Issues
Reproductive Freedom for Every Tennessean
Karen Reynolds is committed to securing quality reproductive healthcare for every Tennessean, regardless of their zip code. She will work to clear barriers that limit access to maternity care and support individuals making their own choices about reproductive health, free from government interference. Karen views healthcare as a fundamental human right and opposes discriminatory laws that endanger lives or restrict personal reproductive health decisions. Recent legal decisions, like the Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health ruling in June 2022, profoundly affected pregnant individuals nationwide. Shockingly, almost one in five patients now travel out of state for abortion care, especially in emergency situations. Tennessee's situation is dire, with over half of rural hospitals no longer offering birthing services, resulting in maternal care deserts within our state. In the Senate, Karen will fiercely advocate for safe and legal access to abortion. She supports initiatives like the Tennessee Contraception Freedom Act, ensuring every individual's right to contraception and reproductive healthcare. She will champion efforts to safeguard and expand our maternal healthcare community, working to ensure patients receive respect and dignity while making deeply personal reproductive health decisions.
Education Empowers: Invest in Our Schools, Secure Our Future!
Karen opposes the GOP's voucher system diverting resources from public to private schools. Rejecting federal education funds and implementing vouchers worsens underfunding, raises taxes, and doesn't improve student success. She's dedicated to protecting public education, understanding its critical role in shaping Tennessee's future. Her commitment stems from choosing Montgomery County's schools to raise her sons, and she will fight to safeguard public education from policies detrimental to our schools. Karen firmly opposes voucher programs, seeing them as schemes diverting tax dollars from local schools to unaccountable private institutions. These vouchers don't translate to genuine 'school choice' or 'educational freedom.' Private schools can selectively admit students and aren't obliged to offer services like transportation or accessibility to all. Tennessee's education rankings—42nd for public teacher salary, 46th for per-student spending, and a $1.7 billion annual underfunding in 2020—highlight critical challenges. Rejecting $1.8 billion in federal funds for book bans and discrimination isn't the solution. In Montgomery County, federal funding accounts for 20% of our budget; rejecting it would force local tax hikes. The Republican Supermajority has targeted librarians and educators with laws banning books, weakening unions, and allowing untrained individuals to teach in public schools. Karen aims to restore local decision-making, repeal the 3rd grade retention act, and bolster teacher unions. She values educators' expertise and aims to remove legislative barriers hindering their vital work.
Vouchers don’t equal “school choice” or “educational freedom".
Protecting Tennessee: Fight for Safer Communities and Common-Sense Gun Laws
Karen Reynolds is deeply committed to addressing Tennessee's gun violence crisis, especially its impact on children. Guided by her military experience, she supports crucial measures such as safe storage requirements, closing background check loopholes, and red flag provisions. Her aim is to prioritize evidence-based gun safety laws, safeguarding the well-being of all Tennesseans. Gun violence stands as the primary cause of death for Tennessee's children, marking a severe public health crisis. Karen is resolute in upholding Second Amendment rights while prioritizing citizen safety. She won’t be swayed by special interests. Tennesseans overwhelmingly support common-sense gun laws aimed at community safety and well-being. Karen's dedication to listening to the community and advocating for evidence-based policies solidifies her commitment to fostering a safer Tennessee for all its residents.
All Tennesseanas Deserve Access to Affordable Heath Care.
Karen is an advocate for accessible healthcare, recognizing the continuous threat of hospital closures across Tennessee. She supports expanding the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid, recognizing these measures as crucial to fortifying our healthcare infrastructure. Karen is committed to championing common-sense measures, enhancing healthcare access, and promoting transparent funding. She firmly believes that healthcare is an essential right and pledges to prioritize the well-being of every Tennessean. Karen, with her background in healthcare informatics, comprehends the intricate nuances within our healthcare system. More than half of TN hospitals risk closure due to insufficient TennCare reimbursement and not expanding Medicaid. These shutdowns represent the challenges mothers face in accessing adequate care, the necessity of better beginnings for newborns, and the dependence of families on these essential services. As a state senator, Karen prioritizes legislation meeting critical needs like housing, nutrition, and healthcare. She's dedicated to expanding federal programs like WIC, where studies reveal that each dollar invested saves $2.48 in medical, educational, and productivity expenses. Karen knows that addressing these concerns improves lives, lowers crime rates, and boosts the economy.
Improve Quality of Life and Cost of Living Through Smart, Equitable Economic Policies
Karen believes Clarksville’s quality of life is threatened by business as usual at the local level and with the Republican super-majority at the state level. She endorses equitable tax policies, repealing the grocery tax, and affordable housing. Tennessee is ranked No. 1 for GDP, but we rank at the bottom for financial well-being, bankruptcy and food insecurity. Karen thinks it was a mistake when the legislature cut corporate taxes instead of cutting the grocery tax. Our current state senator and Karen’s opponent voted for handing corporations $1.9 billion in tax refunds and annual taxes cuts, more than half of which will go out of state. He also voted against cutting the grocery tax, among the highest in the nation at 4%, which would save Tennesseans $400 annually on their food bills. This would immediately put money in every family’s pocket, increasing buying power and putting more money back into the economy. Karen believes the state should expand and improve food assistance programs because each dollar invested saves $2.48 in medical, educational, and productivity expenses. Tennessee already has some of the nation’s lowest tax rates for business, and it’s time to do something for the everyday worker. The average family income in Clarksville is $73,000 and a family of four making $64,500 still qualifies for HUD assistance. Karen will address Clarksville’s affordability by working to create social housing and mixed income communities, avoiding the concentration of poverty. She will work to improve the housing voucher program encouraging developers to build more attainable homes. Karen advocates for walkability, infrastructure, and investing in affordable, high-quality childcare. Karen will always take a pragmatic approach that unites the community toward solutions. The GOP Supermajority overwhelmingly voted for this business windfall while denying a grocery tax cut for Tennessee families. https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=HB2043&ga=113
Championing Medical Cannabis for Veterans and Health Care
Karen, who served as an Army Pharmacy Technician, vividly remembers 1985 when Marinol, a THC derivative for chemotherapy-induced nausea, was approved by the FDA. Before its approval, military members and their families faced significant legal risks to access effective treatment. Despite the risks, many patients found marijuana more effective and continued its use. Karen will be committed to passing the Medical Cannabis Bill to relieve conditions like chronic pain, combat injuries, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, and PTSD.Thirty-nine states allow medical cannabis; Tennessee should provide the same access. Karen will advocate for legislation allowing safe and regulated access to medical marijuana for all Tennesseans. She will support regulatory frameworks ensuring quality control, proper labeling, and secure distribution.
