Ray DanielsDFL  Endorsed

House 42B - Eden Prairie

Why Ray Daniels is running

I am running because Minnesota and its citizens are in deep financial difficulty. We need legislators who will work to get Minnesota back on solid financial footing. We need citizens fully employed in a healthy economy.

I am an ordinary citizen with life experiences, not a fancy resume of political accomplishments.

I know the necessity of Social Security. I watched my mother struggle to make a new life after the sudden death of my father. Part of my college education was paid for by survivor’s insurance from Social Security. Affordable tuition allowed me to earn my degree in education.

What would have happened had my mother not returned to full-time teaching months before my father’s death? We need a safety net to get people back on their feet after emergencies.

My wife and I have been healthy. Yet, we know what it is to be under-insured. We worry about an accident or catastrophic illness. I watched my mother and mother-in-law struggle with health issues as they got older. They were lucky to have Medicare.

They depended on rural hospitals and nursing homes. Many citizens of Eden Prairie have parents and grandparents in greater Minnesota. Without strong financial support from our state government greater Minnesota hospitals and nursing homes will close.

I know the challenges veterans face coming home. A good friend who is a veteran had his hip replaced because of World War II injuries. I watched him struggle from near death to celebrating his 84th birthday. EP veterans and all other citizens need excellent affordable health care.

I have taught in an inner city school, changed careers and been a victim of downsizing. I know the joys and sorrows of running my own business. I know the financial hardship of unemployment. Like many citizens, I struggle with credit card debt and high financial charges.

Death of a spouse, divorce, debilitating accident, catastrophic illness or job loss is a personal tragedy. Many Minnesotans need a safety net for financial assistance. Given the choice between helping those most in need and raising taxes on the wealthy, I believe most will choose raising taxes. Given the choice between closing rural hospitals and raising taxes on the wealthy, I believe most will choose raising taxes. Given the choice between helping Minnesota veterans and raising taxes on the wealthy, I believe most will choose raising taxes.

These are the choices legislators will have to make.