Barnett will run for Congress
By Bobbi Mlynar (Contact)
Originally published 01:19 p.m., June 1, 2009
Updated 03:38 p.m., June 1, 2009
Video
Barnett runs for House
Watch the Barnett press conference.
An Emporian will be among the candidates for U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran’s seat when Republicans cast their primary election ballots in 2010.
Republican State Sen. Jim Barnett said he expects to announce his plans to run for the office at a news conference at 10 a.m. Tuesday morning at the Sauder Alumni Center, 1500 Highland St.
Barnett said that supporters are welcome to attend the news conference.
He also planned a launch tour around the Big First District on Tuesday, with sites to be announced today.
“I feel that we need better vision, a different leadership in Washington,” Barnett said. “Most of all, we believe we need someone who can solve problems and actually get something done. That’s the main reason I’m running.
“A good dose of conservative Kansas values and common sense can go a long way.”
Kansas’ First House District is made up of 69 counties and covers approximately two-thirds of the state, Barnett said.
He cited his history of fiscal responsibility and his knowledge of health care among his qualifications for national office.
“We’ve got a situation where we need someone who’s fiscally responsible and can deal in a knowledgeable way with comprehensive health care reform,” Barnett said. “We need to make Kansas competitive again.”
Barnett said it is essential to stop the “significant brain drain from our entire state and especially the first congressional district. I think that’s one of the things we need to work on, reversing the trend of our best and brightest leaving the state.”
Controlling spending and balancing the budget to provide tax relief to the middle class also are high on Barnett’s agenda.
“There is no doubt that government has gotten too big and to the point that so many working families are sending far too much of their income to the government,” Barnett said. “We cannot sustain the current growth in health care.
“I think health care is a good example of how so much money is spent on defensive medicine with the ordering of numerous tests that not only are ordered for protection from possible lawsuit, but also carry risks, such as radiation exposure for numerous CAT scans on women of child-bearing age and children.”
Instead of defensive medicine, Barnett said he would emphasize wellness and prevention.
“Far too much money is spent on chronic disease,” he said.
Barnett said he also is concerned about what appears to be nationalization of business.
“I believe we need some checks and balances in Washington for the current trend,” he said.
Barnett believes that his background and previous candidacy enhance his qualifications to run for the Big First seat.
He said he developed a base of support when he ran for governor in 2006 against Democrat incumbent Kathleen Sebelius. The support, in part, came from the rural roots that Barnett said define him. He grew up on a farm northeast of Emporia, near Reading, and received a bachelor of arts degree in chemistry from Emporia State University. He earned his doctor of medicine from the University of Kansas Medical School.
“I still believe that the heart of our state is found in rural Kansas,” he said. “I just love the feel of the first congressional district. When I ran for governor, I could just sense that I connected well with the people of the Big First.”
Barnett started contemplating the race about six months ago, and weighing his options.
“The most difficult part of the decision has been my love for medicine and my patients,” Barnett said.
Since becoming state senator, Barnett has adjusted the hours of his medical practice when the legislature was in session, returning from Topeka to see patients who had been scheduled for evening appointments.
“The election is not until the end of next year, and my practice will continue the same over the coming year,” he said.
Barnett has been state senator since 2001. He previously served as member and president of the Emporia Board of Education.
He is working on the campaign with Jeffrey B. Roe of Axiom Strategies, which has offices in Kansas City, Mo., and Washington, D.C. Josh Harlow is Barnett’s campaign manager.
Comments
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eiggohp (anonymous) says...
Way to go Senator/Doctor Barnett.....and I hope you will get elected.....we need someone who can speak for the people of Kansas and try and put a stop to this uncontrolled spending that is going on in Washington!!!!! GOOD LUCK
June 1, 2009 at 2:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
paulkersey (anonymous) says...
Five bucks says he doesn't carry Lyon County...again...
June 1, 2009 at 2:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gooseylucy (anonymous) says...
Remember when Dole ran for President? Everyone was saying "Vote for Dole and get him out of Kansas". Now we say "Vote for Barnett and get him out of Emporia".
June 1, 2009 at 2:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
food4thought (anonymous) says...
Healthcare has become to big but aren't you pocketing that money Dr Barnett. If you will run the government like you do your office than I for one say, "No Thank You"!
June 1, 2009 at 4:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bobhornet (anonymous) says...
God help us if he wins--we'll yet again be a laughingstock in Washington. Barnett has done nothing for his district in the state legislature. He would be another Sunflower State crackpot ideologue in Congress.
But I'm sure the Gazette will do anything in its power--including silencing dissent on this forum--to help him...
June 1, 2009 at 4:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Blue_Dog (anonymous) says...
Let's not forget he didn't even win his home county in the run for governor.
June 1, 2009 at 5:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
history_nerd (anonymous) says...
Dr. Barnett, I really believe that you need to make a choice between practicing medicine and making a career of politics. From what I hear, your practice is suffering pretty badly and patients go unattended when you are campaigning.
Either hang up the stethoscope or put your heart back into it.
June 1, 2009 at 5:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
driveonby (anonymous) says...
I am NOT voting for anyone who has been so entrenched with drug and insurance company interests. I am also NOT voting for someone who was on the Steering Committee of the Kansas Health Policy Authority and went on junkets funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation! ( Ask him about Chicago.) They are partner to Johnson and Johnson and are trying to run this country by and for lobbying groups! That's who he works for. He may be fooling some of you people, but ALOT of us know what's up with this!
June 1, 2009 at 10:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
As a voter in the big First district, I can only hope the Dr. gets beat out in a primary race, or the Democrats or Independents
put a better candidate out there, (that should not be too hard).
We do not need this man representing us in Washington!
June 2, 2009 at 7:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
I've read on these forums that we shouldn't talk about religion or politics. What happened to that suggestion?
June 2, 2009 at 8:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Oh Well
June 2, 2009 at 10:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )