Sarah Unsicker for State Representative

Children have basic human rights, just like adults. Too often in Missouri, children are abused, taken advantage of, disrespected, and treated as second-class citizens. Missouri needs to prioritize the rights of children to ensure they can be themselves, can learn to be informed citizens, can eat healthy food, have access to affordable, quality health and mental health care, and live in clean environments. All of this, we owe to our children.

We must invest in our future through a strong public education system. This includes:

• Fully funding the foundation formula so that administrators can effectively manage the school district’s budget.
• Expecting our children to learn at rates that are developmentally appropriate.
• Not burdening our children and their teachers with inefficient testing.
• Early intervention when problems are detected instead of waiting for children to fail.

We need to improve employment opportunities for Missourians by attracting employers who offer sustainable employment. We attract quality employers through

• a quality workforce
• stable infrastructure
• strong education system

In turn, we should demand quality jobs that

• pay a living wage
• do not discriminate based on gender or sexual orientation

We need to take back collective bargaining to protect workers’ rights.

Republican policies over the last several years have made it more dangerous to be a police officer in Missouri. From eliminating a permit requirement for handgun purchases, to not requiring a background check for private gun sales, the policies of the majority party have focused on arming civilians rather than protecting our police force. I will work to enact common-sense gun laws that will make everyone safer, including law enforcement officers.

Missouri needs Common Sense Gun Laws to keep guns out of the hands of those who would do harm, including:

• Encouraging citizens to secure their guns to keep them out of the hands of children and criminals.
• Closing the Gun Show Loophole to require background checks for people buying at gun shows.
• Requiring training and a license for anyone who chooses to carry a gun in public.

Every year for the past two decades, the Missouri Non-Discrimination Act (MONA) has been filed, only to be blocked by Republicans. MONA would allow basic protections to our LGBTQ community by adding sexual orientation and gender identity to Missouri’s Human Rights Act.

Missourians should not have to fear losing their jobs or being denied housing for who they love—discrimination that is currently completely legal in our state.

Meanwhile, Republicans in recent years have also passed legislation that makes it easier for employers, landlords or businesses to discriminate based on race, age, religion or gender—more so than in any other state.

As your state rep, I will work for a Missouri that welcomes people regardless of race, religion, gender, age or sexual orientation, and protects all people from discrimination.

Every dollar invested in early childhood programs greatly reduces future costs in terms of:

• Special Education services in schools
• Unemployment and welfare benefits
• Incarceration

Affordable, quality early childhood programs

• Increase the rate of high school graduation
• Improve a young child’s ability to learn
• Allow parents to work outside the home

Missouri ranks near the bottom of all states in terms of the quality and affordability of early childhood programs.