As Albert Einstein said, "The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them."

The same tired ideas, the same people presenting them and the continuing wrong priorities will prevent solutions that the majority of 10th District voters want. We must bring new thinking to Topeka. "Politics as Usual" will not work, it has not worked, and we need leadership for tomorrow.

Support our Schools. Education should never be a partisan issue. I would join forces with the bipartisan moderate coalition to vote for school funding at the levels recommended by the Legislative Post Audit Report commissioned by the Kansas Legislature.

Our schools are the core of our communities, the bridge to the future. Public education is not an expense it’s an investment with a great return.

We can't do it alone, but we can make a difference.

Click here for Pete's thoughts on Education

Economic Development in these difficult economic times can be faced with one of two approaches. One is to tackle the problem head on by accepting the challenge and working to insulate ourselves from the mess in Washington. The other is to wring our hands, blame the economy and do nothing. I support the first approach. We must work through the Kansas Biosciences Authority to bring good jobs to Kansas. Some suggest that we restrict responsible, embryonic stem cell research. This sends a mixed message to the research and investment communities. In order to be competitive, Kansas must refrain from enacting restrictions on life sciences research in excess of those mandated by the Federal government. Missouri is looking at restrictions which hands us an even greater opportunity given our proximity.

Second, we should look to investments in the energy of the future to bring good, technical jobs to Kansas. This could help revitalize western Kansas as well as bringing jobs around research and alternative energy measures to the 10th District. The advantage of the alternative energy approach, e.g. wind is that it will create many jobs that are by definition required to be done where the energy is being produced.

To attract these jobs we must continue to produce the ingredients for basic research, e.g. skilled workforce, accessible higher education, and friendly business climate. These ingredients, as with any recipe, must be balanced in the correct proportions. The Legislature must focus on the entire mix. Successful economic development requires us to continue to strive for educational excellence in Kansas. Sufficient funding for K-16 public education is a linchpin to providing this insulation and protection from the economic situation in Washington, D.C.

Energy Solutions will also bring jobs to Kansas. It is time for us to focus on the home-grown energy of the future, not the energy of the past. That’s why I would not support the Holcomb power plants legislation as currently defined. It seems to be an overreach on what is needed. This created an unnecessary diversion to the real objectives. I would prefer that we invest in the energy of the future which can be leveraged for the long-term good of the state and more importantly for the people of Kansas.

Read more about Pete’s energy solutions

Health Care Coverage is insufficient in Kansas today, we have over 300,000 Kansans without coverage. We must have solutions to the health care problem. This problem can only be fixed by looking at health care providers, consumers of health care (that would be us) and the insurance companies.

We must all work together to control costs and improve access to health care for all Kansas citizens.

Fairness. What is it about America that makes us unique? I believe it is our U.S. Constitution which along with its amendments provides equal protection under the law for all of our citizens.

This is the principle that we are trying to export to Iraq. This is what our dedicated, fighting troops are working to ensure in all regions of the world in which we are engaged.

I hope we can all remember that it is equally important to ensure fairness for all Kansas citizens regardless of race, gender, religion, disability, resident status or sexual orientation.