The political storyline over the weekend has been how Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer shifted gears and went on the offensive against Secretary of State Kris Kobach in Saturday’s GOP gubernatorial debate in Salina.
But there was a lot more argued during the 90-minute debate that also included Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer and lesser-known candidate, evangelist Patrick Kucera.
They talked about taxes, spending, government regulations, school consolidation and how they would get along with President Donald Trump’s administration.
Here’s a look at some of the issues that the three major candidates addressed beyond the main bout between Colyer and Kobach that has already been well chronicled.
BUDGET PRIORITIES
Kobach promised spending cuts coupled with tax cuts from the outset of his administration. “One of our highest priorities is cutting spending,” Kobach said. “Kansas doesn’t have a revenue problem. It has a spending problem.”
Kobach said it’s essential that the state provide highways, free public education, law enforcement and elections. After that, it’s open for cuts, he said. “There are so many services that are being provided that are probably duplicative or are probably wasteful.”
He said anyone who tests positive for drugs should not be eligible for Medicaid under KanCare. He also said undocumented immigrants should not be eligible for KanCare.
Selzer said he had two budget priorities, one was a familiar slogan he’s used throughout his campaign. “We need to lean in on costs every day, 24 hours a day. Not indiscriminate across-the-board cuts, but thoughtful cuts everywhere.”
The only reason state revenues are growing now, Selzer said, is because of a tax increase approved by an undisciplined state Legislature in 2017. Selzer said he would recharge the state’s economy. He says that starts with agriculture.
“We’re going to be a champion for ag. We’re going to be talking about ag and solutions for ag every day. We need to do that.”
Colyer emphasized how his administration created a chief operating officer to manage state government. He said his administration is setting goals to assess outcomes that will help guide spending decisions.
“I am the candidate here that eliminated an entire cabinet agency and nobody noticed,” Colyer said, referring to his work as lieutenant governor to abolish the Health Policy Authority. Colyer said his priorities include work force development and education.
“We’re working with Kansans to get better outcomes and we’re going to focus on winning for the state of Kansas.”
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
Colyer called for regulatory certainty but with few regulations.
As a physician who started his own business, Colyer said he understands how government regulation – in his case Obamacare – can stifle small businesses.
He said his administration is planning to announce regulatory changes in the coming months, but he didn’t spell out what those were.
“We want to work with businesses and keep those regulations low,” he said.
Colyer said his administration has been working with the White House to keep environmental regulations at a minimum so they don’t limit economic growth.
“We need to grow and that hidden tax of regulation is something that affects all of us. You’re seeing us actually doing something about it.”
Kobach said he has a history of fighting government regulation, namely environmental protections of the lesser prairie chicken.
“I have fought the federal government and its regulations directly many times, in many scenarios and many ways as an attorney,” Kobach said.
“I am probably the only person on this stage who has actually directly confronted the federal government (over) one of the most egregious environmental regulations.”
In 2014, Kobach urged lawmakers to pass a bill barring the federal government from protecting the lesser prairie chicken in Kansas.
The Legislature eventually passed a bill declaring state sovereignty over non-migratory wildlife.
Signed into law by Gov. Sam Brownback, the bill authorized the attorney general to block any attempts by the federal government to regulate the bird in court.
Selzer said he would “calmly and thoughtfully” protect consumers, but reduce the level of regulation.
He talked about a committee of agriculture advisers he appointed to counsel him on how to balance regulations with consumer protection.
“They want to protect consumers,” he said of his committee. “But they want to be able to operate their business. We will find a solution that makes sense for businesses.”
The government, he said, can’t be in a “gotcha” mindset where its look to fine businesses at every turn without being clear about the regulations they must meet.
“We have to do it up front and work with you up front,” he said.
SCHOOL DISTRICT CONSOLIDATION
Kobach said he supported consolidating school services not districts. He said he believes there are duplicative services – such as information technology – that could be consolidated to save taxpayer dollars.
He is proposing a “hard-and-fast” requirement that 75 cents of every education dollar goes to the classroom.
He complained about extravagant school buildings that look like community colleges or Fortune 500 companies. He said elaborate buildings don’t make kids smarter.
He referred to one in the Shawnee Mission School District that he said is called the “Crystal Palace.”
“I have no idea what those people are doing in there. They’re probably on their phones playing games.”
Selzer said consolidation can happen naturally. “I don’t know that we need to force it from the state,” he said. “I do know we have to be more accountable in our school spending.”
Selzer said the state needs to do a better job of evaluating what it spends on education to ensure it’s getting the most value for the taxpayer.
“We aren’t examining that,” he said. “We simply pour more and more money in without accountability.”
Colyer flatly said he was opposed to consolidating districts. “I think the individual school districts can make their own decisions,” he said.
Schools, however, need to be reinventing themselves, he said. It’s why he created the Governor’s Education Council so the state can make sure that the education system is training students for the jobs of tomorrow.
“It is so important that we have great schools,” Colyer said. “I am for that and I am working with you to get that done.”
Colyer touted the education finance bill passed by the Legislature this year that puts $535 million into schools over the next five years.
As revenues come in over estimates, Colyer said the increased education spending could be accomplished without a tax increase.
WORKING WITH TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
Selzer said his style is different from Trump, but he’s like the president in that he gets things done.
“I have that business background just like Mr. Trump does. His style is different than mine. We have a Twitter program, but it’s not as active.
“We’re going to take a business-like approach to this job, just like it so terribly needs,” he said. “We haven’t had that for a long, long time and we won’t get it if you elect somebody else here on Aug. 7. We can get things done with a different style. That’s me.”
Colyer said his administration has already established a good relationship with the Trump Administration.
He noted that Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue recently visited Kansas and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao picked the state for a drone-testing program.
“I’ve been working with people up and down the administration,” Colyer said.
Out of all that, Colyer said he had that most fun signing onto a letter nominating the president for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Kobach said he has an ongoing relationship with the president, speaking to him on the phone just last week. Kobach took credit for helping shape the president’s immigration policy throughout his campaign and after he was elected to the White House.
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