Kate believes in investing in a 21st century workforce that will create an economy that serves all Vermonters. This includes robust career and technical education programming embedded in our middle and high schools. It also includes a strong and affordable higher education system. Wages should be adequate to ensure a fundamental quality of life including safe housing and reliable access to locally sourced quality foods.
Vermont maintains a strong employment environment with an overall #1 ranking in employment metrics, driven by one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country (averaging around 2.6%)
The labor supply landscape is uniquely characterized by several key factors:
Labor Force Participation: Vermont ranks around #24 nationally for labor force participation, hovering at roughly 62.7%. (U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee)
Labor Market Tightness: Due to its low unemployment and slower population growth, Vermont has one of the tightest labor markets in the country. This means job openings often outpace the pool of unemployed workers, making it an advantageous market for job seekers but challenging for employers looking to hire. (Public Assets Institute)
We need to create an economy that works for all Vermonters.
No one who works 40 hours a week should be facing poverty, living without safe housing, or struggling to meet basic needs. Kate will work to raise the minimum wage so that Vermonters have a better quality of life.
Everyone should be able to afford their rent and have money left over for savings. Right now in Vermont, private investors are buying up residences and jacking up rates beyond what most folks can afford. This is exploitative and needs to stop.
Safe housing is a human right and no one should be living in the street, in the woods, or in their car because they can’t find affordable housing. We need to create incentives for first-time home buyers and for those looking to move into homes that meet their changing needs.
Kate and Rep. Conor Casey were the lead sponsors of H.50, a housing bill recently signed into law that will help identify vacant and underutilized state-owned land and buildings that could be converted into much-needed housing. With Montpelier home to a significant amount of state property, this legislation creates new opportunities to bring more housing downtown, support local businesses, and help working families, seniors, and young people find a place to call home. The Governor signed the bill, now Act 79, on April 6, 2026. Our community has endured significant challenges. It’s time to think outside the box and utilize available resources to meet our housing needs.
Paid family leave isn’t just for new parents; it also benefits those facing devastating illness or caring for ailing loved ones. By normalizing and expanding access to paid family leave, we put families first and give people the freedom to work through their toughest times without fear of job loss.
People make the best decisions about their own healthcare. We need to invest in a single-payer healthcare system and community health centers that serve all people, especially our most at-risk groups.
You may or may not know that Kate was diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer in Oct 2022 just before she was elected for the first time. UVM Medical said that she was not a candidate for surgery and that they could treat her with chemo until her body gives up. She was 48. Kate sought a second opinion at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC. Four years, 3 surgeries, 15 days of radiation, and countless trips to NYC for scans, tests and treatments as well as every two week treatment at UVM Medical, Kate can see the light at the end of the tunnel. She is doing GREAT. Kate recognizes that this result isn't everyone's reality. So the very first bill on which she was lead sponsor to get across the finish line was H.741(ACT 95) which expands coverage for screening for colorectal cancer with no cost sharing. While it was making its way through the Vermont Statehouse, the legislation received strong support from the Vermont Medical Society as did H.621, which helps increase access to screening tools for early detection of breast cancer by removing cost-sharing in commercial insurance plans for diagnostic mammography, ultrasounds, and MRIs. Screenings save lives! #CheckYourBuns
Kate supports practical ways to lower healthcare costs and improve access to care for every Vermont community. Vermont S.190 is a major healthcare reform bill from the 2026 legislative session designed to rein in escalating medical costs by expanding the powers of the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB). It aims to establish a "reference-based pricing" framework to cap what hospitals can charge and insurers can pay, while creating new oversight for hospital financial practices. Governor Scott vetoed this legislation June 16, 2026.
We need to continue investing in our community health centers and provide incentives for patients, health practitioners, and doctors to promote routine preventative care. Kate will work towards a system that reduces costs by making premiums more affordable with fewer out-of-pocket expenses. The Prescription Drug Discount Card (H. 577) passed the House and unanimously by the Senate would allow the state to join ArrayRx, a multi-state purchasing coalition. This would provides all Vermonters—regardless of insurance status—with a free discount card saving up to 80% on generic and 20% on brand-name medications. That Governor signed this bill into law June 15, 2026.