Eric Smith
RTo be claimed
Former Member, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, Kansas State House of Representatives
Vice Chair, Agriculture
Member, Corrections and Juvenile Justice
Member, Federal and State Affairs
Chair, Kansas Security
1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-life
2. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- No
3. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- Yes
4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
1. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
- No
2. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
- No
3. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
- No
4. An income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- No
5. Other or expanded principles
- Performance based budget principles can be used to determine spending options in government. Our current revenue stream is above expectations.
1. Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
- Yes
2. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes
3. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- Yes
4. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- Yes
5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- Yes
2. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- No
3. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- No
4. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- Yes
5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes
2. Do you support lowering state taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes
3. Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
- Yes
4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- Yes
5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- Yes
6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Kansas?
- Yes
7. Do you support setting a maximum interest rate lenders are permitted to charge on payday loans?
- Yes
8. Other or expanded principles
- Regarding minimum wage: minimum wage jobs, when i entered the workforce at 15, were for entry level or high schoolers trying to get a part time job while going to school and it was $3.35 an hour. Career jobs don't usually try to compete in the market at minimum wage, so they offer higher wages. If you want a job that pays $15 an hour or more, you will likely work 40 hours a week and submit to drug testing...if you want $15 an hour.
1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in Kansas?
- No
2. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- Yes
3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Kansas high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- No
4. Do you support increasing funding for the state education budget?
- Yes
5. Other or expanded principles
- Education funding should increase, just like every other department and agency in the state, following inflation and cost of living only and should be subject to the economic resources of the state.
1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- No
2. Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- No
3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
- Yes
4. Other or expanded principles
- "Development of renewable energy" can mean at least two different things. Developing a site for proven energy sources is one thing. Developing the technology by giving grants and incentives to entities without accountability, or-worse yet- without reliable science to back it up, is irresponsible use of taxpayer revenues.
1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- No
2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- No
3. Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
- Yes
4. Should a license be required for gun ownership?
- No
5. Other or expanded principles
- The Constitution gives the basis: you have a right to defend yourself and others and you have the right to have a firearm to do so. Laws regulating firearm ownership only affect law abiding citizens. Criminals don't care about misdemeanor penalties when they are about to commit heinous felonies.
1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
- Yes
2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Kansas's health care programs?
- No
3. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- No
4. Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
- No
5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
- No
6. Should able-bodied Medicaid recipients meet a work requirement to be eligible for benefits?
- Yes
7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
1. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Kansas's anti-discrimination laws?
- No
2. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Kansas's anti-discrimination laws?
- No
3. Do you support greater efforts by Kansas state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
- Yes
4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- My priority is going to be giving back to the tax payer in every way possible. Grocery taxes should be eliminated. I also believe that we have a responsibility to control the federal government through Article V of the U.S. Constitution. Balanced budget, term limits, and limiting federal overreach should be priorities. We should join the 13 other states who have already passed the motion to make this happen.
Type: bill Chamber: lower
Type: resolution Chamber: lower
Type: bill Chamber: lower