SAFETY & JUSTICE FOR ALL
All Georgians deserve to be safe and secure in our communities. When the system only works for some, it's not equality and justice for all. Georgia must implement comprehensive reform measures to address systematic inequalities in the judicial process, law enforcement, and end the schools-to-prison pipeline.
This past session, I sponsored a law that would require the release of audio and video recordings from law enforcement body cameras. This is just one of the many bills needed to ensure the public is being protected, such as accountability for District Attorneys, accountability for law enforcement agencies, and the repeal of antiquated statues, like “Stand Your Ground”. There are many other reform measures – from ending chokeholds to enforcing interventions for excessive force and de-escalation procedures – that have been proposed but have not gotten any traction in our Republican majority.
Having a well- trained, well- funded police force to keep the peace and protect our citizenry is absolutely necessary. All these reform measures speak to the core of combating the very real disparities that exist in the administration of criminal justice in Georgia. I support the necessary investment of public funding to our judicial and law enforcement officers who give tirelessly to protect and serve all Georgians.
I also support allocating more resources to social services that protect and promote healthy communities, thus reducing the over reliance of law enforcement. I will continue to advocate against budget cuts to the Department of Child and Family Services, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, as well as unemployment training programs and safe housing for the homeless.
We need to take a hard look at the systemic inequities that underlie many institutions in our society, including our healthcare system and our education system, that have led to disproportionate harm in our communities of color. We cannot rest until we achieve our vision of equality and justice for all under the law.
COVID RESPONSE & RECOVERY
We can rebuild a stronger, more thriving Georgia with a proactive, sensible approach to our recovery efforts. I’ll continue to push to prioritize public resources and advance public policies to protect our citizens' health, spur investments in small businesses and job creation, and provide safety-net programs for food, economic insecurity, and safe educational instruction. I will fight to maximize state revenues to avoid costly cuts that will take over a lifetime to recuperate from, and ultimately slow Georgia’s progress.
HEALTHCARE
Failure to expand access to healthcare in the middle of a pandemic is unacceptable. I will continue to fight for access to quality, affordable healthcare for all Georgians, including expanding Medicaid, an action that will provide 500,000 Georgians with health insurance while creating tens of thousands of healthcare jobs across our state.
Even before COVID, Georgia consistently ranked among the worst in national health rankings, including one of the highest in uninsured rates and the highest in maternal mortality rates. As a nonprofit advocate for families and children, I’ve been committed to improving the health and well-being of all Georgians my entire career. Since serving Cobb in the legislature, I’ve sponsored legislation to increase access to health insurance for working families1 and promote science-based policies to improve healthcare for women and children2 because I believe Georgia must be healthy in order to thrive.
I kept pressure on House leadership to save critical public health and safety-net programs from draconic budget cuts and supported reforms to end surprise medical billing3 because our families should not have to go bankrupt in order to be healthy.
ECONOMIC VITALITY
Georgia thrives when we create opportunities for all to succeed. Small businesses and working families are the backbone of our economy. I support a living wage, equal pay for women and fostering a climate that creates job opportunities for all residents.
I support policies that make it easier for entrepreneurs to start up and keep their businesses thriving. Modernizing our tax code and closing special interest loopholes will help take the burden off of our middle class and small businesses.
Our district residents also lack access to reliable transportation options. I support efforts to build a comprehensive regional transit network. Shorter, less expensive commutes and access to a greater variety of jobs will increase our district’s quality of life and economic competitiveness.
EDUCATION
Our public schools are the nexus of strong families and strong communities. Our families succeed when children can grow and learn safely in excellent public schools, and businesses will continue to grow if we have a well-trained workforce.
While Cobb County and Marietta Schools are among the state’s best, they are still asked to do more with less. And that’s not enough for our most precious resources. I support increased school funding, better teacher pay, and flexibility in testing. I’ll continue to work to address inequalities in access to education, including smaller classrooms, Pre-K and after-school programs4 and ending discriminatory school discipline. We must modernize our education funding models so that we are able to recruit and retain the best teachers possible and provide the programs and services our children need.
Paying for advanced degrees from Georgia’s universities and technical colleges just got a lot harder for Georgia’s families and students. If Georgia wants to continue to be #1 in business and if we truly want a path to higher education for all students, we must invest in educating our workforce for the 21st century. I support fully funding our HOPE scholarship programs and restoring grants at technical colleges and for associate degrees.
Our students and educators deserve to be safe in all academic settings. I will continue to support repeal efforts to Campus Carry as well as oppose measures that will eliminate exclusions that bans carrying concealed weapons in high-risk areas on campuses, such as daycare centers, sporting arenas, and rooms where high school students take advanced placement exams.
VOTING RIGHTS
The right to vote is the fundamental pillar in the formation of our government. Protecting the integrity of the entire electoral process, including safe and fair voting access without suppression, competent election management, and the integrity of voting results will restore our faith in our government and give all Georgians a voice in their own governance.
As a member of the Government Affairs committee, I’ve been an outspoken advocate for reforms to ensure election integrity, including the use of paper ballots and secure voting technology, and worked to stop bills that would further suppress voting rights, such as a bill that would have prevented Counties from mailing absentee ballot applications to voters. I also worked to ensure Cobb County provided amble, safe, and unencumbered voting for the 2020 general elections.
Georgia is one of the most gerrymandered states in the country. Voters should choose their representatives, not the other way around. I support the creation of a nonpartisan independent redistricting commission to ensure that people are fairly represented in government regardless of party control in the legislature.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Georgians require a healthy environment. Combating climate change, reducing pollution, and ensuring equitable access to natural resources are critical for our success. I’ve been a fierce champion in the legislature for the environment; fighting to stop toxic pollution from ethylene oxide and coal ash that are harming our communities here in Cobb and across Georgia. I will not stop until our families can drink clean water and breathe clean air.
We are living in a climate emergency. I’ve called on our Governor to fight Climate Change through investment in the green economy – from expanding public transportation options to building clean energy infrastructure and fostering pollution clean-up – that will protect our environment for future generations and invigorate our economy.