Mike in the News

Pompeo visits Independence on 4th District campaign trail

From the Independence Daily Reporter - printed on 2/2/10

By ALLEN SMITH
Staff Writer - Indepedence Daily Reporter

Mike Pompeo, a Wichita businessman, has several issues on his mind as he travels throughout Kansas’ 4th District in his race to become a member of the Congress from Kansas.

Pompeo is a Republican looking to replace current Rep. Todd Tiahrt, who is running for the Senate.

“I have been on the campaign trail since early April 2009 when I announced my intentions to run for Congress, and I have met a lot of nice people along the way,” Pompeo said Monday afternoon during a visit to Independence.

Pompeo said the federal government can’t continue to spend money at the current rate.

“The federal government just can’t continue to spend at its current rate and expect to remain sustainable,” he said. “I heard President Obama say just the other day our current deficit is $1.6 trillion. I don’t know if I can even really grasp how much money that really is.”

Pompeo said the federal government must stop passing down federal mandates on local governments without the resources attached to help pay for them.

Pompeo visited with Independence City Manager Paul A. Sasse and Mayor Rick Mott during his visit on Monday.

“Paul and Rick both spoke of the all the mandates passed down from the federal level without funds attached,” Pompeo said. “Those mandates bound officials in Independence, Kansas, just like they do in the larger cities across this country … in some instances to a greater extent,” he added.

Pompeo said he hopes to be able to help lower the federal tax burden on Americans, if elected to Congress.  “I will be a strong advocate of lowering the federal tax rate so that people in Independence and throughout the Fourth District can use their money in ways they see fit,” he said.

Pompeo sees national security as a “primary problem in America,” while others seem to take a lesser view.

“I am watching this president put our national security as a secondary issue,” he said. “National security should be our highest priority at the national level,” he added.  Pompeo says too many times he hears President Obama talking about  closing the prison at Guantamo Bay without a plan, and treating terrorists like anybody else.

A 1986 graduate of West Point, Pompeo said “Congress should have a hand in how our commander-in-chief handles terrorists."

“I have dealt with terrorists,” he continued. “When you capture a presumed terrorist first you find out who sent them here and why they are here.” “There is no need to give a terrorist the right to an attorney,” he added.

Pompeo said he has built a grassroots group of people to help him win in August.

“We have about 700 volunteers throughout the district that are ready to go,” Pompeo said. “I am really thrilled about the response we have received.”

He has raised about $400,000 in campaign funds, about four times the amount of any of his four opponents for the Republican nomination.

Pompeo toured the Cessna facility while in Independence, and said his background is in the aviation industry.  Pompeo said he previously operated an aviation manufacturing business,   Thayer Aerospace, and that Jack Pelton, the chief executive officer for  Cessna Aircraft is one of his backers for the campaign.



Be the first to comment on this page. Post a Comment