Over the past year, we’ve heard a lot about the new Common Core standards in education. According to the Department of Education, the program is intended to prepare students for work and post-secondary education expectations.

While these goals may be well-intended, one thing is clear: the program is not working and must be stopped immediately.  

As a parent, I’m concerned with the shift away from addressing each student’s individual needs directly and toward “teaching to the test.” This may turn out good test takers but our kids deserve better. Our children have a right to an age appropriate education that teaches critical thinking. I’ve spoken with numerous parents and teachers, and have found that nearly all of them share my concerns and have strong negative reactions to the common core.

Unfortunately, for-profit companies have been pushing hard to keep these standards in place – publishing companies are marketing common core textbooks, common core staff development for teachers and common core student and teacher assessments. We cannot let corporations line their pockets with our education tax dollars to push a dubious curriculum. Our children's education cannot and must not be for sale.  

We also need to ensure that our children’s privacy is protected. The State Education Department plans to turn over the records of 2.3 million students to Inbloom, Inc. a non-profit company, claiming that this will make data more easily available to parents. Although Inbloom has made assurances that data won’t be released without the express permission of local school districts, we’ve seen consumer information be hacked time and time again. Anyone that assures us that there will be foolproof security after turning the database over to a third party is either lying or ignorant of the reality that we live in.

Our children deserve better and so do we. We must raise our voices together and stop common core.

I have very simple, common sense ideas for real tax relief.

When Albany has a good idea, Albany should pay for it.  For too long our elected officials have gone up to Albany and 'pushed down' legislation onto our schools, towns and counties.  If any new legislation comes down from Albany, it should be fully funded so our local taxes don't increase.

I also am proposing tax credits for businesses that hire employees because the private sector is the engine that runs the economy. Government's role should be to encourage job growth and help businesses bet on themselves.  This proposal offsets the risk that businesses worry about when they expand their workforce with a 15% state tax credit when they hire new employees.  If a business increases its workforce, each new employee's salary would be eligible for this tax credit.  For example, if a business creates a new job with a salary of $25,000, that business would be eligible for a $3,750 tax credit. This proposal creates a measurable way to create jobs and offer tax relief to entrepreneurs.

Why provide a tax credit?  Because every new job is a economic stimulator. Each new employee spends money in the local economy. Creating jobs has a multiplier effect as the money that employees spend works it's way through the economy. 

My campaign is focused on tax relief, jobs and economic growth. These aren't empty words. Our middle class families need help, not rhetoric.  I have a plan of action, and I will work to make this a reality.