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From YouTube: Bloomington LWV State 50A Representative Candidates
Description
Candidate Testimonials presented by the Bloomington League of Women Voters
A
A
A
The
immigration
system
is
broken
and
has
reached
the
point
of
total
chaos
at
our
southern
border,
even
though
I
feel
the
plight
of
these
individuals,
the
united
states
is
a
nation
of
laws,
and
all
those
that
have
entered
illegally
should
be
returned
immediately
with
the
national
debt
increasing
to
unbelievable
amounts.
How
can
we
justify
allowing
these
illegal
immigrants
to
stay?
A
It
is
estimated
that
one
of
these
individuals,
if
allowed
to
stay,
would
cost
the:
u
s:
taxpayers
thirty,
one
thousand
dollars
in
government
benefits
per
year
and
an
additional
twelve
thousand
three
hundred
dollars
in
educational
costs
simply
put.
We
cannot
afford
this
additional
cost
on
health
care.
It
is
my
opinion
that
obamacare
and
mnsure
should
be
repealed
under
the
current
leadership,
minnesota
spent
40
million
dollars,
setting
up
mnsure
and
another
12
million
dollars
fixing
mistakes
made
on
the
website.
A
A
The
new
rules
made
mandatory
changes
to
the
program
resulting
in
the
enrollment
of
an
estimated
18
million
individuals.
According
to
the
congressional
budget
office,
current
medicaid
cost
projections
are
staggering
over
the
next
10
years.
The
federal
government
is
projected
to
spend
more
than
four
trillion
four
trillion
dollars
on
medicaid
the
medicaid
program
is
broken
and
it
must
be
restored
to
its
original
mission
unemployment.
A
We
need
to
change
the
negative
business
climate
in
minnesota
to
a
more
positive
one,
while
other
states
are
teaming
up
with
the
business
community
to
create
new
businesses
and
employment
opportunities.
Minnesota's
mindset
has
been
to
punish,
regulate
and
tax.
A
good
example
of
this
is
the
business
to
business
tax
and
the
recently
repealed
warehouse
tax.
Unless
we
change
minnesotans
will
have
to
face
the
fact
that
more
good
businesses
will
either
leave
or
choose
corporate
inversion
and
locate
their
corporate
headquarters
in
other
states
or
even
countries.
An
example
of
this
is
medtronics.
A
We
need
to
create
good
jobs,
good
paying
jobs,
not
minimum
wage
jobs.
In
closing,
I
would
like
to
thank
you
for
taking
the
time
to
listen
to
the
reasons
why
I'm
running
for
the
minnesota
house
and
hope
that,
after
hearing,
what
my
positions
are
that
you
will
support
me
in
the
upcoming
election.
Thank
you
for
your
consideration.
B
Hi
I'm
representative,
linda
slocum,
and
I
am
running
for
re-election
to
district
50a
in
the
house
of
minnesota
legislature.
District
50a
includes
western
central
and
a
sliver
of
eastern
richfield
and
east
and
central
bloomington.
The
committees
I
serve
on
in
the
house
are
crime
and
public
safety,
commerce,
taxes
and
I
am
vice
chair
of
k-12
education
finance.
B
I
am
a
recently
retired
eighth
grade
teacher.
I
taught
english
and
social
studies
for
25
years.
Richfield
has
been
my
home
for
about
20
years
in
my
community
I
served
on
the
community
services
and
human
services
commissions.
I
have
a
bachelor's
degree
in
psychology
and
have
done
postgraduate
work
at
augsburg
college.
Currently,
I'm
a
member
member
of
the
chicano
latino
affairs
council
and
the
midwest
interstate
passenger
rail
commission.
B
Immigration,
the
issue
of
immigration
needs
to
be
addressed
at
a
national
level.
The
minnesota
legislature
did
pass
legislation
to
help
our
immigrant
populations,
but
we
affect
very
little
as
far
as
immigration
goes.
The
minnesota
prosperity
act
otherwise
known
as
the
dream
act
expands
access
for
undocumented
students
to
resident
tuition
rates,
state-based
financial
assistance
and
private
scholarships
at
minnesota's,
public
colleges
and
universities.
B
B
We
also
revamp
the
system
for
english
language
learners
with
the
aim
of
better
english
proficiency.
This
includes
training
for
teachers
on
effective
instruction
and
an
accountability
system.
To
ensure
achievement,
we
specified
a
definition
for
students
with
limited
or
interrupted
formal
education
to
recognize
and
help
students
with
barriers
to
their
education.
B
As
vice
chair
of
the
education
finance
committee,
I
was
honored
to
participate
in
crafting
and
passing
this
legislation
in
health
care
with
the
affordable
health
care,
the
affordable
care
act.
The
mnsure
and
mnsure
making
coverage
easier
to
obtain
for
minnesotans
minnesotans
have
coverage
more
coverage
than
they
ever
had
before.
The
state's
uninsured
population
has
dropped
by
over
40
percent
to
4.9
percent
uninsured,
because
minnesota
has
a
state-based
exchange
and
because
our
commerce
department
regulates
health
insurance
rates,
most
minnesotans
have
access
to
health
coverage
with
lower
premiums
than
anywhere
else
in
the
country.
B
As
far
as
employment
goes,
I
believe.
Strategic
investments
in
economic
development
is
an
important
part
of
building
our
economy
and
a
strong
middle
class
partnered
with
high
quality
schools,
affordable,
higher
education,
quality,
job
training
and
living
wage
jobs.
Recent
indicators
demonstrate
that
minnesota's
economy
is
on
the
right
track.
Our
unemployment
rate
is
among
the
lowest
in
the
nation.
We
create
jobs
at
a
faster
rate
than
other
states,
and
our
economy
is
growing
well
above
the
national
average.
B
B
In
summary,
the
last
two
years
have
brought
many
positive
changes
for
minnesota.
Our
state
is
clearly
in
a
better
place
than
it
was
two
years
ago.
An
issue
that
concerns
me
still,
though,
is
that,
while
our
unemployment
rate
overall
is
shrinking,
unemployment
for
our
communities
of
color
is
not
diminishing
as
much.
I
would
like
to
work
to
resolve
this,
so
all
minnesotans
have
the
training
and
education
needed
for
a
good
living
wage
job.
The
other
issue
I
hope
to
work
on
is
transportation.
B
We
are
woefully
short
of
funds
to
repair
and
maintain
our
roads
and
bridges.
We
need
to
expand
our
mass
transit
system
also.
We
must
find
creative
and
fair
ways
to
fund
this.
It's
a
great
honor
to
serve
the
wonderful
people
of
richfield
and
bloomington.
I
hope
to
continue
to
work
for
our
communities.
I
would
be
honored
to
have
your
vote
on
november
4th.
Thank
you.