My Priorities

I will bring forward and support legislation which results in universal health care with no out of pocket costs for American Citizens. This healthcare will include primary care visits, emergency care, prescription drugs, mental health services, essential hospital services, and laboratory services.

Why do I support universal healthcare?

• Currently monthly healthcare costs can exceed $1,000 a month for individuals. That is $12,000 a year not including your deductible, co-pays, or co-insurance. Currently the U.S. spends almost $15,000 per person. Universal Healthcare would cost between $6,000 – $9,000 per person.
• Universal healthcare would make our country healthier. People would not have to choose between rent or groceries and receiving care. When our country becomes healthier people are able to miss less work and engage more in their community.
• This will also reduce the administrative burden on providers. They will not have to credential with many different insurance companies or fight to understand the varying coverages.

My goal as a congressman is to make the American dream something everyone feels they can achieve. This starts with opportunity. The opportunity to pursue college or trade schools is not universal and can be inhibited by costs, family obligations, or health problems. I am proposing we begin breaking down those barriers starting with costs.

Why do I support this?

• By supporting the pursuit of education post K-12 we are enhancing our skilled workforce. By having a skilled workforce the US is able to stop outsourcing jobs thus growing our economy.
• I want my children to have opportunities without worry. The possibility of debt can stop a lot of Americans from pursuing college and trade schools. I was lucky to have parents who were able to support me in getting an education but, not everyone has that help.
• Growing our educated workforce means Americans will earn higher wages and have more opportunity for success.

The minimum wage has not been raised since 2009 and currently sits at $7.25, this is not a livable wage in the majority of the U.S. While wages remain the same prices have increased by 50%. I would propose increasing the minimum wage to $20. This may seem like a large increase but, it will account for the fact that prices will continue to raise and we may have to wait 17 more years for the wages to increase. We should not have to wait for another economic crash to raise the minimum wage.

Why I support this?

• Many families are living pay check to pay check while working multiple jobs. To build a community which thrives people need to be able to plan for the future. By raising the minumum wage we will ensure that people can save portions of their wages for emergencies and retirement.
• Increasing the wealth of the working class stimulates our economy more than tax breaks for the 1%. The trickle down method is proven unreliable as the ultra-wealthy set extra profit aside into the stock market, essentially taking it out of the economy. When the average American increases their income we are proven to stimulate the economy as we engage with the economy more frequently.

Corporations are currently able to influence elections and legislation more than the American people. This effectively makes Congress for the corporations instead of for the people, I believe this is wrong. I would support and will bring forward legislation that stops corporate spending in elections and that limits corporate gifts to influence legislations.

Why do I support this?

• I believe the average American should have as much influence as corporate oligarchs.
• Through corporate PACs corporations are not limited on the amount of funds they can use to influence politics. In comparison Americans are limited to $3,500.

Living on the Boise Forte reservation and in northern Minnesota I have developed a deep respect for the environment. I believe we should protect our land and water, especially the boundary waters. I will only support mining projects that do not harm our land or our watershed. Harming our environment harms us.

Why do I support this?

• Keeping our environment clean reduces our health risks. Sulfide mining leaks chemicals into our environement which can cause illnesses such as cancer, especially when in our water systems. Like many Minnesotan’s I am an avid fisherman clean environments means we can enjoy our fish fries without worrying.
• Keeping our environment healthy also keeps our tourism alive. Many people visit our communities to watch the leaves turn colors in the fall or to take a dip in our lakes. This stops if we don’t protect our lands. This would cause an economic low in many of our communities and stop our growth.

I do not support the US funding wars, directly or indirectly, which lead to genocides. I will support legislation that stops the funds being sent to Israel and other countries whom are engaging in genocide. Not only will this help humanity but it will keep our tax dollars at home doing good.

Why I support this?

• The US sent between $3.7-3.8 billion dollars to Israel in 2025. That is money that could make a difference in our country. Isreal does not need this funding and is using it in inhumane ways.
• Genocide impacts more than just the country it is happening in. We live in a globalized world where we are able to witness atrocities across oceans. This harms every persons mental well being.
• I do not believe in taking unnecessary lives whenever possible. I support actions that foster peace. I understand when terrorists take up arms we must stop them but we can achieve this without losing thousands of civilian lives.

I believe the United States is great because we are a melting pot of cultures. I will lead legislation to abolish ICE. ICE has committed too many atrocities against immigrants and the American people. I will support legislation that increases the education needed for law enforcement so that we can trust the people who serve us and ensure immigrants are treated with respect. I will support legislation that makes legal immigration an easier process to complete and adds to the workforce supporting those immigrants.

Why I support this

• Increased education for our law enforcement would reduce wrongful arrests, wrongful deaths, and increase public safety.
• Clarity in the pathways to citizenship will reduce the number of people coming without documentation. This will help our immigrant community gain rights as US citizens without having to jump through unneccesary and confusing hoops.
• Immigration helps the economy. The United State’s workforce is dwindling. One way to support our workforce is to allow for migration. This brings skilled and unskilled workers into our economy and helps us to keep production in the US.
• Immigration contributes to a beautiful culture. The US is the “melting pot of the world”. Our food, dances, music, and movies are all influenced by our mixed ancestry and by the heritages of a diverse community. I believe this is why we are one of the leaders in the worlds media. Without immigration we lose ideas, view points, and stories that would help us all become a better community.