On the Issues

Affordability is at the heart of creating thriving, equitable communities where every family can succeed. Representative Kotyza-Witthuhn is committed to reducing the cost of living for Minnesotans by addressing the critical areas of childcare, healthcare, and housing.

As the author of the Grocery Store Surveillance Pricing Ban, Carlie is working to ensure corporations can’t use your data to raise grocery prices.

Representative Kotyza-Witthuhn voted in support of an additional $125 million expansion of property tax relief and an additional $174 million investment in rental assistance, housing infrastructure bonds, and more!

Minnesotans should be able to trust that businesses and agencies have their best interests at heart - and if not, they should have access to reliable recourse. Representative Kotyza-Witthuhn has served four terms on the House Commerce committee, during which they have restricted the use of AI to deny Prior Medical Authorization, banned Crypto Kiosks, prohibited the use of Nudification Technology, enacted the Student Loan Borrower Bill of Rights, legalized adult-use cannabis, and created the Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund.

Carlie has a degree in entrepreneurship from the University of St. Thomas and is in frequent contact with local business owners about the challenges they face in our ever-changing economy. She co-authored a $60M appropriation of the federal CARES Act funding to our small businesses, which provided relief dollars to our community throughout the pandemic. Carlie championed the 2022 Liquor Modernization bill and advocated for provisions like #FreeTheGrowler and increased on-sale options for micro-breweries (like Fat Pants!) and micro-distilleries (like Flying Dutchman Spirits!).

No matter their zip code or socioeconomic status, every Minnesota child deserves access to a world-class education. Over the last decade, House DFLers have made historic investments in our students, educators and schools. Investing in public schools is essential to the future of Minnesota. She authored statewide health education standards during her time in the legislature so every child across the state will learn from a science-based, age-appropriate health curriculum.

Carlie voted in favor of a fully-funded tuition freeze at public institutions, a $35M investment in the State Grant, increased mental health and food access on campuses, and over $8M in grants, scholarships and investments to support teachers of color and American Indian teachers on their path to being an educator.

Fraud in any shape or form is completely unacceptable. Taxpayers should be able to expect that public dollars are spent effectively and efficiently on the programs that Minnesotans need and consumers should be able to trust that their personal data and purchases are protected.

Carlie has worked across the aisle to hold bad actors accountable and prevent fraud against government programs and individuals. She voted in support of the new Office of the Inspector General, which will establish a clear point of contact for fraud reporting and investigation and break down data-sharing barriers so departments can more easily catch fraudsters statewide. 

In her work on the Commerce committee, Representative Kotyza-Witthuhn is supportive of establishing a Minnesota Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and voted to expand the Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund as well as creating a Trusted Contact program for financial institutions to better protect your personal assets. 

Healthcare is a human right and each Minnesotan deserves access to high-quality, affordable care when and where they need it.

As a champion for bodily autonomy, Carlie believes that reproductive healthcare (including birth control, IVF, and abortion!) is a decision best left to the individual and not the government.

One of the most common concerns Carlie hears from constituents is the cost of pharmaceutical drugs. Essential and life-saving medication should not cost an arm and a leg. Carlie co-authored the bipartisan Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act and has supported Prescription Drug Price Transparency, which requires additional pricing data from pharmaceutical companies and benefits managers.

It’s impossible to grow the economy of the future if our infrastructure is crumbling. Improving our transit system will create more jobs, provide reliable transportation options, as well as allow businesses to better transport their goods and provide consumers easier access to services. Carlie is working hand-in-hand with the Eden Prairie City Council and the Eden Prairie Police Department for state investment to enhance our local roadways and emergency response systems.

All of us, white, black, brown, or indigenous want to feel valued, welcome, and safe in our community. Working alongside our police officers to build relationships and ensure they have the training and support they need, and that everyone - our neighbors and law enforcement professionals - can all return home to our families safely at the end of the day. Carlie does not support defunding the police and is appreciative of Police Chief Sackett and his law enforcement team and the innovative ways they’re trying to engage neighbors in Eden Prairie - like Coffee with a Cop and their new initiative: the Neighborhood Police Officers program which will allow officers and residents to get to know each other and work to better solve community challenges. Carlie is also proud to have passed a bi-partisan bill to fund the Automobile Theft Prevention Library and is committed to fighting for increased gun violence protections for our community.

Disparities are entrenched in our communities and run deep to the institutional and structural foundations that shape policing, education, housing, employment, transportation, and our health systems. Centuries of racist ideas and racist policies have led to racial inequity that we now need to address. Our LGBTQ neighbors continue to experience long-standing opposition to equal rights, often cloaked in claims of religious freedom. Climate change continues to deepen its impact on our community. In the legislature, we are working together to rebuild the economy, have strong functioning schools, enact policies to help working people, improve health care for everyone, and strengthen environmental protections for the people of Minnesota.