Q. Why did you become a Kansas legislator?

A. Back in 2006, [Sebelius] was trying to bring universal health care to Kansas. I’m an employee benefits insurance agent, so group health insurance is a big deal in my business. None of my clients — mostly small businesses — wanted universal health care. Government-mandated universal health care would be disastrous for small businesses and cause the quality of health care to go down for everyone. I shared that perspective with my state representative and senator from my district and started getting more involved. 
Thankfully, that proposal ultimately failed, and I was glad to be able to present a real-world perspective on something that might sound good in theory but has real consequences for our communities. 

While working with my state legislators, I started learning more about the committee process and how things worked around the Statehouse. After that experience, I told my wife that if a seat in my district ever came open, I would like to take a shot at it. When the House seat opened with redistricting, I decided to run, and I’ve been honored and blessed to serve as the District 100 representative since 2013. [District 100 encompasses Sedgwick County, including parts of Wichita].

Q. What is the most pressing issue in your district?

A. In my district and truly everywhere I go around the state, I hear about how badly Kansans are strapped for cash these days because of rising inflation and out-of-control property taxes. That’s why our number one priority when we return next year will be to pass comprehensive and sustainable tax relief that will benefit all Kansans regardless of their income level. The tax package will be very similar to the one passed by the Legislature last session and will include the priorities that we hear Kansans want most — income tax relief, property tax relief, and tax relief for seniors on Social Security. 

To compete with our neighboring states and keep Kansas an attractive place to live, work, and play, we must make the Kansas tax code simpler while ensuring it’s sustainable for Kansas families and businesses to count on long into the future. Folks in District 100 and across the state should be able to keep more of what they earn and send less to Topeka and I’m committed to making that happen next year.

Q. What are your key goals for the upcoming legislative session?

A. When looking at key goals for House Republicans next session, I immediately go to our Republican Better Way legislative agenda. We were able to accomplish some great things in the Legislature last session, but as part of this two-year plan, we still have more work to do in addressing the priorities we’ve heard from Kansans across the state. I’ve already touched on what is possibly our biggest goal — tax relief. Our commitment to taxpayers is not one that we take lightly, and we plan to follow through on that commitment next session by passing comprehensive and sustainable tax relief that will benefit all Kansans regardless of income level. 

We must focus on giving Kansans the income tax relief they so desperately need while helping to relieve the property tax burden that is keeping Kansas families out of the housing market and pricing seniors out of their homes. Other goals will include supporting our law enforcement and National Guard, protecting our most vulnerable Kansans through our commitment to the Kansas Safety Net, continuing to fully fund our schools and encouraging the development of our Kansas workforce.

Q. What have you learned about serving that you didn’t know before?

A. Prior to serving in the Legislature, I didn’t know the two parties work together as much as they actually do. That’s not to say we don’t have our disagreements on things, but the vast majority of our bills are passed overwhelmingly with bipartisan support. You don’t hear about those as much though because they don’t grab attention with headlines.

Q. What would people be surprised to learn about you?

A. I grew up working and helping out on my grandpa’s dairy farm. I started riding bulls for fun and I ended up doing it for about two years. I think a lot of folks know about my love of going to the rodeo, but they probably didn’t know that I used to be a bull rider for a while, too.