Jim Barnett, a Republican from Emporia, has served in the Kansas Senate in 2000, following an eight-year tenure on the Emporia school board. He takes your questions on Monday, Oct. 2, about his effort to unseat Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

Watch video interview with Jim Barnett ».

Bad_Brad

How is it possible that, in a state that is over 60% Republican, we are likely looking at a two-term Democratic Governor? Why can’t the extremists and moderates in the Kansas GOP unify for the greater purpose of defeating Democratic candidates?

kg52

As a physician I know that you are familiar with the health care crisis in this state and country. An example is that my husband’s new company has just offered us health insurance and though the cost is low, for example it will pay $1,800 for brain tumor surgery + $600.00 per day for hospitalization. You and I both know that wouldn’t cover the first few hours. Do you have any thoughts on how the normal working person can afford decent health insurance for their family? We are from the baby boomer generation and this is of great concern to us as retirement is looming and until Medicare kicks in we are at the mercy of whatever insurance we can afford. Thank you!

Bulldog66

Senator Barnett
In an effort to help rural Kansas in so many ways would your administration be receptive to studying moving the goverance of secondary education from local school boards to the commnuity college system?

justthefacts

It is my personal belief that one of the gravest threats to the safety and future of all Americans is the lack of civility and respect for all. I see this conduct at every level, especially and including in political arenas. Can you think of anything to end the toxic atmosphere so counter-productive to making any real progress towards problem solving? What would you propose that public office candidates (or office holders) do, or not do, so that more time is actually spent trying to solve or address public problems and less time time is spent trying to undermine, attack and/or personally attack other politicians with whom you do not agree?

Kropotkin

Listening to a Christian radio program in Topeka, two months ago, I heard that you and your two major primary opponents endorsed the teaching of “Intelligent Design” in our public schools. Can you explain specifically why Intelligent Design appeals to you?

Baille

Our six universities have been forced to defer maintenance for so long that they need $600,000,000.00 just to bring us back to baseline. This is due to the unwillingness of our leadership in Kansas to step up and adequately fund our institutions of higher education. Your response to this failure was to say:

“As a product of our Kansas Regents institutions, I am committed to ensuring we have first-class facilities for our students and protect the investment of Kansas taxpayers. : A vibrant economy, with more Kansans working and more businesses growing, will create a larger tax base to support the types of services Kansans need.”

You then went on to propose “:a $500 increase in the dependent exemption, which could be used by families to pay for educational costs.”

This is the sort of nonsense and diversion that got us into this mess in the first place. Do you have anything of substance to offer on the problem of our crumbling campuses?

Lethargic_Bureaucrat

Do you support the State Board of Education’s efforts to include intelligent design in the school curriculum?

Do you support stickers in biology text books saying that Darwinism is only a theory?

Do you believe that the earth is only 6,000 to 10,000 years old, rather than billions of years old, and that the evidence does not support evolution?

seekupju

Senator Barnett, please tell us two or three specific examples of your running mate, Senator Susan Wagle, bringing Kansans together to achieve progress on behalf of something other than the so-called “social” issues she’s known for.

Vince

Senator Barnett, Governor Sebelius seems like she’s always traveling to places outside Kansas; I’m looking for a Governor who stays in Kansas and on the job. You have a good, strong attendance record in the state legislature, I hope? Please tell us about your record of showing up for work in the Senate, because I want assurances my next Governor will be there where and when he’s supposed to be.

JMKelly

Senator Barnett, please explain your choice of Senator Susan Wagle as your running mate for Lieutenant Governor. And, please answer this question, directly, if you would: Will you look Kansans straight in the eye and tell us, without any reservation, that Senator Wagle is the most qualified and prepared person you could have chosen to lead this state should something tragic happen to you?

sunflowergirl

Senator Barnett, I’ve heard you intend to continue your medical practice even if elected Governor. That sounds kind of refreshing to me, that you’ll have a job in the so-called “real world” while
serving as Governor. Please elaborate on your plans and intentions.

oread1978

You’ve said that you have no plans to give up practicing medicine if you’re elected. How do you expect to do that?

edna

What funding stream do you plan to use for highway improvements and increase the number of Kansans who have health insurance?

Bulldog66

Secretary of Education Spelling is embracing bringing community colleges and secondary education closer together from the Federal level.
Isn’t this the time for Kansas to demonstrate to the nation an innovative and creative approach to educating our work force for the 21st Century.
This also gives rural areas HOPE for their high schools being an integral part of the training needs in the next decade.
What would you do to move the goverance of secondary education to the community colleges during your term as Governor?

rhd99

Senator Barnett, recently Fort Riley, Fort Leavenworth, & McConnell AFB all have been named as installations for very significant commands/programs that benefit our military throughout the country & the world in our struggle to end terrorism & violent extremism. What steps will you take, if elected, to make sure that these three major installations remain vibrant for many years to come? Thank you.

TheStig

Mr. Barnett thanks for taking our questions.

The current Governor is running ads implying she single-handedly solved the school finance question, and while I remember the Legistlature and the Courts roles I don’t remember her doing anything. Is this ad misleading?

I am sure you remember the dog training program for inmates where a convicted felon was allowed to escape from prison. I was dismayed to discover this was a taxpayer funded program. What can be done to eliminate these frivolous programs and use the procedes to fund more important programs like our schools?

oread1978

Your views about educating the children of non-documented workers seem to have changed since you served on the Emporia school board. What accounts for your change?

Baille

And how did the Governor create the school-fundning situation? Seems to me the Republican-led legislature ignored that problem for 7 years before the Court was forced to get involved.

Baille

Senator Barnett,

Can you give us some sense of when your new vibrant Kansas economy will produce the $600,000,000.00 needed to bring the state’s university maintenance backlog up to baseline? Like haggisgirl, I am looking for specifics, but just the year would be fine.

Packman

Do you think the making ethanol plants in SW Kansas, using corn irrigated from the Oglalla Aquifer is sustainable? And is this something we should be encouraging with taxpayer dollars?

Kropotkin

You and your two chief Republican primary opponents endorsed teaching of “Intelligent Design” in Kansas schools. This would constitute an the introduction of theology in place of science, a violation of the First Amendment. How can you be trusted as governor if you are unwilling to stand up for constitutional guarantees?

Moderator

Hi folks! I’m Joel Mathis, managing editor for convergence. Sen. Barnett is here and ready to take your questions. We’ll roll here soon.

Jim Barnett

Thanks, Joel, happy to be here. Look forward to the questions.

lawyerlee

I read on your campaign website about your ideas for decreasing various taxes. How will you propose to make up this loss of revenue, which will undoubtedly be necessary to keep state government functioning at an adequate level? There are many pulls on these funds, as you well know, not the least of which is education. I am very concerned about the impact your tax proposals could have on Kansas. Thank you for your time.

Jim Barnett

In the Senate, I proposed a 4 year budget that sent $495 million toward our schools that allowed for targeted tax breaks for all Kansans. Included in my plan is a reduction of the state income tax by at least 20%, an elimination of the estate tax, an increase in dependent exemptions of $500 and a 10% investment tax credit for all businesses.
Ultimately to fund schools in Kansas, keep state pensions secure and pay for the current highway plan we have to grow the economy. My plan funds these programs by kick-starting the slow Kansas economy and keeps the state out of debt – something that the current school funding plan endorsed by the governor does not.

ichabods78

Senator Barnett, can Kansans count on you to enforce the school funding deal passed this year if you’re elected Governor? Do we have your one-hundred-percent commitment on that? Because I’m skeptical about our ability to afford that mammoth school funding bill.

Jim Barnett

I am skeptical about the Kansas budget being able to afford this current funding plan as well. Right now, even with rosy projections, we will fall into unconstitutional debt in year 3 of the program.
My committment to funding Kansas schools is undeniable. As past school board president of the Emporia School District and in the Kansas Senate, I have demonstrated a committment to funding schools in a way that won’t hurt the economy.
The Governor has created a financial situation that will be hard to recover from. That is why kick-starting the Kansas economy is so important and you have that committment from me that I will work to grow the Kansas economy so that we can afford the current school bill.

bettie

As this year’s chairman of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, you focused most of the panel’s time and energy on abortion-related legislation. Do you feel that abortion is the most compelling health issue facing Kansans today?

Jim Barnett

Well, bettie, I would challenge your contention that we spent “most” our time on abortion-related legislation. From discussing the benefits of breast-feeding (and passing leglislation) to discussing the potential negative impact of mercury contained in immunizations, I had the health of all Kansans in mind each day in committee.
As Governor, I have proposed that by the year 2010 Kansans will have quality heath care and affordable health insurance available. Further, my health care plan serves as a top priority of the my Administration.
I do agree, however, that abortion is an important health issue facing Kansas.

1010_1098

What plans do you have for veterans who are residents of Kansas and returning to the state after serving in the military, many who have been fighting in the War on Terror? Any special programs or plans to help them along, or to encourage them to use their Montgomery GI bill benefits in the state of Kansas, and encourage them to live here after the war is over and show Kansans’ support our troops?

Jim Barnett

I’d like to say thanks and express my support for all returning troops, especially Kansans who have fought in the war on terrorism.
I believe that we should perform a top to bottom review on the commission for veterans affairs and make sure we are providing all the potential benefits to our veterans here in Kansas.
Just as important, however, is making sure we have a vibrant economy for our returning veterans.
We need to make sure when they come home that we can provide them high-paying jobs and health care for their families.
I have provided a plan to energize the economy with targeted tax cuts and have provided a plan to give all Kansans affordable health care. I pledge to continue to make the Kansas economy and the health care of all Kansans a top priority.

haggisgirl

Senator Barnett, can you explain your proposed freeze of state spending? Specifically list all of the programs subject to your proposed freeze, and those you would exempt. I agree with you, Governor Sebelius always seems to speak in generalities — so, I’m expecting you to be very specific.

Jim Barnett

In my budget, I provided additional money for education, protected the disabled, frail and elderly and provided a 2 1/2% increase for the regents institutions.
We froze the budget until the Kansas economy grew – something that will happen if I’m elected Governor.
My plan to grow the economy will allow for all programs to be funded and will also allow for all Kansans to have a little more money in their pockets to spend at KU football and basketball games!

small_fish_in_small_pond

Do you consider yourself a moderate republican or a social conservative?

Jim Barnett

I consider myself a Kansan first and a Republican second.
I have displayed the ability on the Emporia School Board and in the Kansas Senate to work with all members to develop programs and legislation that benefit all Kansans.
For example, the problem of illegal immigration facing Kansas and the Nation knows no party or ideology. I know Democrats that do not support giving in-state tuition to illegal immigrants as Kathleen Sebelius supports.
In addition, an overwhelming majority of Kansans, Republican and Democrat, moderate and conservative, do not support giving driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants like Kathleen Sebelius does.
I cannot look the other way as Kathleen Sebelius has on this important issue – Kansans deserve leadership, leadership they have not been getting under Kathleen Sebelius.

Baille

Our six universities have been forced to defer maintenance for so long that they need $600,000,000.00 just to bring us back to baseline. This is due to the unwillingness of our leadership in Kansas to step up and adequately fund our institutions of higher education. Your response to this failure was to suggest increasing commerce to create a large tax-base. You also proposed a “:a $500 increase in the dependent exemption, which could be used by families to pay for educational costs.”

This refusal to deal realistically with maintenance issues is what got us into this mess in the first place. Do you have anything of substance to offer on the problem of our crumbling campuses?

Jim Barnett

I appreciate the question.

This is one of the many problems occurring because of the lack of leadership from Kathleen Sebelius.
Because we haven’t grown this economy under Kathleen Sebelius we face various budgetary problems that will not change without a change in the governor’s office.
When we grow the Kansas economy with my economic growth package, problems ranging from the unfunded liability of the state retirement system to deferred maintenance will be addressed.

I appreciate your questions – please visit my website, www.barnettforgovernor.com to read more about my campaign to put Kansas Families First.

Thanks,
Jim Barnett

Moderator

Unfortunately, that’s all the questions we have time for today – there were more good questions about health care, ethanol, immigration and intelligent design that we weren’t able to get to in the alotted time. But we thank Sen. Barnett for coming in and taking questions today. We’re still working on getting Gov. Sebelius in for a similar chat; hopefully we’ll be able to report good news on that front soon.