CANDIDATES SOUND OFF: Tyson, Griffith spar on state issues

There isn’t much Sen. Caryn Tyson and Carla Griffith agreed on when it comes to how best to manage Kansas.
Tyson, the Republican incumbent from Parker, and Griffith, a write-in candidate from Ottawa who claims no political affiliation, are vying for the 12th District position.
Tyson made every effort to distance herself from Gov. Sam Brownback, saying multiple times she has voted against 70 percent of the governor’s tax proposals.
Griffith countered that on the measures that matter, Tyson remained decidedly in Brownback’s camp including her votes to increase the sales tax, reduce funding for education, give private businesses a tax break, and weaken the state’s judicial branch of government.
Griffith said Gov. Brownback and his supporters have done Kansas a disservice by refusing to expand KanCare, the state’s Medicaid program.
“Kansas has forfeited $1.4 billion in federal aid and 4,000 new jobs, as well as neglected the healthcare needs of 150,000 Kansans,” by saying no to the expansion, Griffith said.
Tyson said KanCare “has been a problem for the state,” and was critical of the program being privatized several years back. “It is broke,” she said.
As far as expanding Medicaid, she said, “We need a Kansas solution,” but did not elaborate.
In regards to rescinding the tax cut for privately incorporated businesses and farmers, Tyson said that while she had voted for the measure, it had gotten out of hand. “We need to relook at this,” she said, saying the current tax code “picks winners and losers. We need a fair tax code.”
Tyson took special issue with the state of Kansas issuing bonds for the purpose of economic development.
She also agreed the sales tax on food “should come down a bit.” Kansas has the second-highest sales tax on food in the nation.
Many states do not tax food purchases, Griffith said, pointing out the tax disproportionately hurts the poor.
Griffith targeted Tyson for being anti-education because of her votes for the block grant funding for schools that froze funding for two years and drastically cut funds for new construction. For Iola schools, its state match of 55 percent is now 34 percent. 
Tyson replied, “Hopefully, we will have a new formula soon,” to address such concerns.
In regards to the Kansas Supreme Court and how its justices are selected, Griffith said she is in favor of retaining the current system whereby a commission nominates three people from which the governor selects one.
Tyson disagreed, saying she preferred the governor have the authority to select the nominee to the bench upon Senate approval. Griffith countered this would put too much power in the governor’s hands. She also criticized Tyson for voting to give legislators the authority to impeach Supreme Court justices. The measure failed in the House of Representatives.
Griffith was also critical of Tyson’s practice of accepting donations from lobbyists and private interest groups. Tyson maintained she stood above their influence.
Throughout the debate, Tyson studiously avoided all mention of Griffeth’s name, referring to her opponent only as “the write-in candidate.”
Of the two, though, Tyson was by far the most polished, showing the ease that comes with practice before the public. Tyson is seeking her second term as a state senator. She was first elected to the House in 2010.
For Griffith, this is her first venture in state politics. She and her husband recently retired to Ottawa after his career in the military.