Congress has been so dysfunctional for so long. We need to begin with the low-hanging fruit: places where there has been agreement on policy, but partisan politics have blocked solutions from even coming up for a vote.
IMMIGRATION
There have been two bipartisan immigration bills passed by the Senate (in 2008 and 2024). These bipartisan bills included: a path to citizenship contingent on increased border security and improved visa tracking; a more restricted definition of asylum; and increased administrative and judiciary processes to expedite decisions and reduce the backlog.
In the House, even though both sides understood the urgency of finding solutions, neither bill was brought to the floor for debate and a vote. Partisan politics blocked moving forward. I will push hard to have a bipartisan bill brought up for debate and a vote.
MONEY IN ELECTIONS
Every Kansan I’ve ever spoken with believes money is corrupting our democracy.
With some notable exceptions, money doesn’t usually corrupt an individual lawmaker. But the millions of dollars it takes to get elected corrupts our democratic process. Special interests don’t give money unless they expect votes in return. Why didn’t we vote on immigration? Because interests on both sides would have screamed at the tops of their lungs and then turned the money spigots off. Money won.
More than 20 years ago, a law was passed saying that Medicare could not negotiate with Big Pharma to get reasonable prices on drugs. It was absolutely absurd. Why did it persist? You and I both know the answer: Money. Just last year, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act which finally included a provision allowing Medicare to negotiate drug costs. Of course, Big Pharma is fighting it in the courts, clogging our courts with more lawsuits.
Congress attempted to control how much money is spent on elections, but in 2010 SCOTUS made the fateful Citizens United decision and declared unlimited dark money in our elections was equivalent to free speech. “Free speech” for the ultra-powerful was allowed to drown out the free speech for the ordinary Kansan. It didn’t take long for both sides to get addicted to the tsunami of money that has now become common place. Everyone I speak with decries what has happened, but I’ve met few people who believe it will ever change. We can change this! I will join the fight to introduce a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and return free speech to Kansans.
HEALTHCARE
You should know I’m weary of all the talk about how we are going to pay for healthcare. We all know healthcare costs are soaring past our ability to pay, no matter who pays, no matter what system. We have a true health crisis on our hands, but no one wants to talk about it. Can we heal our divisions long enough to have a conversation about how we have healthier children (and adults)? Have we lost the hope and imagination it takes to find solutions?
I want to be very clear. I’m not talking about having the government tell you what to feed your kids! I’m not for regulating Big Gulp sugary drinks either, that’s already been tried; it was a terrible failure. But can we at least have a conversation about how unhealthy food is marketed to our children? I shudder when I hear someone say that there is not enough data to definitively state that sugar is addictive for our kids (and the rest of us too!). How many decades did Big Tobacco sell us that same line of BS? How many millions died of lung disease while we let the powerful get more powerful.
I understand how difficult these conversations can be. I know that personal health issues are a very sensitive topic. But does that mean we shouldn’t talk about what Big Food stocks on our grocer’s shelves? Am I to believe there is no way to stock healthier food at affordable prices?
CLIMATE CHANGE
For the record, I believe science tells us we must make changes and soon. But the reality is we are mired in anger and distrust on this topic. Sadly, the more the climate changes, the hotter the tempers get on both sides and it feels like we will never make enough changes fast enough.
As the world’s population increases and as standards of living increase globally, the planet is using more, not less, energy. Reduce-Reuse-Recycle has only taken us so far. I cannot imagine where we would be without the significant investments we have made in renewable energy. I will continue to support investments in new technologies.
Just to be clear; just so everyone knows, I do not support telling Kansans what they can and cannot drive or what temperature to keep their homes. That’s like banning the Big Gulp—it won’t work.
POCKETBOOK ISSUES
The tax cuts of 2017 provided disproportionate benefits for high-wealth households and corporations. The AMT (Alternative Minimum Tax) which initially promised that the ultra-wealthy would at least pay a minimum amount of tax, was dramatically weakened. The estate tax exemption was doubled to $22 million. But what hurt most: corporate tax rates were slashed from 35% to 21%. All this was done with the same promises as the Brownback tax cuts. Americans were promised that some wealth would “trickle down” to them. The former president claimed that cutting the corporate tax rate would “very conservatively” lead to a $4000 boost in household income! Yes, increases happened, but only for the wealthy. If you made $100,000 in 2016, you saw no real increase in income.
Before the Bush tax cuts, tax revenues averaged 19.5% of GDP. After the combined 2001, 2003 and 2017 tax cuts (that disproportionately benefited the wealthy) revenues are now 16.5%. This hurts badly. As healthcare costs rise, as Medicare and Social Security needs increase, how could anyone think it was wise to cut our revenue by 10%?
I understand how hurtful the words “trickle down” are to hard working Americans. Does it make any sense to give ultra-wealthy Americans huge tax cuts so a few meager drops can “trickle down” to the rest? When the debate about extending the 2017 tax cuts comes up in the next Congress, I will work hard for an equitable tax code that gives the middle class a fighting chance.
LGBTQIA Rights
I am dedicated to ensuring that every individual, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, is treated with dignity and respect. As the proud parent of a gay son, I have a personal commitment to advocating for the rights and protections of the LGBTQIA community. I support marriage equality, laws that protect the community from employment discrimination, housing and public accommodation discrimination, and equal access to health care.
I am deeply concerned with increasing bullying and violence toward the community. If elected, I will consistently vote to respect and protect the right to privacy no matter what our current activist supreme court does.
CULTURAL ISSUES
You can see by my record that I firmly believe the Federal government needs to stay out of our bedrooms and must let a woman make the important medical decisions she needs. I believe that Kansas is a beacon of common sense. Our 22-week law has been shown to strike a balance that has worked for decades. On August 2, 2022 (my birthday) an overwhelming number of Kansans voted to uphold these basic rights. I was one of them. Thank you to those who worked so hard to see that happen.
Even though Kansans spoke with a clear voice and a resounding majority, these issues are not yet settled. There are still those on the extreme who will continue to push their own agenda. We all need to remain vigilant.
THE FUTURE
We are in a time of intense change. What will AI do to our jobs? How are young people (or any of us) going to find affordable housing? If I told you I knew or had the answers, you’d know I was lying.
Here’s what I do know: If the powerful have us tearing each other apart while they make decisions, it will not be a pretty future for the rest of us.
Here’s what else I know: I know there is a brighter future possible. It takes vision and leadership. My vision is that Kansans take the lead to start rebuilding trust so we have a fighting chance at that brighter future.
Ad Astra per Aspera
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