Summary

News

Barbara Bollier

Current Position: Physician
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2020 US Senator

Barbara Bollier became a doctor to help people. She went into public service to fix things that were broken. And she will be a United States Senator who does both.

After a career as a doctor, Barbara ran for the Kansas House of Representatives in 2010 to make a difference across the state. There, she served as an independent voice for Kansans, earning a reputation as a leader willing to stand up to both political parties to solve the challenges facing our families.

For more information, see Barbara Bollier’s post.

Roger Marshall

Current Position: US Representative for US House District 1 since 2016
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2020 US Senator

When elected to Congress for the first time in 2016, Dr. Marshall made 3 specific promises: Get Kansas a seat back on the Agriculture Committee, help write a Farm Bill that protects crop insurance, and jumpstart the economy by rolling back regulation and passing a tax cuts bill.

Congressman Marshall was able to deliver on all three promises and the American economy is the strongest it’s ever been.

For more information, see Roger Marshall’s post.

Issues

Civil Rights

BARBARA BOLLIER

Ensuring Equality For All

Barbara has long been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ Kansans in the Legislature because she believes all Kansans should have the same rights.

When some in the Legislature passed a bill allowing businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ couples getting married, Barbara spoke out. When they pushed to allow adoption agencies to deny adoptions to same-sex couples, Barbara stood up. And when they denied the existence of trans people, Barbara said “that’s enough.”

As a state senator, Barbara is building a bipartisan coalition to make Kansas a welcoming place for all as the sponsor of a bill to end discrimination against LGBTQ individuals.

In the United States Senate, Barbara will:

• Advocate for the passage of the Equality Act, which would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation and gender identity
• Vote to overturn the ban on trans service members because anyone who wishes to serve our country should have the opportunity to do so
• Support legislation to end bullying against LGBTQ youth
• Securing Justice Reform and Equal Rights

Securing Justice Reform and Equal Rights

For too long, the federal government has sat idle on issues of basic justice and fairness in American society. Public injustices — the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland, Andres Guardado, Carlos Ingram-Lopez and too many others — have elevated the daily injustices facing Black and Latino Americans. But when the public pressure wanes, Washington has often chose to move on rather than take meaningful steps to guarantee the equality under the law that Americans are guaranteed in the Constitution. To address these longstanding wrongs, as senator, Dr. Barbara Bollier would support reforms for:

Living up to the promise of equality under the law, by

• Building on the bipartisan FIRST STEP Act
• Investing in public defenders and providing for equity in criminal defense
• Decriminalizing marijuana
• Re-evaluating mandatory minimum sentencing
• Addressing issues specifically facing women and rural communities in criminal justice reform.

Guaranteeing the right to full participation in our society and democracy to communities of color, by

• Protecting the right to vote for people of color, and reinstating votings rights to formerly incarcerated people who have completed the terms of their sentences
• Ensuring formerly incarcerated people are given a fair chance for employment
• Providing access to education and federal post-secondary financial aid for formerly incarcerated people

Policing that protects and serves communities of color, by

• Investing in procedural justice to make policing fair, transparent, and community-driven
• Ending the militarization of the police

ROGER MARSHALL 

2nd Amendment

Dr. Marshall is a lifetime member of the NRA. The most basic role of government is to defend Americans and to never encroach on citizens’ right to defend themselves. In Congress, Dr. Marshall has always made sure that your 2nd Amendment rights are never infringed upon.

Economy

BARBARA BOLLIER 

Agriculture

Agriculture and agriculture-related industries in Kansas employ almost thirteen percent of Kansas’ workforce and contribute to over forty percent of Kansas’ economy. But more than that, agriculture defines our identity and our traditions as a state.

If elected to the United States Senate, Barbara will fight to maintain Kansas’ voice on the Senate Agriculture Committee. There, she’ll work to protect farm bill programs from partisan agendas. Along with colleagues from both parties, she’ll advocate for the policy continuity and stability Kansas farmers need to feed the country.

Barbara is committed to defending our farmers from damaging trade policies and tax experiments that place an undue burden on their ability to earn a living. Our farmers have faced drought, flood, extreme storms, low commodity prices and, most recently, volatile tariff strategy. They don’t want aid, they want the ability to sell their crops and livestock. Farmers want their hard work to result in sales and market growth.

In the U.S. Senate, Barbara will:

• Retain Kansas farmers’ voice on the Senate Agriculture Committee
• Increase funding for agricultural research in Kansas
• Promote continuity of farm bill programs
• Support international trade deals that benefit Kansas producers
• Support rural Kansans’ unique way of life

ROGER MARSHALL

Agriculture and Trade 

Agriculture is the lifeblood of Kansas, and we Kansans know our land better than federal bureaucrats. Puddles are puddles – they are not wetlands. Ditches are ditches – they are not navigable streams. Lesser Prairie Chickens are great birds, but the economic consequences of federally listing them as “threatened” are totally unjustified. Farm dust does settle and is not a visibility or clean-air issue to be controlled by unelected Washington bureaucrats.

In Congress, Dr. Marshall played a key role in the 2018 Farm Bill; advocating for fully funded crop insurance, overturning the egregious EPA rules surrounding Waters of The US (WOTUS), and securing crucial infrastructure and internet access funding for rural Kansas. Congressman Marshall also supported a food stamp work requirement that would require able-bodied adults without children to work or work training for 20 hours per week in order to receive welfare benefits.

In the Spring of 2018, Congressman Marshall was asked to represent U.S. agriculture at the final round of NAFTA negotiations in Mexico City. Since then, the new USMCA trade deal has been revealed, and must be passed.

Nothing would have a greater impact on the Kansas economy, and Congressman Marshall has been a vocal critic of Nancy Pelosi for refusing to take it to the House floor. Dr. Marshall agrees with President Trump that the United States has been taken advantage of for far too long, but we must consider and prevent adverse effects trade wars could have on our farmers and ranchers.

Jobs and The Economy

Our job as leaders is to make the complicated simple, not complicate the simple. The less control the federal government has, the better off we will be. By getting Washington out of the way, lowering taxes, and decreasing regulation we are seeing the new age of American greatness again.

For our rural ag economy, it is vital that our producers have fair trade deals to get their commodities to an international market. Doc has and will continue to fight for farmers and ranchers in Washington.

Education

BARBARA BOLLIER 

Defending Education

Barbara understands that adequately funding public schools is one of the most important concerns for Kansans. During her time in the Kansas Legislature, Barbara has been a vocal supporter of our public schools and a leading advocate for teachers and students.

One of Barbara’s top priorities is ensuring all children — no matter who they are or where they live — have the opportunity to succeed. That means making sure that every school has the resources they need and can provide equitable learning opportunities for kids from an early age through graduation and beyond. She understands the impact early learning can have on a person’s future. She is committed to enhancing learning opportunities for all Kansas students.

Through her work in Topeka, Barbara has become a respected leader on education from early childhood and K-12 to postsecondary education. She helped build the bipartisan coalition that stood up to former Governor Sam Brownback, reversed his failed tax experiment and restored adequate funding to our community schools.

Barbara understands how important education is to each child, and as a U.S. Senator, she will work to:

• Support and value teachers through higher pay and better benefits
• Expand access to quality early childhood and childcare programs
• Ensure every student has the opportunity to receive a high quality K-12 education no matter who they are or where they live
• Work to make higher education more affordable and accessible for everyone
• Expand availability of trade, technical and job training programs

ROGER MARSHALL

N/A

Environment

BARBARA BOLLIER 

Acting on Climate Change

Climate change and extreme weather are some of the most significant challenges facing all Kansans, including our farmers and ranchers. For decades, the federal government has neglected its duty to address this issue, and its causes, responsibly. Now, the consequences are serious; Kansas has seen drought, flood and devastating storms impact our communities and our economy. The window for addressing this crisis is quickly closing.

The more we delay, the more our way of life will be permanently changed. Without action in the next decade, Kansans could see our entire agricultural tradition permanently altered. And without action in the next twenty years, our grandchildren will come of age in a world unrecognizable to our own. Barbara knows that to make progress on this complex issue, we must work together.

As a doctor, Barbara always looks at the facts, listens to those impacted by the problem and collaborates on a solution. Our climate deserves nothing less.

In the U.S. Senate, Barbara will:

• Support a comprehensive plan to reduce carbon emissions
• Invest in green energy opportunities to create jobs and accelerate the economy of Kansas, which has the second-highest wind energy potential of any state in the U.S.
• Advocate for investment in infrastructure to bring the U.S. economy into the 21st century, and to make communities more efficient and resilient to climate change
• Work with state and federal partners to develop and implement a plan to address water shortages and the depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer
• Seek opportunities to diversify crops in Kansas

ROGER MARSHALL

N/A

Governance

BARBARA BOLLIER 

Reinstating Fiscal Responsibility

As both a doctor and a fiscal conservative, Barbara has always worked to maintain balanced state budgets. She lets the facts and the data drive her decision-making. That’s why she stood up to former Governor Sam Brownback’s disastrous tax experiment that nearly bankrupted Kansas and forced devastating cuts on schools, roads, and healthcare.

Knowing how reckless the tax plan was, Barbara led the effort to reverse it, reinstate fiscal responsibility and restore funding to Kansas public schools. Her priorities have always been to support Kansas families by investing responsibly at the state level.

As a U.S. senator, Barbara will continue to work to increase transparency in the budgeting process, eliminate fraud and waste from the federal budget, reduce the federal deficit and affirm our commitment to seniors by working to strengthen Social Security and Medicare.

Barbara believes that everyone should pay their fair share. And rather than giving deficit-increasing tax breaks to big corporations and those who need help the least, we should provide relief to middle-class, working families. She knows we must spend responsibly, pay our bills and keep the promises already made to Americans. Barbara does not support fiscally irresponsible, unaffordable programs pushed by some national Democrats, including free college for everyone and universal basic income.

In the U.S. Senate, Barbara will:

• Work to reduce the national debt
• Support responsible tax cuts for the middle class and those who need the most help
• Protect Social Security and Medicare from cuts

ROGER MARSHALL

N/A

Health Care

BARBARA BOLLIER 

Lowing the Cost of Healthcare

Healthcare is one of the most critical issues facing our families today. In Kansas, nearly one in five people have medical debt in collections right now. And too many Kansans have such high deductibles and copays that one medical emergency can bankrupt them and their families. As a doctor, Barbara has seen firsthand the many obstacles patients face to getting the care they need.

Since she entered public service in 2009, Barbara has been recognized as an expert on health policy who looks for reasonable solutions. As health insurance premiums and prescription costs are squeezing family budgets, for seven years Barbara has led the charge to expand Medicaid to strengthen hospitals and provide affordable healthcare to 130,000 more Kansans.

As ranking member on the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, she was a vocal advocate for patient protection, writing and introducing legislation to end the unfair practice of surprise medical billing in Kansas. Barbara believes that Americans who are happy with their private insurance should be able to keep it. Others should have a public option they can buy into at an affordable rate.

As a doctor, a champion of Medicaid expansion and a patient advocate in the legislature, Barbara will be the Senator that Kansans need. As the first woman physician to serve in the U.S. Senate, Barbara will:

• Support an innovative public health insurance option to ensure Kansans always have an affordable healthcare choice, while maintaining private health insurance options for Americans who choose to keep them
• Preserve protections for the 465,000 non-elderly Kansans with pre-existing conditions, even as they’re under fire from partisan attacks and special interests
• Protect Medicaid and Medicare from cuts, and ensure they’re fully-funded into the future;
  Advocate for commonsense prescription drug policies that allow the federal government to negotiate prices directly with pharmaceutical companies
• Rein in surprise medical billing
• Work to strengthen rural hospitals and clinics and the countless services they provide smaller communities.

ROGER MARSHALL

Healthcare Reform

As a physician, Doc has seen firsthand the negative consequences of government-controlled healthcare systems. Obamacare, and now, government-controlled socialized medicine are some of the most egregious examples of what Doc has fought against.

Government-run healthcare has not only harmed small business, but directly interferes with the doctor-patient relationship. For health care delivery to thrive in America and rural Kansas, we must repeal and replace these broken systems.

In Congress, Congressman Marshall voted in favor of the repeal of the individual mandate, repeal of the Cadillac tax, and the repeal of the medical device tax; all of which President Trump then signed into law. Dr. Marshall supports covering individuals with pre-existing conditions.

Immigration

BARBARA BOLLIER 

N/A

ROGER MARSHALL

Immigration & Border Security

I’ve been to the border several times. I know it is a crisis, and President Trump is right: we must build a wall and fix our broken immigration system, and we have to turn off the magnets that attract, promote, encourage and allow migrants to enter our country under false pretenses.

Until we build a wall, and until we turn off the laws that only serve as magnets, all the money in the world will not have a huge humanitarian impact. We can build more shelters, we can send more doctors and nurses, more food and water, but proportionately more people will die trying to get to this country.

Life

BARBARA BOLLIER 

Women’s Health

Barbara knows that when people are making private, complex, personal medical decisions, the last thing they want is a politician in the middle of it. As a doctor, Barbara has a unique appreciation for the doctor-patient relationship and why it is so important to preserve.

In the U.S. Senate Barbara will:

• Protect women’s privacy in their medical decisions
• Let women and their doctors determine what care they need without government interference
• Ensure all women — no matter who they are or where they live — have access to basic healthcare.

ROGER MARSHALL

Doc committed his professional life to bringing life into this world, and he knows a child is a living creation of God from the moment of conception.

Congressman Marshall is staunchly pro-life and opposes all efforts to use taxpayer funding for abortions. As a physician who has delivered over 5,000 babies in his 25 years practicing in Great Bend, Dr. Marshall saw human life at its most vulnerable every day.

In Congress, Dr. Marshall co-sponsored bills that would: eliminate all taxpayer funding for abortions, defund Planned Parenthood, and make any abortion after 20 weeks illegal nationwide. Dr. Marshall is also a proud cosponsor of “The Heartbeat Bill,” and believes that life begins at conception, and should be protected and cherished from that point on.

Military

BARBARA BOLLIER 

Defending Our Country 

Kansans rely on our leaders, first and foremost, to keep us safe. Kansas has a long, proud tradition of military service. We’re home to the Intellectual Center of the Army in Fort Leavenworth, as well as Fort Riley and McConnell Air Force Base. Our military bases serve as a critical component of our nation’s defense infrastructure and the Kansas economy.

Barbara knows that the best way to keep Americans safe is to remain a global leader and to continue to work closely with our international allies. Our allies multiply our strength and influence abroad and our diplomats work everyday to make Americans safer. Diplomacy is our first line of defense in national security.

Foreign interference is one of the greatest threats facing our democracy right now, with hostile actors targeting government agencies and both political parties. We must rise to address this problem in a bipartisan way — without letting our adversaries divide us. Another present danger is climate change, which is destabilizing critical regions all over the world and fueling conflicts. Further, many military bases, at home and abroad, are at risk.

In the United States Senate, Barbara will:

• Prevent foreign interference in our elections by securing our election systems, creating auditable paper trails on all voting machines and requiring additional disclosure on online political ads
• Ensure Americans are safe by fighting both foreign and domestic terrorism and opposing hate in all forms
• Address climate change that is fueling international conflicts and putting our military infrastructure at risk.

ROGER MARSHALL

National Defense

We must get our federal government back to its core functions – chief among them is national defense. America is the world’s pre-eminent superpower. When American lives or interests are in danger, our enemies now know we will act swiftly and decisively.

Congressman Marshall proudly supported a twenty-percent increase in military funding in order to fully fund Ft. Riley and the largest pay increase for our troops in 9 years. We must be certain the brave men and women protecting us have the tools and training they need to be successful on the battlefield, and the confidence that America will never renege on the promises made to them as veterans.

Social Security

BARBARA BOLLIER 

Supporting Our Seniors

Kansas is home to a growing population of seniors who deserve lives that reflect their years of contributions to their communities. Nearly 25 percent of our state’s population is estimated to be over the age of 60 by 2030, an increase of 32 percent from 2012. They deserve a leader who will fight for their lives and livelihoods. As a doctor and as a champion of Medicaid expansion, Barbara believes in keeping the promises we have made to older Kansans.

It’s vital that we maintain a strong commitment to protecting Social Security and Medicare, especially now when so many Kansas families are struggling to make ends meet. Too often, income from Social Security is the only thing standing between a senior and poverty. Barbara knows there are things that we can do to reduce costs from Medicare — including allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices — while still keeping the promises we’ve made to America’s seniors.

As a doctor and as a champion of Medicaid and Social Security, Barbara will be the leader Kansas seniors deserve. As U.S. Senator, Barbara will:

• Protect Medicare and ensure it’s fully-funded into the future
• Help lower prescription drug prices for seniors by working to allow the federal government to negotiate prices directly with pharmaceutical companies
• Protect Social Security from cuts.

ROGER MARSHALL

N/A

Veterans

BARBARA BOLLIER 

Standing Up for Veterans

Barbara believes that we owe it to Kansas’ nearly 180,000 veterans and the 18 million veterans across the country to demand proper delivery of the care and services they’ve earned.

Keeping that promise means ensuring access to quality healthcare that puts the veteran first. It also means increasing accountability for the Veterans Administration, streamlining and modernizing the delivery of services and helping veterans receive the training and education they need to build strong careers once they’ve returned to civilian life.

The long wait times that plague veterans here in Kansas are unacceptable, particularly in rural areas where it can sometimes take at least three months to see a doctor. Fixing the VA also means increased access to treatment for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and additional resources to support the growing ranks of women who serve. This includes ensuring the VA is equipped to address incidences of domestic and sexual assault and provide full access to medically-necessary emergency services for veterans’ newborn babies.

As Kansas’ U.S. senator, Barbara will:

• Support efforts to streamline and modernize the Veterans Health Administration without reducing services
• Increase the availability of innovative job training programs
• Combat sexual assault and domestic violence in the military
• Improve access to mental health and postnatal care.

ROGER MARSHALL

N/A