Below are remarks devlivered by Lance to the Sunflower Republican Women's club on June 10, 2004.
It’s a real honor to be here this evening. Over 3 years as chairman of the Olathe Republican Party I have learned 1st hand the Sunflower Republican Women’s club is a dynamic organization that plays a crucial role in the political life of our community.
And it is especially nice to be meeting in Olathe tonight. Although I was not born here I got here as soon as I could. Olathe is wonderful community and I am humbled to be able to serve its citizens in the legislature.
I am a product of the Olathe School system from elementary school through high school, both of my children attend public school in Olathe and I have multiple family members who work in the district. And let me just say I am extremely grateful to the educators in this community for the fine job they do. And I hope it would go without saying that I am keenly interested in the education finance issues that have been so often commented on tonight.
While I would not presume to suggest that as someone seeking to be a freshman legislator, I have the solutions to all of the vexing challenges we face, I do think that, to borrow from Senator Brownback, the principles of Reduce, Reform and Return are a good place to start:
- 1) Reduce the number of districts in the state and the bureaucratic overhead within those districts.
- 2) Reform the current school finance system in a manner that allows us to avoid the perpetual crisis mentality being forced upon or schools by the flaws in the current system.
- 3) And Return control to our local school boards both in terms of educational policy and the ability to raise revenue at the local level.
But it is crucial to recognize that there are other challenges we confront beyond education finance. Indeed speaking metaphorically I might say “what profitith it the state of Kansas if it finds 200 million a year more for k-12 education but loses its soul.”
The threats to ordered liberty within our society are real and pressing. Belief in a transcendent order which rules over society as well as conscience is the bulwark of our most cherished freedoms. Simply put, there are foundational truths that serve as the very basis for our civil society, a cannon of values and beliefs that sustain us as a people.
Crucial to this transcendent order is the sanctity of marriage. To stand aside while this invaluable institution is ripped apart in the name of social experimentation would be a grave mistake. I believe we must, at this crucial moment, have the courage to face whatever obstacles, in order to say, come what may in Massachusetts or elsewhere, we will defend marriage in Kansas.
Finally, there has been much talk of President Reagan here tonight, he was a unique man in many ways. Many people don’t realize that in addition to his memoir President Regan wrote another book I have it hear with me tonight. Its called “abortion and the conscience of the nation” Reagan closed the book by writing: ____________.
The sanctity of life is no secondary issue. I look forward to doing whatever I can to advance the cause of the unborn in Kansas.
Thank you for providing me with this opportunity to speak. God bless.
