Issues 

Education

Linda has been a consistent advocate for public schools and universities in the Kansas Legislature. She has a degree in Music Education and has been an independent piano teacher for 30 years. She serves on the Education committee in Topeka. She is proud to be the parent of a teacher.

As a piano teacher, Linda works with students that attend public, private and home schools. She has witnessed students in all of these settings benefit from public school classes and special services. She is committed to protecting the public school safety net for every child regardless of where they are primarily schooled.

Linda has voted to fully fund public education, including special education, when it was not tied to destructive policy. She has consistently advocated for maintaining local control of schools, including curriculum and boundary decisions.

Public education is the foundation for a strong workforce and big part of District 16. District 16 is home to the Blue Valley, Olathe, and Shawnee Mission Schools, as well as Johnson County Community College and the University of Kansas’ Edwards campus. Strong public schools draw employers to the area and help build our economy.

Healthcare

As the spouse of physician, Linda is acutely aware of recent issues in healthcare. In 2022, Linda put forth bi-partisan legislation to increase the penalty for attacking a hospital worker while on duty. The bill became law in 2023.

As of March 2024, Kansans have lost nearly seven billion of our tax dollars due to lack of Medicaid expansion.  These tax dollars are being used to fund other states’ healthcare systems. Linda agrees with roughly 80% of Kansans that it is time to bring this money back home and expand access to affordable healthcare in Kansas.

Linda supports leaving medical decisions to healthcare professionals, as opposed to the legislature.

Safety

One of Linda’s proudest moments while serving in the Legislature was when her bill allowing for longer orders of protection from abuse became law in 2023. She is proud to stand with survivors seeking to keep themselves and their children safe.

As a longtime Moms Demand Action member, Linda knows that common sense gun laws save lives. She supports background checks on all gun sales and red flag laws to protect survivors of domestic abuse and those in a mental health crisis. She has introduced legislation requiring that guns be stored securely in an effort to lower the number of accidental shootings by children. She is adamantly opposed to arming teachers and has consistently voted against rolling back gun laws.

Taxes

Linda supports a fiscally responsible tax plan that provides relief to all Kansans. This bi-partisan plan includes: immediate elimination of state sales tax on food, diapers, and feminine hygiene products, elimination of taxes on social security income, property tax relief, income tax relief, a back to school tax holiday, and a doubling of the child care tax credit.

Transparency

Linda maintains active social media accounts to keep constituents informed about activity in the Legislature and the community. During the session, she publishes a weekly newsletter that includes every vote on the House floor and activities in her committees. She puts her teaching background to use to make sure that bill descriptions are written so that all can understand the content and provides explanations of her votes as is warranted.

Linda participates in regular town halls and public forums and is readily available to constituents via email, phone, and text.