Paul Kohls on the Issues
Jobs and Economic Prosperity
Far too many politicians in St. Paul have made a career out of chasing good jobs from the state. High taxes and burdensome regulation have had a stifling effect on job growth in Minnesota. In the most challenging economic conditions we have seen since the 1930s, the answer from the liberals in the legislature has been to increase government spending and raise taxes.
This is the wrong direction. Instead, we need to hold the line on spending and eliminate unnecessary regulations to make it easier and less costly to do business in Minnesota. We must ensure that our business environment does not prevent jobs from being created or chase those that already exist to other states.
It is a mistake to look to government to create jobs. Government can only “create” a job by taking taxpayer money and redistributing it. It is a mistake to think that a larger government is the way to solve our economic challenges. Instead, we must pursue policies that will allow the private sector to prosper.
Education
Results are clearly the most important measure of how we are doing in education, not how much is spent. We will fail to provide our children with the education they need to compete in today’s world if our only goal is to spending more money on the current system.
We must realize the global reality of our economy and that our students will compete not just with those from other states but with students from around the world. I will insist on higher education standards that give our kids a solid foundation.
Schools and teachers must be held accountable for their results and we cannot stand by as some schools continue to fail. Our kids have just one chance to get a great education, and we cannot fail them by accepting apathy or mediocrity.
A Kohls administration will ensure that there is fair funding for all students, no matter where they live. It is simply unacceptable that some districts across the state receive thousands of dollars less per student than other districts.
A Kohls administration will also aggressively pursue policies that allow parents more flexibility in choosing the best school for their child, regardless of whether it is a public school, private school or home school. There is no dispute that parental involvement is the strongest indicator academic success, and no one knows better what is right for a child than the child’s parents.
Fiscal Restraint
The bottom line is that I will not balance the state budget by cutting your family’s budget with an increase in taxes. I oppose tax increases and will veto any bill that calls for a hike in taxes. I have proven repeatedly that I stand up for the taxpayer, not just by voting against tax increases, but by speaking out against them time after time. I have repeatedly received the highest ratings from the Taxpayers League, with a lifetime score of 91. We must remember that we cannot afford the constant quest for new spending programs that have made our state budget unsustainable. I will say NO to the big spenders – DFL and Republican alike!
Health Care
We are blessed in Minnesota to have one of the best health care systems in the world. Whether it’s the Mayo Clinic in Rochester or any of the other first class providers across the state, we have much to be thankful for here in Minnesota.
We all recognize, however, that the cost of health care is creating enormous pressures on individuals, businesses and government. While liberals debate how many more people they can put on government controlled health programs, I support efforts to deliver free market solutions that work.
Health care options like Health Savings Accounts and other consumer directed initiatives give working Minnesotans more options for affordable health care. By passing legislation in support of such initiatives we put decisions back in the hands of the consumer rather than those of insurance companies. These free market initiatives cover approximately 225,000 Minnesotans - nearly 1/3 of whom were previously uninsured. While these market-based solutions have not solved all of the challenges we face, they are a step in the right direction.
As we struggle with the challenge of reforming health care, a Kohls administration will ensure certain principles are maintained including: allowing you to maintain your choice of health plan and doctor, protecting your private health care information, and increasing the transparency of price and quality of care information.
Cost of Living
The DFL-controlled legislature has repeatedly passed legislation with little regard to its impact on your family budget. Legislation should not just be measured based on its cost to taxpayers through government spending, but also through its indirect costs to you and your family. From energy policies to no-fault auto requirements to health care mandates, laws passed in St. Paul can have a real impact on the cost of living of all Minnesotans. Going forward, these costs must be considered and openly debated before legislation is enacted.
Life
I believe that we must protect life from conception to natural death. We must stand up for those least able to defend themselves - the sick, the elderly, and the unborn. I have never wavered from my pro-life position and never will.
We need to be especially diligent as proposals for government-run socialized medicine are being pushed at both the state and national level. The implications of such plans on abortion and end-of-life care must be made clear, and we must not stand by and let a system that promotes abortion or rations care become law.
Marriage and Family
I believe that marriage is between one man and one woman. I not only pledge to support this principle as I have in the House, but I will go further. A Kohls administration will actively support policies that protect the institution of marriage and policies that work to keep marriages together.