Kansas House of Representatives, 86th District

My pledge: No New Taxes

As the representative of the 86th District, I will work to help Kansas return to some form of regulatory certainty, a condition we should have never lost.

With the false fear created by Al Gore's global warming rhetoric and KDHE’s Rod Bremby's self appointment as the Kansas CO2 watchdog, precious time and effort has been lost to see that Kansas is able to produce enough electricity for economic development needs as well as electricity for in state affordable rates.

Comprehensive energy measures should include fossil fuels as well as alternative fuels.  We need a mix of energy types if we are going to fair well in this ENERGY CRISIS NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.  The package for Kansas must include nuclear, coal, natural gas, wind, solar AND other NEW FORMS OF energy like biodiesel etc.

I will work for Wichita jobs by seeking to create a positive business environment that promotes economic development in Kansas.  This calls for us to be competitive with neighboring states in terms of taxes as well as trained employee candidates. The tax environment must be structured so as to invite businesses to Kansas...and especially Wichita.  

Our current education systems need curriculum that will prioritize vocational training as part of the post secondary education options.  Students now days need options that will allow them to enter the workforce with skills that can help them secure a job with a reasonable beginning salary.  Another option is to help students acquire quality education and skills while still in high school so they don’t have to spend four years in college to begin making a living. 

I will work to establish transparency in Government.  If we are to balance government budgets then taxpayers need to see where the money they pay in to their government is being spent.  If we want to see foolish spending reduced, then let the taxpayers see where their elected officials have allowed their money to be spent. 
       A PHILOSOPHY OF NO NEW TAXES needs to be the thought process for the 2009 legislative year.  The budget process must be able to find those budgets of departments and agencies where spending money is in line with good stewardship.  Department budgets that show excessively poor use of funds need to be used to balance the budget.  The legislature must be willing to cut spending where necessary.

Thank you.