As a conservative leader in America's heartland I will bring Kansas values to Congress. That is why I am running for the Kansas 4th Congressional District seat (open seat) in 2010. With a proven and stellar legislative record of passing common sense solutions that are positive for families, small businesses and taxpayers, I have been recognized by the State Chamber as being a pro business legislator for the five years I've served in Kansas legislature.
Senator Kelsey was named by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce on their “Pro Business Honor Roll”. This honor was given to those legislators who have supported policies that promote a positive business climate in our state.
Dick's Views on the Issues
Crime and Public Safety
During my five years in the State Legislature I have worked extensively on bills to make Kansas safer. One of the committees I served on passed a law that makes it more difficult on meth dealers. We also tightened the law dealing with adults who sexually abuse children. The law now includes a stronger penalty (25 years for a first offense) for an adult who sexually abuses a young teenager.
In Congress I will continue to work to make sure serious criminals get what they deserve.
View Dick's Legislative Record on Crime and Public Safety
Entrepreneurship and Hard Work
Kansas economy will grow as we encourage more people to start their own businesses and venture into new enterprises. Our country needs policies that make starting a new business worth while. Reducing government regulation and a more favorable tax climate would make a big difference to those who are struggling to begin a new business.
Kansas was built on hard work, perseverance and determination by the early pioneers to build a good life for their families. We need to reinvigorate the work ethic that made this state great.
View Dick's Legislative Record on Business, Economic Development & Entrepreneurship
Fair Tax
The United States needs a complete overhaul of our tax system. The current system is regressive, too complex and hurts our economy. The most exciting possibility I have seen is the Fair Tax. In simple terms this is a tax at the point of consumption instead of a tax at every level of production.
This method of taxation would eliminate the income tax and capital gains tax plus many other types of taxes that we pay. We would have our own money to spend as we wish. As we purchased goods and services, we would pay a tax on the goods purchased. The Fair Tax would help revive our economy and would help increase exports dramatically, causing many corporations operating outside the United States to return their production and operations to our country.
Healthcare
In the State Senate I serve on the Public Health and Welfare Committee. We've had many hearings on this subject and I understand how complex this issue is. The primary focus of the debate is how we increase delivery of health care to those without insurance and how to contain the cost of health care. Do we continue with a private health care system as we have now, or do we have a government run and controlled system such as they have in Canada, England and elsewhere?
From a personal standpoint, I believe we must protect the integrity of our private health care system (we should be able to choose our own doctor and hospital and not wait months for care.) Government does not run things well. We need to make sure everyone has adequate access to health care but it should not be done by destroying the good system we have. Let’s not rush the debate as they are trying to do in Washington. Let’s do it right!
View Dick's Legislative Record on Healthcare
Limited Government
The U.S. Constitution established limits to the power of the federal government and gives specific rights to the states. As the federal government has grown it has assumed more and more power that really belongs to the states. We need to reverse that trend.
Lower Taxes
From John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, it has been proven that lowering taxes actually raises the government more money and encourages people to work harder and earn more money. People will not work hard to grow a business if the government is going to take all their money.
View Dick's Legislative Record on Lower Taxes
National Defense
Our country is at war with people who want to destroy our way of life and our lives. We can not let down on our efforts to defeat terrorism. We must maintain a strong national defense. This is really the primary function and purpose of our federal government according to our founding fathers.
Pro Life
As a society we must protect life from conception to natural death. We need to continually promote a culture of life that values every person from the unborn child to the eldest senior.
I am pro life and have been all my life. I have worked extensively in the legislature to protect the unborn. The issue of government funding for abortion even makes many of my pro choice friends uneasy. It is one thing for the government to allow an abortion but something all together different to have the government fund it.
Read more about Abortion in Proposed Health Care Plan
View Dick's Legislative Record on Pro Life
Second Amendment
I am a 100% supporter of the Second Amendment and an NRA member. I've been endorsed by the NRA in all previous races and have a 100% NRA rating.
One of the issues concerning the second amendment that has come to the fore front is the issue of whether the right to bare arms was an individual right or a collective right. I believe it is an individual right. Each person has the right to protect themselves and their families with their own weapons that they own and keep.
Strong Families
Government should promote policies that help families remain together and strong. Some government programs actually promote the break up of families by providing help to a single mother if the father is not in the home but not helping that same family that genuinely needs the help but can't get it because it is an intact family.
I believe that parental involvement is key to education success. For many years I worked as a school administrator. In observing the success and sometimes failure of students over the years, one key element that is sometimes overlooked is the aspect of parental involvement in a students’ education. We can not separate the home and the school even though some parents try.
I also believe the ultimate responsibility for educating a child belongs to the parents. This is why their involvement is so important.
View Dick's Legislative Record on Strong families
Legislative Record
We need a strong conservative leader in Washington that is proven and tried. That's why I am running for the 4th District Congressional Seat in 2010. My voting record speaks for itself and I am committed to strong Kansas values and to preserving the freedom so many have fought for us to have, for our generation and the generations to come.
