Where Rachel Stands

Healthcare is a fundamental right, yet Americans spend nearly $14,000 annually navigating a complex system that often fails them. I propose a gradual transition to a single-payer model covering physical and mental health, prioritizing affordability by slashing drug prices, addressing Pharmacy Benefit Manager conflicts, and expanding the medical workforce to enhance care quality and access.

By leveraging Medicare's efficient framework and exploring buy-in options, we can thoughtfully build a system that ensures no one is left behind, delivering equitable, high-quality healthcare for all.

I support the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms, but gun violence demands action through practical, enforceable laws like mandatory training, licensing, safe storage, and thorough background checks.

While red flag laws seem appealing, they risk slow courts, overzealous enforcement, or malicious abuse, potentially disarming vulnerable people like stalking victims. Focusing solely on guns overlooks other deadly tools—knives, bombs, and vehicles—which are harder to regulate, and targeting specific firearms misses the greater harm caused by unregulated weapons like shotguns, while homemade firearms further complicate effective oversight.

We need a balanced approach that protects rights, enhances safety, and addresses violence comprehensively without exploitable loopholes.

Abortion decisions should remain private between a patient and their licensed medical provider, with minimal government interference. The priority should be reducing the need for abortions by addressing root causes through accessible, reliable birth control, comprehensive age-appropriate health education, and robust support for adoption programs.

This approach balances personal autonomy with ethical considerations, focusing on prevention and support while respecting medical privacy and necessity.

The First Amendment's protection of free speech is the bedrock of a free society, but it has narrow legal limits: restrictions apply only to speech that directly harms, like inciting imminent violence or threats to safety (e.g., "fighting words," rarely invoked due to high standards), defamatory false statements intended to damage reputations (libel or slander, proven by knowing falsity or reckless disregard for truth), or obscenity and child pornography.

Offensive or disagreeable speech is not illegal—it's the price of a vibrant marketplace of ideas—so we must scrutinize proposed curbs rigorously, ensuring they target true harms, not mere discomfort, while staying vigilant against real abuses.

Michigan's agriculture drives our economy and food security. To strengthen it, we must ensure the Farm Bill prioritizes growing essential fruits and vegetables. I propose eliminating capital gains taxes on farmland sold to farmers committed to continued agricultural use, preserving our farmland for future generations.

To address labor shortages, I advocate granting automatic agricultural work permits to the 2 million asylum seekers in the U.S., replacing the flawed H2-A program with a voluntary, agriculture-centric program. This would factor in Refugee Resettlement benefits to lower costs for farmers and offer participants faster asylum hearings, with streamlined processes to ensure a reliable workforce.

These steps will boost productivity and sustain Michigan's agricultural heritage.

Child care is essential for dual-income families, yet in Michigan, it consumes nearly 11% of average household income—4% above the HHS-recommended maximum—with costs averaging $10,000 per child annually.

To ease this burden and enable parents to engage fully in the workforce without penalizing child care providers, all child care expenses, including aftercare and summer care, should be fully tax-deductible as an immediate solution.

Long-term, we must evaluate and expand pilot programs, such as those studied in Michigan, to develop sustainable, affordable child care options. By prioritizing these measures, we can support families, strengthen our workforce, and ensure quality care for our children.

Politics must prioritize integrity over money, power, or prestige. To ensure a level playing field, corporate donations to individual candidates should be banned, and all contributions—whether from in-state or out-of-state donors—should go to a neutral office or party for equal distribution among all declared candidates for a seat, with unspent funds returned to a central campaign pool.

While the role of out-of-state donations warrants discussion to balance free speech and local representation, this model prevents wealth from skewing influence and keeps candidates focused on transparent platforms.

Additionally, limiting campaign seasons with strict start dates reduces voter fatigue and allows incumbents to prioritize governance over fundraising, fostering a fairer, more equitable electoral process.