Issue Position: Putting North Dakotans First

Issue Position

* North Dakotans are hardworking people who are proud of their work ethic. Whether you work in retail, manufacturing, the service industry, or at an office, we know that employee productivity correlates to their physical and mental health. The healthier we are, the more productive we are. I support the study of the feasibility of a paid sick and family leave program for North Dakota workers and employers.
* Every year, I hear from many North Dakotans who leave the state because North Dakota does not have common sense laws to protect LGBT citizens from being discriminated in the workplace, in rental housing or while patronizing restaurants or stores. Additionally, employers have shared they have recruited talented employees from other parts of the country, who have turned down offers to work in North Dakota based on the absence of these protections. I continue to support the passage of fully inclusive nondiscrimination policies for LGBT North Dakotans.
* It is no secret that our state continues to be in crisis mode when it comes to meeting the mental and behavioral health needs of our citizens. We continue to criminalize those with mental illnesses and have not developed sustainable infrastructure to address the root issues when it comes to alcohol and other drug addiction. I support the increase of state resources to meet the growing and dynamic needs of mental and behavioral health throughout the state. Additionally, I support common sense criminal justice reform including expanding restorative justice programs, diversion of juveniles from jails, and reforming mandatory minimum sentences for low risk offenses.

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