Dear Governor Brown, Senators Wyden and Merkley, Representative Blumenauer:

As a small business owner and Oregon voter I am urging you to change your mind and endorse Senator Bernie Sanders as the Democratic nominee in this primary. This is why I believe you should support him:

Medicare For All Is Good For Small Business

A single-payer national health care program as proposed by Senator Sanders would save small business like mine substantial amounts of money each year, which would allow us to reinvest in our communities and employees more easily. It would put an end to ever increasing healthcare premiums and having to find health insurance plans we can afford and at the same time don't burden our employees with huge deductibles and co-payments. With Medicare For All our employees would have more choices and they would not have to worry about losing health care coverage if they decided to go back to school, pursue different employment or wanted to relocate.

Free Education Is Good For Small Business

As a business owner I know how hard it can be to find qualified job applicants. If everyone was able to pursue the education they desire without getting into huge debt, we would have a stronger and more qualified work force here in Oregon. Having grown up in Germany, I know first-hand that good education goes hand-in-hand with well-paying jobs. People like me, who have no student debt because we received a free education in our home countries, are much more likely to pursue successful business ownership and create local jobs. We are also more likely to pay our employees higher wages because we have less debt ourselves.

Living Wages For All Is Good For Small Business

Everyone deserves to earn a living wage and Governor Brown's recent signing of Senate Bill 1532 is a step in the right direction. However, Bernie Sanders' proposal to raise the national minimum wage to $15/hour goes further and will assure that low-wage workers can bring themselves out of poverty. As a veterinarian I see on a regular basis how my fellow citizens struggle to take care of their animal companions, many having to choose between buying necessities for their families and medicine for their sick pets. As an animal welfare advocate this is unacceptable to me, and should be to you too.

I strongly believe, a healthy economy here in Oregon and nationwide can only be achieved by fighting and preventing poverty, by supporting the middle class and helping small business owners like me create well-paying local jobs.

Therefore, I urge you to give your endorsement to Bernie Sanders so every single person in this country has a chance to pursue their dreams and receive the education they desire, allowing all of us to get well-paying jobs or create such jobs for others. Senator Sanders is expected to do well in Oregon's primary and I ask you to pledge to back the will of your constituents.

Sincerely,

Dr. Cornelia Wagner

Hawthorne Veterinary Clinic

Portland OR