Dana Marie Cottrell

Civil Rights

We should support fairness in health care, housing, employment, and service to our LBGTQ family. We should also support the right for the LBGTQ to serve honorably in the military, afforded the same rights as any other military family. Adoption of children to LBGTQ families should be legal, the same as adoption to straight couples. Learn more

I support the Black Lives Matter movement, along with their core affirmations. Learn more

Drug Policy

Marijuana is classified as a schedule 1 drug as having no medicinal value, and high potential for abuse. I believe this classification should be removed, and states should be allowed to have the voters determine marijuana law for their state. Learn more

Education

Our schools have become over-burdened with testing, and a model that is one-size-fits-all. Older children should have school choice along with apprenticeships, and on-the-job training, along with a meaningful mentorship program. And, if we truly want to begin to ease the income gap, college and advanced trade schools, while a student is in good academic standing, should be tuition-free. Learn more

I am opposed to public money to private schools, as well as for-profit charter schools. Learn more

Religion should not enter into public institutions, or public instruction, and there should be no favoring the belief system of one faith over that of another. Learn more

Environment / Energy

I would support full enforcement and funding for the Clean Water Act similar to my comments for air, and support working with a competent US EPA staff to update the act and improve it to meet new challenges to meet the goal of clean water for all America. Learn more

We must protect our air by fully funding and enforcing the Clean Air Act Amendments adopted in 1990. The Act must be revisited to enhance strategies for addressing climate change. Learn more

Begin with eliminating current tax breaks and incentives to develop oil, coal, and natural gas on public lands and coastal waters so that solar and other clean energy sources compete on a level playing field in the economy. Ban fracking and new liquid natural gas export facilities. Learn more

Current federal plans must be funded and expedited to save the River of Grass. NOAA efforts to protect coral reefs must combine with land-based efforts to reduce pollution and combat climate change to slow hypo-thermal stress to the reefs. Learn more

Government Reform

All legislation should become single-issue legislation. Congress should pass legislation to eliminate “riders.” Riders used to be a way to compromise to get bills passed. Riders have evolved into monsters that have stymied legislative efforts, and have technically brought Congress to a standstill. Learn more

The majority party cannot shut out the minority party. A two-for one model of introduction of legislation must be instituted for parity. Learn more

We need to look at the structure of the of the Electoral College. If the Electoral College is to be kept in place, then we should look the Congressional District Method adopted in Maine and Nebraska. Learn more

I do support term limits. 12 years in the House, and 12 years in the Senate should suffice. Learn more

Campaign finance reform along with Congressional pay freezes are some of the first items on this agenda. The amount of money spent on political campaigns should be capped, and Congress should fall under the same pay restrictions they impose on other federal employees. Learn more

Guns

Congress should enact legislation to: ban assault rifles and bump stocks, establish background checks with mandatory waiting periods, bar the mentally ill and those convicted of violent crimes from gun ownership, close all gun show loopholes, and establish a national gun registry. It should be mandatory that gun manufacturers include fingerprint identification systems on all guns. The “smart gun,” much like our “smart phones,” would go a long way in preventing circumstances that create a clear and present danger to our citizens. Learn more

School should be a safe haven for students. Teacher, librarians, administrators, should never carry a weapon on campus. Learn more

Healthcare

I support Medicare for All. Medicare should be fully funded for those qualified, and access given for all Americans. Medicaid should be eliminated, and those in need of medical coverage would be covered under the provisions of Medicare for All. Learn more

Immigration

I support DACA legislation for all DACA recipients. Learn more

Social Services

Social Security is a pay-as-you-go program. To achieve long-term solvency, a first step is to tax earnings above the current wage base ($128,400 in 2018). It is estimated that this action would reduce the gap by two-thirds. A second step is to gradually raise the tax cap to cover 90 percent of aggregate earnings from its current level of 83 percent. A third suggestion would be to implement a living wage at $12.00 an hour to all employees aged 18 or older, increasing over a three-year span to $15.00 an hour. Learn more

Taxes / Budget

There should have been additional consideration to small business owners and entrepreneurs who might then grow into the higher corporate tax brackets. I did not agree with the tax decreases for the wealthiest citizens or the newest exemptions on transferring generational wealth. Learn more