Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kelda Roys outlines plans for schools, healthcare and affordability
MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Kelda Roys has run for governor as a Democrat before but was unsuccessful. This time, she says things are different. Roys argues she is the only candidate who can defeat the presumptive Republican nominee, Tom Tiffany.
“We need a governor who will be steady leadership and can make sure to defeat Tom Tiffany in the general,” Roys said.
Roys is currently a state senator. Before that, she served in the state Assembly. She has called herself the public school candidate and has a plan to fully fund public schools by bringing in more tax revenue.
“If we make sure that we are stopping the corporate tax breaks that Republicans have put in place over the last 15 years for big polluters, if we restore the pre-Walker era fair progressive tax system for multi-millionaires and billionaires, and by the way, we can also have early childhood education paid for by legalizing cannabis,” Roys said.
She also plans to move funding away from the voucher system, also known as the parent choice program, which uses tax dollars to subsidize private school tuition for eligible schools and families that meet certain income guidelines. She wants that money put back into public schools, which she believes will create better outcomes.
“We have to bring the voucher scheme to a responsible end. We cannot keep diverting billions of dollars in every single budget out of our public schools and into private, unaccountable voucher schools that can discriminate,” Roys said.
When it comes to healthcare, Roys said her plan differs from other candidates. She says expanding BadgerCare is not an option because of federal cuts.
“My plan will open up that state plan so anyone can buy in, and not just individuals, but employers as well,” Roys said.
As for data centers, Roys wants to create statewide standards to protect the environment and workers. She would also end the subsidies data centers are receiving, which she said are expected to cost the state $2 billion in lost tax revenue.
“If a data center wants to come here, they should be paying us for that privilege. My plan would require an upfront payment of hundreds of millions of dollars for every data center, and then we will use that money to capitalize a public clean energy infrastructure bank,” Roys said.
Roys added her biggest priority is addressing affordability. One way she plans to do that is by increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour, with a path to $20. She said small businesses would have a longer timeframe to adjust.
“It's addressing the affordability crisis by raising wages and lowering the cost, especially on those big-ticket items like healthcare, housing, childcare and utilities that are squeezing families,” Roys said.
We've reached out to each candidate running for governor. As we gather those interviews, we'll bring them to you on air and online.
You can watch our full interview with Kelda Roys below. To see Mandela Barnes' interview, click here.