Austin Baeth

Education Every student in Iowa should have access to a first-rate education. As the product of public schools and a family tree full of teachers, I know that public education is society’s great accelerator. Iowa was once a national leader in public education but has since suffered tremendous decline. I will work to get public schools the state funding they deserve so that we can recruit and retain top educators, reduce classroom sizes, and support innovative programs that better prepare our students for the modern economy. Drug Policy A majority of Iowans support legalizing marijuana, and the Iowa legislature should heed the call. It needs to be done thoughtfully, so that public health and safety measures can be addressed. Importantly, prior marijuana-related offenses should be overturned and expunged, and those currently incarcerated for marijuana possession or sale should be set free. Wages / Job Benefits We need to raise Iowa’s minimum wage to a living wage through a staged process until reaching 15 per hour and then indexing to inflation. We need extensive public investment in childcare, restoration of collective bargaining, and expansion of paid apprenticeships. Economy Our social safety net has frayed. We need serious solutions to improving access to healthy food, affordable housing, and affordable childcare. Reforming our criminal justice system, improving schools, and bolstering workforce training are key to breaking the cycle of poverty. Government Reform I will call out lawmakers whose actions are determined by their campaign donors and work to reform our campaign finance laws so that politicians can no longer accept blank checks from special interests. Healthcare You shouldn’t have to be wealthy to be healthy. Far too many Iowans struggle to navigate and afford health care in our state. Iowa’s privatized Medicaid system isn’t working and it’s denying Iowans medical care while out-of-state insurance companies reap the profits. I will add medical expertise to the legislature so that we can fix Medicaid, restore sound public health measures, and expand mental health and addiction services throughout the state. Abortion / Contraception Decisions about one’s health should be left to the individual, not the government. I support Roe v. Wade and would oppose any legislative efforts to undermine reproductive freedom. Access to women’s health services is already strained in Iowa and our state should be doing more to expand these services rather than shutting down entire clinics. Civil Rights Divisive culture wars have threatened our state’s reputation as a welcoming home for all people. I will work to ensure state policy does not infringe upon – but rather fully supports – the civil rights, safety, and health of our LGBTQIA community. Environment / Energy We need to get serious about fighting climate change and cleaning up our water. Industry and consumers will adopt environmentally friendly practices faster when it’s economically advantageous to do so. We need to incentivize the production and consumption of clean energy and bolster programs that help farmers and factories protect our waterways. Iowa can become the green economy of the future. Criminal Justice / Public Safety We need to reform the way our communities respond to crises by creating community-based support services to respond to calls about persons experiencing mental illness, substance use, or developmental disability. We should eliminate mandatory minimum sentencing for nonviolent crimes and dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline.