What do you see as the three greatest challenges facing the state over the next few years?
“Our economy is certainly the greatest concern. We continue to fall behind our neighbors in job growth and rank 42nd out of 50 states. That is not acceptable. Each May, thousands of new Kansas graduates must decide on where they will live and make a career. Without good jobs available in Kansas, our young people will continue to use our excellent highway system to leave the state for better opportunities elsewhere.
“The current school funding plan will leave the state with a $216 million budget shortfall. The governor has not proposed a way to pay for the plan. I believe we must get the Kansas economy back on track to pay for the school plan.
“There are many other important issues, such as improving the facilities and reducing tuition rates at our colleges and universities. Our highway plan is coming to an end, and we need to look at the future of that plan. Health care remains a vitally important issue, especially in the rural parts of our state. However, we need a vibrant and growing economy to afford the schools our children deserve, the highways we need to prosper, public safety services, health care services, and many other state services. I have developed a plan to get our economy moving in the right direction.”
What are your thoughts on the school funding bill that was passed and what more needs to be done to help Kansas schools?
“Our current governor made an empty promise to the children of Kansas. She has no plan to pay for the current bill, a bill that doesn’t even budget for future years placing at risk all funding toward primary education. The current bill, endorsed by the governor, will place Kansas even further into debt. The current governor is playing politics with Kansas schools in an attempt to gain re-election. The plan I introduced in the Senate earlier this year provided a $495 million increase in school funding, budgeted and funded over all four years.
“The facts are clear with the current governor — she has not led on education. The only time she has made an attempt to lead was to propose a $1.2 billion tax increase on property, income and sales taxes across the state that would have crippled the Kansas economy.
“To meet the promise made to Kansas school children, and to ensure that our state colleges and universities remain available for working Kansas families, we must begin growing our economy faster than it has under the current governor. I have presented a plan to get our economy growing, and I intend to fully fund the education bill.”
What, if anything, can or should Kansas do to address the issue of illegal immigration?
“The first thing we must do is make Kansas a less-inviting destination for illegal immigrants, by eliminating policies that treat illegal immigrants better than U.S. citizens. I voted against in-state tuition for illegal immigrants as a senator — as governor I will work to remove that law that treats illegal immigrants better than U.S. citizens. “This is an important difference between the current governor and my position on this issue.
“Kathleen Sebelius supports policies favoring illegal immigrants — Jim Barnett favors giving special favors to citizens like military personnel and first-responders. I pledge to oppose any measure that treats illegal immigrants better than U.S. citizens.
“We can and will do more to help the federal government fight illegal immigration. The current governor would rather sweep the problem under the carpet and forget about it — that is not leadership. I oppose in-state tuition for illegal immigrants — Sebelius supports. I oppose driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants — Sebelius supports. I oppose blaming others for problems in Kansas — Sebelius would rather blame the problems away.”
How do you see the current state of the Kansas economy? What needs to happen for it to grow from its present position?
“The Kansas economy continues to fall further behind our neighbors. Kansas ranks dead last in private sector job growth and is No. 1 in government job growth. Job growth in Kansas has been at 1.9 percent during the Sebelius administration, compared to 3.1 percent in Missouri, 3.9 percent in Oklahoma and Nebraska, and 4.8 percent in Colorado. We need to generate economic growth so we can have opportunities for young Kansans, and afford the schools, roads and other vital state service we need.
Unlike the current governor, I have an economic development strategy that will get the Kansas economy back on track and look toward a brighter future for the people of Kansas. My plan includes a $500 increase in the dependent income tax exemption to help put more money in the hands young families; a 10 percent investment tax credit for all businesses and farms allowing for greater investment and job growth here at home; a phase down of the Kansas income tax and an immediate elimination of the estate tax.”
What you have to offer the state of Kansas? Why should people vote for you instead of your opponent?
“I offer leadership. We have a governor who has refused to propose a school finance plan during the last two years. Earlier this year, I proposed a plan that would provide more funding to schools in a way that will not drive us to debt.
“The governor has stated that illegal immigration is a problem that begins and ends with the border and has repeatedly blamed Congress. I believe we can do more at the state level and have proposed a plan to make Kansas less inviting to illegal immigrants and get our local law enforcement involved in curbing illegal immigration.
“When the governor took office there were about 300,000 Kansans without health insurance. There are still about 300,000 Kansans without health insurance and the governor’s only suggested solution is to expand entitlements. That is not reform and that is not leadership. I believe that by 2010 we can cut that number in half. I have proposed a multi-part plan that will change the way Kansans purchase health insurance, so that working families can afford health insurance. It will make more doctor and hospital information available to Kansans, so they know the real cost and quality of care and would reduce excessive lawsuits that drive up health care costs.
“Ultimately, Kansas needs a governor who will provide leadership, not sit on the sidelines waiting for something to happen. I will provide that leadership.”