I'm James Annala and I'm running for MO House District 83. I grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota and I've lived in St. Louis for 8 years. I studied English and Philosophy at Marquette University (BA, 2005). I worked at an outdoor education camp in California through AmeriCorps after I graduated for two years. I've worked as a paraprofessional in special education classes at public schools for about 15 years. I'm also a musician and St. Louis community organizer.
My Beliefs
I stand for decolonization, ending exploitation and oppression, and peace and freedom for all. I'm fighting to overturn the many contradictions caused by colonialism. I will work for:
- Ceasefire in Israel and Palestine. End the occupation of Palestine. Israel and the US to pay reparations to Palestinians and to rebuild all hospitals, schools, and destroyed buildings.
- Weapons embargo to Israel under the Leahy Law
- Reparations to African people in the US and internationally. US out of Africa and all resources including minerals back in the hands of African people
- Land Back to Indigenous people in the U.S. on their terms
- National Improved Medicare for all- single payer health care. This is cheaper than our current healthcare system and covers all people for 100% of their healthcare
- Ranked Choice Voting, eliminate the electoral college
- Protect the VA and end privatization of the VA
- Get money out of politics, ban super PACs
- Increase taxes on corporations and the wealthy and ban stock buybacks
Local Bills I would propose and issues I care about
Healthcare
- Pass a resolution in support of national single-payer healthcare
- End privatization of Medicaid in MO, expand services, make it available to all, and eliminate the requirement for the Medicaid spend down
- All Missouri healthcare to cover gender affirming care
- Expand mental health care including counseling, trauma services, and wrap around services
- Protect a woman's autonomy over her own body. Support women and children through their lifetimes, not just birth by supporting measures for paid childcare, at least 12 weeks paid maternity leave, and expanding resources that cover housing and food for children and families
Education
- Universal pre-K education for all Missouri residents
- End the expansion of for-profit (charter) schools and increase funding of public schools
- Equitable state funding for all school districts in Missouri
Environment
- Ban factory farms (CAFO's) which are houses of terrible animal cruelty and cause severe damage to the environment. Clean the land and turn over ownership to local farmers with subsidies for vegetable crops.
- Ban pesticides that are known and suspected carcinogens
- Ban animal waste including pig feces from being transported into Missouri from other states
- Provide education and funding for replacing yards and public lawns with native plants
- Require new construction to include minimum amounts of green space to offset cement/paved surfaces to reduce flooding
- Increase accessible and affordable public mass transit
Prison
- Abolish the death penalty in Missouri
- Prison policy based on Missouri Cure's recommendations:
- End warehousing of people and focus on genuine rehabilitation, educational and vocational opportunities, empower communities with resources to thrive
- End solitary confinement
- Eliminate for-profit prisons, ban slavery and low pay work in prisons
Social Justice
- Reverse the current militarization of the police
- Support the creation of community land trusts
- Protect LGBTQIA+ rights
- I would propose making district 83 a sanctuary region for undocumented people. Missouri should provide resources for people that are undocumented to have a path to citizenship. State covered translation services.
- Expand Call a Ride to all of Missouri, expand universal design, ensure full compliance of the ADA, provide increased disability services, and oppose techno-ableism
Supporting Families
- Ban new investor-capital owned housing in Missouri
- Rent control and rent maximums to take immediate effect in Missouri
- Missouri state funded food pantries in all counties
- Tax credits for childcare
Jobs
- Missouri jobs guarantee. Jobs would focus on meeting people's needs, such job creation in the fields of healthcare and community services
- Increase pay for teachers, paras, CNAs, chore workers, and home health aides.
- $25 minimum wage
- 4 day work week, 8 weeks paid vacation, 3 week sick leave
- Promote the arts and encourage grants for artistic work to be shared for the good of the community
Ethics
- Missouri to divest from Israeli companies in protest of the genocide being committed against Palestinians
- Ban puppy mills in Missouri. Ban kill shelters. Make funds available to Missourians for emergency vet bills
- 2 term limit maximum for all political offices in Missouri
- All state-run entities that serve food, to serve vegan options
Funding
- Increase taxes on corporations and the wealthy in Missouri
- Push for increased federal funding of Missouri services
- End tax loopholes that favor corporations and the wealthy
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