Jeanine Calkin challenges Walaska in Senate District 30

My name is Jeanine, and I am running for State Senate because I’m tired of our stagnant political system leaving so many of us behind.

Over the last 35 years, the diminishing of the middle class is staggering.  Growing up, I knew that if I worked hard and got a college degree, I could make a good living for myself.  Unfortunately today, that is not necessarily the case.  With fewer manufacturing jobs, and a turn toward a service industry economy, good paying jobs are hard to find.  People cannot live on these low paying wages, and the fight for an increase to the minimum wage is critical.  Reliance on credit cards has hidden the struggle of the middle class.  Too many families cannot afford an emergency such as a car accident, or medical care.

I had never gotten involved in politics before Bernie Sanders’ message inspired me to stand up and fight for the 99%.  I ran the field campaign for Bernie here in Warwick, where we wound up winning by 19 points. In our state, it is getting harder and harder to get a decent paying job. The Rhode Island middle class is disappearing, our jobs are leaving the state, and our government does little to help the working families who live here. As a lifelong Rhode Islander, I care about the future of our state.

The politicians who run Rhode Island keep giving handouts to politically connected corporations instead of helping the working families of our community.  Our current State Senator hasn’t just voted for these policies; he holds extreme conservative views.  For instance, after the tragic mass shooting in Orlando, I looked up his NRA rating, and I was shocked to learn he has an A+ from the gun lobby.

I am a Progressive Democrat, and will work with others in the Senate on core issues such as social security, income inequality and the environment. Together, we can transform our community to represent all of us, not just the special interests.