On the Issues

Georgia families and workers deserve a fair shot in our economy — and more money in your pocket. That means raising the minimum wage. It means guaranteeing paid sick leave so no one has to choose between their health and their paycheck. And it means cutting taxes on the items families rely on every day like baby products, school supplies, and menstrual products.

In the State Senate, I’ve already fought for these priorities. I championed legislation to eliminate the sales tax on menstrual products and essential baby items like diapers, cribs, strollers and car seats. I fought to bring back the school supplies tax holiday. I’ve pushed to raise wages and expand economic opportunity for working families.

I’m running to make affordability the top priority, so every family in Georgia has the chance to build a stable, successful future.

No one should have to choose between paying a health insurance premium and buying groceries. As a Senator, I introduced legislation to rein in greedy insurance companies and protect ratepayers, and as Lieutenant Governor, I’ll work to get those protections passed.

Georgia is one of only 10 states that has not fully expanded Medicaid. As Lieutenant Governor, I will finally make it happen, so more Georgians have access to the coverage they need and so our hospitals have the funds they need to stay open.

As Lieutenant Governor, every Georgian can count on me to fight for your rights and freedoms.

• I was a proud co-sponsor of the Reproductive Freedom Act to repeal Republicans’ draconian six-week abortion ban. As Lieutenant Governor, I will champion legislation to protect the right to birth control and reproductive healthcare, including pre- and post-natal care.
• I will lead the charge in protecting our voting rights, simplifying the process for lawful voters to cast their ballots, expanding early voting, and making sure that our elections are secure, fair, and accessible for all voters. In the Senate, I introduced legislation to let voters permanently opt in for mail in ballots so that working families, seniors and people with disabilities can vote from home.
• I am committed to passing civil rights legislation that would protect Georgians from discrimination in housing, public accommodations, and employment. In previous sessions, I helped block harmful Republican-led legislation that would legalize discrimination against Georgians based on who they love or what they believe.

I’m proud to be the first person to give birth while serving in the Georgia State Senate. I know what paid parental leave and affordable childcare mean for families, and I’ll fight for comprehensive paid parental leave that includes at least 12 weeks of paid leave for everyone in the workforce.

I’ll also work to lower the maternal mortality rates in Georgia. In the Senate I introduced legislation to require Medicaid coverage for screenings for depression, anxiety and maternal mental health support for mothers for one year following the end of their pregnancy. Half of our counties don’t have an OB-GYN which is why I introduced legislation to require all physicians to receive education and training regarding maternal health, including preventative and emergency care of pregnant and postpartum mothers as part of their continuing education requirement.

Every child deserves a high-quality public education. For too long, Republicans have refused to update the funding formula for our public schools. Our kids and our educators deserve better than that. As Lieutenant Governor, I’ll advocate for and support legislation that increases funding for our classrooms so every child will have a chance to thrive. I attended low income schools and grew up on free and reduced lunches, I am committed to making sure students who live in poverty get the extra funding they need to be successful at school. In the Senate, I introduced legislation that ensured free breakfast and free school lunches so no child goes hungry at school.

I’ve also fought against the passage of a private school voucher bill that defunds public schools to fund unaccountable private schools. I’ll work to make sure public funds go to the public school system that’s accessible to all.

When the state legislature hijacks the curriculum to fight culture-war battles, our kids are the losers. As Lieutenant Governor, I’ll fight to ensure we treat our teachers like the professionals they are so they can do real teaching, not indoctrination. And I’ll work to make sure our teachers aren’t burdened by unaffordable healthcare costs — their lives are challenging enough as it is.

We absolutely must keep our communities safe – both from crime and from the epidemic of gun violence. I will work to enact common-sense gun safety measures like background checks, red flag laws and safe storage for firearms. I introduced legislation in the Senate to ban the sale of firearms near schools, hospitals and mental health institutions. I also support legalizing marijuana so police can focus on real crime.