Issues
Livable Neighborhoods
Livable neighborhoods are safe, clean places where we all can work, and raise a family, and thrive. Public safety, as a core function of government, is a large part of this. As a 14 year Criminal Prosecutor for the City of Saint Paul, I have seen people at their best, and at their worst. I have been entrusted with the authority to protect our community through advocacy and sentencing, but also to give repentant folks a second chance when they, and the circumstances, merit a different path. As your State Representative, I bring this experience with me to the Capitol, where I fight to ensure fair laws are passed and that they are applied impartially. Though, livable neighborhoods mean more than criminal justice. They also mean plentiful parks for famliy recreation, and schools where parents are proud to send their kids, they mean rec centers open in the afternoons with programs for kids to remain active and not idle, and they mean a vibrant local business community which offers employment, goods and services to a diverse and growing population. As your State Representative, I am committed to making our neighborhoods the envy of our region.
Economic Opportunity
Billy Joel once sang, in his chart topping single, “Allentown,” “Every child had a pretty good shot, to get at least as far as their old man got.” This, for all of its shortcomings and its arbitrary exclusion, was the essence of the American dream. And while it is as different from Billy Joel’s dream as his was from his forebears, it’s still the fuel which keeps a community thriving: that if you work hard and play by the rules, you can pay your dues and achieve the American dream. This is why I have fought to raise the minimum wage, for the implementation of the Women’s Economic Security Act, and to give hard working folks a chance to outshine a youthful mistake with a shot at exoneration. As your State Representative, I will always fight to ensure that you, and your kids, have “a pretty good shot.”
Data Privacy
Once upon a time our parents built a safe and secure life based on certain constants that would not change. First, their money was safe in a bank vault. If ever that was threatened, well, thanks to Mr. Rooselvelt, the FDIC promised them they wouldn’t have to worry. Now, their deposits are Federally insured. Second, business could be done with a promise and a handshake, because mom and dad’s credibility in the community was built on decades of trust. Third, mom kept our important documents in a fire safe under the stairs. If anyone needed supporting documentation about our idenities, she could easliy produce it. But here and now, in the age of Big Data, all that has changed. Where once false identities were only the product of spy novels, today they can risk your financial and personal security simply with a corporation or government’s careless hanlding of your social security number. Big Data can be helpful by offering consumer convenience, but it also can do great harm by profiling you criminally or exposing your financial information. As your State Representative I will fight to protect your privacy while we navigate the opportunities of the digital revolution.
Consumer Protection
Consumers don’t have legal departments, fancy contracts or collection agencies to advocate for their interests. But they should be able to rely upon the law and common sense. After all, common sense is what the law is supposed to reflect. But as markets grow more complex, profit margins narrow, and competition grows more fierce, sometimes common sense, decency and fair play take a back seat to irresponsible, crony capitalism and corporate bail-outs. As your State Representative, I will fight to ensure that your rights are protected under the laws of Minnesota, and that the laws are updated to reflect a changing economy and marketplace. A strong economy and good business are good for all of us in Minnesota, but my job will be to make sure that corporations, just like the rest of us, don’t forget to read the fine print.
Corporate Accountability
Paul Wellstone used to say, “I don’t speak for the big corporations. They already have well-paid representation.” Policies passed by the Minnesota legislature often confirm his lament. While the American corporation is one of the most impressive models for modern commerce, it has also given rise to attendant troubles such as environmental disasters, employment discrimination, wage theft, health care disparities, not to mention bank bailouts – all of which leave taxpayers stuck with the bill. When you or I make a decision that results in a mistake which injurs others, we are held to account on all the perceived motives for our actions, but corporations, as a matter of law, are ultimately legally accountable for only one thing: making money. Profit is a great thing, but when the rest of us have to pay for irresponsible profit, then we have a problem. As your State Representative, I will fight to ensure that corporations have to play by the same rules as everyone else, and that when they break those rules they are held to account.
This content was originally published at http://www.johnlesch.com/