Issues

“On doorsteps and in our neighborhoods, I have spoken with many voters about the issues that touch their lives and impact their hopes for the future. I cherish these conversations and have learned a lot from them. I bring my own strong values and a unique community approach to this race. These brief statements will give you an idea of where I stand, but I look forward to hearing from you and working with our community to develop more specific policy. Please stay tuned for more elaboration, and please share your thoughts, concerns, and ideas!”

Margot Barnet

Growing the Local Economy

For a successful 21st century economy, we need to support small and local business. Money spent locally multiplies itself, strengthening the local economy, supporting our neighbors, and contributing to the tax base. Local business can meet the needs of our neighborhoods. We must support the shift to a stronger local economy by encouraging local colleges and universities to target their research to facilitate it, and through tax incentives. Margot is herself a small business owner and knows first hand the struggles and rewards of that work.

Investing in clean energy, energy efficiency, and safe products is a win-win. We must create green jobs that stay right here, save money, and keep our children healthy. Margot has been a long time leader in creating green jobs in Worcester, laying the groundwork for this new green economy.

Margot knows that creating jobs is not the only goal; we need to create good jobs with good benefits. She will focus on creating career path jobs, especially for those unemployed in our communities. She supports the rights of workers to organize and engage in collective bargaining.


Affordable Health Care for All

Everyone should have access to quality health services. And individuals, families, and businesses should not have to break the bank to get those services. We need to make basic health care more affordable by controlling and lowering costs, not by shifting costs to individuals. Healthy living conditions, good nutrition, exercise, wellness services, and preventative care are the best path to healthy outcomes for individuals and controlling costs because they keep people from getting sick in the first place.

Margot’s many years as a health professional give her a unique perspective on how we can face our health care challenges.


Healthy Environment Now and for Our Future

We all need a clean and safe environment to live, work, and raise a family; and we need our state government to do a better job of assuring that for all of us. Workers and consumers alike should be free from contact with hazardous materials, and no one should have to trade health and safety for a secure job or an affordable place to live. A shift to renewable energy sources and safe materials positions us for the 21st century economy at the same time as it protects our health and our children's future. We can make both our cities and our countryside healthy and vibrant places to live and work. Margot has fought to make these principles a reality for many years as a citizen, and she will be a champion for environmental justice in the State House.


Excellent Public Schools

Excellent public schools form one of the pillars of a strong community that attracts business and young families. Education is one of the smartest investments we can make, since our kids are the future leaders of our communities, businesses, and government. Excellence in education requires providing sufficient resources and building a culture of respect for both teachers and students. Margot will fight to make sure that education is a priority, so that even in tough times teachers and parents are getting the resources they need to ensure a bright future for every child in every neighborhood. She will also be a watchdog to make sure that funding provided to our schools is used wisely and well.


Safe Communities

Through her service to the community, helping to create green youth jobs, Margot has seen how coordinated efforts from youth, organizations, city officials and police can create safe communities. It is critical to fund community policing initiatives that create authentic opportunities for police to be engaged in the communities that they serve, and ensure that police get the education and benefits that they deserve. Keeping our communities safe is not a job only for law enforcement. An approach that includes education, employment, recreation, and mentoring will increase safety and opportunities for every member of our community.


Safe, Affordable Housing

Safe and affordable housing is a critical foundation for any family to succeed. A stable home allows adults to hold or seek jobs and to assure children a firm base for their education. Stable housing for families creates stability in communities. We need to make sure that we protect housing for low-income families, find workable solutions for families that are facing foreclosure, and make sure that young people who grow up in our community can afford to stay here to build their lives and raise their families.


Civil Rights

Margot is committed to making sure that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a leader in civil rights and civil liberties, as we have been for past three hundred years. Margot supports equal rights for women, including reproductive rights. Margot is committed to full equality for individuals of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Even in times of economic uncertainty, Margot will fight for dignity and respect for all people and against racial profiling.