Lindsey Port

Criminal Justice / Public Safety

I support increased funding for mental health services in our schools and for adults in our communities, for drug treatment so we are combating the continued devastation of the opioid epidemic with sound science and medically appropriate responses, and for investments into affordable housing so we are not criminalizing poverty but are instead addressing the root causes. These types of investments take pressure off of our police forces and help to address the root causes of these issues, which ultimately helps to increase overall community health and safety. Learn more

Economy

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to clean energy will create good-paying jobs and strengthen our state’s economy. Learn more

Education

I will also continue to work to expand skills training programs to bring more technical education into high schools to make sure every student gets a good start in life and a high-paying job. Learn more

In order to fulfill that promise of the Minnesota Constitution, I call for the state to fully fund public education. It’s in the state’s interest: well-educated graduates help Minnesota businesses prosper. Our state’s general education funding formula is over thirty years old; it should be revised to better account for inflation and increased costs due to mandated services. Learn more

Students deserve to have access to a high-quality education, regardless of their zip code. Due to chronic underfunding of our public schools, local communities have been burdened with levies and referendums, hurting seniors and families with modest incomes. Even so, districts struggle for resources. This year, numerous districts faced deficits requiring cuts to staff and services. Inevitably, class sizes get bigger and educational quality suffers. Learn more

Environment / Energy

Our state is already feeling the effects of climate change, with higher-than-normal temperatures, more extreme storms with intense flooding, and changes to our unique ecosystems. Not only is this a detriment to the habitats we cherish so much, it also accelerates the deterioration of our infrastructure and forces us to complete early and costly repairs. We need to step up and enact bold solutions to address the climate crisis before us, so the cost of inaction doesn’t fall on the shoulders of future Minnesotans. Learn more

Investing in green economy jobs, telework careers, and increasing tourism to our beautiful state can help build a stable economy for all Minnesotans without risking our most sacred resources. Learn more

I support DFL led efforts to pass a 100% carbon-free standard for electricity generation by 2050. Learn more

Protecting the clean water of the Boundary Waters and the Great Lakes is absolutely vital, and we must not let short term economic gain for multi-national mining conglomerates confuse this issue. Learn more

Government Reform

For the health of our democracy, we must eliminate the influence of big money in politics at the federal, state, and local levels. I will continue to advocate for the regulation of campaign spending by artificial entities such as corporations. I will also continue to mount a fight against efforts to undermine existing Minnesota campaign finance laws. Learn more

Guns

I support legislation to require background checks on all gun sales and legislation allowing extreme risk protection orders (“red flag” laws). I also support a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, as well as funding for education on the safe storage of firearms and ammunition. The time for this overdue. Learn more

Healthcare

To make healthcare more affordable, I support legislation to immediately establish a MinnesotaCare Buy-In program, allowing all Minnesotans and small businesses to buy into MinnesotaCare, a bipartisan program that has provided high-quality, low-cost insurance to thousands of working Minnesotans for more than 25 years. Learn more

I also support enacting a price-cap on lifesaving prescription drugs like insulin, asthma medication, and EpiPens. Learn more

Housing

I support tax incentives for builders who produce affordable homes and grants to builders to produce affordable homes. Apartments and housing developments being planned can be required to include some affordable homes. Non-governmental organizations that focus on affordable housing should be encouraged and supported. Learn more

Those with poor living conditions are more likely than others to have poor health. Community health can be improved through housing-based strategies that focus on neighborhood stability, soundness of construction, management of toxins in and around the home, and community safety. Also, partnerships between the healthcare and housing industries can generate innovative approaches that yield positive results for both sectors. Learn more

The state must also invest in programs designed to assist families at risk of homelessness. I am a strong supporter of the Housing First model, to get Minnesotans experiencing homelessness into permanent affordable housing as soon as possible and to give them access to rental assistance and support services that will allow them to keep that housing. Learn more

Infrastructure / Transportation

I support measures that will prioritize workforce training, local jobs opportunities, and prevailing wages for all infrastructure projects. Learn more

In addition, transportation is the number one source of climate pollution, so I also support a large, sustained investment in statewide public transit, including light rail, buses, and more bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Learn more

Social Services

I support lowering the cost of childcare by increasing funding for the state’s Child Care Assistance Program and issue childcare tax credits. Learn more

Taxes / Budget

I support eliminating the state’s income tax on social security benefits, as well as other tax measures that will improve the cost of living for lower- and middle-income Minnesotans. That includes increasing the family tax credit, small business relief, housing tax credit, and childcare tax credits. I support paying for these tax cuts by enacting a <1% tax on investment income for those whose income exceeds $250,000. Learn more

Wages / Job Benefits

My goal is to strive for an economy that works for us all. To help get us there, I will continue to support stronger worker protections, a higher minimum wage, paid sick leave and family leave, and consequences for employers that discriminate against, retaliate against, or take advantage of their employees. I will also continue to oppose legislation designed to strip workers of their right to bargain collectively or weaken unions’ bargaining power. Learn more