Let’s get political: 2018 midterms

By Jared Shuff
Staff writer

With midterm elections coming up on Nov. 6, it’s more important than ever to make your voice heard.

There are so many reasons why it’s important to vote, especially as a college student. This generation has the ability to shift the political balance, either way, if they would go to the polls.

Many students are disengaged from political issues, usually because of a distrust in the government or the feeling that their vote doesn’t really matter.

The votes of students are incredibly important. This generation will be the ones to live with whatever changes are made in our government. So, in an attempt to gain some interest before the registration deadline on Oct. 16th, here is a brief summarization of what a few candidates, who will be on the local ballots, stand for.

Kris Kobach (Republican Gubernatorial Candidate):

Education
Direct more money into teacher pay, book, etc.
Develop partnerships with trade schools

Welfare Reform
Provide hand up to less fortunate, not handouts
End welfare fraud and abuse
Create economic environment with high-paying jobs

Government
Enact term limits
Capping property tax appraisals
Low-tax and low regulation policies

Illegal Immigration
End in-state tuition for illegal immigrants
Stop providing welfare for illegal immigrants

Life
Protect, preserve, ensure culture of life in Kansas
Safeguard human life from conception to natural death

2nd Amendment
Safeguard right to bear arms
Preserve concealed carry

Laura Kelly (Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate):

Education
Invest in higher education, technical schools and job training programs
Fund K-12 Schools
Improve Student Mental Health

Economics
Support new industry that leverages our state’s strengths
Encourage rural growth and prosperity
Prioritize investment in Infrastructure

Government
Restore public confidence in Kansas government
Reinstating the Equal Protection for State Workers
Reversing the Adoption Discrimination Bill

Healthcare
Expand Medicaid
Reform KanCare (People over Profit)
Protect Women’s Reproductive Rights

Public Safety
Passing common sense gun legislation
Funding Public Safety

Paul Waggoner (Republican Representative of 104th District):

Education
Bring school financing to the vote of the people
More school choices for underprivileged students

Economics
Remove unnecessary regulations
Make Kansas a desirable place to start a business

Government
Reformation of Kansas Supreme Court Judge selection
Push for governmental transparency

Healthcare
Against Medicaid Expansion
Sanctity of Life and protection of the unborn

Civil Freedoms
Freedom of religious liberty and conscious rights
Freedom of self-defense/right to bear arms

Jason Probst (Democratic Representative of 102nd District and Hutchinson Community College alumus):

Economics
Create good climate for established local business
Find innovative ways to create jobs for neighborhoods
Make Hutchinson a great place to live, work, and start a business

Education
Adequately and equitably fund children’s education
Explore new teaching ideas that benefit students
Work with urban, suburban, and rural districts

Government
Elected Officials must listen to residents
tax policy must be fair and widely spread across the state’s residents
Redistricting must be handled by bipartisan committee

Healthcare
Medicaid expansion would have provided healthcare to 150,000 Kansans
Veto of the bill was “morally repugnant”
Expand Medicaid for families who can’t afford/employer doesn’t cover

Protecting Children
Programs designed to give children safe and stable environment
Investments will produce the next generation of Kansans
Take time now to help children so they prepared for the future

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