Barbara Bollier in 2020 KS Senatorial race
On Abortion:
Protect women's privacy in their medical decisions
When people are making private, complex, personal medical decisions, the last thing they want is a politician in the middle of it. As a doctor, Barbara has a unique appreciation for the doctor-patient relationship and why it is so important to preserve.
Barbara will:- Protect women's privacy in their medical decisions;
- Let women and their doctors determine what care they need without government interference;
- Ensure all women have access to basic healthcare.
Source: 2020 Kansas Senate campaign website BollierForKansas.com
May 28, 2020
On Budget & Economy:
Infrastructure key to rural Kansas, including broadband
Infrastructure is key to rural Kansas, including safe roads and high speed broadband. Both are critical to the rural economy.
Specifically, improved internet access in rural communities will strengthen businesses, healthcare facilities and schools as well as attract young people. We also must reform the United States Postal Services to ensure mail delivery.
Source: 2020 Kansas Senate campaign website BollierForKansas.com
May 28, 2020
On Budget & Economy:
Work to increase transparency in budgeting process
As both a doctor and a fiscal conservative, Barbara has always worked to maintain balanced state budgets. As a U.S. senator, Barbara will continue to work to increase transparency in the budgeting process,
eliminate fraud and waste from the federal budget, reduce the federal deficit and affirm our commitment to seniors by working to strengthen Social Security and Medicare.
Source: 2020 Kansas Senate campaign website BollierForKansas.com
May 28, 2020
On Civil Rights:
Pass Equality Act; end ban on trans service members
Barbara has long been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ Kansans in the Legislature because she believes all Kansans should have the same rights. Barbara will:- Advocate for the passage of the Equality Act, which would prohibit discrimination on the basis
of sex, sexual orientation and gender identity;
- Vote to overturn the ban on trans service members because anyone who wishes to serve our country should have the opportunity to do so;
- Support legislation to end bullying against LGBTQ youth.
Source: 2020 Kansas Senate campaign website BollierForKansas.com
May 28, 2020
On Education:
Ensure every student a high quality K-12 education
Barbara understands that adequately funding public schools is one of the most important concerns for Kansans. She will:- Support and value teachers through higher pay and better benefits;
- Expand access to quality early childhood and childcare
programs;
- Ensure every student has the opportunity to receive a high quality K-12 education;
- Work to make higher education more affordable and accessible for everyone;
- Expand availability of trade, technical and job training programs.
Source: 2020 Kansas Senate campaign website BollierForKansas.com
May 28, 2020
On Education:
Opposes making college free for everyone
Barbara does not support fiscally irresponsible, unaffordable programs pushed by some national
Democrats, including free college for everyone and universal basic income.
Source: 2020 Kansas Senate campaign website BollierForKansas.com
May 28, 2020
On Energy & Oil:
Invest in green energy opportunities to create jobs
Climate change and extreme weather are some of the most significant challenges facing all Kansans. The window for addressing this crisis is quickly closing. The more we delay, the more our way of life will be permanently changed. Barbara will:-
Support a comprehensive plan to reduce carbon emissions;
- Invest in green energy opportunities to create jobs & accelerate the economy;
- Advocate for investment in infrastructure to make communities more efficient & resilient to climate change.
Source: 2020 Kansas Senate campaign website BollierForKansas.com
May 28, 2020
On Foreign Policy:
Diplomacy is our first line of defense in national security
Barbara knows that the best way to keep Americans safe is to remain a global leader and to continue to work closely with our international allies.
Our allies multiply our strength and influence abroad and our diplomats work everyday to make Americans safer. Diplomacy is our first line of defense in national security.
Source: 2020 Kansas Senate campaign website BollierForKansas.com
May 28, 2020
On Free Trade:
Farmers don't want aid: want to sell crops and livestock
Barbara is committed to defending our farmers from damaging trade policies and tax experiments that place an undue burden on their ability to earn a living. Our farmers have faced drought, flood, extreme storms, low commodity prices and,
most recently, volatile tariff strategy. They don't want aid, they want the ability to sell their crops and livestock. Farmers want their hard work to result in sales and market growth.
Source: 2020 Kansas Senate campaign website BollierForKansas.com
May 28, 2020
On Government Reform:
Lobbying ban for ex-officials; overturn Citizens United
Our political system is in dire need of ethics reform. Barbara will:- Advocate for stricter measures to end the number of government officials leaving their jobs to move to lobbying firms;
- Support a constitutional amendment to overturn
Citizens United and reinstate the ban on corporate money in politics;
- Work across the aisle to pass campaign finance reform
Source: 2020 Kansas Senate campaign website BollierForKansas.com
May 28, 2020
On Government Reform:
Prevent foreign election interference in bipartisan way
Foreign interference is one of the greatest threats facing our democracy right now, with hostile actors targeting government agencies and both political parties. We must rise to address this problem in a bipartisan way--without letting our adversaries
divide us.Barbara will prevent foreign interference in our elections by securing our election systems, creating auditable paper trails on all voting machines and requiring additional disclosure on online political ads.
Source: 2020 Kansas Senate campaign website BollierForKansas.com
May 28, 2020
On Health Care:
Supports Medicaid expansion & public option
Barbara has led the charge to expand Medicaid to strengthen hospitals and provide affordable healthcare to 130,000 more Kansans. She was a vocal advocate for patient protection, writing and introducing legislation to end the unfair practice of surprise
medical billing in Kansas. Barbara believes that Americans who are happy with their private insurance should be able to keep it. Others should have a public option they can buy into at an affordable rate.
Source: 2020 Kansas Senate campaign website BollierForKansas.com
May 28, 2020
On Homeland Security:
Increase accountability of Veterans Administration
Barbara believes that we owe it to Kansas' nearly 180,000 veterans to demand proper delivery of the care and services they've earned. Keeping that promise means ensuring access to quality healthcare that puts the veteran first. It also
means increasing accountability for the Veterans Administration, streamlining and modernizing the delivery of services and helping veterans receive the training and education they need to build strong careers once they've returned to civilian life.
Source: 2020 Kansas Senate campaign website BollierForKansas.com
May 28, 2020
On Social Security:
Committed to protecting Social Security & Medicare
It's vital that we maintain a strong commitment to protecting Social Security and Medicare, especially now when so many Kansas families are struggling to make ends meet. Too often, income from Social Security is the only thing standing between a senior
and poverty. Barbara knows there are things that we can do to reduce costs from Medicare--including allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices--while still keeping the promises we've made to America's seniors.
Source: 2020 Kansas Senate campaign website BollierForKansas.com
May 28, 2020
On Tax Reform:
Instead of corporate tax breaks, provide middle class relief
Barbara believes that everyone should pay their fair share. And rather than giving deficit-increasing tax breaks to big corporations and those who need help the least, we should provide relief to middle-class, working families.
She knows we must spend responsibly, pay our bills and keep the promises already made to Americans.
Source: 2020 Kansas Senate campaign website BollierForKansas.com
May 28, 2020
On Gun Control:
Restrict assault rifles, impose limits on ammunition
Bollier spoke on her efforts to pass legislation restricting access to guns for people deemed to be a threat to themselves or others. Nearly two-thirds of gun deaths are suicides, and access to a gun triples the risk of suicide, Bollier said.
If gun laws restricted assault rifles and imposed limits on ammunition, the outcomes might change, she said. As a former anesthesiologist and spouse to a family practice physician, Bollier said she views gun violence as a public health issue.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post on 2020 Kansas Senate race
May 15, 2020
On Principles & Values:
She didn't leave GOP; they left her
The way Bollier tells it, she didn't leave the Republican Party so much as the GOP left her. The party she grew up in no longer had room for socially moderate, fiscal conservatives like herself, she says. "Over time, it became clear to me that
I really didn't have much in common with Republican leadership much anymore, and they had no interest in common-sense policies that would really serve the people of Kansas," Bollier told voters.
Source: Wall Street Journal on 2020 Kansas Senate race
May 15, 2020
On Health Care:
Focus on inaccessibility of healthcare and unaffordability
Bollier graduated with a medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine and completed a residence in Houston in anesthesiology. She retired from practicing medicine in 1999.She has emphasized healthcare issues throughout her
political career and has been a vocal proponent of Medicaid expansion in Kansas. Healthcare will be a key issue of her U.S. Senate campaign as well. She called the unaffordability and inaccessibility of healthcare a top issue.
Her focus on health
could draw her into the debate among Democrats over Medicare For All--the idea that Medicare, which provides health coverage to older people, should be expanded to cover all or nearly all Americans.
"I am not supportive of Medicare For All
mandates. That is not the way to go. I support maintaining Medicare and finding a path to have a public option that people can buy into," Bollier said, adding that people should be able to keep their private insurance if they are happy with it.
Source: Wichita Eagle on 2020 Kansas Senate race
Oct 16, 2019
On Civil Rights:
Validate transgender identity
Bollier switched party from Republican to Democrat. In February, the state party adopted a resolution opposing efforts to validate transgender identity. The resolution was controversial at the time, and in June the Republican party inserted language
into its platform that says: "We believe God created two genders, male and female.""That was my final, last straw. I support the people of Kansas. I do not condemn whoever they are," Bollier said.
Source: Wichita Eagle on 2020 Kansas Senate race
Dec 12, 2018
On Civil Rights:
Left GOP over anti-transgender language in party platform
Bollier told the Shawnee Mission Post that she's had "frustrations that have been ongoing for nine years" before she ultimately made the decision to leave the GOP over the inclusion of anti-transgender language in the party's platform. "Morally, the
party is not going where my compass resides," Bollier said. "I'm looking forward to being in a party that represents the ideals that I do, including Medicaid expansion and funding our K-12 schools."
Source: Heavy.com on 2020 Kansas Senate race
Dec 1, 2018
Page last updated: Jul 27, 2020