[ad_1]
PITTSBURG, Kan. — Kansas Treasurer Jake LaTurner, who is challenging Rep. Steve Watkins for the Republican nomination in the state’s 2nd congressional district, visited Pittsburg Thursday and spoke with the Morning Sun about the latest developments in his campaign, as well as political issues that have been on many people’s minds recently, from the impact of COVID-19 on the economy to the death of George Floyd.
“I’m from Southeast Kansas, this is home for me. I grew up in Galena, my wife grew up in Chanute,” LaTurner said, adding that he had visited Parsons, Iola and Independence before arriving in Pittsburg on Thursday. “I’m a Pittsburg State grad and represented Pittsburg in the [Kansas] Senate for five years before becoming treasurer, and so this is an important part of the 2nd congressional district.”
LaTurner said he is running for two reasons.
“One, we think the people of the 2nd congressional district deserve a congressman that they can trust to do what they say they’re going to do,” LaTurner said. “I don’t think they have that now. And two, we need a Republican nominee in August that can win the seat in November, and I don’t think the current congressman can do that either.”
Earlier in the week, Watkins took a few shots of his own at LaTurner, who he called “Jake ‘Lying’ LaTurner” in a press release.
“The 2015 property tax cap amendment authored and introduced by Jake LaTurner has been a complete disaster, and it’s unfortunate that Governor Kelly chose to rescue a fellow tax-supporting career politician instead of rescuing Kansans who are struggling to make ends meet during this economic crisis,” Bryan Piligra, Congressman Watkins’ campaign spokesman, said in the release.
“LaTurner spends his days challenging the conservative record of one of the most pro-life, pro-gun, and pro-Trump Members of Congress, but refuses to answer for the critical role he played in raising property taxes for Kansans and passing the largest tax increase in state history.”
LaTurner said the Watkins campaign’s allegations were “laughable to anyone that’s paid attention.”
Watkins and his campaign “have been dishonest about his own record,” and Watkins himself “has a very loose association with the truth,” LaTurner said.
“And a big issue is that he’s under investigation right now for felony voter fraud,” LaTurner said. “He owns homes in Alaska, his spouse lives in Boston, and he registered to vote at a UPS store in Topeka.”
There are many differences between Watkins and himself, LaTurner said.
“I’m a delegate to support Donald Trump at the Republican convention,” he said. “He didn’t even vote for Trump against Hillary Clinton in this last election. I have an A+ from the [National Rifle Association] because I’ve actually carried legislation on that. He voted against a key vote for the NRA in his first year in Congress. I won the Pro-Life Hero Award from Kansans For Life. He on the record said he was pro-choice. So we have a lot of disagreements when it comes to policy.”
LaTurner noted he has recently received endorsements from the Family Policy Alliance, National Association for Gun Rights, and the Kansas Farm Bureau.
One of the biggest current political issues and one of the first things he would focus on if elected, LaTurner said, would be getting the economy back up and running.
“I think we’re going to need representation in Washington that has the humility to understand that the federal government can’t solve all of our problems with borrowing money from China,” he said. “The way we got to as robust an economy as we had was through deregulation and tax cuts.”
LaTurner said if he had already been in Congress in the past few months, he would have liked to have seen some changes to recent COVID-19 relief efforts such as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
“I think one of the mistakes with it was the unemployment benefits,” LaTurner said, “that we have 68 percent of people receiving unemployment benefits making more in unemployment than they would working, so that isn’t much of an incentive to get the economy back up and running.”
He also weighed in on another topic that has recently been getting extensive media attention nationwide — the death of George Floyd.
“The death of George Floyd is tragic, for sure, and the peaceful — peaceful being the key word — demonstrations towards that, there’s no issue with that,” LaTurner said. “Where it’s gotten out of hand are the violent protests.”
While Floyd’s death “looked like murder to me,” LaTurner said, local and state-level leaders need to ensure that the rule of law is followed in their communities.
LaTurner said “the vast, vast majority of police officers are great people, doing the right thing, putting themselves in harm’s way, and I stand next to them in what they’re doing.”
[ad_2]
Source link
589303 803256But wanna say that this is extremely useful , Thanks for taking your time to write this. 433249
643071 26457I like the valuable information you give within your articles. Ill bookmark your blog and check once again here regularly. Im quite certain Ill learn numerous new stuff proper here! Good luck for the next! 191198
377871 583113Spot on with this write-up, I truly suppose this internet internet site needs rather much more consideration. most likely be once a lot more to learn a lot far more, thanks for that info. 140868
364949 55755As I site possessor I believe the content matter here is rattling fantastic , appreciate it for your hard work. You should keep it up forever! Good Luck. 755192
694398 45097Hey! I simply wish to give an enormous thumbs up for the great data youve got here on this post. I will likely be coming back to your blog for more soon. 930285
11525 44714This internet page is truly a walk-through its the internet you desired with this and didnt know who need to. Glimpse here, and youll certainly discover it. 648560
627749 396535The vacation unique deals offered are believed as a selection of possibly the most preferred and therefore within your budget all over the globe. Quite numerous hostels can be proudly located inside property which is accented who has striking seashores encouraging crystal-clear rivers, contingency of an Ocean. hotels compare rates 791054
254216 839233Reasonably unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or something, web site theme . a tones way for your client to communicate. Nice task.. 21595
819637 112590Yay google is my king helped me to discover this great web internet site ! . 171847
573310 730889Aw, i thought this was quite a good post. In concept I would like to devote writing such as this moreover – spending time and actual effort to produce a great article but exactly what do I say I procrastinate alot by no means manage to get something done. 950119
336153 300474But wanna say that this really is invaluable , Thanks for taking your time to write this. 212628
461684 111994I enjoy the beneficial details you provide inside your articles. 395574
145166 328171HURRAY! cant balladeer. by virtue of himself by what name highly. 697197
16972 286883This internet web site is my breathing in, quite wonderful pattern and perfect content . 786813
504945 724856Fantastic weblog here! Also your internet site loads up rapidly! What host are you making use of? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my website loaded up as rapidly as yours lol 166967
150188 841573I actually love the theme on your internet site, I run a web site , and i would adore to use this theme. Is it a free style, or is it custom? 427989
506671 903758Currently it seems like BlogEngine will be the finest blogging platform out there proper now. (from what Ive read) Is that what you are employing on your blog? 9873
466565 581196Hmm is anyone else encountering troubles with the pictures on this blog loading? Im trying to figure out if its a issue on my finish or if it is the blog. Any responses would be greatly appreciated. 359706
513537 335959Wonderful beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your internet site, how could i subscribe for a blog internet site? The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been just a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear idea 769015
312121 781728Oh my goodness! an excellent article dude. Thanks a great deal Even so Im experiencing difficulty with ur rss . Do not know why Struggle to register for it. Can there be any person finding identical rss concern? Anyone who knows kindly respond. Thnkx 232612
153322 718949Howdy! I just wish to give a huge thumbs up for the wonderful information you might have here on this post. I will probably be coming back to your weblog for much more soon. 558183
791974 227319Hi there, just became aware of your blog via Google, and discovered that it is genuinely informative. Im gonna watch out for brussels. I will appreciate in case you continue this in future. Lots of individuals is going to be benefited from your writing. Cheers! 647142
59074 880857Aw, this was a genuinely nice post. In notion I would like to put in writing like this moreover – taking time and actual effort to make a quite very good article but what can I say I procrastinate alot and by no means seem to get something done. 241052
668527 902155Top rated lad speeches and toasts, as effectively toasts. might very well be supplied taken into consideration creating at the party consequently required to be just a little more cheeky, humorous with instructive on top of this. greatest man speeches funny 463347