Kansas Attorney General Steve Six is running for re-election against Republican Derek Schmidt. Join us for a live chat with Six on Wednesday, Oct. 20 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. You can submit a question in advance below.

kansanjayhawk

Do you support and will you enforce additional constitutional legislation that restricts abortion such as enhanced parental consent/notification laws, enhanced women’s right to information laws, and or requirements for viewing sonogram images of the unborn prior to killing unborn children?

Moderate_Republican

In the U.S., approximately how many children are abducted every year and forced into sexual slavery?

Enoughsaid

As an avid jogger on KU campus, I’ve discovered a practice that bothers me. There are certain members of KU Athletic Department driving new cars with Kansas and Missouri dealer tags. I’ve rersearched state statue 8-2406 and they are directly in violation. I’ve complained and no one seems to care. The general consensus is, its the Athletic Department and this has been going on for years.

Apparently this has been an agreement between certain dealers and the Athletic Department. How would you handle this good ol boy practice involving key figures?

catiefan

Should there be a change in how the Constitution is amended? It is too easy for a slim majority of voters to bully the minority. Shouldn’t it be more difficult to amend the Constitution, so that it can be done carefully and thoughtfully?

wmathews

You’ve been AG since January 2008. What do you feel are your biggest accomplishments since then? What are a few times you feel you failed and why?

wmathews

Do you support the rights of state and local governments to enact measures against illegal immigrants that are more stringent than federal laws?

wmathews

What is the biggest challenge facing Kansas law enforcement, and how would you address it?

wmathews

If elected, what action would your office take to deter Internet crime — from scams of Kansas citizens to breaches in security in financial networks?

wmathews

Do you support making criminal arrest affidavits public?

BigDog

In one of your ads you criticize your opponent for taking contributions from payday loan compaines. It was later stated in the press that you had also taken contributions from payday loan companies.

Could you clarify your criticism of your opponent when you have done the same?

autie

Given your answer on the the priorites at home, what do you think Schmidt’s priorities are?

ferrislives

Can you shed some light on your fight against child molesters and sexual predators in Kansas? I very much appreciate your focus on this issue.

gsandell

One of your campaign ads talks about one of your positive actions is “cracking down on Fred Phelps hate speech”. I do not see this happening in reality. How do you feel that you have “cracked down” on the Phelp’s actions?

gsandell

Another question concerning Fred Phelps. I strongly doubt that the SCOTUS will rule against the Phelp’s speech. But even if they do or do not, have you or any previous AG ever looked into their dealings on a financial basis with the use of the church as a tax “write-off” and how the follow the rules of a legimate church charter? I would think it could be much like Al Capone, in the old days, they could not get him for racketterring but could get him for tax evasion. Has this ever been investigated?

was_freashpowder2

would you consider making police oversight a priority for the entire state, In the form of citizens review boards ?. To help better the Trust between law enforcement and the public .

GUMnNUTS

Is there anything the AG can do to increase the penalties for drunk driving in Kansas

ku_law

Steve- Your payday loan ad accuses Senator Schmidt of accepting contributions from those companies. Will you answer, with a yes or no only, whether you have also accept contributions from payday loan companies?

was_freashpowder2

I know your early involvement in the the Yellow house case in which Guy Neighbors has still not received a trial in over 5 years. If you were reelected would you do your best to protect Kansas Citizens from having their constitutional rights violated ?

Moderator

I’d like to welcome Kansas Attorney General Steve Six to our live chat today! We’re now taking questions, so feel free to submit one below.

Steve Six

Good morning, I look forward to the discussion.

wmathews

If elected, what would be your top three priorities as Kansas attorney general?

Steve Six

Focusing on public safety and working to protect Kansans from the devastaing cuts to the public safety budgets, protecting Kansas seniors from scams and cracking down on Medicaid fraud –these have been and continue to be what this office is focused on.

autie

Your opponent likes to rail about the federal healthcare plan and signing on to contest it. Is the job of A.G. more to fight crime in Kansas or protect us from percieved wrongs by the federal government?

Steve Six

Fighting crime and protecing Kansas kids from sexual predators and working on finacial fraud and government waste right here at home have been amoujng our top priorities.

Steve Six

I see there is no spell check on this chat

Moderator

Can you explain in detail some of the fundamental differences between you and your opponents, Republican Derek Schmidt and Libertarian Dennis Hawver?

Steve Six

I have worked hard over the last three years to remove politics from the office and focus on the right priorities for Kansas. We have suffered through a career politician in the office before and we cannot afford to go back. I have prosecuted two murder cases as AG, argued before the US Supreme Court, handled jury trials as a lawyer, oversaw criminal trials and sentenced defendants to prison as a judge and my opponent has done none of those things. My opponent might be a good fit for the legislature but not attorney general.

Phillbert

There has been a lot of back-and-forth in the AG’s race on the payday loan issue: who took money from whom, and whether Sen. Schmidt voted to raise interest rates to 400%. Can you clear up what exactly is going on there?

Steve Six

Struggling Kansas families including military families are forced to pay almost 400% interest on these loans as a direct result of Senator Schmidt’s vote. Federal and State laws place direct oversight of this industry with the State Banking Commissioner and the federal government. The AG’s office has worked to educate Kansans about the fees, interest rate and costs the legislature approved with these loans.

wolfpack

Do you believe its important for an Attorney General to personally prosecute cases?

Steve Six

Working on the front line with law enforcement and crime victims and their families has been very valuable in learning how my office can better serve these folks. As a result of the murder case I prosecuted in Osborne County I discovered the legislature had overburdened the KBI with new DNA testing requirements from arrestees–I went to work on the problem, got additional funding from Governor Parkinson and we have reduced the DNA backlog by 70%. Additionally I have worked to increase support for victims and their families.

Moderator

As a follow-up to Phillbert’s question — We recently reported that Republicans were challenging your ad on payday loans, and pointed out that you accepted $11,500 from the payday and car title companies since 2008 (according to Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission records). Is this accurate?

Here is the story for those wishing to read the report: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/oct/15/gop-challenges-kansas-attorney-general-steve-sixs-/

Steve Six

I have broad support from businesses across Kansas and we accurately report all contributions to my campaign. Those reports are public. The fact remains Kansans facing the most difficult financial struggles are paying 400% interest because my opponent voted to allow it. In contrast, my office set an all time record in consumer protection recoveries this year and has returned more money and savings to Kansans in my three years as AG than the previous 13 years of the office combined.

ksbison

An independent group is running ads criticizing your opponent for not have prosecuted violent crimes. How many cases had you prosecuted before being appointed attorney general?

Steve Six

As a private attorney I handled cases in state and federal court for 10 years, I then served as a district court judge overseeing preliminary hearings, felony criminal trials and sentencing defendants to prison. After I became AG, I continued my work in the courtroom and prosecuted a First Degree Murder case in Osborne County and a Capital Murder and Rape trial in Butler County–the decision about who is qualified should be based on all the candidates experience.

Moderator

Unfortunately, our time with Attorney General Six has to be cut short a few minutes, as he has to run to another meeting. I’d like to thank him for joining us today, and I’d especially like to thank our users for submitting some thought-provoking questions for Attorney General Six to answer.

Moderator

I wish we could have gotten to them all, but one hour wouldn’t allow for all the submitted questions we had!

Steve Six

For those following the chat, I appreciate your interest in learning about the issues in this race. Have a great day.