ELECTION | CBT Q&A: House candidates focus on budget dilemma, job creation

To give voters a quick primer for the election Tuesday, the CBT sent three questions to each of the candidates in the competitive state legislative races in Boone County.
The 24th District seat covering southern Boone County is held by Democrat Chris Kelly, who defeated then-incumbent Ed Robb two years ago in a squeaker that broke state fundraising records. Republican challenger Laura Nauser is the longest-serving sitting member on the Columbia City Council and has represented the Fifth Ward since 2005.
The 21st District covers most of northeastern Boone County and is contested by Republican John Cauthorn and Democrat Kelly Schultz. Cauthorn spent five years in the Missouri Senate after being elected in 2001. Schultz spent 11 years as a legislative assistant.

What top three policy priorities would you pursue if elected?
Kelly: Most of my legislative time and energy will be devoted to budget activities. Related to the budget, my goal will be to protect the core funding of the university. The university is the most important engine of mid-Missouri’s economy. We must keep in mind that absent new revenue, the FY11 state budget is likely to be about $400 million less than the current budget.
My legislative priorities will be the adoption of a general obligation bond issue for higher education and the building of the overpass on US Highway 63 at the airport. These are both long shots, but they are important for Boone County. I am also committed to legislation to bring data centers to the Ewing Industrial Park.
Nauser: When I go to Jefferson City, I want to work on getting the budget under control through: 1) evaluating government programs based on a cost/benefit analysis and eliminating those that do not produce quantifiable results; 2) privatization of more government services; and 3) reducing the increased reliance of people on government support.
My second issue that I want to work on is the safety of US Highway 63. I will support and promote the overpass or interchange at the airport, as this is a much-needed improvement for safety and the economic viability of the airport and region. I also want to see a long-range plan for US 63 improvements.
Finally, we need to work toward the goal of making Missouri the destination state for employment opportunities. As other states across our nation look to raising taxes and creating an atmosphere that deters economic growth, Missouri has an opportunity to create a climate that promotes growth.
Cauthorn: Jobs, jobs, jobs. I have started a campaign to promote local buying of goods and services. We must understand jobs in our state and nation are fueled by the citizens buying goods produced and manufactured in the US.
Schultz: A strong commitment to developing businesses and job training programs will give us the foundation we need to continue to grow and attract high quality jobs to the 21st District. I will reintroduce legislation to attract a data center to the Hallsville area.
Next legislative session will be the most difficult budget we have faced in decades. I will make the difficult decisions that are required. I will always choose direct services over indirect services. For example, I will fight for mental health professionals who work with at-risk youth versus a third-party vendor that calls Medicaid recipients and offers assistance locating a doctor.
To improve education, the legislature needs to focus on keeping class sizes small, increasing access to technology, recruiting and retaining qualified teachers and ensuring money allocated for education stays in the classroom. Higher education and lower tuition are key for our next generation to compete in a global marketplace.
In September, UM System President Gary Forsee said he expected the state to cut 10 percent of its higher education budget. How would you be more effective than your opponent in securing funds for the university’s core budget and long-term priorities?
Kelly: My 12 years of experience as a member of the Budget Committee gives me unique insight into the budgetary process. This experience pays dividends to the university. In the last term, I was able to work with members from both parties to secure funding for the university’s Caring for Missouri program and $13 million for the new psychiatric center at the University of Missouri Medical Center.
Another clear difference between my opponent and me is that I am willing to consider a tobacco tax. The university simply cannot continue to improve without additional revenue.
Nauser: First, I would not support a budget that included a 10 percent cut or any cut to higher education. I believe that being a member of the majority party will help promote that stance.
I firmly believe that we must re-evaluate all the programs funded through the state and eliminate those that are not providing the necessary return. We must also look at ways in which we can cut costs through the privatization of services. From those cost savings we can increase the funding to higher education.
I would also support the sale of bonds for infrastructure needs at the university. I will not support tax increases. Additional cuts will need to be made in other departments and/or programs to offset the increased cost of debt service for the bonds.
Cauthorn: I will be a part of the conversation and work with both sides to do my best to protect the university. I bring the ability to work with the majority party in the House to the table if elected.
Schultz: Missouri ranks 47th in the nation for higher education appropriations. The lack of support for MU hurts the 21st by making tuition unaffordable for many families. In addition, the university is one of the largest employers of families in the 21st. Support of MU is vital to our economic development. I earned my undergrad and master’s degrees from the university, and my husband teaches there. My commitment to MU along with my 11 years experience at the Capitol will make me a strong advocate for the university.
State support has been an important part of Boone County’s economic development efforts. Missouri tax credits helped attract IBM’s service center to the state. Support for the university’s business incubators helps to grow high-tech companies here. In the last session, legislators from the area tried to pass a tax incentive for the Ewing Industrial Park (the state’s first Certified Site) to help lure a data center to Columbia. How would you help mid-Missouri continue to move toward a technology-based economy?
Kelly: The legislature needs to adopt state incentives for data centers. We have one great asset on this issue in the unity of the Boone County delegation. We also have allies throughout the state. The Missouri Chamber of Commerce is solidly with us.
We must remember that the biggest player behind technology growth is the University of Missouri. It is the university, its faculty, staff and students that make Columbia and Boone County so attractive to high-tech companies. Continued cooperation with MU is central to IBM, 3M, data centers, expanding medical facilities or startup businesses. The single best way to enhance mid-Missouri’s technology-based economy is to enhance the University of Missouri.
Nauser: When elected, I would continue to support and promote the tax incentives for data centers. I would continue to promote the development of additional state certified sites. I would support the necessary tax incentives that attract high-tech industry to our region. I would work with our university system, local and regional colleges and trade schools to make certain we are providing the appropriate educational opportunities to ensure we have the workforce for the high-tech industries and their supporting industry needs.
I would also like to say that I think we will be making a mistake if we only focus on the high-tech jobs. In order to have a vibrant region and state, we must have a diversity of job opportunities for people with all levels of education and training.
Cauthorn: We need to make our area more attractive to other businesses by improving our tax code to make a more business-friendly environment. I also believe we should continue to support the important job-creating tax credits that bring jobs and businesses to our community. Finally we must be pragmatic enough to be prepared to move whenever we see an opportunity like the Ewing Industrial Park come up and be able to act on the opportunity it presents.
Schultz: I have attended several of the meetings regarding the data center and hope to reintroduce the legislation to make us competitive. The key to it passing next year is building a strong coalition of economic development communities, labor and legislators from across the state. Tax credits are likely to be under scrutiny this year. Our successes with IBM and Mid America Brick demonstrate that tax credits can and should be used to create jobs with the livable wages that can support families.