Issues
The
world, and District 24 is full of everyday folks, doing the best they can, new
businesses trying to make a buck and share something they love. It’s filled with
people who live in Reno because of kindness about town, and the fun you can
have in the mountains. They want to own a house, raise a family, earn a decent
wage without worrying about their water supply, a surprise medical bill, or how
they are going to afford retirement. They care about supporting their local
teachers and safety officers and they want to diversify the economy in new and
creative ways.
I am running as a democrat because I believe it is clearly the party of progress and the party of science.
As a young(er) person, I think it is critical to stand up for democratic ideals
in order to protect our environment, educate our youth, and give everyone,
whether they are new to the country, poor, broke, disabled, whatever, an opportunity
to earn a fair wage or start a new business and what better place to do that in
than in Nevada.
I am running
because of the values my mom instilled in me as a kid. She taught me the power
of an education and navigated through school of choice and college selection to
get me to where I am today. I had a great experience at a charter school during
middle school, however, sitting on the Audit Committee for Washoe School board,
I think it will be important to ensure that charter schools are held fiscally accountable
and we are careful not to let wealthy individuals/organizations use charter
schools to divert money and resources from our public schools.
Finally,
I am running because greenhouse gases are a real threat to our health now, and
will only be getting worse for our children. I want to ensure that Nevada leads
the way on clean energy investment, not only for the health of our world but because
it is clear now, that there are easy ways to reduce our energy bills with just
a bit of up-front investment. We need to require NV Energy to invest in clean energy to lower our energy bills and lead to a green future.
Enviornment and Energy
- Renewable
Energy Development: I support the continued expansion of renewable energy
sources, such as solar and wind, in Nevada. This includes investment in clean
energy infrastructure, research and development, and the implementation of
policies to protect natural habitats and protected lands.
- Energy
Efficiency: Promoting energy efficiency in homes, businesses, and
transportation is a priority. Incentives for energy-efficient technologies,
building standards, and public transportation options are key components of our
strategy. I support continued incentives to help working families convert to
more energy efficient options.
- Green
Jobs: I recognize the potential for job creation in the green sector. I will
support the growth of green jobs in renewable energy, conservation, and
sustainable agriculture to stimulate economic growth in Nevada.
- Lithium:
I recognize that lithium mining can be an economic windfall for The State of
Nevada. As a legislator, I will ensure any new mining operations have to have a
firm plan and be held accountable to pay their fair share in taxes and clean up
their mess.
Water
- Our
former representative, Sarah Peters, sucessfully championed clean water during her campaign
and during her time as a legislator. My goal is to carry that torch onwards. Water
is not only a precious natural resource but also a fundamental component of our
community's health, prosperity, and future sustainability. It is critical we
protect our waterways and watersheds to maintain a healthy and enjoyable
future. Strict regulations and enforcement are necessary to prevent water
pollution, particularly in mining, urban, and industrial areas. I will work to
hold all mining operations accountable for their actions as it relates to
groundwater. I’d plan to reintroduce AB313 from Sarah Peters to revise provisions
on mining reclamation to protect our ground water from new mining operations.
Education
- As
a member of the Washoe School Board Audit Committee, I have seen the challenges
teachers and administrators face with budget shortcomings. I am committed to
finding funding from creative sources to provide to schools that all children
in Reno can attend.
- I
believe it is important to support universal pre-K access for all Nevada
children. Studies have found that child care in Nevada can cost more than
college education and rent. We need to Increase funding and access to Nevada
Ready state Pre-K fund to provide universal pre-k to all of Nevada, study what
has worked well and what is cost effective at schools that have implemented the
program. We should develop a cost driven formula to fund pre-K vs. a budget
driven formula.
- I
am committed to working with teachers to find new and creative ways to train
teachers and empower them to put students first.
- I
would work with safety officers, administrators, and legislators to further
increase the safety of our children while keeping guns out of the classroom.
Economy
- I
believe in a commonsense approach to economic development that empowers workers
and small business owners to make decisions that support their families and
betters the community. All workers should be paid, at minimum, a living wage
that keeps up with inflation and the rising costs of nearly everything. While
corporate investment is important to our region and our state, we must hold
them accountable to support their workers.
- We
need to give small business owners and entrepreneurs an environment to take
risks and grow their businesses. Reno will flourish with this type of
investment. We have a state with excellent tax advantages for businesses and we
need to allow these businesses to grow, hire individuals, and make meaningful
contributions to the community. I want to continue to attract entrepreneurs
from all over the county.
Healthcare and Drug Costs
- I
believe in increased investment in mental health programs and lowering the cost
of care for all Nevadans. We must enact legislation that allows the government to
negotiate with drug companies and big pharma more effectively. We need to
empower our doctors to prescribe the right medicine without worrying about
insurance companies getting in the way.
- I
will continue to work to pass legislation to lower drug costs for all Nevadans,
even those under the age of 65. Recently, legislature was vetoed by Joe
Lombardo and we must work across the aisle to find solutions to get a bill
passed that will relive the skyrocketing cost of healthcare in Nevada, a state
with some of the highest cost of healthcare in the Nation.
Infrastructure
- I
believe in continued investment in critical infrastructure to improve Northern
Nevada. We have an opportunity with recent investments in our airport here in
Reno to showcase our region to visitors and businesses and we should ensure we
have funding for roads, bridges, airports, water and sewer and other
infrastructure to support future growth.
Women's Right to Choose
- We
should do everything we can in Nevada to protect a women’s right to choose. The Nevada State Assembly is currently a women majority legislature. We should be proud of that. I will do my best to be a
supporter, listener, and advocate for this issue wherever I can.
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Ben's Reno Gazette Op-ed
