Topeka ? Sen. Sam Brownback opened his campaign for a second full term Friday pledging to fight to overhaul or even scrap the federal income tax system.

Brownback so far faces no opposition from fellow Republicans nor from Democrats as he seeks another six years in the U.S. Senate, although Wichita resident Steve Rosile, state chairman of the Libertarian Party, has filed.

Speaking to about 75 supporters at a rally in Topeka, Brownback also said he would continue to champion what he called traditional values. He is a strong opponent of abortion and a sponsor of a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution to ban gay marriage.

Brownback began his re-election tour Friday with events in his hometown — the small Linn County community of Parker — and at Mid-America Nazarene University in Olathe.

In Topeka, he stopped at the secretary of state’s office and paid the $1,567 filing fee to secure a place on the Aug. 3 primary ballot.

Brownback told reporters in Topeka that economic growth will be a key issue in his campaign. He said the best way to stimulate growth and create jobs is to replace the current income tax, with its multiple income brackets and graduating tax rates.

“I think we need fundamental tax reform — flat, or a consumption-based tax system,” he said.

Brownback said a consumption-based tax could be considered a national sales tax and would be imposed on imported goods, replacing the income tax. He said he has not decided whether he’ll support that idea or a so-called flat income tax, with a single rate applied to all incomes.

“For us to grow, we’ve got to get to a different system,” Brownback said. “I’m open to going either way, but we’ve got to move on.”

Brownback raised his theme of culture and values during the rally.

“Can we find our way back to a culture that supports our families, instead of attacking them?” Brownback said. “I say, ‘Yes, we can.”‘