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WHY I’M RUNNING FOR MY FOURTH TERM
This will be an exciting and important election for our district, our state and our country. There is much discontent apparent in our citizens and great justification for it. The economy is not reacting as expected to the huge infusions of money, debt is at all time record level, unemployment is painfully high, and Federal and State politicians seem oblivious to finding answers to solve these problems. While it can be expected that substantial changes will occur in the make up of Congress, we also need a good election in Kansas. There is only one Senate seat in play this year, therefore the composition of the House of Representatives is crucial.
The last session we saw the forces of tax and spend members of the House irresponsibly raise the sales tax by 18 % ,which costs every Kansas family $ 30 every month .This was passed by two votes and even a small gain by fiscal conservatives will prevent a repetition of more taxes. We must learn to live within our means, we cannot burden our seniors with higher property taxes and raising taxes in recessionary times is toxic.
The 2011-2012 session will again present major budgetary challenges. On Jun 28 the state borrowed $ 700 million in certificates of indebtedness to pay bills . By law these certificates must be repaid by June 30, 2011. In addition it seems certain that there will be a significant shortfall in revenue which will need to be dealt with. The question will once again be: Do we tax and spend more or do we provide for our needs and not our wants. My record is clear I pledge not to support further tax increases.
We ought to look at the current crisis as an opportunity to make significant structural changes in our economy. Education financing consumes two thirds of the total budget ,we have 293 school districts with a top heavy , highly paid entrenched bureaucracy, we need to consolidate. Were we to go to 40 districts with 10.000 students we would save $ 300 million each year. The present funding formula is unfair and subject to abuse and should be reworked and school districts should get more flexibility to use unencumbered balances. I am determined to work for these changes.
Most important is that more resources go to teachers, nurses, librarians and into the classroom and not to administration. The recent ratio of 40% overhead is too high and should be reduced.
Mega agencies such as SRS ,KHPA and others with multi-billion dollar budgets require greater oversight and control and all are candidates for cost savings. As a member of the Social Services Budget Committee I am very familiar with the lack of transparency of expenditures by these agencies and I will work with the appropriations chair to make the necessary changes.
As chairman of the Children’s Issues Committee I held lengthy and comprehensive meetings investigating the foster care , adoption and family reconciliation policies of SRS and the private contractors it employs at great expense. It is clear that substantial legislative action is required to eliminate mismanagement, malfeasance and abuse which is well documented in the present case management. This will be one of my top priorities.
My concern for disabled children is passionate and I have publicly berated my peers for the shameful wait lists for Educationally and Developmentally Disabled children. It is an unacceptable disgrace that we have 4,000+ such children waiting up to 4 years for services and therapies we are required to provide. I will relentlessly pursue the total elimination of the list.
Autistic children can be a heart ache and great financial burden for parents. We succeeded in mandating insurance coverage for this condition for the first time in Kansas. A quirk in state law requires that insurance mandates are to be applied to state employees only for one year to do an impact study. I will fight to extend the provision to all Kansans this session and attempt to eliminate this unusual provision in our law.
Representative Kinzer and I co sponsored HB 2727 a bill which would give parents of special education and specifically autistic children a voucher to enroll their child in the program of their choosing. We face great opposition by those who believe that when it comes to education the children belong to the state and not the parents and that only the state knows what is best .We intend to join the battle again next year.It will be uphill.
My bill HB 2125, which mandates insurance coverage for hearing aids came within a whisker of passing the House I will resubmit with high hopes that in 2011 it will become law.
In my recent survey 80% of respondents named illegal immigration as the greatest problem we’re facing. As co sponsor of several bills dealing with this challenge all of which failed by a few votes or veto by the governor I will resubmit the following:
- Denial of all benefits except foe emergency medical care
- Rescissionof in state tuition of illegals
- Requirement of a picture ID to vote
- Requiring employers to use e-verify to discern status of job seekers
- English as the official language of Kansas
These are my principal concerns for the next session. I’m quite optimistic that if God and the district voters return me to Topeka I can accomplish many of my objectives. We’ll have a new governor who is a friend and not the obstacle the last two were. We’ll also have new department heads and secretaries of major agencies who will be cooperative in turning our economy around. I also look forward to enhanced responsibilities provided by House leadership.
WHY THIS WILL BE MY FINAL TERM
I’ve been honored and humbled by the confidence the voters have shown me in three elections. I believe I have done my duty and kept my promises, sometimes under difficult circumstances. The job requires substantial sacrifice but I love it.
As a consequence of the census the district will probably change and were I to run again I might have to compete against a sitting Representative, and personal friend. I also feel that 8 years of political activity is enough. Finally I’m 71 years old and while I’m in reasonably good health only God knows how much longer I’ll last on this terrestrial pilgrimage. I’d like a little more time with my saintly wife, children and grand children. I also have a book to complete on which I’ve worked on and off for 7 years.
I want to keep this seat in Republican hands and I believe I found a young successor with the values I believe in whom I can support. I cannot adequately express my gratitude for the trust you have bestowed on me.
REQUESTS FOR BILLS
If you have an idea you would like to see enacted, please contact me immediately after the election. Come January we only have 29 days to introduce new legislation. If I can get behind your suggestion I’ll prefile the bill.