‘A vote for Carlie is a vote for our kids’

I’m voting to reelect State Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (District 49B), a strong supporter of early childhood education and families. Her bipartisan work has been recognized by the Start Early Funders Coalition, Reach Out and Read Minnesota, and the Early Childhood Policy Academy.

In America, families have little to no support until children reach kindergarten, despite the fact that there is between a $4-$9 return on every $1 invested in early childhood education (National Forum on Early Childhood Policy and Programs). As parents of a 4-year-old, my husband and I have made tough choices as we try to navigate childcare, graduate school, and employment. We need more elected officials like Carlie, a mom of four small children, who understand these challenges firsthand.

Rep. Kotyza-Witthuhn is the chief author of the Great Start Affordability Act, a bill that would pay childcare providers upfront and reduce families’ per-month childcare costs, with the aim that no family should pay more than 7% of their annual income. Along with her DFL colleagues, Carlie has also voted to invest in public schools, paid leave, evidence-based reading curriculum, and free lunch programs.

Research continues to show that investment in early care and learning can reduce future costs in remedial education, clinical treatment, and even crime. Supporting young families and childcare providers via Rep. Kotyza-Witthuhn’s Great Start bill would allow our family, and many others, to access childcare and strengthen our local economy by allowing more parents to return to the workforce.

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I’ve seen first-hand Carlie’s dedication to kids and families as she meets constituents, connecting with voters on the issues that matter most to them. I’m proud that my district is repped by such a fierce advocate for women, children, and families. A vote for Carlie is a vote for our kids!

Elyse Moretti Forbes, Eden Prairie