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Why I'm running.
I’m running for Springfield’s State Senate seat to lower costs, strengthen public schools, expand access to healthcare, and do my part to make sure Springfield is the best place to live, work, go to school, raise a family, and retire.
Born and raised in Springfield, this city is my home. I will continue to fight for working families, affordability, and a better future for all of us. I believe government should work for people, not for special interests, and that having more balance in Jefferson City benefits all 6.2 million people who call Missouri home.
In Jefferson City, I will always put the needs of Springfield first.
Thank You
For Your Support!
About State Senate District 30.
State Senate District 30 is rooted in Greene County and centered around the city of Springfield, the heart of southwest Missouri. The district includes neighborhoods, small businesses, and families that make the Springfield area such a vibrant place to live, work, and raise a family. Senate District 30 is home to the best public university and community college in the state. Go Bears!
From busy city streets to growing suburban neighborhoods, District 30 reflects the character and priorities of southwest Missouri. It is home to working families, students, small business owners, healthcare workers, farmers, and first responders who are building their futures here. The people of this district care about strong public schools, safe communities, good-paying jobs, and affordable healthcare. Representing District 30 means listening to those voices and fighting to make sure the needs of the Springfield community are heard in Jefferson City.
Betsy's Priorities
Education
From her kindergarten class at Sunshine Elementary school where her mom was PTA president, to earning an affordable degree from Missouri State and cheering on the Bears, Betsy understands the opportunities provided when you have access to quality public education. She wants to ensure all children in Springfield have that same opportunity.
Public education is one of the things that makes this country great. It ensures every child, regardless of zip code or background, has access to opportunities and pathways out of poverty. Springfield Public Schools is the largest school district in Missouri, educating nearly 25,000 students. Each one of those students has a unique story.
Betsy supports fully funding Missouri's public schools and increasing support for students and educators in Springfield Public Schools. Betsy was the tie-breaking vote on fully funding our classrooms, ensuring an additional 300 million dollars for students across Missouri.
Early education is key to unlocking a student's full potential. Betsy supports access to early childhood education so children can succeed. Betsy also supports investments in quality and affordable childcare so parents can succeed. As a State Representative, she delivered millions of dollars in childcare funding and supported programs that allow children in low-income homes and in foster care to find accessible childcare.
Betsy opposes efforts to privatize education and is concerned about continued efforts in the State Capitol to drain dollars from Springfield’s classrooms. Betsy believes Missouri taxpayers should expect accountability and transparency in state spending, and that public dollars should remain in public schools that educate all students.
Healthcare
Prescription costs are too high, and coverage gaps hurt families.
Betsy spent her entire professional career working in healthcare, helping connect families in Springfield to much-needed medical, dental, and behavioral health services. In Jefferson CIty, Betsy Fogle continued that work by supporting Medicaid expansion, increasing coverage to more than 300,000 Missourians. Betsy supported expanding postpartum Medicaid coverage to new moms in Missouri, a gap in coverage that she saw first-hand while working in public health. Too many families are watching loved ones struggle with addiction. Betsy supports protecting mental health and substance use treatment funding to combat the overdose and fentanyl crisis. Through her work on the budget committee, Betsy helped secure funding for behavioral and pediatric crisis centers in Springfield. Betsy has been a champion in securing funding for a strong safety net for Missourians with disabilities. As the ranking member on the state’s budget committee, Betsy funded critical disability services, including programs allowing individuals to remain in their own homes. Betsy is opposed to all efforts to defund these important services. Betsy believes access to medical, dental, and behavioral healthcare should be affordable, not held hostage for political points by the lawmakers in Jefferson City.
Jobs and Economy
Too many families in Springfield are forced to stretch their paychecks from month to month, tightening their belts anywhere they can.
Betsy spent her career serving families struggling to make ends meet. She understands the importance of an economy built to grow the working class, where billionaires don't profit off of the backs of working families. She supports union jobs, collective bargaining, and workplace protections. Strong unions mean higher wages, better benefits, and safer job sites. Betsy supports workforce training, including non-traditional pathways to prepare Missourians for good-paying careers. Betsy loves Springfield’s local businesses and enjoys spending time in all of the coffee shops, restaurants, bookstores, and shops. Whether you work as a bus driver, electrician, teacher, or nurse, Betsy will always have your back.
Affordability
Missouri families are being squeezed.
Utility rates continue to rise while lawmakers push tax breaks for billionaires and shift costs onto working families. Betsy Fogle opposes raising sales taxes or creating new taxes to fund handouts for the wealthy.
Two years ago, Springfield voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition A to raise the minimum wage and bring earned sick leave to Missouri. And when politicians in Jefferson City ignored the will of the people and gutted Proposition A, Betsy immediately filed legislation to restore Proposition A, protect the minimum wage, and ensure earned sick leave for workers. Springfield voters overwhelmingly supported Proposition A and Betsy is proud to stand with them.
Childcare costs are skyrocketing. That’s why Betsy secured millions of dollars for childcare expansion and continues to fight for reliable childcare funding so families are not forced to choose between paying their bills and caring for their children.
Public Safety
Public safety starts with supporting the brave men and women who keep our communities safe.
In office, Betsy proudly fought for pay raises for the state’s law enforcement officers.
Betsy Fogle supports increased funding for mental health services to reduce strain on law enforcement and emergency rooms. She believes firefighters and law enforcement deserve the resources, staffing, and training they need to keep communities safe.
One of Betsy’s top priorities in office has been advocating for children in foster care, making sure every child has a stable and loving home and a safe environment to grow up in. Betsy has used her platform to strengthen protections for domestic violence victims and will continue to support policies that keep Missouri’s women and children safe.