By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Republican candidate for governor, Derek Schmidt said there are no surprises in what he's learning matters to Kansans on the campaign trail.
"The number one thing on the minds of the vast majority of Kansans is the affordability of daily life," Schmidt said. "You've got this out of control inflation, driven by big government spending out of Washington. You've got the rising costs of everything from gasoline, to now they are predicting, home heating costs going into the winter. I hear from more people than ever before this concern that just the daily cost of living is less affordable."
One of those daily costs of living is groceries. Schmidt deferred to the legislature when it comes to setting tax policy, but said he would be okay with speeding up the reduction in the food sales tax if that's what they want to do when they get back in January.
"The legislature decided on a phase out," Schmidt said. "I think that's good, that we're moving in the right direction, finally. If they want to do it faster, that's certainly fine with me, as well. I think that relief would be welcome."
Schmidt would also like to make sure government spending gets a little better in check overall come January.
"You have to start slowing that rate of growth," Schmidt said. "That's just an overall discussion. It's not a matter of cutting or reducing at this point. We're trying to avoid that down the road by making sure that this accelerating rate of expenditure is a flatter curve. In other words, you can't keep spending 35% more over four years, especially when your state's not growing, your population, your economy aren't growing, they're relatively flat, without eventually those chickens coming home to roost. We have to start slowing down that growth rate."
Schmidt also wants the legislature to look at removing taxes on retirement income and on updating the homestead exemption to create more opportunities for seniors to stay in the homes they own outright.