EDUCATION
Investment in education at every level supports our young people,
attracts investment capital and industries to Minnesota, and maintains
our reputation as a brain state.
Education is an enormously important part of public policy, and
prioritizing is a necessity. My priorities are to create a practical and
stable method of funding K-12 education (changing our funding
methods at the state level to avoid destructive levy), to increase the
availability and quality of early childhood education (it is the most
effective way to increase achievement outcomes), and to make our state
colleges and universities affordable for everyone (encouraging more
students to continue their education through high school and beyond).
Investment in education at every level supports our young people,
attracts investment capital and industries to Minnesota, and maintains
our reputation as a brain state.
Education is an enormously important part of public policy, and
prioritizing is a necessity. My priorities are to create a practical and
stable method of funding K-12 education (changing our funding
methods at the state level to avoid destructive levy), to increase the
availability and quality of early childhood education (it is the most
effective way to increase achievement outcomes), and to make our state
colleges and universities affordable for everyone (encouraging more
students to continue their education through high school and beyond).
TRANSPORTATION
Investing in transportation infrastructure is both a quality of life and
economic issue.
A fair gas tax will support better roads, higher economic growth, and an
improved quality of business and private life as we relieve congestion.
No one likes taxes, but the cost of not investing is too high. I join the
state Chamber of Commerce, among many others, in supporting a fair
gas tax and believing that Minnesota needs to create a regional
transportation plan, which would include an effective mass transit system
that will allow workers to get to their jobs, and reduce pollution
generated by our automobiles.
Investing in transportation infrastructure is both a quality of life and
economic issue.
A fair gas tax will support better roads, higher economic growth, and an
improved quality of business and private life as we relieve congestion.
No one likes taxes, but the cost of not investing is too high. I join the
state Chamber of Commerce, among many others, in supporting a fair
gas tax and believing that Minnesota needs to create a regional
transportation plan, which would include an effective mass transit system
that will allow workers to get to their jobs, and reduce pollution
generated by our automobiles.
HEALTH CARE
It is time that we ensure all Minnesotans affordable, accessible, portable
health care.
It is often said that the United States has the best health care in the
world, but even for those who are insured, skyrocketing costs are
crippling our schools, businesses, and families. The uninsured are
unprotected, and must often use our emergency care system. We must
do a better job of managing our health care dollars and eliminating some
of the high overhead costs of our current systems. I support
establishment of a statewide health improvement program to focus on
health maintenance, using Medical Homes which are supported by the
AMA.
It is time that we ensure all Minnesotans affordable, accessible, portable
health care.
It is often said that the United States has the best health care in the
world, but even for those who are insured, skyrocketing costs are
crippling our schools, businesses, and families. The uninsured are
unprotected, and must often use our emergency care system. We must
do a better job of managing our health care dollars and eliminating some
of the high overhead costs of our current systems. I support
establishment of a statewide health improvement program to focus on
health maintenance, using Medical Homes which are supported by the
AMA.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT
Minnesota has been a leader in setting aside public lands and in being
environmentally responsible. We owe it to our children to continue to
develop their legacy.
I support continued improvements in the quality of our outdoors and I
believe that Minnesota should strongly develop national leadership in
clean energy development. We must develop public policy that
encourages research and investment in many difference forms of
alternative energy; new forms of energy will be needed for development
around the world. Additionally, I am concerned about our present
ethanol policies in light of available water and food prices. We must
continue to research bio fuels to develop the most efficient and least
damaging production methods. I also support more public/private
partnerships to help organizations use renewable energy forms; I am
part of a limited liability partnership that owns solar system on top of the
church to which I belong.
Minnesota has been a leader in setting aside public lands and in being
environmentally responsible. We owe it to our children to continue to
develop their legacy.
I support continued improvements in the quality of our outdoors and I
believe that Minnesota should strongly develop national leadership in
clean energy development. We must develop public policy that
encourages research and investment in many difference forms of
alternative energy; new forms of energy will be needed for development
around the world. Additionally, I am concerned about our present
ethanol policies in light of available water and food prices. We must
continue to research bio fuels to develop the most efficient and least
damaging production methods. I also support more public/private
partnerships to help organizations use renewable energy forms; I am
part of a limited liability partnership that owns solar system on top of the
church to which I belong.
OUR ECONOMY AND TAX FAIRNESS
People who work hard and play by the rules should still be able to achieve the
American Dream. It is time to aim our public conversion toward smart
government that invest wisely and practically to provide security and
opportunity for Minnesotans.
Sound fiscal policy is an absolute necessity, even when it calls for tough
decisions and the rejection of gimmicks and irresponsible borrowing. A
healthy Minnesota economy is the product of many things – our educated
workforce, our transportation system, our tax policies, and how well we can
attract and keep individuals and families in our communities. We must attract
the best academic talent to our higher education institutions, make tuition
affordable, and foster relationships between those institutions and the
business community. We must create corporate tax policies that are fair to all
businesses, both large and small. And we must create tax relief for the middle
class through controlling property tax increases, pursuing tax cheaters, and
making our tax code less regressive.
People who work hard and play by the rules should still be able to achieve the
American Dream. It is time to aim our public conversion toward smart
government that invest wisely and practically to provide security and
opportunity for Minnesotans.
Sound fiscal policy is an absolute necessity, even when it calls for tough
decisions and the rejection of gimmicks and irresponsible borrowing. A
healthy Minnesota economy is the product of many things – our educated
workforce, our transportation system, our tax policies, and how well we can
attract and keep individuals and families in our communities. We must attract
the best academic talent to our higher education institutions, make tuition
affordable, and foster relationships between those institutions and the
business community. We must create corporate tax policies that are fair to all
businesses, both large and small. And we must create tax relief for the middle
class through controlling property tax increases, pursuing tax cheaters, and
making our tax code less regressive.
| ©2008 Vote Kate Christopher All rights reserved Prepared and Paid for by Vote Kate Christopher (651)270.1282 ~ 1033 Park Avenue, Mahtomedi, MN 55115 |
This photo voltaic system is a public/private partnership
Kate's daughter Sarah is in the St. Scholastica nursing program.