Ed Trimmer -D

by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The following is a candidates forum featuring Ed Trimmer, a Democrat who is running unopposed for State Representative of District #79 which encompasses the northeast portion of Sumner County. Wellington is not included in this district. The district is outlined in white 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? 

Trimmer — I have been in the Legislature for the past 11 years.  I was asked to take the place of Judy Showalter, who died of cancer, in 2006.  Before I became a legislator, I was an instructor at Winfield High School for 33 years.  I taught Speech, Student Congress Debate, English, Broadcast Journalism, Multimedia, A+ Certification, and a CISCO Network Academy.

I decided to run again for re-election in 2016 because I could sense things changing.  I believe there is an opportunity for Democrats and Republicans to work together to fix much of the damage that has been done by Governor Brownback’s economic experiment.

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

Trimmer — Yes, I would vote to repeal it.  I would add back the top income bracket and put it between five to five and one-half percent, which is still down from the 6.4 percent, it was before 2012..  I would leave the middle income and lowest income brackets the same.  I would remove the state sales tax on food and would put back deductions for medical care and childcare.

I would remove the business income tax exemption.  Everyone in Kansas should pay their fair share, not just those who are poor, elderly, and work for someone else.

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? 

Trimmer — I would solve our indebtedness by repealing the 2012 tax plan to provide enough revenue for the state to pay our debts and not incur more debt through bond proceeds.

I opposed the bonding of the Kansas Public Employee’s Retirement fund for one billion dollars, and the bonding of Kansas Department of transportation projects for four hundred million dollars.   From both of these bond funds, the money is being diverted directly or indirectly to make up the budget shortfall.  This is borrowing money to pay debt and very few people think this is a good idea, including the bond rating agencies.  They site our debt and lack of adequate revenue as reasons for lowering our bond ratings.

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? 

Trimmer — Not all Kansans have a high tax burden.  If you own a business, have an LLC or you are a partner in a business, you will pay no income tax, even though your employees will.  Bond indebtedness is one of the biggest reasons for the large tax liability that some, but not all, Kansans have to share.  If we create a more fair tax policy, we could pay our debts and spread the tax liability to more people, and not just place the burden on a few.

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?

Trimmer — Yes, Kansas should expand Medicaid.  The federal government will pay for 90% of the cost.  In the past, KanCare providers have indicated they would absorb most of the remaining 10% to get the expanded business.  We should do this for our hospitals and for the more than 170,000 working poor who make too much money to qualify for assistance, but too little to qualify for the Affordable HealthCare Marketplace.

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? 

Trimmer — I do believe we should go back to the old formula of Base State Aid Per Pupil and weightings.  It was simple, easy to understand and fair.  We will have the opportunity to look at improvements to the system to make sure that schools are not hurt when we transition back to a more equitable and sustainable system.

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

Trimmer —  Since Agriculture is the largest part of the Sumner County economy we need to focus on ways to make sure that our producers can compete on the world market.  Legislators in Topeka should stop trying to find ways to squeeze more money out of farmers and ranchers.  We should make sure that our communities have strong 4-H and FFA programs to train future leaders.  We should also reject the Governor’s push to allow large investor-owned corporations from establishing farming operations in Kansas.  Currently corporate farms must be family owned and a member of the family must live on the homestead.

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

Trimmer — The best way to attract business and jobs is to invest in education, higher education, infrastructure and communities.  Kansas has to have bright and talented students who want to stay in the state. Kansas has to have an infrastructure (roads, airports, and rail transportation), which would allow business to take advantage of national and global markets.  We also need to provide non-tax incentives for start-up costs and re-location to Kansas.  We have so little revenue that these programs have been put on the back burner.

Visitors do not want to come to a state that cannot fund its parks and recreation.  They also are not attracted to a state that has continually cut its higher education and transportation.  As importantly, visitors are attracted to a state where people work together and contribute equally to make its communities vital and to preserve its historic landmarks.  Under the Governor’s economic experiment, we have been cutting all these things.  The Legislature is more divided that ever and increasingly incapable of acting in a way that benefits local communities.  The Kansas House and Senate need to focus less on political ideology and more on working together to make Kansas a great place to live, work, raise children and visit.

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?

Trimmer —  I believe we need to wait to see how the legalization experiments are going in other states.  Kansans have always been cautious about change.  I believe we need to consider the issue carefully.  I do believe we should lessen the penalties for possession.  We have too many people in prison on marijuana possession alone.  When someone receives a greater penalty for marijuana- possession that for burglary or rape we have problem with our laws.

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

Trimmer — The selection process should remain with an independent judicial council.  The Governor is still allowed to choose from a slate of qualified nominees.

The reason we have the system we have today is the direct result of an abuse of power by a former governor.  The current Kansas Governor had demonstrated, repeatedly, that he cannot be impartial.  The current selection process has served us well since the mid- 1950’s, through Republican and Democrat Governor’s, alike.

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

Trimmer — My pet peeve is that some members of the Legislature do not stop to think about the ramifications of legislation before they vote on it.  In fact, many do not even read 1% of what is put before them.  They vote the way they are told by leadership and/or special interest groups.  I also do not care for the attitude that being in the majority somehow makes you always right and gives you the right to treat others unfairly.

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

Trimmer — If your answer to the economic situation in Kansas is that we have a spending problem, not a revenue problem, why have the Governor and his leaders in the Legislature looked to revenue solutions to balance the budget?  I would also ask, specifically, which programs should be cut to make up for an almost $600 million shortfall.

13. Do you have anything else to add? 

Trimmer — Is responding to a 13th question unlucky?  Seriously, I hope people will not fall prey to negative campaigning.  I have not used negative ads, I have not attacked the character of my opponent, and I have always focused on what I stand for when I campaign.  I hope voters will demand as much from others.

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