The Kansas Statehouse in Topeka.

Douglas County voters will take part in three Kansas Senate races and three contested races for the Kansas House.

The Journal-World sent each candidate a questionnaire asking them to state their positions on five key issues facing Kansas state government:

Tax policy: Do you support the tax policies that the governor and Legislature adopted in 2012 and 2013, or do you think significant changes should be made to the state’s current tax code? Please explain.

State budget: State revenues have consistently come in below projections in recent years, forcing the governor and lawmakers to make significant budget cuts. In the absence of new revenues, what areas of the budget do you think should be cut, and where do you believe the state can find more efficiencies?

Education policy: Recent test scores show that a large percentage of Kansas students are not performing at grade level or are not on track to be prepared for college or the workplace after they graduate. What role do you think the Legislature should play in making sure all students are prepared to succeed after high school?

LGBT rights: Should businesses and public agencies in Kansas be required to treat all individuals equally, regardless of sexual orientation, or should the state allow individuals and businesses to deny services to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individuals or couples on the basis of religious beliefs?

Voting rights: Do you support or oppose the state’s current laws requiring people to show proof of U.S. citizenship in order to register to vote, and to show photo ID at the polls in order to cast a ballot? Please explain.

Senate District 2

Sen. Marci Francisco (Dem.)

State Sen. Marci Francisco

Tax policy: The tax policies adopted by Gov. Brownback and Republican legislators in 2012 and 2013 are unfair and unwise. I voted against these changes and continue to oppose them. These policies have undermined the Kansas economy and put the state in debt. They favor the wealthy and punish everyone else. I prefer making tax revenue a three-legged stool with 1/3 income tax, 1/3 sales tax, and 1/3 property tax. I want to work to broaden the tax base while restoring the three income tax tiers. Most importantly, taxes should be fair. All Kansans should pay tax based on their incomes. Instead, the policy requires employees to pay income taxes while exempting the profit made by business owners. A change could also allow business losses to be deducted. We should remove the sales tax from food, or at the very least restore the full food sales tax rebate. We should restore deductions for property taxes, medical expenses and the homestead exemption for renters.

State budget: The state has a revenue shortfall that will extend into the next fiscal year, well after the reserves have been spent down. Even if changes are made to tax policy next session, additional revenue might not be collected before 2019. Next year’s budget already assumes that $6.5 million in efficiencies suggested by the efficiency review will be found. We need to make cuts while protecting the core responsibilities of government, not simply shift costs to local property taxes, and increase the burden on state employees. We should consider eliminating or delaying programs such as the scholarship tax credits, community service tax credits, and the rural opportunity zones. We should stop funding lawsuits we are unlikely to win and question special legislative projects such as stem cell research. We could be more efficient with our state tax dollars by expanding the KanCare program with federal dollars and would at the same time increase the funding available for our local hospitals and community mental health centers.

Education policy: The Legislature has a Constitutional and moral responsibility to adequately and equitably fund Kansas schools so that all children have the opportunity to succeed. We must overturn the unfair and unwise tax policies that have created our current budget crisis. Local school boards, school superintendents, and teachers must be able to count on the funding they need to do their jobs. When classrooms are overcrowded, good teachers struggle to do their job to help all students. When the legislature eliminates due process and borrows from the pension fund, school districts have trouble recruiting and retaining good teachers. To reach all students, funding should be available for music and art as well as reading, math, and science. Vocational and technical education should be available alongside college preparation courses. Most importantly, to ensure that all students are prepared to succeed after graduation, the Legislature must support a social safety net to enable all students to succeed while they are still in school.

LGBT rights: We should treat all people with respect. Government has a special responsibility to honor religious freedom. However, the practice of an individual’s religious freedom should not mean that government condones allowing people to carve out a special class of their neighbors to discriminate against. Allowing public agencies or businesses to limit their services based on sexual orientation or gender identity is wrong, both morally and legally. One of the roles of government is to make sure that everyone has equal opportunity. I support adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the Kansas anti-discrimination statutes.

Voting rights: Our government must provide for fair elections and full participation in those elections. Voting is our most basic right. When the state voting laws were changed to add the requirements for proof of citizenship and photo identification, there was a promise that citizens would be able to easily and legally register to vote in both state and federal elections at the Kansas Department of Motor Vehicles. That system has never worked. Because that promise was broken, we have two new categories of registered voters: 1) those who used the state form and showed proof of citizenship, and 2) those who registered using federal form or at the DMV who did not show proof of citizenship. Only because of recent court decisions, voters who registered at the DMV or with a federal form can vote in the November 8th general election. With so much confusion and so little evidence of voter fraud, I believe we should eliminate the requirement for proof of citizenship. I can support the requirement for a photo ID is the government provides them free of charge.

Senate District 2

Meredith Richey (Rep.)

Meredith Richey

Tax policy: Kansas has been brought to a breaking point. One of the biggest controversies pushed on us by Governor Brownback has been our current tax plan. While I believe that some of the measures implemented in 2012 and 2013 are beneficial for some Kansans, such as taking the tax burden from poverty stricken Kansans and lowering income taxes for individuals, other measures have been detrimental and must be changed. An example of this would be the pass- through exemption for businesses. Individuals have legally used the loophole to avoid taxes, change to LLCs just to qualify etc. rather than reach the intent which was to create jobs and grow revenue through bringing new businesses to Kansas. This poor policy result must be stopped. We must create stability and predictability with our state tax policy if we expect to move in a positive direction in our state.

State budget: Continuing to have our state revenue come in below projections has caused continued instability in the state. This must end. In the absence of additional revenue sources, one way to bring new savings to the state is to provide services at a better price and be more efficient in delivery of services. An independent audit done recently identified over $2 billion in possible savings for the state. While I cannot support all of the recommendations, I believe there are enough that can be agreed upon by both parties to be enacted. Simply raising taxes, specifically on incomes like my opponent supports, should not be the first option. Moving forward we must spend wisely and efficiently.

Education policy: I have heard this same concern from many parents in the district. The #1 proven fact which results in highly prepared, successful students, more than any other variable studied, is a highly effective ‘good’ teacher. This is the result across the board in every situation. With this as our premise, then our legislature’s role should be to develop solid public policy supporting what will bring, support and retain good teachers in our children’s classrooms. In addition, the legislature must provide the necessary funding, and ensure that the majority of funding reaches our teachers and the classroom, following with accountability. We must continue to support local control and secure the ability of all districts across Kansas to innovate and implement reforms that are unique to their areas. As a former teacher, mother and grandmother I understand personally what we all wish for our children. Let’s stand for education; it ensures a better future for our children, as well as our state’s future going forward.

LGBT rights: Individuals should not be discriminated against based on race, creed, color or sexual orientation.

Voting rights: According to Gallup, 4 in 5 Americans support some form of voter I.D. I believe at the very least individuals should have to provide some form of I.D. to verify who they are, and that they match their voter registration when going to our voting polls.

Senate District 3

Sen. Tom Holland (Dem.)

Sen. Tom Holland

Tax policy: do not support the Governor’s tax policies as adopted by the legislature in 2012 and 2013 as I voted against them. The Governor’s desire to have Kansas become a zero-income tax state is simply not workable, let alone equitable. Most of the 2012 / 2013 tax changes should be repealed, including the so-called LLC non-wage exemption provision.

State budget: In terms of cutting existing budgets, I would reduce the number of paid legislative days for legislators and their support staff from 90 days each year to 75 days in a non-election year and 60 days in an election year. I also believe that some savings / efficiencies can be realized through implementation of certain recommendations from the Kansas Statewide Efficiency Review conducted by Alvarez and Marsal. For example, I would support filling the 54 revenue officer positions and 14 auditor positions that are currently vacant in the Kansas Department of Revenue.

Education policy: I believe the legislature should support the activities of the KS State Department of Education and the state board of education in their mission to administer Kansas’ K-12 public schools.

LGBT rights: I believe businesses and public agencies in Kansas should be required to treat all individuals equally, regardless of sexual orientation.

Voting rights: I oppose the current laws as presently administered by Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach. I believe too many people are currently being disenfranchised from their voting rights.

Senate District 3

Echo Van Meteren (Rep.)

Echo Van Meteren

Tax policy: As a first-time-candidate running against a politician who has been in Topeka for 13 years, I’m listening to the voters of the 3rd District about their concerns with our tax system as it currently exists. My opponent, as recently as last week, called for hiking income taxes on all Kansans to the tune of nearly $750 million, or $650 for the average Kansas family. His plan would force 388,000 low income Kansans into paying income taxes, which will potentially devastate the poorest among us who already struggle to pay their bills. Further, he is calling to hike income taxes on everyone else a minimum of 25% – 30%. He is making a lot of noise about hiking taxes on small businesses and farmers to cover his spending plans but that risks costing the state jobs and it won’t come close to covering all the spending he is calling for. That only leaves one other place for him to go to raise taxes and that means that, under his plan, your taxes and mine will skyrocket. We need to hold the line on taxes and give Kansans some room to breathe.

State budget: If we’re going to have a reasonable discussion about state revenues, we have to first start with an honest assessment of spending. For the past five years in a row, the state budget has grown substantially above the rate of inflation. In 2012, when my opponent was re-elected, the budget stood at $13.9 Billion. Today, it stands at $15.5 Billion and is still growing. The “budget cuts” my opponent and others decry are, in fact, merely reductions in the rate of growth, not actual cuts. I favor a revenue and spending plan that mirrors inflation and population growth, and balances the budget. Government simply can’t keep taking a bigger and bigger chunk of everyone’s paycheck.

Education policy: Spending per pupil in Kansas continues to climb, not go down as my opponent claims. It went from $12,282 in 2011 to $13,137 last year, which is an all-time high. As a point of reference, collegedata.com reports that tuition, fees, books, and supplies for a full year at KU runs $12,535. Taxpayers have a right to ask, “Why does it cost more to educate a 1st Grade student in Kansas than a college senior?” At the same time, as you indicate, test scores have been sliding. For this to happen at the same time we’re spending record amounts on K-12 education indicates that falling test scores aren’t correlated to funding; they are most likely the result of academic standards and curriculum issues, which are the province of state and local boards of education. The Legislature funds education and needs to continue to do so adequately and in a way that makes our students among the most competitive in the world. But trying to solve sliding test scores by throwing even more money at the problem without addressing underlying issues is not the answer.

LGBT rights: I believe that the constitutional rights of all individuals need to be protected. That includes the right of members of the LGBT community to live their lives in peace, unthreatened by others who may have different views. However, it also includes the right of members of the faith community whose freedom of religion is specifically enshrined and protected in the U.S. Constitution. At the end of the day, this issue needs to be resolved by adults, behaving like adults in the free market, which has all the mechanisms it needs to resolve issues like this. Neither side should engage in behavior designed to provoke a confrontation with someone who may take a different view. Enough with the bullying and grandstanding on both sides.

Voting rights: As a past president of a local chapter of the League of Women Voters, I have a great appreciation for the importance of voting and making it available and accessible to all who are eligible to vote. On the other hand, as a woman – a class of citizens previously denied the right to vote – I also have an appreciation for the value of each person’s vote, how hard some fought to obtain that right, and the fact that every vote cast by an ineligible voter negates or wipes out the vote of an eligible voter. In a representative republic, it is critical to have a system of voting that is fair, orderly, trusted, and granted legitimacy by the voting public. I believe that requiring proof of citizenship to vote does not place an undue burden on voters, as long as elections officials make acquiring such proof by qualified voters easy, accessible, and inexpensive.

Senate District 19

Sen. Anthony Hensley (Dem)

Sen. Anthony Hensley

Tax policy: : I opposed Sam Brownback’s unfair tax experiment that eliminated income taxes for 330,000 business owners while wage earners continue to pay. The news media is now reporting that small business owners across the state believe it is unfair that they don’t have to pay income taxes while their employees do. Kansas needs a tax policy where everyone pays their fair share.

I also voted against Brownback’s largest tax increase in our state’s history, resulting in Kansans now paying the highest sales tax on food in the country. These increases came on top of already-rising property taxes. This is why I sponsored legislation to gradually eliminate the sales tax on food and provide for local property tax relief.

As your State Senator, I pledge to continue fighting for a fair, balanced, and sustainable tax system that provides relief first and foremost to middle-class families and Kansans living on fixed incomes.

State budget: State revenues have consistently come in below projections in recent years, forcing Governor Brownback and his legislative allies to make significant budget cuts. They’ve cut funding to K-12 schools, higher education and services for disabled and mentally ill Kansans. They’ve raided over $2 billion from our state’s highway fund and used the public retirement system like a credit card. Even then, our state has suffered three credit downgrades, month after month of revenue shortfalls, and gone $1.4 billion deeper in debt.

We have reached a point where state agencies have been picked to the bone that any further reductions will result in state employee layoffs. This would be very detrimental, given that many agencies are already understaffed to the point of neglect and dysfunction.

The real solution is to implement a fair and sustainable tax plan with conscientious investments in education, infrastructure, and essential services for the most vulnerable Kansans.

Education policy: The Legislature must fully fund all levels of education from early childhood through K-12 and higher education, including career training and technical education programs.

We must also create a new school finance formula that adequately and fairly funds our schools. Local school boards must be given the certainty of funding on a multi-year basis without any unfunded mandates from the Legislature.

A new formula must adhere to the individual needs of students. Funding should be available to reduce the achievement gaps for poverty and non-English speaking students. Special education also needs to be fully funded.

The disparity in wealth of each school district’s tax base must also be taken into account in a new formula. For example, for the 2015-2016 school year, one mill of property tax in USD 499 Galena raises $17,338, or $24 per student, while one mill in USD 244 Burlington raises $449,704, or $550 per student.

LGBT rights: All Kansans should be treated equally, regardless of sexual orientation. Allowing otherwise is legalized discrimination.

Voting rights: While I support voters having to show a photo ID at the polls, I strongly oppose Kris Kobach’s relentless and failed attempts to impose a proof of citizenship requirement on Kansas voters. I believe the federal voter registration process where voters are required to sign an affidavit attesting to their citizenship status is sufficient.

Senate District 19

Zach Haney (Rep.)

Zach Haney

Haney did not respond to a questionnaire from the Journal-World. According to information on his campaign website, he “strongly opposes fiscal policies that take away from one of the cornerstones of our community, education and public safety.”

He also says that he wants to make Kansas, “a business-friendly state that will make it the go-to place for job seekers and employers.”

House District 42

Jim Karleskint (Rep.)

Jim Karleskint, candidate, 42nd District

Tax policy: I do not support Governor Brownback’s tax experiment and believe it should be the first priority of the legislature to fix in January. Kansas relied successfully on three primary sources of tax revenue for many years: property taxes, sales tax, and income tax and we need to responsibly restore this balance of taxes once again.

State budget: In October of 2015 the state contracted with the Alvarez & Marsal Group to conduct a statewide efficiency review. In February, 2016 the review was released. There were 105 recommendations that could provide up to $2 billion in benefits to the state over a 4 to 5 year period. I have reviewed these recommendations and feel some would be difficult to implement. However, I feel it is the responsibility of the legislature to have serious discussion of these recommendations and take action where it can. The greatest benefit to our fiscal stability, however, depends on repealing the Governor’s tax cuts of 2012/2013.

Education policy: First, we must ensure our classrooms are appropriately funded and our teachers and support staff are empowered to do their jobs. We’re losing too many good teachers today and we can’t let this trend continue because it limits student success. As a former School Superintendent and Adjunct Professor who taught school finance, I bring a working knowledge to the legislature about school finance and formula development. Student success depends on teachers having the resources they need to teach their classes; we must get back to a stable form of funding and free up our schools to concentrate on teaching, not worrying about crippling budget cuts from the legislature.

LGBT rights: I do not support discrimination in any form.

Voting rights: I’m opposed to allowing anyone who is in this country illegally the right to vote. However, I do feel if you are an American citizen you have a right and a responsibility to vote. We need to make sure the system accommodates those that can vote, not develop roadblocks to registering.

House District 42

Kara Reed (Dem.)

Kara Reed

Tax policy: The Brownback experiment has failed. We have not seen the promised benefits to our state economy and instead of growing, Kansas has month after month of shortfalls.

The solution to returning economic stability to Kansas lies with the tax code: eliminate the tax cuts that benefit the rich few and burdens the many, roll back the sales tax, and lower the taxation on groceries that hurts low income families across the state.

Fiscal conservativism requires that more services should be cut in order to balance the budget. We cannot stand for that. Do not allow fiscal conservatives posing as moderates promise to balance the budget and then push the Legislature to enact more cuts to our public services. We must restore best economic practices to Kansas, build up our funding base, and provide the quality of life that all Kansans deserve.

State budget: If the Governor and his conservative supporters in the legislature continue to push the Brownback agenda through, the first thing that should be cut is funding to the Kansas Legislature itself. Requiring that the constitutionally mandated 90-day session is actually observed would save millions of Kansas taxpayer dollars right off the top.

We must contain the overreach of various offices in the Executive Branch of our state government. Far too much has been spent on frivolous lawsuits that have cost Kansans both money and pride. State governmental offices must be held accountable when they fail to work within their allotted means.

Finally, we need to incorporate Medicaid expansion into our health care system. Kansans pay taxes to the federal government that our state has lost due to the legislature’s petty squabbles and infighting. Allowing our money to come back to Kansas will help meet budget needs for health care, mental health, jobs for rural Kansans and Kansas hospitals, and more.

Education policy: Ensuring student success begins with equitable and adequate funding of public schools. Crafting a new school funding formula that addresses both adequacy and equity, and then fully funding our public schools, are the two most important things the legislature can do to help prepare Kansas students for life after graduation.

Appropriate funding gives our schools and educators the resources they need to ensure a high quality education for all Kansas children – an ability to attract and retain quality teachers and administrators, funds for special education services, access to technology, the ability to service and maintain buildings and grounds, and quality technical programs that set students up for success after high school.

LGBT rights: Our great nation is founded on the idea that people can be different from one another and express their individuality without fear of being attacked or excluded. While the ability to express an individual’s right should be protected, the limit comes when those rights begin to infringe on the rights of others.

Government has a responsibility to protect ALL people, regardless of race, creed, orientation, religion, or any other factor. Our government is a public institution and must respect all Kansans equally.

Business is a private enterprise and can reflect the individuality of its owners and employees. Businesses are not individuals and do not have the rights of individuals, but owners and employees should have the right to provide services to the populations they choose. If they choose to discriminate on the basis of gender, sexual identity, or orientation then I will exercise my right not to solicit their business.

Voting rights: I do not support the current laws. All Kansans and Americans live under a basic principle: we are innocent until proven guilty. Under the current Kobach voting laws, all people are assumed guilty of potential voter fraud until they can prove their own innocence by giving the state a photo ID.

There are many studies that have shown that barriers to voting, no matter how small, will impact the number of people that participate in elections. In order to be an inclusive government that allows all citizens to have a voice in choosing who their governmental leadership will be, we must lower as many of those barriers as possible.

Governmental office is a public service. All elected officials must serve the public in a way that will provide the ability for all Kansans to live freely. Proof of citizenship requirements for registration and photo ID requirements at the polls only create a situation where those that need government the most are excluded and we must change that.

House District 44

Rep. Barbara Ballard (Dem.)

Rep. Barbara Ballard

Tax policy:I do not support the current tax policies. Over 334,000 Kansas businesses are exempt from paying income taxes. It is not fair to others who pay their income taxes. The state cannot continue this policy because we need the revenue. It is costing the state over $250 million each year. I have voted and would do so again to repeal the largest income tax cut in history, because we cannot afford it currently. The Legislature needs to have a serious debate about tax reform but the lack of revenue must be addressed first. The state is struggling and having difficulty meeting obligations. We cannot continue to cut or borrow our way out of this financial debacle.

State budget: At the present time, it is difficult to identify any area of the budget that has not been cut several times before. We can’t cut K-12, higher education experienced big cuts, mental health, home community based services, I/DD have been cut. We can’t borrow any more funds from Transportation and we must leave KPERS alone – we have been there. The Legislature can revisit the Efficiency Study, we paid to have done, and hopefully find more efficiencies.

Education policy: The Special Session in June, 2016 addressed the equity issue, which was/is crucial to school districts. Now, we must address the equality issue so that all 288 Kansas school districts are able to provide the teachers, programs and services that all students need to be challenged and successful in school.

The legislature must provide adequate funding for our schools, it is a state mandate. Education in Kansas has remained outstanding, although salaries for teachers in Kansas rank 36th in the nation. There is no reason why our teachers are not, at least, at the national median (25th). We need to keep class sizes lower – they have increased in recent years.

LGBT rights: Businesses and public agencies in Kansas should be required to treat all individuals equally, regardless of sexual orientation. Discrimination or prejudice of any kind is totally unacceptable. Individuals may not understand or approve of differences among others, but the state cannot deny any person the equal protection of the laws.

Voting rights: I do not support the state’s current laws requiring people to show proof of U.S. citizenship in order to vote and to show photo ID at the polls in order to cast a ballot. Voting is a right of citizens of the United States and the state should not make the right to vote a difficult process. We know that fraud is almost non-existent, so why is the state making it difficult for folks to vote in Kansas? Especially for those who have voted for years in the same place.

House District 44

Michael Lindsey (Rep.)

Michael Lindsey

Tax policy: I am strongly opposed to the tax policies of Governor Brownback which has resulted in monthly shortages of tax revenues and the lowering of the credit rating of the state.

State budget: There is no room for budget cuts anywhere with the current financial situation. The state has been transferring funds from the highway fund to cover revenue shortages which has stalled important highway maintenance and endangering the safety of our roadways. Instead of budget cuts, a complete reversal of Brownback’s tax policies is required in order to right the ship of state before Kansas emulates the Titanic and hits the iceberg dead ahead.

Education policy: I am in favor of legalizing marijuana and I am sure that the taxes collected would help make sure education is adequately funded and to reinstate the funding of Planned Parenthood and other social programs. Perhaps there might just be savings in law enforcement costs and jail expenses with legalization.

LGBT rights: The rights of all citizens must be protected. There cannot be discrimination allowed of people based on religious beliefs. If you have a bakery open to the public, you cannot deny a wedding cake to anyone. If you run a pharmacy, you cannot deny birth control to anyone. Your religious beliefs are personal and protected but cannot be allowed to be thrust upon others in a public setting or business.

Voting rights: Showing proof of citizenship in order to register to vote may be redundant if one already has a photo ID as that was usually requited to obtain a photo ID. However, I am in favor of needing to show a photo ID in order to vote as this is a frequent requirement in other situations as well as voting.

House District 45

Rep. Tom Sloan (Rep.)

Tom Sloan

Tax Policy: I voted against the tax reforms of 2012 and 2013. I also voted against the sales tax increase act of 2014. In 2015, I voted to restore income taxes on businesses and to reinstate a third income tax tier for the highest earning Kansans. I believe in tax fairness in which all Kansans pay an equitable income tax rate to support essential state programs like education, support for persons with disabilities, and programs that support job creation. I believe that the most fair and appropriate tax system is a balance between income, sales, and property taxes, and user fees in which no group of citizens is unduly burdened.

State Budget: After 8 years of cutting budgets, there is no “fat” left to cut and efficiencies have been achieved where practical. In addition to cutting funds for education, community mental health, public safety, and most other programs, money has been shifted from the Dept. of Transportation, fee-funded agencies, and every other conceivable place to balance the budgets. Governments cannot operate like a business and out source jobs overseas to save money. Governments exist to meet the needs of people during hard times. Revenues must be increased, there is no other responsible course of action to adequately fund essential state programs on which people depend.

Education Policy: State aid to the K-12 public education system must be student-centered. That means that instead of block grants to school districts, aid must reflect the actual costs associated with educating students, including those with special needs. Aid should also reflect that in addition to teachers, other school resource staff members like librarians, teachers aids, school nurses all contribute to the successful learning environment. We can further expand on-line course offerings in both academic and vocational curriculums to cost-effectively take advantage of resources and experts outside the community. Investing in distance education technologies will particularly benefit rural and inner city school students. I have voted against proposed state budgets that do not adequately fund educational opportunities at K-12 and higher education institutions. I have introduced legislation to increase funding for our universities and technical schools so that they will once again be affordable.

LGBT Rights: I was raised believing in the U.S. Constitution’s Preamble that “All Men are Created Equal.” I was taught that “men” refers to both men and women, persons of all races and religions, and persons of all intellectual and physical levels. I have voted against legislative bills to permit discrimination by individuals, agencies, and groups. A society that accepts all persons as being equal does not violate anyone’s religious freedom, but recognizes that all of us are the same in our differences.

Voting Rights: I voted against the requirement that persons registering to vote must show proof of U.S. citizenship. I have seen no evidence of voter fraud in Kansas. The few prosecutions made by the Secretary of State were against Kansans who voted legally in Kansas, but also voted in other states. That does not constitute voter fraud in Kansas. The integrity of the ballot is vital in a democracy, but denying citizens the right to vote is a violation of democratic principles. Trying to establish a dual voter registration system for federal and state elections simply confuses citizens and discourages voting. We should be encouraging citizens to be knowledgeable about candidates and issues and to vote.

House District 45

Terry Manies (Dem)

Terry Manies

Tax policy: I do not support current Kansas tax policies and will do everything in my power to change them. During visits with constituents throughout the district, I’ve heard small business owners (like myself) talk about the income tax deduction they receive and how savings are not enough to hire new employees, nor are they even enough to pay for effective promotional initiatives to help grow our businesses.

Moreover, any benefit businesses do get is quickly eaten up by the sales tax increases we and every other Kansan–business owner or not–face when buying the necessities like milk, bread and so much more. While paying an extra 35 cents for a gallon of milk may not seem like a lot, after buying 10 gallons, people end up paying about $3.50 in sales tax. This means too many families have to make the hard decision about whether or not they can afford to buy that 11th gallon.

State budget: State revenues have consistently come in below projections in recent years, forcing the governor and lawmakers to make significant budget cuts. In the absence of new revenues, what areas of the budget do you think should be cut, and where do you believe the state can find more efficiencies?

We must shift funds away from those programs currently underperforming in favor of those with the potential to improve life for Kansas communities of all sizes. For example, the State currently earmarks over $42 million per year earned through Kansas Lottery sales for unspecified economic development initiatives. We can divert a significant portion of those funds to provide community-based services for elders and others in need of assistance. These allocations will not only make life better for those who require our support the most, but will also provide important employment opportunities for people from our smallest towns to our largest cities.

Tourism is another aspect where we could increase our efforts. Such investments bring visitors to Kansas who pay for hotel rooms, buy gasoline, eat at restaurants, and more, all of which generate additional revenues without coming out of local peoples’ pockets.

Education policy: Recent test scores show that a large percentage of Kansas students are not performing at grade level or are not on track to be prepared for college or the workplace after they graduate. What role do you think the Legislature should play in making sure all students are prepared to succeed after high school?

The most important thing the Legislature can do to ensure all students are prepared to succeed after high school is to adequately fund public education. For several years Kansas had a per-pupil funding formula that worked. It was stripped away in favor of an untenable and unfair block-grant system. Although I advocate working directly with professional educators to finalize funding formulas, I believe the Legislature should immediately begin planning for the return of budgets based on per-pupil enrollments with extra support for schools in districts with enrollments that are too low to allow for adequate funding. I believe this is something that is absolutely necessary to ensure every child in Kansas has fair access to the educational resources they need to succeed in school, at college or university, and beyond regardless of where they live.

LGBT rights: Should businesses and public agencies in Kansas be required to treat all individuals equally, regardless of sexual orientation, or should the state allow individuals and businesses to deny services to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individuals or couples on the basis of religious beliefs?

Public agencies are required by law to protect the individuality of every person, regardless of class, status, gender, age, race, religion, identity, or orientation. To try to influence our public agencies, governments, schools, or other public institutions directly stands against the basic meaning of what it is to be an American: The right to be who we are without fear or oppression from our governments.

Businesses are a part of our public life, and should conduct their trades with customers of all types. While the rights of individual business owners are present, they shouldn’t override the equally important rights of others. For generations America had a system of “separate but equal” access to services, and we know how detrimental that was to the very fabric of our society. We must not allow such hurtful designations to pervade our nation again.

Voting rights: Do you support or oppose the state’s current laws requiring people to show proof of U.S. citizenship in order to register to vote, and to show photo ID at the polls in order to cast a ballot? Please explain.

The Right to Vote has been protected time and again by the US Constitution. While it allows for the states to administer those elections, the protections we provide are designed to allow every citizen to participate in the process without harassment or barrier.

When registering to vote, the requirements for proof of citizenship prior to Kobach’s election were effective. Those who falsely identified as US Citizens could be prosecuted with felony charges by law enforcement. Our elections were safe, secure, and did not require additional financial or physical taxations upon law-abiding citizens.

Showing an ID to vote at the polls is also an issue – it’s really not at all being carded when one buys alcohol. Buying alcohol is a privilege. Voting is a core right to our democracy, and to stand in the way of that with requirements that infringe on our rights is ludicrous.