Issues

Wiley Nickel for NC

Strengthening NC Public Education

Public education has always been our country’s great equalizer, educating and lifting all. North Carolina was one time a leader in public school education but, in recent years the State of North Carolina has failed our students, parents, and educators. North Carolinians deserve better. In the State Senate, Wiley will fight every day for a fully fund public school system, to raise teacher salaries to above the national average, reduce class sizes, and the amount of classroom time spent on standardized testing.

Building an Economy that Works for Everyone

A strong middle class is a sign of a strong economy. In the years since the Great Recession, the middle class is still suffering. Wiley Nickel is focused on growing the middle class by creating jobs, building the local economy, and reducing income inequality between the rich and the poor. In the State Senate, Wiley will work to make the economy more fair and inclusive, and that means cutting taxes for working and middle-class families by making the wealthy and big corporations pay their fair share, raising the minimum wage to a $15 living wage, and making sure women receive equal pay for equal work.

Expanding access to Affordable Healthcare

Wiley Nickel supports Universal Healthcare and Medicaid expansion for North Carolina. In the State Senate, he will work to expand access to affordable healthcare for all North Carolinians.  32 State and DC have expanded Medicaid to make health care affordable for millions more people.  Republicans in the NC General Assembly have repeatedly blocked Medicaid Expansion leaving up to 500,000 North Carolinians without affordable health care.  Our tax dollars sent to Washington are already going to pay for this coverage for people in other states.  We must expand Medicaid for the working poor and seniors!  It will mean up to 5,000 good high paying jobs in Wake County and when 500,000 more people are insured it will lead to reductions of up to 10% in health care premiums for everyone else in North Carolina.

Protecting the Environment

Wiley Nickel is a champion for North Carolina’s environment. As someone who worked for Vice President Al Gore for years, Wiley will hold corporate polluters responsible for endangering our water, air, and protected ecosystems. Wiley will work to combat climate change by making clean, renewable energy more accessible and affordable for North Carolina families and businesses.

Criminal Justice Reform

Protecting Women’s Rights

Women’s rights are human rights. Wiley Nickel is pro-choice and is unwavering in his commitment to protecting funding for Planned Parenthood. In the State Senate, Wiley will fight the right-wing extremists who want to put politicians between women and their doctors.

Equal Rights and Justice for North Carolina

North Carolina was once a progressive leader in the South.  Discriminatory laws like HB2 have cost our state thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in revenue.  Wiley Nickel supports marriage equality and a full repeal of HB142.  Wiley cares about issues that matter to the LGBTQ community and fully supports efforts to combat hate violence.  Wiley will be a leader in efforts to make North Carolina a state that is inclusive of everyone.

Commonsense Gun Safety

Almost half of all Americans know someone affected by gun violence. Wiley Nickel will fight the powerful gun lobby and the NC GOP for common sense gun safety policies that will keep guns out of the hands of felons, domestic abusers, and would be terrorists. In the State Senate, Wiley will fight to close gun show loopholes and pass universal background checks.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform

We need comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship for the eleven million undocumented immigrants in the United States.  Wiley Nickel is a strong supporter of DACA.  On the State level Wiley will support driving privileges for undocumented residents in North Carolina and in-state tuition for DACA recipients living in North Carolina.

Improving our Democracy

Gerrymandering is wrecking our Democracy! The 2016 election proves that special interests have too much control over politicians and our government; the voices of everyday North Carolinian’s are getting drowned out. In the State Senate, Wiley will fight to get big money out of politics, push for independent non-partisan redistricting reform, and improving access to the ballot.