This opinion-editorial was written by Joshua Willis, sophomore in political science. If you would like to write an op-ed with the Collegian, send us an email at opinion@kstatecollegian.com to get started.
Who should you vote for? As an intern for the Kansas Legislature during the 2018 legislative session, I observed up close the problems our state faces. We need a strong leader to help fix our state’s problems. Kansans can’t afford to vote based on personality; we must vote on principles.
Many voters decided to support President Trump in the 2016 election because they valued principles over personality. These voters were too worried about the Supreme Court and other issues to sit out the election or vote for another candidate. If these voters decided to sit out, we might have two new liberal justices on the court that would undermine values such as the right to life and the Second Amendment.
Here in Kansas, some voters don’t want to vote for Republican nominee Kris Kobach because they don’t like his personality and are concerned with his rhetoric focusing on voter fraud and immigration. However, voters should not disregard the values Kobach stands for due to his confrontational style and personality.
The reason our state is facing so many problems is because we lack a governor and legislature that will effectively advocate for the right values. We need a governor that will stand for the Constitution and tell the Kansas Supreme Court to stop infringing on the duty of the legislature to fund schools.
Kobach will likely demand a vote on a Constitutional Amendment on school funding. He demanded one last legislative session. The current administration failed to do that. The current legislature has enacted policies that have been damaging to Kansans.
Our state is $40 billion dollars in debt. In 2017 the legislature passed the largest tax increase in Kansas history of $1.2 billion dollars. Kansas’s taxes are way too high, creating an unnecessary burden on families and businesses. We need a governor who will break the status quo in Topeka.
For thirteen years in the Kansas Senate, Democratic nominee Laura Kelly has voted to raise taxes, restrict gun rights and end the lives of the unborn. Her personality might be more mild than Kobach, but her principles are worse. She has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood and she has received an “F” rating from the NRA. She will bring the values of Hillary Clinton to the governor’s mansion.
On the other hand, Kris Kobach will stand strong for the rights of the unborn and he will be uncompromising on the Second Amendment. He has been endorsed by the NRA and Kansans for Life — proof that he stands for the values of everyday Kansans.
He has signed a pledge not to raise your taxes so you can keep your hard earned dollars. He and his running mate Wink Hartman will cut government spending and carefully evaluate each government agency to eliminate government waste and make government services better.
Kris Kobach will fight for the conservative values that I believe in. If you want a governor who will move our state move forward and fight for the right values, I urge you to vote for Kris Kobach.
The choice is yours: will you vote based on personality, or will you vote to uphold your principles?
Joshua Willis is a sophomore in political science. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Collegian. Please send comments to opinion@kstatecollegian.com.
