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Stating their views
Published 6/23/2010 in Local News
By MONICA SPRINGER
LIBERAL — Health care, immigration reform and stance on abortion were among the topics discussed Tuesday night at the 1st District Regional Candidate Forum.
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Monica Springer/Telegram Jim Barnett, R-Emporia, speaks at the District 1 Regional Candidate Forum in Liberal on Tuesday night. In the background are Marck Cobb, R-Galva, left, Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, Rob Wasinger, R-Cottonwood Falls, and Sue Boldra, R-Hays.
The candidates who took part in the forum were State Sen. Jim Barnett, R-Emporia; Sue Bolda, R-Hays; Alan Jilka, D-Salina; Tracey Mann, R-Salina; Marck Cobb, R-Galva; State Sen. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler; and Rob Wasinger, R-Cottonwood Falls.
The candidates are vying for the soon-to-be open 1st District seat that will be vacated by Jerry Moran, R-Hays, who is running for the U.S. Senate.
Each candidate gave opening and closing remarks and answered questions from business people who sponsored the forum.
All of the candidates said they are pro-life, and everyone except Jilka said they either wanted to repeal or work on amending the health care overhaul bill that was signed into law three months ago.
Huelskamp said the health care bill is unconstitutional.
"The idea that the federal government, who can't figure out Medicaid, who can't figure out Medicare, somehow is going to solve our medical problems is silly," he said. "That's why the bill was written behind closed doors in a non-transparent process."
Jilka said he thinks the nation needs to give the health care bill a chance to work, then work on fixing items in the bill that do not work.
"I am not going to vote to kick people with pre-existing conditions off coverage or to kick people in their early 20s off their parents' insurance," Jilka said.
Mann, who followed Jilka in his response, said he strongly disagreed with Jilka's stance on health care.
"We cannot not repeal this bill," Mann said about the need to repeal the bill. "We should not require Americans to have coverage."
Mann said insurance companies should be allowed to compete across state lines, ultimately driving down cost due to competition.
Cobb said if elected, he would work to amend the bill.
"It was just act without thinking," he said about the process of passing the bill. "No one understood the consequences."
Another question was how each candidate will have their voice heard in Washington among the other members of Congress, and how western Kansas will be fairly represented.
Most of the candidates said they would work and develop relationships with other members of Congress from other states.
Mann said he would work on getting members of Congress from other states to visit the 1st district to tour farms and understand rural communities.
Cobb said if he is elected he is willing to communicate, negotiate and educate, and said character and leadership are important qualities needed in the position.
Barnett said if he is the Republican candidate on the ballot, he would travel the nation to get involved in other House races so a coalition can be built before the House convenes in January.
Boldra said Congress needs to understand that a variety of products come from Kansas' agriculture producers, including lipstick and rubber boots.
"We need to make sure they understand that Kansas is a provider. We are the breadbasket of the world," Boldra said.
The candidates also were asked about their views on illegal immigration and energy.
Boldra, Huelskamp and Barnett said they support the expansion of the Holcomb coal-fired power plant.
Boldra said she also supports wind and solar power. Jilka and Wasinger said they support off-shore drilling, Jilka added that transmission line problems need to be fixed soon so western Kansas can send the energy it creates to more populated areas.
Jilka and Mann both said the country needs to lessen its dependence on foreign oil.
On the topic of immigration, Wasinger said more security is needed on the border, and Boldra said she thinks the nation needs to build a wall to protect its borders.
"We are a nation of immigrants. We are also a nation of laws," Boldra said. She added that there needs to be an expedited process for immigrants who want to come to the United States legally to live and work.
Jilka said more border patrol is needed, and he said immigrants should be required to learn English and pay back taxes.
Jilka also said the United States should encourage Mexico to help its own people so fewer try to enter into the United States illegally.
Huelskamp said he supports immigration reform and said the border needs to be secured. He also said that two of his four adopted children are legal immigrants, and that he and his wife went through the difficult process of completing the necessary paperwork for their children.
"Being a citizen in this country should be a privilege. It's not something we give away," Huelskamp said.
About 100 people attended the forum at Seward County Community College/Area Technical School. It was sponsored by the Liberal Chamber of Commerce, SCCC/ATS, the High Plains Daily Leader, The Southwest Times, AT&T, 107.5 KSCB Radio, and the Southwest Kansas Chambers of Commerce.
Each candidate also gave closing remarks to the audience.
Mann said there needs to be a new candidate in the office with experience in agriculture and business, something he has. Cobb said if elected, he would focus on education and national security and not spend "an arm and a leg" to get his goals accomplished.
Huelskamp said the nation has to stop spending more than it is taking in. He said he would work on balancing the budget and on the issues that affect families in Kansas.
Barnett said if elected, he would travel from Washington, D.C., back to Kansas on the weekends to keep in touch with those he represents.
Wasinger said he would work on a new Homestead Act to help prevent out-migration in Kansas. A new Homestead Act, he said, would include student loan forgiveness for those who want to return to rural Kansas, a first-time home purchase credit and other ideas to help draw young people to work in Kansas.
Boldra said she is not a career politician and is tired of the politics coming out of Washington. Her closing remarks drew laughter from the audience and the other candidates.
"I'm the best man for the job and the only woman," she said.
The six Republicans will square off in the Aug. 3 primary election, with the winner taking on Jilka in the Nov. 2 general election.
The candidate forum was taped by Smokey Hills Public Television and will air at 8 p.m. July 8 and Aug. 1.
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