Issues

I have worked a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science and a Master’s degree of Health Administration from Wichita State University. I have a deep understanding of how medicaid expansion would help our state, and how not expanding medicaid is detrimental. 

While the Kansas legislature has finally funded our general education obligations, the special education funding is at 65% of what is legally required. This lack of funding means that monies allocated to the general fund get transferred to special education at the district level. Monies that need to be applied to maintaining schools, paying teachers, purchasing books, having orchestra and band classes, funding field trips….all these are impacted for all children when the legislature refuses to fully fund special ed. Additionally, districts have to raise money by issuing bonds, which causes an increase in property taxes in the district. I am committed to fully funding special education AND general education so our children get the quality education they deserve, and our seniors are not priced out of their homes by their tax bill.

There are currently 30 hospitals at risk of closing in Kansas, out of 82 critical access hospitals and 3 rural emergency hospitals. Additionally, there are many areas in Kansas where there are not enough doctors. Pregnant women are driving up to an hour to reach a hospital when they are in labor. With my background in Health Administration, I understand the issues facing our state and I’m committed to finding solutions and ensuring that more Kansans have access to healthcare.