Gene Rardin - State Representative
The One Candidate You Can Count On
Issues
To see Gene and his opponent in an on-line video at the JCCC/League of Women Voters Candidate Forum, click here.
Education | Health Care | Taxes | Economy
Education
When there are tough decisions to be made about education, Rep. Gene Rardin is the one candidate you can count on to be there to give Kansas children real opportunity by providing the best public education from pre-k to college:
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Quality
Bring teacher pay to the national average in order to recruit the best in the nation and reduce class size -
Accountability
Ensure that most of every dollar spent on education is directed into the classroom -
Affordability
Demand a freeze in college tuition increases before working families are priced out of higher education
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Preparation
Provide early childhood education and all day kindergarten for our students. Representative Gene Rardin and his children graduated from Shawnee Mission public schools and he fully understands their importance in preparing young people for bright futures in these difficult times.
His opponent, Jim Yonally, says he’s focused on children, but his votes say otherwise...
- Yonally voted NO to the three-year plan to make the greatest historic investment in Kansas public education ever. May 9, 2006 - SB 549
- Yonally voted YES to reduce school funding by 27% per pupil. March 3, 2005 - O’Neal Amendment to HB 2474
- Yonally even voted NO to provide greater accountability in education spending. March 16, 2006 - Trimmer Amendment to HB 2968
“Nothing will ensure the long-term economic health of Kansas better than strong, local schools. I’ve got a plan to make sure every child in Kansas has an opportunity to succeed.”
—Gene Rardin
Health Care
No family should be afraid that taking a sick child to the doctor will lead to financial ruin
As a father, Gene Rardin understands the struggle to balance the family budget and provide quality family health insurance.
Ensuring access to affordable health care for every Kansan is one of Gene Rardin’s top priorities.
Gene Rardin knows affordable health care is possible by:
- Assisting small businesses to provide health insurance to their employees
- Gene’s opponent, Jim Yonally, voted NO...Gatewood Amendment, HB 3021, April 27, 2006
- Expanding health coverage to every child in Kansas
- Gene’s opponent, Jim Yonally, voted NO. McCray Miller Amendment, HB 3021, ...March 28, 2006
- Ensuring that seniors and the disabled have access to quality community based health services and prescription drugs.
"Rising health care costs are draining the budgets of many hard working families. Now is the time for Kansas to do something.”
—Gene Rardin
No family should have to choose between health care and feeding their kids.
Taxes
Over $150,000,000 in tax cuts
As a property owner, tax payer and small business owner, Gene Rardin believes in low and fair taxes.
Gene tempers that belief with an eye to the current and future welfare of all Kansans.
Rep. Rardin believes that reasonable and fair taxation is necessary to avoid irresponsibly passing our debts on to our children and grandchildren while still paying for all of the things that good government should and must do like financing quality public education and providing business incentives to help create good jobs.
Representative Gene Rardin has voted for over $150 million in tax cuts for businesses and families including:
- $80 million in unemployment tax cuts for businesses.
- $32 million in Kansas tax cuts on Social Security for seniors.
- $21 million in increased Homestead Property Tax Refunds.
- $24 million in franchise tax cuts based on businesses’ net worth.
Gene believes that State Government should be fully accountable and has a responsibility to you to make sure that your tax money is being wisely spent and that results are being achieved.
Economy
The Kansas economy faces new challenges every day
Soaring gas and diesel prices raise the cost of everything, healthcare expenses keep going up and corporate leaders ship jobs to Mexico, China, or India. Gene Rardin knows this is hard on Kansas families and wants to keep theeconomy on a path toward lower fuel costs, job creation, independence from foreign oil and affordable healthcare.
Gene Rardin can lead the way by:
- Investing in wind and solar energy to end our dependence on oil and make Kansas the nation’s energy leader
- Keeping jobs in Kansas by closing tax loopholes that allow corporations to outsource employment.
- Helping local businesses add more jobs by lowering the cost of health insurance
“The national economy is heading in the wrong direction, but here in Kansas we’re moving forward. We’ve cut taxes and created tens of thousands of new jobs. We’ve invested millions in schools and have begun to harness the energy of clean, renewable wind. Gene Rardin has helped Kansas stay on track and we need him back in Topeka to make sure that Kansas keeps moving forward.”
–Governor Kathleen Sebelius
