Miller says education a priority

By JoAn Bjarko
North Forty News

A long-time Democratic Party volunteer, Jennifer Miller of Fort Collins wants to represent District 15 in the state Senate. Securing more funding for preschool and post-secondary education is a top priority.

District 15 encompasses all of Larimer County except Fort Collins.

A sign-language interpreter, with a degree in political science, Miller, 35, said education should not be left to the "whims of the state economy." She noted that Referendum 23 maintained funding for K-12 education, but she would also be an advocate for day care, pre-K programs and Head Start. Parents are struggling to find safe and fun environmentss for their children while trying to make ends meet, she said.

Miller expressed concerns about the costs of stronger legislation regarding illegal immigration. While she supports the concept of fining businesses that hire illegal workers, she said, she would like to see the cost numbers to enforce the legislation. More regulations also make it difficult for nonprofit organizations to determine whether they can provide services to someone in need, she said.

On health-care issues, Miller favors universal health-care coverage or single-payer insurance. "If we have a healthy society, we will have a more productive society," she said. Miller criticized the federal government for not listening and leaving the states to deal with difficult issues such as Medicare and Medicaid funding.

Miller identifies with the needs of the uninsured, saying that she had no health insurance for about 10 of her adult years. She said she's interested in multi-state agreements to lower prescription costs, and she would be willing to fund health care ideas through the state budget by shifting priorities, but not with new taxes.

State legislators should also monitor new health care programs in Vermont and Massachusetts to see if they would be effective in Colorado, Miller said. "Just as legislators' feet were held to the fire on illegal immigration, I'd like to see their feet held to the fire on health care for all Coloradans," she said.

Miller supports the idea of a regional transportation authority, which would require local funding. "We need to work together to have an agreement to address our transportation needs," she said.

She also favors asking voters once again to allow the state to issue transportation bonds, but, she said, the state needs to look at alternative methods of travel, such as light rail, and not just at widening roads.

The first-time candidate said she would bring communication skills to the state Senate. As a legal interpreter for the deaf, she is adept at understanding both sides of an issue. "My business is to help effective communication," she said. "I do not assume we are all like-minded people, even within the same party."

On other statewide issues, Miller had these views:

• The state should allow either same-sex marriage or same-sex civil unions.
• Eminent domain should not be used to take private property for other private uses, with the exception of removing urban blight locations and replacing them with affordable housing and job opportunities.