By ALIN HETT
Hays Post
Many topics were discussed Monday night as candidates for Kansas’ 1st congressional district answered questions at a forum in Hays, including housing and affordability.
Republican candidate Tracey Mann, Democrat Lauren Reinhold and Libertarian Steven Jacob participated in the forum at Fort Hays State University’s Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center. The Chamber in Hays and FHSU partnered to host the event.
Brett Zollinger and Mayan Paz were the moderators.
The candidates offered different views of the country’s challenges. Mann emphasized agriculture, lower regulation and the national debt.
“My focus is taking our values to Washington,” Mann said in his opening remarks. “We all know Washington needs more Kansas common sense.”
Reinhold identified affordability as the central concern for Kansas families.
“Our No. 1 issue in the state is affordability for Kansas families,” Reinhold said.
Jacob focused on federal spending and debt, which he called a national security threat.
Housing and cost of living
When asked how to help young people buy their first homes, Reinhold said higher wages are needed first and called for stronger federal housing programs.
“The only way that we’re going to have young people able to afford their home is if we can increase wages,” Reinhold said.
She said the Department of Housing and Urban Development could offer programs for first-time homebuyers.
Jacob said the federal debt and interest payments limit the government’s ability to address affordability. He called for balancing spending with revenue, including a mix of tax increases and spending cuts.
Mann focused on reducing housing costs by streamlining construction permitting. He said homebuilders he met with estimated that bureaucracy and permitting account for about 40% of new construction costs. He also pointed to mortgage rates, utility bills and property taxes as costs that make homeownership harder to afford.
On the broader cost of living, Mann promoted tax cuts and cited provisions involving tips, overtime and Social Security. Reinhold argued that tariffs add uncertainty and raise costs for families and businesses.
Jacob said continued federal spending reduces the value of money and increases the burden on younger generations.
Agriculture, immigration and culture
When asked about rising costs for farmers, Mann pointed to tax cuts and said the country needs to expand its refining capacity to address fuel supply constraints. He also said permitting reform could help move large projects forward.
Reinhold said tariffs and the war with Iran were contributing to higher costs and argued for reducing dependence on oil and gas by supporting alternative energy.
Jacob said the country should end wars and address federal spending.
The candidates also discussed guest-worker programs and labor shortages in agriculture and meat processing. Mann said the H-2A agricultural visa program is useful but could be improved, and the government should consider year-round workers.
Reinhold said farmers need a simpler application process and lower fees, and year-round work should be addressed through comprehensive immigration reform. She said her past experience practicing immigration law would inform her approach.
“Comprehensive immigration reform is a big priority of mine and will be as your congresswoman,” Reinhold said.
Jacob said the country needs a plan for immigration and spoke in favor of opportunity for people seeking to build a life in the United States.
Rural health care and education
On rural health care, Mann cited workforce development efforts, including medical training in Salina and FHSU’s nursing program. He also pointed to the federal Rural Health Transformation Fund as a source of support for rural hospitals.
Reinhold called for restoring Medicaid cuts and Affordable Care Act tax credits and creating a public health insurance option.
She said hospitals need revenue to maintain services and attract medical professionals. Mann disputed her characterization of the Medicaid changes, saying they include work requirements for adults.
Jacob described health insurance as costly and said he did not have a clear solution to the problem.
On education, Mann said he supported Pell Grants and providing research funds for Kansas universities.
Reinhold supported making community college and technical education free and said college costs could prevent students from enrolling.
Jacob opposed student loan relief, arguing that taxpayers should not have to cover other borrowers’ education costs.
Artificial intelligence and data centers
The candidates also differed on artificial intelligence and data centers.
Reinhold said Congress should listen to experts and called for environmental protections, while saying local communities should closely review proposed data centers.
Jacob questioned whether the federal government could effectively regulate artificial intelligence and opposed public funding for data centers.
Mann said the United States should remain competitive with China, supported some protections against criminal use of AI and said communities should make local decisions about data centers.
He also said data centers should pay for their electricity.
All three candidates opposed members of Congress trading individual stocks.
Reinhold supported a ban and said she had signed an integrity pledge that also included rejecting corporate PAC money and supporting congressional term limits.
Jacob agreed with a stock-trading ban but questioned why restrictions should apply to corporate PACs and not unions or other groups that spend money to influence elections.
Jacob described the Libertarian Party as “the anti-war party” and, in his closing remarks, voiced support for individual choice on social issues, including reproductive rights.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
A second forum featuring candidates for Kansas House Districts 110 and 111 is scheduled from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13 at FHSU’s Beach Schmidt Performing Arts Center.