The key issues
The Associated Press
Monday, October 30, 2006
Where Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and her challenger, Sen. Jim Barnett, R-Emporia, stand on major issues:
Abortion
- Barnett: A physician, he has written legislation that Sebelius has vetoed that would have placed greater regulations on the state’s abortion clinics. He also is a supporter of the state’s parental notification and consent laws, as well as those outlawing some late-term abortion.
- Sebelius: A Catholic, she is a longtime supporter of abortion rights but has said publicly she believes abortion is wrong. She has vetoed bills that would place more regulation on abortion clinics, calling for a broader measure to apply to include other office-based surgeries. She has stated her support for fighting the root causes of unwanted pregnancies, such as lack of education, income and family support structures.
Concealed guns
- Barnett: He voted against a 2004 bill allowing qualified Kansans to carry concealed weapons, but he supported similar legislation this year. He said his constituents asked him to reconsider his opposition, and he did, after studying the issue.
- Sebelius: She vetoed concealed carry bills in 2004 and 2006. Legislators overrode her veto this year, and the state will begin issuing permits in January.
Economy
- Barnett: He maintains that the state is suffering from a growth deficit and is lagging behind the rest of the nation. He proposes cutting income tax rates and accelerating the elimination of the estate tax, as well as increasing the child tax credit to put more money in the economy.
- Sebelius: She pushed legislators to eliminate the tax on new business machinery and equipment, designed to stimulate economic development. She also points to her administration’s focus on trimming waste in state spending and seeing the state general fund grow from $12 million in 2003 to more than $700 million in 2006.
Education
- Barnett: He opposed the final version of the three-year school finance package approved during the 2006 Legislative session. He maintains that the state cannot afford the $541 million package, putting the state budget in the red in the final years. Barnett proposed his own smaller, four-year package that he said would satisfy the Kansas Supreme Court mandates to increase K-12 spending without breaking the state budget.
- Sebelius: She proposed a three-year, $313 million school finance plan in 2004 that would have been paid by tax increases. After its defeat, Sebelius worked with legislative leaders to push through a $541 million package spread over three years, satisfying a Kansas Supreme Court order.
Education board
- Barnett: He supports the current system, having an elected 10-member State Board of Education set policy and hire a commissioner to run the Department of Education. But he has said he would give the board an odd number of members to avoid deadlocks.
- Sebelius: She has proposed an amendment to the Kansas Constitution to keep the board elected but make it advisory. She would allow the governor to appoint an education secretary to run the department.
Health care
- Barnett: He would create a “Kansas Health Connector” and require most companies to sell health policies through it. Barnett says creating a single access point for consumers would increase competition and bring down prices. He also estimates that his plan would help half of the state’s 300,000 uninsured residents find insurance, without requiring an increase in state spending.
- Sebelius: In 2004, she proposed increasing tobacco taxes $50 million a year to finance health care initiatives, including an expansion of services for poor families and subsidies for small businesses to help them provide coverage for low-wage workers. However, she has said some initiatives can be done without a tax increase. She views Barnett’s plan as creating a new bureaucracy.
Immigration
- Barnett: He opposes giving any benefits to illegal immigrants living in Kansas and would move to repeal a 2004 law that granted in-state tuition at state colleges and universities to qualified children of illegal immigrants. Barnett also supports giving local law enforcement officials additional training to able them detect and detain illegal immigrants in Kansas. He would require all voters to show photo ID to prevent fraud by illegal immigrants or otherwise unqualified voters.
- Sebelius: She defends the in-state tuition break for illegal immigrants who qualify. However, she has issued an executive order requiring all state agencies to verify someone’s legal status to guard against giving illegal immigrants benefits they otherwise aren’t entitled, such as welfare and driver’s licenses. She opposes a universal photo ID requirement for voters, fearing it would suppress turnout.
Kansas Supreme Court
- Barnett: He has proposed eliminating the nominating commission that screens applications for seats on the Supreme Court and provides the names of three finalists to the governor. Instead, the governor would appoint new justices subject to Senate confirmation.
- Sebelius: She supports the current system and believes Barnett’s proposed changes would make appointments more political.
- Source: Barnett, Sebelius campaigns.