For 15 years, Republican politicians blocked funding public schools, early childhood education, and healthy school meals, while lavishing corporate tax breaks on Foxconn and AI data centers. It’s time to put children before billionaires and corporate bullies. Let’s raise wages, lower costs, fund public education, and protect our freedoms.
For years, I’ve led the fight for universal affordable childcare, paid family leave, and public education funding, so all our kids can thrive. Investing in early childhood prevents opportunity gaps before they begin, making our public K12 schools more equitable and effective. At the same time, we need to fix our broken school funding formula and ensure that the state pays its fair share for supporting public education, to stop our already too high property taxes from increasing.
Finally, we need to prioritize bringing the private voucher scheme to a responsible close — we cannot continue sending our tax dollars away from our public schools to unaccountable, discriminatory voucher programs.
I also authored baby bonds legislation to provide a modest account to Medicaid-eligible babies, invested alongside our state pension system. Between ages 18–30, a young adult can access those funds for approved purchases, including education, starting a business, or buying a home. Reducing the wealth gap starting from birth can help disadvantaged young people thrive and give them the confidence as young children that a bright future full of opportunity is waiting for them.
As the mom/stepmom of five, this is personal for me. Raising a family is really hard when the cost of everything from childcare to housing is soaring and the future seems uncertain. That’s why, as your senator, I’m committed to making sure Wisconsin meets our moral and fiscal commitment to our kids, so every child has the freedom to build a great life here in Wisconsin.
