The rising cost of health care is one of the most important and urgent issues facing Minnesotans. Like many in our district, I am in favor of a single-payer system – what some call Medicare for All – that would dramatically cut down on costs associated with health insurance premiums and guarantee coverage for all Americans, regardless of income level.

I support a living wage. This means increasing the minimum wage and indexing it to inflation. We shouldn’t need an act of Congress to pay people more every time life gets more expensive. As an economist, I know that increasing the minimum wage helps the economy by pumping money into the marketplace, creating new revenue for businesses, and creating new jobs.

We must address student debt. The average student accumulates $30,000 of debt after four years of college, and the average starting salary with a four-year degree is $50,000. Fifty years ago, those figures would be $7,000 of debt and a $66,000 salary, adjusted for inflation.

Freedom and democracy are under sustained attack at home and abroad.

Extremists have taken control of the Republican Party and the Supreme Court. They are attacking our most cherished freedoms: the right to vote and to free elections; the right of free speech and assembly; the right to have control over our own bodies and to access safe abortions; the right to organize unions; and marriage equality.

Global climate change is affecting every part of the world, including Minnesota. In the last several years, Northern Minnesota has dealt with significant drought, massive forest fires and damaging floods. The science is clear: these issues will get worse unless we take urgent action.

I see an amazing opportunity for Northern Minnesota to be at the forefront of addressing climate change.

At events on the Range and in Duluth often the first question I am asked is about mining. Many who attend my events and listen to my response have asked me to write out my statement so they may share it with friends and neighbors. I have given this same response to environmental, labor, and pro-mining groups. All have been impressed with my response and the level of detail I provide. I believe it is my responsibility to fully answer every question. I also believe that I should be educating voters with facts that I have learned. So here is my full view on mining—I hope you share it.

Quality infrastructure is essential to our quality of life. It’s the roads and bridges we drive on, power lines that deliver electricity, and pipes that bring us clean water. Taking care of these essential elements of daily life is one of the most fundamental functions of government.

Access to affordable housing is an ongoing crisis in our region and across the country. It’s escalated for decades and now it’s been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Congress needs to find ways to assist local governments in providing adequate affordable housing.

The Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade was wrong and will harm millions of people. It’s a fundamental right for every person to make their own health decisions with their doctor, not politicians. We must mobilize, organize, and elect representatives who will fight for our right to choose and codify these long-held protections into law.

Our nation’s future relies on our public education system. I support increasing federal funding to our local schools at all levels, from Pre-K through college. Our teachers need to have resources and supplies for their classrooms, smaller class sizes, and higher wages so that they can best support and teach our children.

Our veterans deserve our utmost respect and admiration.

They put their personal safety—and future—at risk to protect ours. They stand up for us with courage and patriotism. We must stand up for them.

SOCIAL SECURITY is one of the most important and effective programs to help Americans that we have ever instituted as a nation. I will never support any cuts or restrictions to Social Security. I am in favor of expanding Social Security.

We must get aggressive as a country about creating high-paying, long-term jobs. While we are currently suffering through a period of global inflation caused by the pandemic disrupting our supply chain, Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and price gouging due to market concentration, it has become clear that we have sent far too many important and skilled jobs overseas.

There is a long tradition in Northern Minnesota of hunting with rifles. Many who live on farms and in more remote parts of the state also keep a rifle or two on hand. Our societal issue with gun violence has nothing to do with the vast majority of guns Minnesotans own.

I support law enforcement. I am opposed to defunding the police—the police need to be fully funded. Good law enforcement is about protecting people and protecting our democracy.

The improvement of law enforcement and better law enforcement requires resources, not taking resources away. Police officers are professionals just as doctors, nurses, lawyers and teachers are professionals.