Priorities
Nate’s priorities in the Assembly will focus on four key areas which are integral to the future of Wisconsin’s economy. A strong economy needs healthy, well-paid, highly-skilled workers, and infrastructure that brings goods and services to market. Milwaukee County communities are the engine that drives the state’s economy and we deserve our share of the revenue to fund these priorities. Nate will advance a bold, progressive agenda which will build a fair, strong economy for workers and small businesses.
Healthcare
Nate has worked in healthcare his entire career and is experienced with policies affecting the sector. Over 300,000 Wisconsinites remain without health insurance (WI DHS, 2021) and the cost of healthcare continues to outpace growth in wages (CMS, 2022), (Atlanta Fed, 2024). This burden keeps people from getting the care they need, it stops entrepreneurs from starting new businesses, and not making changes will lead to cost continuing to spiral out of control. As a representative to the Assembly, Nate will support legislation to expand BadgerCare access for Wisconsin’s most vulnerable, legislation that will allow workers at small businesses purchase coverage through BadgerCare and legislation that will lower prescription drug prices. He will advocate for legislation that would expand mental health services and he will defend people’s bodily autonomy and right to make their own healthcare decisions. Wisconsin’s population is aging and many of our neighbors will need long-term care services, but there is a drastic shortage of healthcare workers to address this rising need. Nate will support subsidies for educating and training new healthcare workers, so that Wisconsinites receiving long-term care will have the most skilled care possible. To attract the best care workers, Nate will support additional wage pass-through laws, which will put money directly into direct care workers pockets.
Workers’ Rights
As a rank-and-file union worker, Nate will continue to fight for Wisconsin working families in the Assembly. He will champion legislation which will bring back project labor agreements which would set a floor for wages and hire local workers on construction projects. Nate will repeal the devastating Act 10, which effectively bars public workers from organizing unions, and he will repeal Act 15 which hinders workers in the private sector from forming unions. Wisconsin has the lowest minimum wage of any state bordering it and Nate will support raising the minimum wage. It is time that Wisconsin ends the GOP’s race to the bottom and now is the moment for Wisconsin workers to reclaim their rights.
Sustainable Infrastructure
As a member of the West Allis Capital Improvement Committee, Nate has reviewed and recommended infrastructure budgets to the West Allis Common Council. Nearly half of Wisconsin’s roads are rated poor or below and 7.4% of our bridges are structurally deficient (ASCE, 2020). Investments in infrastructure are key to a strong economy. In the Assembly, Nate will support legislation that repairs existing infrastructure and will build new, sustainable infrastructure. Nate will support the creation of new jobs in the transition from legacy to renewable sources of energy. The Evers administration passed a bipartisan infrastructure bill which will modernize our infrastructure; Nate will advocate for further investment in electric-vehicle charging stations, for building an electrical grid which reduces reliance on fossil fuels, to ban toxic “forever chemicals” like PFAS, and for building safe streets and roads using sustainable construction methods.
Public Education
Nate knows the benefits of quality, public education; from Kindergarten through college, his entire education was in public institutions. He will oppose any expansion of charter schools, will defend local control of schools, and will dedicate public education funds only to public schools. Wisconsin has a robust technical college system and Nate will support legislation which will allow Wisconsin students to attend technical colleges at no-cost. In order to build a workforce of the future, we must invest heavily in education, so that employers will compete for Wisconsin’s highly-skilled workers.