Tina Liebling

Civil Rights

Peaceful civil disobedience has often been the catalyst that moves society toward justice. We do not need additional penalties or threats to those who step forward to make change. The right to protest—and sometimes even to get arrested for it—strengthens our democracy. Learn more

We must protect the freedom of every Minnesotan to speak their mind, maintain their privacy, and make their own important decisions. Government should not infringe on personal decisions such as who to love and marry, whether and where to worship, which bathroom to use, and how and when to reproduce. Learn more

Criminal Justice / Public Safety

The well-publicized police killings of African Americans and the killings of police officers have torn the bandage off an old and festering wound. We must create a culture and system that allows for fair and just treatment of all Minnesotans. Law enforcement officers must always be held to high and clear standards and be accountable to the public. Learn more

We need a new standard for the use of force by law enforcement officials—as exists in other countries. Officers should be expected to control a situation without using deadly force except as a last resort. This means staying out of harm’s way themselves unless there is an immediate threat to life. Learn more

Lack of housing, lack of needed treatment, and lack of employment are barriers to reentry that must be addressed. Another barrier to reentry is loss of voting rights. People who serve time in jail or prison should have their voting rights restored when they get out—and not have to wait until they are finished with probation or parole. Learn more

Drug Policy

The war on drugs has failed—costing Minnesota taxpayers too much and destroying too many lives. It is time to remove the prohibition on personal use of cannabis and treat addiction as an illness, not a crime. Learn more

Economy

Minnesota is subject to the economic winds that blow throughout the country but we don’t have to accept whatever gets blown our way. Minnesota’s policy choices impact whether Minnesota does better than the national economy or lags behind. Minnesota can build an economy that works for all of us, not just the wealthy and well connected. Learn more

Now more than ever, we must invest in our people so they can participate in our economy and keep Minnesota strong for all of us. Learn more

Education

Making the first two years of post-high school education at a public college, technical college, or university TUITION-FREE to Minnesota students would take pressure off struggling families while ensuring our workforce is well trained for the needs of the economy. Learn more

As state support has fallen, school districts must try to get more of their funding from local property taxes. This means that schools in communities without a big tax base don’t have enough resources for their students. Fully and appropriately funding our public education system at the state level will help all students succeed, no matter where they come from or what they look like. We also need to have enough school counselors, mental health professionals, and other support to help students make education and career decisions that are based on their interests and talents, to support those with mental health challenges, and remove barriers that keep students from achieving their dreams. Learn more

Environment / Energy

Climate change has advanced rapidly in recent years, but the federal response has just been kneecapped by Republican-appointed justices on the US Supreme Court. Reducing greenhouse gasses to reduce climate change must be an even more urgent priority at the state level. Our children deserve to grow up in a healthy environment, whether they live in the city, the country, or somewhere in between. Clean water, clean food, and clean air should be their birthright. Learn more

Government Reform

Minnesota has strong laws that bar legislators from accepting gifts from lobbyists. However, legislators and high-level staff could get a deferred gift in the form of a lobbying job right after leaving the legislature. That’s why Minnesota law should require a waiting period before a legislator or high-level staff can lobby or work for entities they regulate, oversee, or fund. Learn more

The US Supreme Court opened the floodgates of special interest money with the Citizens United opinion and Minnesota cannot overrule it. However, we can insist on knowing who is behind the big spending and work on other ways to make sure that the voice of the voter—not the big donor—is the one that’s heard. Learn more

We will not restore trust in government until we get the big money out of politics so politicians respond to voters, not dollars. Learn more

Guns

The common denominator to all of the gun violence is easy access to guns, especially guns with such lethality that no civilian should have them. Learn more

In my view, the Supreme Court is wrong in its interpretation of the Second Amendment. There is no individual right to bear arms in the US Constitution. The founders wrote the Constitution to “establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,...” It is inconceivable that the founders intended for every individual to “keep and bear” any weapon they want. Learn more

I support expanded background checks for ALL gun transfers, a “red-flag” law to temporarily remove a person’s access to guns when a court deems it appropriate, and a ban on weapons of war and large magazines. When even trained law enforcement officers are outgunned by the mass killers it is time to say “enough.”. Learn more

Healthcare

I believe that healthcare is—or should be—a human right. Making high quality healthcare accessible and affordable to all would be an enormous boost for Minnesota’s economy, because healthy people are more productive, and no one would be stuck in the wrong job just for health insurance. We can create a Minnesota health care system that is high quality, affordable and easy to access FOR ALL if we have the political will to do it. Learn more

Everyone deserves health care. Minnesotans should not have to worry about getting the health care they need—yet this is the reality for too many. For some, the cost of insurance is too high. For those who have private insurance, the out of pocket costs may be more than they can afford. For those who qualify for public programs, getting care can still be a challenge. We can improve the lives of every Minnesotan and our entire economy by moving to a system of universal, single-payer health care. Such a system would eliminate the “middleman” between people and the health care they need. Learn more

Social Services

Every Minnesota child deserves the best possible start in life, which often includes high quality child care. Parents can’t focus on work or school unless they know their children are in a safe and supportive place, but high quality child care is in short supply and, even where available, too often unaffordable. Learn more

We must support many models of child care—from home day care to Head Start—so families have convenient and high quality options. Minnesota has a Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) to help more working parents afford the cost, but it is underfunded and leaves many struggling families without help. Building an excellent, affordable system of day care and support for our youngest kids is one of the most important things Minnesota can do for our future. Learn more

Taxes / Budget

Minnesotans are willing to pay taxes, so long as our taxes are fair and our money is used well. In a fair tax system, those who earn more pay a larger percentage of their income. Minnesotans who are doing well must pay their fair share of taxes so Minnesota can create services and conditions that give everyone opportunities to succeed. Learn more

Wages / Job Benefits

Unions created the middle class by organizing for better wages and working conditions, but union membership has eroded. I support and defend the right to organize and bargain collectively, because this is one of the best tools we have to raise work standards and give Minnesotans a chance at a better future. Learn more

Every worker in Minnesota should have access to earned sick time and paid family leave. These benefits help everyone by reducing the transmission of diseases. No one should be forced to work when sick, or be forced to choose between caring for family and keeping a job. So let’s allow everyone the dignity and security to get better at home or have the time to get or give needed care, then return to work healthy and productive. Learn more