by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The following is a candidates forum featuring Jolene Roitman, a Democrat and Kyle Hoffman, an incumbent Republican who are running for State Representative of District #116 which encompasses the northwest portion of Sumner County and the west half of the city of Wellington. The district is outlined in green in the graphics below.

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 1. Briefly, tell us about yourself, your background, and how you became a candidate for the Kansas House/Senate in 2016? 

Roitman — I’m a native Kansan and grew up on a farm near Corbin with my seven brothers and sisters.  I appreciate the value of the family farm and small town living.  I’ve moved around the country as my husband was a career Navy officer.  I have worked for several non-profit educational organizations and worked in three different school districts. 

I’ve been interested in politics for quite some time.  Being dissatisfied with our current Representative and the direction of our state, I decided to run for office and see if I could make a difference.

Hoffman — My wife, Kristi, and I, along with our two daughters, live south of Coldwater on the family farm I help manage with my dad.  I graduated from Coldwater High School in 1990, and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Technology and Management from Kansas State University in 1994.  Over the years I’ve has been involved with Farm Bureau, Lion’s Club, Local & Area Conservation Districts, Chief Community Theater, and the Pratt Community College Foundation board.  Kristi and I were also Fellowship of Christian Athletes sponsors in the Coldwater and later South Central Schools for over 10 years.  Through those years, I’ve also started and ran two businesses; Red Hills Internet and Central Fuel and Service, Inc.

In 2010, I was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives and I’ve served as the Majority Caucus Chairman, Chairman of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Committee, and Vice Chairman of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

2. Would you vote to repeal the Kansas income tax cuts of 2012? 

Roitman — Yes.  The 2012 tax experiment that let over 300,000 business owners pay no income tax was a failure.  It was created for those businesses to create jobs and stimulate the economy but that didn’t happen.  Instead it caused revenue crisis after revenue crisis.  And, I might add, don’t be fooled by my opponent’s vote to repeal this tax cut at the end of the last legislative session.  It was never meant to pass and was only a trick so that scared legislators who voted this tax cut into existence could campaign on voting to repeal it.

Hoffman — Our state tax code should be fairer for everyone by closing the LLC loophole and if possible using that additional revenue to reduce taxes in another area, such as sales tax on groceries.

I’ve already voted numerous times to close the loophole and will continue to do so when given the opportunity.  Businesses are the life blood of our economy, and I know they pay more taxes than most people realize, but the research I have seen shows that the LLC loophole has hurt some small businesses who have had losses and I believe unfairly allowed others to “shelter” personal income from taxes.  Beyond this change, I have no intention of raising individual tax payer’s income taxes by over 30% by reversing the 2012 tax cuts.

3. Revenues continue to fall short of projections for the state of Kansas. In turn Moody’s has reduced Kansas’ revenue bond rating for two consecutive years. How would you solve this issue? 

Roitman — Repealing the 2012 tax cuts will help but it won’t completely solve our budget crises.  We need fair tax policies that will bring needed revenues into our state to provide the services that Kansans need and deserve.  

Hoffman — Kansas is not the only state suffering from unmet revenue projections. A recent study by the Rockefeller Institute shows that 36 states including Kansas have revenue coming in lower than anticipated. This is the symptom of multiple issues, including low sales tax collections nationwide, low oil and gas prices, and in states such as Kansas, low commodity prices. It’s a challenge that we have to solve by using the best practices in policy-making and government accountability and efficiency.  I do believe the process we use to estimate revenue needs to be changed and updated for today’s economy.  Businesses are constantly changing their methods of revenue and cost estimating to keep up with an ever changing economy, why should the state be any different.  Beyond this change, I’m excited that last year we put in place starting in 2017, that all agencies must use performance based budgeting and justify spending at all levels when putting together their budgets.  That is what the people of the 116^th district do with their personal budget, the state should be no different.

4. In a recent study conducted by Truth in Accounting – a Chicago-based research organization- it found that Kansas has the third-highest taxpayer burden in the Midwest. The firm attributes Kansas’ accumulation of long-term liabilities as a reason for this. How should Kansas solve this issue? 

Roitman – As I looked at the site “Truth in Accounting” it says.  “Because of a new accounting rule, Kansas now has to report its pension debt on its balance sheet. As a result, the state’s reported pension debt grew from $0 in 2014 to $2 billion in 2015. However, the state is still hiding $4.5 billion of pension debt from taxpayers.”  After the 2012 tax cuts we couldn’t meet our budget and started robbing KPERS to pay the bills.  The state will be required to repay KPERS with 8% interest.  I would say that is a big liability and to solve this issue we need to repeal the 2012 tax cuts and have fair tax policies.   

Hoffman — Kansans deserve the most effective government at the lowest possible price. I believe performance based budgeting will help, but we need to continue to search for ways to make efficiency happen while still providing necessary services. A lot of it requires leadership that isn’t afraid to say no to an idea that might seem great in the short run, but will require more money at the expense of taxpayers in the long run. So much of being a legislator isn’t about passing a bill, it’s also about preventing bills from passing that will negatively affect the long-term health of our state or increase the burden on taxpayers.  Something that I will admit we have had mixed results in doing in the past. 

5. According to Sumner Regional Medical Center officials, the hospital is losing almost $600,000 to $750,000 a year by Kansas not participating in the federal Medicaid Expansion program. Do you believe Kansas should participate in such expansion?

Roitman — Absolutely.  The federal Medicaid/KanCare expansion should be accepted in Kansas.  60,000 people would have health insurance and the state would realize $5.3 billion in revenues to cover these people.  These are our tax dollars that should be reinvested in our state.  This money would substantially help Sumner Regional Medical Center.  

Our local hospital is vitally important to our community.  I know the community has worked hard to save it.  We can do more with Medicaid/KanCare expansion.

Hoffman — I believe there should be a legislative committee hearing on the topic and have advocated that message in Topeka several times to leadership, but at this point, I’m not in favor of expansion.

Expanding Medicaid would not have saved any hospital that I know of in Kansas that has closed, it’s just talking points.  Other negative forces in those hospitals have been most of their problems.  Would it help the bottom line of some hospitals, probably, but at what cost.  The federal government will not be paying all the bill, and as many other states that have expanded have found it will impact the state’s budget.  I find it interesting that the whole discussion is almost a “they did it so, we should” mentality; something that many of us advise our own kids to not do.  I truly believe we will have hearings this next year; something that should have been done last year.

That being said, I was very disappointed when the governor cut the Medicaid system this summer after progress has been made to try to make it more cost-effective and work better for patients. Waiting lists from previous administrations are being eliminated and more people with disabilities are receiving the care they need.

The KanCare system is far from perfect, and we need to continue to work toward ensuring that every person that is vulnerable or has a disability is served the way they need; adding able-bodied adults without dependents to the system will not help accomplish that goal.

6. There is a lot of talk about restructuring the school funding formula. Do you believe a new school-finance system should be in place, or do you believe the state should return to the old formula that was in use as late as 2014? 

Roitman — I believe with a few changes, the previous formula that was in use for many years would be better than the block grants.  Our schools need to be fully and equitably funded and the funding should increase to keep up with inflation.  I want public schools to have funds to keep and attract good teachers, keep class sizes small and provide students with a good learning environment.

Hoffman — I would like to see a system of school finance that is centered around students, not buildings or administrators.  Schools should serve students by being efficient and creative, cutting unneeded administrative expenses and getting more dollars into the classroom.  The old formula did not fulfill that requirement. Although it will never be the same experience, as much as possible, the kids from Coldwater to Wellington deserve the same opportunities as those in Johnson County and Wichita and the new formula should reflect that principal.  Kansas has among the top education systems in the country, but there’s always room for improvement and I look forward to working on a formula that will move us forward not back.

7. What is the No. 1 economic development issue for Sumner County and the state of Kansas today? 

Roitman — As I travel around District 116 and visit these small communities I am impressed with the spirit and love that people have for small town living.  Citizens are working hard to keep their communities viable.  We need to keep these communities appealing with good schools, hospitals, roads and retirement facilities.  Right now, our governor and many of our legislators are hurting economic development with unfair tax policies, de-funding schools, not expanding Kan Care, stealing money from KDOT and KPERS and overall making our state the laughingstock of the country.

Hoffman — The most effective economic development comes by having a government that is business friendly and operates without red tape.  Local efforts to attract businesses will not work if the state is holding them back.  There’s a reason businesses are fleeing California for other states where the climate is easier for entrepreneurs to thrive. Practically, this means having as low of taxes as possible, as little regulation as possible, and making the business filing process streamlined. We’ve already accomplished much of that, but there’s always more work to do.

 8. What is the best way to attract new jobs and visitors to Kansas? 

Roitman — We need to make our state attractive to businesses by providing fully funded schools, good transportation, local hospitals, expanded Kan Care, fair tax policies and attractive retirement facilities.

Teachers and road crews are leaving the state and that means jobs are leaving.  Hospitals and schools are the largest employers in small towns so we need to do everything we can to protect them.  

Visitor who come to Kansas need good roads to travel, reasonable prices on food and lodging, fun entertainment and friendly people.  We can provide all those.  However, being the laughingstock of the country on late night talk shows doesn’t help.  Having a governor with the lowest approval rating in the country doesn’t help either.

Hoffman — I’m proud of the work we’ve already done to make Kansas a business friendly state, for example, completely overhauling the way businesses file their paperwork with the state to make it much more convenient and user-friendly. We need to continue to look for ways to get government out of the way of private enterprise. Business development must be a local as well as a statewide initiative not focused on only one or two areas. It is the entrepreneur that creates jobs, not the government. When entrepreneurs thrive, more jobs and visitors will come to Kansas.

9. Legalizing Marijuana has become a hot topic across the U.S. Do you believe that marijuana should be legalized in Kansas whether it be medical or recreational? How about the decriminalization or reduce sentencing of the drug?

Roitman — I would be open to legalizing medical marijuana in Kansas.  Studies shows that it is beneficial to many illnesses and is safer than some of the medications that are legal.  I am willing to wait and observe how legalizing recreational marijuana has worked in  states that have legalized it and then make the decision.  

Kansas sentencing guidelines are worse than those in the federal system, where sentences are harsh.  Sentencing Kansans to lengthy prison time for simple possession does not make communities better.  Some drug possession offenses should be de-felonized.

Hoffman — I do not think that legalizing marijuana is right for Kansas. It has caused untold problems in other states, including a rise in homelessness and car accidents. However, last session I did vote to decrease penalties for marijuana in an effort to rehabilitate not incarcerate.  I think rehabilitation is more effective; our goal as policy makers should be to help people break their cycle of drug dependency and become contributing members of society.

10. Do you believe Supreme Court justices should be appointed by an independent judiciary council or should it be made by the governor? 

Roitman — The Supreme Court justices should be appointed by an independent judiciary council as they are now.  The three branches of government are the backbone of our country.  We can’t let the governor have the power to control the judicial branch.  Governor Brownback didn’t like the Supreme Court ruling on school finance so he decided he needed control of the Supreme Court. That’s what this issue is all about. 

Hoffman — It would be nice if the current method of judicial selection involved an independent judiciary council, but it does not. It involves a committee of which the majority is selected by lawyers in the most secretive process in the nation. It is truly one of a kind.  Kansas deserves a more open and transparent process and while I do not favor any one method of judicial selection, I do know that the current process needs to be reformed.

11. What is your No. 1 pet peeve at the moment when it comes to Kansas state politics? 

Roitman — Governor Brownback’s reluctance to admit that his tax policies have put our state in a fiscal emergency.

Hoffman — The misinformation that is  propagated by those that know better.  

12. What would be the No. 1 question you would ask your opponent? 

Roitman — There are many, but the #1 question would be:  Mr. Hoffman, according to the Kansas PTA you voted against pro public school positions 12 out of 13 times.  Why don’t you support public schools?

Hoffman — Estimates show that in order to do everything the Democrats would like to do, the already $6 billion state budget would have to grow by anywhere from $1 to $1.5 billion in a single year.  Where do you plan to get that new revenue, because the LLC fix will only amount to about $250 million at best?

13. Do you have anything else to add? 

Roitman — We need change in our Kansas legislature.  We have to keep our governor for two more years but we can make changes in the legislature.  Please study the issues and the voting record of our current legislators and vote them out if you don’t agree with them.  It’s easy to see our state is in financial trouble.  We can make Kansas better with this election.

Hoffman — My work in Topeka is focused on the people of the 116th district and advocating for our values and our rural way of life. The 116^th district has always been home and I’m proud to represent my friends and neighbors in the statehouse. During the next session, the legislature will construct a new school finance formula, and my top priority is to ensure that the students in our area have the resources and the opportunities they deserve through that formula. Further, as I have voted to do several times, our state tax code should be fairer for everyone by closing the LLC loophole and if possible using that additional revenue to reduce taxes in another area, such as sales tax on groceries. Finally, Kansas Agriculture is hurting; I will continue to fight to help the agriculture economy by lessening the interference of the government. Those issues and many others are important to the people of the 116th district, and will guide me in the next session.

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