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I graduated from Iowa State University in 1982 with a degree in Journalism. That same year I married John Paschen. We have two adult children who live in Chicago and Denver.
I was a volunteer with Mary Greeley Hospice from 1998 to 2022. I have worked for Youth and Shelter Services, the Ames Public Library and the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics. My work with hospice, caring for people at the end of their lives taught me compassion and the value of storytelling. Effective legislators are skilled at telling the stories of their district.
Q 1. How will electing you improve the two parties working together better at the Iowa State House?
A1. After ten years of a Republican trifecta in Des Moines, we must have a better balance of Republicans and Democrats. Democrats will fight for clean water, affordable health care and housing, and our public schools.
Q2. How can you impact the concentration of the population in the metro areas, and create more business, industry and residential growth in the cities with populations under 10,000?
A2. Two things that would help families in small towns:
Raising the minimum wage ($7.25 since 2008.)
Providing grants to establish childcare centers/ Head Start programs.
Q3. How would you make housing and property taxes more affordable, while protecting essential local services? Consider the fixed income of senior citizens and young families in your answer..
A3. In May, the legislature passed a 2% cap on property tax revenues. Cities and counties are now having painful discussions about cuts to roads, law enforcement, schools and libraries. How do we keep property taxes affordable and keep essential services? This will continue to be a challenge.
Q4. What specific changes would you try to implement to improve student achievement, retain qualified teachers, and help recruitment efforts from rural and small school districts that would provide a quality education for our youth.
A4. For ten years, public schools have faced funding increases of around 2% per year, far below inflation. Our public schools need increased funding. Teachers need our support, not being called names like “sinister” and “Marxist.”
I am not in favor of private school vouchers. Public dollars belong in public schools.
Q5. Do you have ideas for ways to attract healthcare professionals and doctors to our smaller and rural communities? Do you have suggestions for keeping our costs, such as tax supported hospitals, in line with what the residents in our small towns can afford?
A5. Iowa has had ten years of privatized Medicaid, which has resulted in higher administrative overhead and illegal service reductions and care denials by for-profit Managed Care Organizations. The state can manage Medicaid at less cost and less denial of care to our most vulnerable citizens.
Iowa is dead last in the US for the number of OB/Gyn physicians per capita. This is exacerbated by our six-week abortion ban. Maternal mortality rates are increasing.
To attract medical professionals, we must improve our public schools and our water quality.
Q6. If you are elected, what would be your top priority in getting legislation passed and what steps would you take to get it passed?
6. I will work with teachers, superintendents and parents to increase funding to public schools. I will work with scientists, environmentalists and farmers to improve our water quality. The time for complacency is over. We must fight together for a better Iowa.