. I am working on legislation that would regulate the use of artificial intelligence in political campaigns. I will continue to stand up for transparency in our campaigns and elections.

Gerrymandering and partisanship

I support an independent redistricting commission that would remove partisan influence from the redistricting process, because voters should choose their elected representatives, not the other way around. I have introduced legislation to expand nonpartisan elections in Nebraska. I am strongly opposed to efforts to dismantle the nonpartisan unicameral Legislature and inject more partisanship in our elections. I am a lifelong Democrat, but I believe that the influence of political parties in our elections and in our Legislature should be decreased, not increased.

voting rights

The right to vote is fundamental. I will work to make voting easier, not harder, and I will strongly oppose voter suppression measures or efforts to decrease accessibility to the polls.

eminent domain and property rights

I am committed to protecting the constitutional property rights of all Nebraskans. I successfully sponsored legislation to end the unconstitutional practice of home equity theft, which saw private investors force Nebraskans out of their homes with no compensation for being late on paying property taxes. I brought a bill to require increased public accountability and transparency in eminent domain proceedings.