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Digital Town Hall: Erika Cashin here on March 18th, 4PM EST to discuss my run for Congress. What questions do you have?
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Erika Cashin has served 23 years in the US Air Force, and is currently an Air Force Reservist. While serving with the full-time Air Force, her positions included, Commander, 934th Force Support Squadron, and Deputy Commander, 934th Mission Support Group. In 2013, she founded the first military Lean In small circle, based on the best-selling book by Sheryl Sandberg. Later that year, Ms Sandberg visited her circle, and mentioned the experience in her next book, Lean In for Graduates. In 2015, Erika founded the DoD-wide Lean In Military Chapter, in support of all military small circles worldwide.
Erika’s chapter was officially launched by Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, September 2015. At the launch, Secretary Carter published a DoD directive encouraging participation in circles to encourage women into higher ranks of military service in support of military and civilian women worldwide. In 2016, Erika negotiated the Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of Veterans Affair’s Center for Women Veterans and LeanIN.org, as a national effort to support and connect women after transition from service, and integrate them into their local community.
From 2015 – 2018, Erika was a member of the Secretary of the Air Force’s in the Barrier Analysis Working Group to address barriers to service for women in the Air Force. In this role, and using experience gained through Lean In Women Veterans, she and her team partnered with the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop and launch a targeted transition program specifically for service women. This 1-day program is designed to prevent the negative trends women veterans experience after they depart the service.
In her current Air Force Reserve role, Erika is the Sexual Assault Prevention Officer for the 934th Airlift Wing. She is also a contributing author for the book Invisible Veterans: What Happens When Military Women Become Civilians Again.
Erika is currently running for Congress as a Republican candidate in Minnesota’s Second Congressional District, in the southern Twin Cities metro area and is comprised of Scott, Dakota, Goodhue, and Wabasha counties.
Erika lives in Apple Valley Minnesota, with her husband John. Her son Cameron is a sophomore at Harvard University, but has plans to enlist in the Navy this coming summer with a contract to join the Navy SEAL community. Her daughter Delaney is a high school senior and plans to attend the College of Biological Science at the University of Minnesota next fall.
Erika’s chapter was officially launched by Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, September 2015. At the launch, Secretary Carter published a DoD directive encouraging participation in circles to encourage women into higher ranks of military service in support of military and civilian women worldwide. In 2016, Erika negotiated the Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of Veterans Affair’s Center for Women Veterans and LeanIN.org, as a national effort to support and connect women after transition from service, and integrate them into their local community.
From 2015 – 2018, Erika was a member of the Secretary of the Air Force’s in the Barrier Analysis Working Group to address barriers to service for women in the Air Force. In this role, and using experience gained through Lean In Women Veterans, she and her team partnered with the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop and launch a targeted transition program specifically for service women. This 1-day program is designed to prevent the negative trends women veterans experience after they depart the service.
In her current Air Force Reserve role, Erika is the Sexual Assault Prevention Officer for the 934th Airlift Wing. She is also a contributing author for the book Invisible Veterans: What Happens When Military Women Become Civilians Again.
Erika is currently running for Congress as a Republican candidate in Minnesota’s Second Congressional District, in the southern Twin Cities metro area and is comprised of Scott, Dakota, Goodhue, and Wabasha counties.
Erika lives in Apple Valley Minnesota, with her husband John. Her son Cameron is a sophomore at Harvard University, but has plans to enlist in the Navy this coming summer with a contract to join the Navy SEAL community. Her daughter Delaney is a high school senior and plans to attend the College of Biological Science at the University of Minnesota next fall.
Government
Election 2020
Apple Valley
Congress
Edited >1 y ago
Responses: 24
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What are your priorities?
It is my opinion that the Minnesota Congressional delegation has poorly served Minnesota, prioritizing getting money for bike trails and their own political ambitions rather than what matters to Minnesotans, including in that district. To be honest, I've about given up on them.
It is my opinion that the Minnesota Congressional delegation has poorly served Minnesota, prioritizing getting money for bike trails and their own political ambitions rather than what matters to Minnesotans, including in that district. To be honest, I've about given up on them.
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1SG (Join to see)
PO3 Kevin Grass - The light rail trains are only a fraction of the problem when we have interstate highway bridges falling into the river. This is decades of neglect.
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Lt Col (Join to see)
1SG (Join to see) 1sg Jerry - GREAT question!
We need a new generation of leaders who will stand up for the people of Minnesota and inspire our citizens to shared action.
A couple of my top focus areas are fiscal responsibility and healthcare. This includes a supporting a balanced budget and deficit spending.
We’ve all seen the pain of transitioning from fiscal end-of-year over spending to restrictions of a Continuing Resolution Authority. We need to think about things differently, because our current process has not been efficient the last few years, and it’s impacting mission readiness.
Another issue that will be important to most Americans is addressing our current state of healthcare. My plan was just put out today, and I am copying it below:
1. I support total price transparency that puts patients in charge of making health care purchasing decisions. This is absolutely essential to create a competitive health care marketplace for the 80 percent of medical care that is shop-able.
2. I support capping provider billing charges at no more than 200 percent of what Medicare would pay for the service for incapacitated individuals who are unable to make decisions about their own care, typically care administered in emergency room situations. This would put an end to surprise billing.
3. I support creating new, competitive health insurance and payment plans that eliminate provider networks, giving patients freedom to buy health care from any willing provider – and that encourages providers to set up independent clinics and care centers.
4. I support requiring pharmacies to tell a patient the price the pharmacy accepts as full payment for all prescriptions, and the price of any and all alternatives to the prescribed medicines.
5. I support breaking up the emerging monopolies that allow insurance companies to own medical provider practices, pharmacies, and pharmacy benefit managers.
6. I support returning health care and insurance regulation to states instead of the federal bureaucracy created by the Affordable Care Act.
7. I support adding an asset test for Medicaid enrollment so that only individuals who need taxpayer assistance with health care costs will be enrolled.
8. I support making health insurance premiums tax deductible.
9. I support the expansion of Health Savings Accounts to permit more consumers to contribute pre-tax dollars to pay for medical expenses and to make HSAs available without regard to health insurance.
We need a new generation of leaders who will stand up for the people of Minnesota and inspire our citizens to shared action.
A couple of my top focus areas are fiscal responsibility and healthcare. This includes a supporting a balanced budget and deficit spending.
We’ve all seen the pain of transitioning from fiscal end-of-year over spending to restrictions of a Continuing Resolution Authority. We need to think about things differently, because our current process has not been efficient the last few years, and it’s impacting mission readiness.
Another issue that will be important to most Americans is addressing our current state of healthcare. My plan was just put out today, and I am copying it below:
1. I support total price transparency that puts patients in charge of making health care purchasing decisions. This is absolutely essential to create a competitive health care marketplace for the 80 percent of medical care that is shop-able.
2. I support capping provider billing charges at no more than 200 percent of what Medicare would pay for the service for incapacitated individuals who are unable to make decisions about their own care, typically care administered in emergency room situations. This would put an end to surprise billing.
3. I support creating new, competitive health insurance and payment plans that eliminate provider networks, giving patients freedom to buy health care from any willing provider – and that encourages providers to set up independent clinics and care centers.
4. I support requiring pharmacies to tell a patient the price the pharmacy accepts as full payment for all prescriptions, and the price of any and all alternatives to the prescribed medicines.
5. I support breaking up the emerging monopolies that allow insurance companies to own medical provider practices, pharmacies, and pharmacy benefit managers.
6. I support returning health care and insurance regulation to states instead of the federal bureaucracy created by the Affordable Care Act.
7. I support adding an asset test for Medicaid enrollment so that only individuals who need taxpayer assistance with health care costs will be enrolled.
8. I support making health insurance premiums tax deductible.
9. I support the expansion of Health Savings Accounts to permit more consumers to contribute pre-tax dollars to pay for medical expenses and to make HSAs available without regard to health insurance.
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CPO Nate S.
Lt Col (Join to see) - I read your focused areas. Impressive!!! If I were in MN I'd vote for those objectives. As an Independent I look for good idea - not tired rhetoric! Good luck in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
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CPO Nate S.
Lt Col (Join to see) - FYI, My dad was USAF (B-52 flight crew type) in 50's, very early 60s. So I speak just enough USAF to be dangerous (LoL). Seriously, he loved the USAF until his 100% SCD put him out! Take care and stay safe! I am rooting for your win, even though I cannot vote for you!
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Lt Col (Join to see)
I love to hear the stories of families that have served. My son is joining the Navy, and I hope he’s half as proud of my service as you are of your dad’s.
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