Our public schools are the economic engine of Johnson County. Pam supports:

• Fully funding our schools (including special education). When one area of education is left unfunded, it affects students across the board.

• Spending public tax dollars on public schools. Public dollars should not be used to subsidize private/religious schools.

• Addressing the increasing teacher shortage by creating scholarships and other incentives to attract and retain new and existing teachers.

• Allowing local school districts to make decisions about how they spend their budget. Each school district is unique and should have the authority and freedom to spend their local dollars in a way that best benefits their own district.

• Providing a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for retired teachers and other KPERS retirees. Retired Kansas teachers have not had a cost-of-living increase in more than 20 years. In order to incentivize young teachers to enter the profession and help sustain our retired teachers, we must offer periodic COLAs to help offset the rising cost of inflation.

Expanding Medicaid and preserving a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions will continue to be at the forefront of Pam’s agenda. Pam supports:

• Expanding Medicaid. Kansas is currently one of only ten states that has not yet expanded Medicaid. As a result, Kansas is losing out on billions of dollars in federal aid. Expanding Medicaid would not only provide essential health care to more than 150,000 Kansans but would also create more than 20,000 jobs.

• Ensuring a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions. In August 2022, voters of District 8 overwhelming voted to preserve a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions. Pam is committed to making sure that right remains protected.

• Keeping our communities healthy and informed. Pam supports evidence-based solutions to combat mental health and addiction challenges for both young people and adults.

• Working to find ways to help our senior community age-in-place with affordable care and dignity. Our growing senior population dictates that we be proactive in our efforts to identify ways to provide affordable in-home health care to our seniors and their families.

Pam supports Governor Kelly’s proposed tax reform bill, including:

• The immediate elimination of sales tax on groceries.

• Eliminating the Kansas state income tax on all social security income, making it more affordable for our seniors to retire in Kansas.

• Creating a four-day, back-to-school sales tax holiday every August to help young families purchase school supplies, computers and clothing.

• Increasing the standard deduction on state income taxes.

• Exempting the first $100,000 in state property taxes for all Kansas homeowners.

• Doubling the child and dependent care tax credit.