U.S. Senate
Republicans
Jerry Moran
1. Why do you believe you are best-qualified to represent Kansas in the U.S. Senate?
Answer: I believe I am uniquely qualified to represent Kansas in the U.S. Senate because I’ve always represented Kansas’ values, principles, and beliefs. I made a commitment to never let Washington change me, and and through 14 years in Congress, I’ve always stood up to Washington’s ways, especially out-of-control spending.
I may not be the most popular person in Washington, but it’s important to stick to core principles and oppose wasteful spending, no matter who’s proposing it. From fighting for Kansas jobs to trying to reign in Washington spending, Kansans know I’ll always be their No. 1 advocate.
2. What, in your opinion, is the most pressing issue facing the state/nation?
Answer: The single largest issue our country faces is the morally reprehensible $13 trillion in national debt, which is currently being heaped onto future generations.
Yet in Washington, it’s still business as usual, as they keep borrowing and spending at an alarming rate, mortgaging our future to China.
I’ve worked to stop the spending and am one of only 17 members of Congress to vote against every stimulus and bailout plan proposed by either political party, because wasteful spending in Washington has no party label.
But our massive national debt needs to be our top priority, as it threatens America’s greatness.
3. How do you intend, if elected, to carry out your legislative goals?
Answer: I believe people across Kansas and all across this country have been abundantly clear about their priorities: Stop the out-of-control spending and massive accumulation of debt.
While so much of Washington is based on party politics, I’m hopeful the message is getting through spending and debt are at an uncontrollable level.
Washington must heed the warning signs now, like when experts say America’s triple-A bond rating is in jeopardy. And if Washington’s spenders don’t heed the warnings, as a Senator and one of 100, I’ll have the ability to place a hold on a bill to get Kansas’ priorities front and center.
Todd Tiahrt
1. Why do you believe you are best-qualified to represent Kansas in the U.S. Senate?
Answer: I am the best-qualified candidate to represent Kansas in the U.S. Senate because I not only represent the conservative values we share as Kansans, but I also have fought and will continue to fight for our children to have a more prosperous future.
Kansas is a small state, and we need senators and representatives willing to show courageous leadership to ensure our needs are addressed.
I will fight for better paying jobs for Kansas workers and will stand up to government intrusion into Kansas business interests, such as when the EPA tries to over-regulate the agriculture industry.
I also will continue fighting to lower taxes so Kansas families can keep more of their hard-earned money.
I have a proven track record of getting things done for our state, and I would be honored to take that leadership to the U.S. Senate on behalf of all Kansans.
I have never shied away from a fight, and I am committed to ensuring Kansas priorities are addressed.
2. What, in your opinion, is the most pressing issue facing the state/nation?
Answer: There is no more pressing issue facing our state or our nation right now than getting our economy back on track.
This is the first time in our history that parents have said they do not think their children will do better than them.
We must turn things around and do all we can to see that our children do have opportunities to pursue their American dream.
The root of these concerns is economic, and the biggest problem with our economy is the government has erected barriers that keep businesses from being successful.
That’s why for the past seven years I have been leading the charge in the House to address competitiveness issues so small businesses can grow and help expand our economy.
Government cannot create jobs or wealth, only the private sector can do that.
Our government is not only trying in vain to do so while wasting more taxpayer money, but it is also strangling employers through increased regulation, higher taxes, mandates on benefits and other needless intrusions that make it impossible for American businesses to succeed.
We need to stop the insanity: end the bailouts, repeal the stimulus programs, cut government spending, lower taxes on job creators, reduce onerous regulations and mounting paperwork, allow more exploration for domestic energy sources and block the government from becoming more prevalent in private-sector decisions.
All Kansans deserve the opportunity to own their own business or get a high-quality, high-paying job.
By removing government barriers to growth and returning our economy to one driven by the people and for the people, Kansas and America will once again be the land of opportunity.
3. How do you intend, if elected, to carry out your legislative goals?
Answer: From the day I am sworn into the U.S. Senate, I intend to work tirelessly to stop government spending, free our employers from government intrusion, and return the federal government to one of the people, by the people and for the people.
From the laws we pass to the Supreme Court justices we confirm, to the regulations that are written, we must adhere to the Constitution and fight to keep power at the state and local level as much as possible.
I will never vote to raise taxes on Kansans – just as I have done throughout my career.
I plan on taking an active role in working with my Senate colleagues to make sure our values are represented in our nation’s capital.
I intend to take on tough fights for a smaller, more responsive government in the Senate where I will have even more tools at my disposal to get legislation enacted or to stop harmful legislation from passing.
Democrats
Lisa Johnston
1. Why do you believe you are best-qualified to represent Kansas in the U.S. Senate?
Answer: I am a leader rather than a traditional career politician.
I began my career teaching and have served in administrative positions for over a decade.
Not only have I navigated politics and worked through differences to find solutions, but I also have management, budget oversight, and communication skills that will enable me to effectively serve as a U.S. Senator.
Additionally, education must be a top priority. However, very few U.S. Senators have expertise in education.
If elected, I would be the only U.S. Senator with a Ph.D. in education, which would help to strengthen the voice of education in Washington.
2. What, in your opinion, is the most pressing issue facing the state/nation?
Answer: Education and economic issues are both critically important.
We must move away from No Child Left Behind and teaching to tests and toward an excellent K-12 educational foundation.
We must provide a broad-based education that enables students to be successful.
We also must strengthen our economy and reduce our national debt.
As economic strength returns, businesses will be able to replenish their workforce and create new jobs.
Also, U.S. corporations should pay U.S. taxes rather than placing the tax burden only on individuals and small businesses.
Many corporations make record profits but pay no U.S. tax. This is wrong.
3. How do you intend, if elected, to carry out your legislative goals?
Answer: One of the most important and sacred responsibilities of any elected official is to work for what is best for the people.
I am committed to leading with integrity and working passionately on behalf of Kansans.
I will support and propose legislation benefiting everyday Kansans and use my skills to make strong, clear arguments for important legislation.
Unfortunately, many politicians are focused on political games.
This wastes precious time and, regardless of who wins these contests, the people are the ones who lose because the focus has been taken away from finding solutions to pressing problems and moving forward positively.
Charles
Schollenberger
1. Why do you believe you are best-qualified to represent Kansas in the U.S.Senate?
Answer: I am not a career politician yet have a lifetime of involvement in Democratic politics and know how to get things done.
As a former agricultural reporter for the Hutchinson News and Kansas City Star, I have a working knowledge of our state’s largest industry – agriculture – and want to represent Kansas farmers on the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee.
2. What, in your opinion, is the most pressing issue facing the state/nation?
Answer: Unemployment is the most important issue presently facing our country, with more people out of work over a longer period of than than in many years.
We must resolve the unemployment crisis and get people back to work.
See my ideas on how to do this at “Jobs” under “Issues” at my Web site, www.schollenberger2010.com. One of the ways we can put Kansans back to work is by promoting the wind energy industry in Kansas.
3. How do you intend, if elected, to carry out your legislative goals?
Answer: I already have listed some of my legislative goals on my Web page, such as a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, the creation of a Great Plains Wind Authority to help promote our state’s wind industry, the creation of a new national park in Kansas, and publicly-funded elections.
I want to go to the U.S. Senate as a citizen-legislator who has goals to achieve and then gets out of Washington after having achieved them.
Patrick Wiesner
1. Why do you believe you are best-qualified to represent Kansas in the U.S. Senate?
Answer: My experience as an attorney and CPA in resolving the tax and debt problems of my clients is unique.
I bring to the Senate the wisdom of someone directly involved with businesses that cannot pay their payroll taxes and families losing their home to foreclosure.
I can write the tax code in simple English so taxpayers, the government, and the courts know what is required.
I intend to bring a permanent end to the estate tax.
I am also an Army reserve lawyer and have finished two long tours in Iraq. No other candidate has this experience.
2. What, in your opinion, is the most pressing issue facing the state/nation?
Answer: The amount of debt secured by real estate appears to be way more than the value of the houses and office buildings pledged as collateral.
Our government has guaranteed much of this debt.
In my bankruptcy practice, I have seen a fundamental rethinking of home ownership. People are no longer willing to commit 30 percent of their income for 30 years in order to own a home.
They are walking away. As you read this answer, private lenders are legally sticking taxpayers with loan losses by getting Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to guarantee or buy bad mortgages.
3. How do you intend, if elected, to carry out your legislative goals?
Answer: I am not hobbled by promises to lobbyists and government contractors.
I intend to amend procedure in the Senate so that no one can vote on legislation until they certify under oath that they have read the text and understand its contents.
This will halt the practice of lobbyists drafting the language of proposed legislation and getting it inserted into the bill before others have a chance to read it.
Another procedural change I will advocate is if a private company is seeking a cash or regulatory subsidy, their chief executive must testify and explain why they need government help.
