A: We think the environment deserves an advocate, and if that advocate is not the government, then who would be its advocate? The Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act and other environmental legislation have provided a clear definition of "best practices." Chad's a farmer, and farms the same was his family did, applying those best practices. During the Dust Bowl, the then-current practices were bad conservation, which led to erosion and caused the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. The CCC, the Civilian Conservation Corps, changed those practices: they planted hedgerows; introduced natural irrigation. Chad has been doing that for 20 years, and considers farmers to be stewards of the land, with an environmental ethic.
A: The incumbent has had 18 years where he has not demonstrated leadership. He distrusts the United Nations; whereas we think there is nothing that can't be gained by having a conversation.
Q: Should we worry about maintaining US sovereignty under UN actions?
A: Sure, the US is sovereign from the UN, but we can still have conversations through the UN and other venues. Diplomatic solutions are always preferable.
A: Free trade has opened up and globalized our economy. Our friends in the labor community, however, are seeing their jobs exported to countries that don't maintain the same labor standards and pay standards. We are not sold on expanding trade further.
Q: What about existing trade agreements such as NAFTA and CAFTA?
A: There have been so many iterations on the details of those agreements that it's hard to comment out of context. We would respond to specific changes in the agreements when those changes are proposed.
A: Chad is a Catholic; but the issue of separation of church and state has not arisen in our discussions across the state during this campaign.
A: We do not support privatizing. Social Security is a commitment we have made; citizens have a right to get back their retirement investment. The federal government has a responsibility to keep this entitlement solvent.
Q: So what methods would you prefer for ensuring solvency? Raise the income cap? Raise the retirement age?
A: We don't have a particular solution in mind. When it came to agriculture policy, Chad went around the state seeking input from stakeholders at roundtable discussions. We would do the same for Social Security. Let's get the stakeholders together and discuss possible solutions; there is no danger in conversation. That conversation has not occurred for Social Security for a couple of decades now.
A: Taxes should be "simplified and transparent," where the purpose of transparency is to show how taxpayers' money is actually spent. Tax forms should be 2 pages: your tax form on one side, and how your taxes are spent on the other side.
Q: Some specific policy changes?
A: We would eliminate loopholes for special interests. We would create a tax holiday for repatriation of overseas corporate funds, if those funds are used for R&D, physical plant, pensions, or job creation
Q: The term "simplification" usually implies lowering taxes--is that what you mean?
A: Yes, that is a fair characterization, but "simplification" means that the tax code should not be 70,000 pages. Taxes should be easier to do for taxpayers, and should not require a paid professional to do them.
Q: Does "simplification" include schemes for reducing the number of tax rates?
A: No, we do not support policies like the FairTax, nor a national sales tax, nor any other policies like those.
A: Our foreign policy needs to be strong and firm. The first priority is safety and security, and that follows from being consistent and firm. The US cannot waffle back and forth.
Q: What does that mean specifically for Iran?
A: We should keep the current stringent sanctions because they appear to be working. Further military action is not currently needed.
A: As with Iran, our Syria policy is that the US needs to be consistent and firm. Getting involved in the Syria situation has not proven to provide any dividends. Any deeper US involvement would constitute an act of war. Patrolling by air, as we currently do, is ok; the current sanctions are ok; but consistency is the most important policy.
I have long been an advocate for equality in our society and workplace, which is why I support measures such as equal pay for equal work. There is no excuse for a pay discrepancy based on gender. Period.
I will be an advocate for equality, supporting measures such as the Violence Against Women Act, which Senator Pat Roberts voted against. I will fight to ensure fairness under the law.
As the Shawnee County District Attorney, I am all too familiar with the effects of gun violence on the communities of Kansas. The most critical first step we can take to reduce violence is to enforce the laws we have on the books--like the mandatory minimum five-year federal sentence for felons in possession--and keeping firearms out of the hands of criminals.
I also believe we need to properly and adequately address the lack of mental health services to help those that are most at risk. Without this component, our approach to public policy is incomplete.
Right now, our immigration process is confusing, inconsistent, and inhumane. That confusion incentivizes immigrants to come into our country the wrong way. We need to unmuddy the waters and create a path to citizenship that makes potential immigrants part of the process.
We have highly-skilled engineers and tradesmen in Wichita who can build new turbines, and new economies. The "wind cowboys" (and cowgirls) being trained at our state's technical schools can service and maintain the fields of windmills in western Kansas. The farmers of our state will reap the rewards of land leases that pay for these natural power plants in the short term.
And we are not even close to fulfilling our potential. Kansas has the second-highest wind potential of any state in the country.
Taylor was first elected in 2008 and reelected in 2012, and drew some national attention after he said budget cuts threatened to keep him from prosecuting domestic abuse cases.
He faces slim prospects for success in the deep-red state, however--Kansas hasn't elected a Democrat to the Senate in more than half a century, and the state went for Mitt Romney with 60 percent of the vote in 2012.
The action seeks injunctive relief concerning the rate increase for Howison Heights, Inc., previously approved by the Commission. The impact of the injunction would void the action taken by the KCC resulting in a near fifty percent rate hike to consumers of the water district.
The lawsuit also seeks other relief consistent with the KOMA. The primary purposes of this action are to ensure that both the statutory provisions of the KOMA are adhered to and the purpose of the Act, governmental transparency, is enforced.
Taylor's statement signaled the conclusion of a sheriff's investigation begun in November after it was asserted that copies of state reports from Planned Parenthood that should have been in the Attorney General's office had been destroyed. These copies were compliance reports of late-term abortions, that were subpoenaed under a criminal inquisition.
Kansans for Life is asking Taylor to clear up this mess. This affects the integrity of the as-yet-incomplete prosecution of Planned Parenthood for misdemeanors back in 2003.
"Today's verdict is a just result and should finally ensure that this violent predator will be removed from our community," said Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor. "I would like to thank the jury for their service and for ensuring that justice was served today. I would also like to personally thank the victim who over the past decade has repeatedly demonstrated a courage and fortitude few people possess."
The District Attorney's Office originally filed charges against Mr. Elnicki in 2001. Twice Mr. Elnicki's conviction was overturned and remanded to the trial court for a new trial. Elnicki will be sentenced on December 10, 2010 at 9:00 am by Judge Richard D. Anderson.
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The above quotations are from 2014 Kansas Senate debates.
Click here for other excerpts from 2014 Kansas Senate debates. Click here for other excerpts by Chad Taylor. Click here for a profile of Chad Taylor.
Chad Taylor on other issues: |
Abortion
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Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families Foreign Policy Free Trade
Govt. Reform
| Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Jobs Principles Social Security Tax Reform Technology War/Peace Welfare
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