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Healthcare
3.00
Economics
3.00
Candidate Name
Nan Polk
District
State House District 54
Values
Grade
Values
Party
Democrat
Experience
Challenger
Grade
Democracy
4.00
Accessibility
X
Governance
4
Cost
Choice
3
X
Freedom
Voting
X
4
Community
X
Overall Grade
Education
4.00
Affordability
Equity
Opportunity
3
X
X
Environment
Public Safety
Inclusion
X
X
X
Stability
Funding
Belonging
4
4
X
Notable Information
Candidate Name
Candidate for:
State House District 54
Democrat
Challenger
Notable Information
Nan Polk's Contact Information
Sources
Reference links
MADVoters Survey Responses
Healthcare: The Big Beautiful Bill is projected to cut $31 billion from Indiana’s Medicaid funding, including almost $13 billion in hospital funding, over the next decade. What will you do if elected to ensure healthcare affordability and access given these changes? (Source: Indiana Hospital Association)
18. Indiana counties are without hospitals, which results in a healthcare desert. The federal government has left the states to grapple with funding. Toexacerbate the problem we have fewer providers than other states. Our maternal and infant morbidity and mortality rates have made some improvement but are still well above the nation average, especially among black mothers. Indiana currently has a surplus. Some of these funds must be designated to support healthcare. We can provide incentive for providers by providing grants for medschool and nurses practitioner degrees provided they stay in Indiana for a certain length of time.
Economics: AI and data centers are having a huge impact on jobs and communities across the nation, particularly in Indiana. What is Congress’s role in addressing this developing technology? What action will you take to hear and represent the concerns of Hoosiers on this topic?
Economics: Dozens of AI data centers are planning to come to Indiana, drawn by the state’s “business-friendly” reputation. How should Indiana manage these large industrial site proposals and their potential impact on communities? (Source: Citizens Action Coalition)
Indiana tends to be a minimalistic in regulations. This is not an approach we can take with AI. Where are the facilities can be built, how the energy and water are provided must be regulated by the state. Leaving decisions totally up to localities will cause chaos and mismanagement. The use of AI data also needs to be regulated. We need to be strategic in how we approach the use of AI. Jobs, our well-being, predatory practices, proliferating miss information ,all are potential outcomes of AI if we don’t act enact common sense regulations.
Education: Describe your stance on the Department of Education and its role in education administration, funding, and protections for students with disabilities.
Education: Since 2012, Indiana has spent over $5.5 billion in taxpayer dollars on charter schools and the private school voucher program. If elected, would you support or oppose the use of taxpayer dollars to funding private schools and charter schools? Why or why not? (Source: ICPE)
Almost $500 million have been spent for private school vouchers. Private schools are largely parochial and have very little oversight, especially fiscally. Charter schools take standardized state tests, but again are not held accountable to the extent the public schools are. About 90% of our students attend to public schools, communities are built around public schools. Rural communities often don’t have a choice, they have no charter or private schools so their tax dollars are going out of the county with absolutely no return. This is not an acceptable situation. I am on the Newcastle school district School Board, and I am the chair of the education advocacy committee for the League Of Women Voters. I believe in fully supporting public education.
Democracy: In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge or threat facing our democracy right now? If elected, what will you do to help overcome this challenge or threat?
Undermining voting rights and the voting process among other things is a huge threat to democracy. The process of registering and casting ballots amounts to voter suppression. Indiana is among the lowest vote turnout in the nation. Our voters need to be educated and encouraged to participate in the process. We need a campaign around increasing participation and against straight ticket voting.
Community: Describe your stance on ICE and its role in immigration enforcement and detention.
Community: What role or responsibility do local and state governments have with regards to immigration enforcement?
Convicted felons, immigrants, or otherwise should face the consequences of their actions. For all others,we need to create a pathway to citizenship that is timely and truly attainable. We need to increase the judicial system which services immigrants. We then should expect those who want to to attain citizenship. We should expect those with visas to abide by the requirements of the visa. There is absolutely no need for them to go back to their original country for this to happen. Immigrants are a vital part of our society. We are stronger as a culture in our diversity.