1) Most Legislative sessions involve hard choices among state agencies competing for limited funds.  What are your spending priorities and how should budget shortfalls be addressed?

Our number one funding priority should be our K-12 education system. After that we need to prioritize according to need. People with the least ability to help themselves should take priority in our social services program.

The State of Kansas needs to live within it’s means, just like all of us do. Taxes are high enough now and should not be raised.

Several factors are available to help address our budget this coming year. We should see new revenues from gaming. Additionally, we should have an $111 million dollar turnaround in cash flow from the federal economic stimulus package. We also need to stop creating new programs, allowing us to better fund existing programs.

2)  How do you balance the need for additional energy production in the state with environmental concerns, including the use of water? 

I am a strong supporter of renewable fuels including wind, solar, and bio-mass. Increasing the use of theses renewable fuels should and can address many of our environmental concerns. In reality, coal will be needed while we build the bridge to renewable fuels. Any coal plant built should utilize the best technology possible to limit emissions. Fortunately, Kansas has existing water statues that address the amount of water that can be used to grow crops for bio-mass energy production. Additionally, in any water short area of the state, water for new energy production has to be matched by a reduction of water use by an existing user.

3)  What is your assessment of the level of funding for education at all levels (pre-K – University) and how do you intend to address issues such as deferred maintenance and faculty salaries to keep our schools competitive on a national level? 

We have made great progress the last three years in meeting our constitutional requirement to adequately fund K-12 education. We need to keep our commitment to increase that funding each year by the consumer price index.

We have made limited progress on deferred maintenance and faculty salaries. These two items need to remain high on our priority list as we write the next budget and policies. The tax credits to assist deferred maintenance seem to be working well and hold promise for increased usage.

4)  What policies do you think Kansas should have regarding illegal immigrants?

We are a nation of immigrants and we should continue to welcome immigrants to Kansas. However, immigrants should be part of a legal system.

Kansas should not provide incentives for illegal activity of any type, including immigration. We should not give a drivers license or grant in state tuition to illegal immigrants.

We should encourage our federal government to establish realistic immigration policy that allows the number of legal immigrants to increase to match our needs and desires.