Where I Stand
Life: I believe that life starts at conception and I will continue to be a strong voice for the unborn. I am adopted and want to be a better advocate for those who need a forever home.
Second Amendment: I am a proud member of the National Rifle Association and will defend your right to defend yourself, your family, your property and will work to preserve your options regarding ownership of firearms.
Agriculture: The heartbeat of Kansas runs through agriculture. Farmers and ranchers are resilient and continue to work hard everyday to grow the food, fuel and fiber we need on a daily basis. We need to work diligently not to pass legislation which will hamper agricultural opportunities on the land or on main-street. Water is the key to life; we must use it wisely and efficiently. I am proud to have served as Vice-Chairman of the Water & Environment Committee, where we brought all stakeholders together in support of the state water plan.
Taxes: I appreciate, as do most, the idea of lower taxes and limited government. We must continue to pass legislation which limits the power and reach of government.
Economic Development: We must give the citizens of Kansas the best chance to succeed, as an entrepreneur, sole proprietor, LLC, or corporation. We must keep fighting undue and burdensome regulations that discourage expansion and job creation. We must also make it easier to transition a small business from one generation to the other. Our strength is when we come together with a common goal of making our area stronger. We need to cut the red tape which does not encourage growth. We need investment programs which encourage public/private partnerships for housing and service sector businesses in undeserved communities. We need to continue to work on solutions to bring affordable housing opportunities to many undeserved communities in the state.
Education: I believe in public education and small schools. I am opposed to any attempt to close or force consolidation of any school in the 110th District, without a viable, reasonable, and a factual plan. We need to get beyond the name calling and talking above each other and seek real solutions. Rhetoric does not teach students the skills they need to be successful. We all agree, a strong education system helps citizens of all ages. It is imperative that we have good schools across the state which prepare students higher education which in turn helps create a work force of informed and engaged citizens. As past Chairman of Higher Education Budget Committee, I believe we need to continue to invest and encourage vocational education, as every community will need the next generation of service providers. We must also support and encourage research at our colleges and universities and support the Board of Regents as they strive for excellence and expand their reach, this will mean honest and forward looking conversations to meet the skills Kansans need.
Transportation & Safety: Good, safe roads and highways are necessary for the movement of products and people. The IKE Transportation plan is a good roadmap for the future, I am looking forward to the completing of the expanded Hwy 383, this is imperative from commerce and safety concerns. I am a strong supporter of the men and women of the Kansas Highway Patrol along with county and local law enforcement personnel. Grateful they protect and serve.
Health Care: First, a big thank you to the first responders and medical professionals who answer the call day and night. There are still many unanswered questions of the role of the federal government in health care. Both sides are using scare tactics to push the conversation. We need strong rural hospitals and we need to seek fact-based answers. Finding long term funding sources will be the key to whether medical systems survive or not. I am still learning more about medical use marijuana and believe we will have more discussions about it’s future, but I remain opposed to the recreational use of marijuana in Kansas. We must continue to find better ways to treat and fund mental health. Small steps were made in the last session, but we are not making as good of progress and possible. Mental health is not a partisan issues, it is one of compassion, understanding and support that is important to all of us.
Opportunity: We choose to live where we live and have many things that can often be taken for granted: clear skies, quiet evenings and friends who will drop everything if you need help. Technology makes it possible for many people and businesses to make an impact beyond their immediate area. We need to continue to work with stakeholders to bring faster and reliable broadband internet connections to our communities.