A Festus resident is challenging Republican Jason Smith, who is seeking a fourth term representing District 8 in the U.S. House of Representatives in the Nov. 6 general election.
Democrat Kathy Ellis, a social worker and psychotherapist from Festus, is challenging Smith, a small business owner, lawyer and farmer from Salem.
Libertarian Jonathan Shell of Fredericktown also is in the race. He did not return a Leader candidate survey.
Smith first was seated in Congress after he won a special election to fill a vacancy created when Jo Ann Emerson resigned. He then was re-elected to a full two-year term in 2014 and was re-elected in 2016.
At its northernmost point, District 8 covers most of western and southern Jefferson County and extends south to the state line.
The pay for U.S. representative is $174,000 a year, plus allowances.
SMITH, 38, lists his address as 3065 William St., Suite 405, in Cape Girardeau. He is a small business owner, lawyer, real estate agent and owner of a family farm. He received bachelor’s degrees in agriculture economics and business administration from the University of Missouri in Columbia and a law degree from Oklahoma City University. Before being elected to Congress, he was a Missouri state representative from 2006-2013.
Social media: Website: electjasonsmith.com Facebook: Jason Smith Twitter: @JasonSmithMO
ELLIS, 62, lives at 298 Barrington Place, Festus. She is married to Ann Gettinger. She is a licensed clinical social worker, certified reciprocal advanced alcohol and drug counselor and certified experiential therapist. She suspended her private psychotherapist practice in Sunset Hills to run for office. She is a 1974 graduate of Northwest High School and received a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1977 and a master’s degree in social work from Washington University in 1978. She has been a vice chair of a community health center since 2011 and a secretary of a domestic violence foundation board since 2016.
She was involved with Recovery Central-St. Louis, was on the Brown School of Social Work Alumni Board and ran workshops on domestic violence, trauma and addiction, experiential therapy and psychodrama.
Social media: Website: Ellisformissouri.com Facebook: Ellis for Missouri Email: Ellisforcongress2018@gmail.com
What are your thoughts on how to protect insurance coverage for those who have pre-existing conditions?
Smith: Access to health care coverage should be available to every person. In the mid- 1990’s, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act prevented insurance companies from using a person’s medical history to deny coverage or set exorbitant premium rates. But we must do more. Last year I supported the American Health Care Act to guarantee insurance coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions, and make changes to the insurance market to decrease costs and increase the quality of care by letting patients see the doctor of their choice.
Ellis: I would do everything possible to protect Medicare. It’s not acceptable that anyone should have to decide between food and medicine. A single-payer plan like Medicare for all would provide necessary care at a reasonable cost. We must safeguard coverage for pre-existing conditions. We need to be able to negotiate prices for prescription drugs and must not be controlled by Big Pharma. Strengthening and improving the Affordable Care Act to cover more people and expanding Medicaid at the state level will provide people with health care they deserve. I see the ACA as a pathway toward Medicaid for all.
What should Congress do to address the opioid crisis?
Smith: Far too many Missouri families have felt the heartache caused by a family member or friend suffering from an addiction to opioids. These drugs reach our state through various means – including over-the-counter prescriptions and substances coming across our southern border. That is why it is so important we support local law enforcement agencies and border security agencies. Additionally, the U.S. House of Representatives passed my legislation known as Perioperative Reduction of Opioids Act to prevent opioid addiction at its most common origination – the surgical setting.
Ellis: Congress should develop a comprehensive plan to combat the opioid epidemic. We need input from clinicians, scientists, physicians, economists and others to be certain that the policies that are introduced are sound and evidence-based. It is imperative that we remove the stigma of addiction and educate people on how addiction impacts the brain and how recovery is possible. We need strong drug courts that will allow individuals to receive treatment instead of incarceration, treatment facilities that treat the individual and provide clinicians who are well-versed in addiction treatment.
What steps should the federal government take to protect the integrity of our elections?
Smith: Democratic free elections are one of the greatest rights of Americans. Honoring the value and privacy of every ballot is what sets us apart from regimes around the globe. Beyond enhanced cybersecurity to protect our election databases, we must not allow municipalities to devalue the vote of American citizens. In San Francisco and Chicago, illegal immigrants are being granted the right to vote – ignoring the very voting laws of their states. This further erodes the integrity of our elections and removes yet one more reason for folks to immigrate legally.
Ellis: The integrity of elections has been compromised since the Citizens United decision by the Supreme Court. We need to create bipartisan legislation to remove this reprehensible decision and eliminate the influx of “dark money” into our elections. We need to strengthen our existing policies to be certain that each person is allowed full access to the process, including examining how we can increase turnout. This is our most sacred civic process, which we need to protect from intrusion by foreign and domestic entities.
How would you address the ongoing federal deficit and national debt?
Smith: Washington spends too much of your hard-earned money. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was an important step in taking money out of bureaucrats’ hands and putting it in yours. You know best how to grow the economy, not some government agency. President Trump and I have reduced federal agency bloat and waste. Gone are taxpayer subsidies for electronic vehicles or grants to failed companies like Solyndra. Agency budgets are at lowest levels since the 1980s. I support an amendment requiring government to balance budgets every year.
Ellis: The recent “tax cut” enacted by Congress has provided the millionaires and corporations with the majority of the cuts and left the middle class and working class behind. Trickle-down economics will never work and “investment” from corporations has not materialized. The administration has jeopardized our nation by this extreme debt. Any tax cuts need to be given to those who deserve and need them most. The cuts in Social Security and Medicare are already occurring to try to offset the wealth that is being accumulated by the top 1 percent.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Smith: Fighting for my friends and neighbors from southern Missouri is the honor of a lifetime. I will never get tired of arguing for Missouri values and fighting to protect our way of life. Over the last two years, we removed more than 1,000 burdensome federal regulations that harm farmers and families. We have reduced the footprint the federal government has on Missourians while protecting our constitutional rights and liberties. The economy is booming, unemployment is at historic lows and Americans are keeping more of what they make. A lot has been accomplished, but the work is only getting started.
Ellis: Washington is run by insiders who make millions of dollars on the backs of citizens. We need new public servants who will listen to their constituents. Since March 2017, I have held town halls throughout the district and have traveled more than 46,000 miles. I will work across the aisle for solutions. Concerns that people have expressed are access to affordable health care for all, protecting public schools so that all students have a quality education and providing good jobs by rebuilding the infrastructure, including broadband in rural areas.
Jason Smith
Kathy Ellis
U.S. HOUSE DISTRICT 8
Republican Smith seeking third term
A Festus resident is challenging Republican Jason Smith, who is seeking a fourth term representing District 8 in the U.S. House of Representatives in the Nov. 6 general election.
Democrat Kathy Ellis, a social worker and psychotherapist from Festus, is challenging Smith, a small business owner, lawyer and farmer from Salem.
Libertarian Jonathan Shell of Fredericktown also is in the race. He did not return a Leader candidate survey.
Smith first was seated in Congress after he won a special election to fill a vacancy created when Jo Ann Emerson resigned. He then was re-elected to a full two-year term in 2014 and was re-elected in 2016.
At its northernmost point, District 8 covers most of western and southern JeffersonCounty and extends south to the state line.
The pay for U.S. representative is $174,000 a year, plus allowances.
SMITH, 38, lists his address as 3065 William St., Suite 405, in Cape Girardeau. He is a small business owner, lawyer, real estate agent and owner of a family farm. He received bachelor’s degrees in agriculture economics and business administration from the University of Missouri in Columbia and a law degree from Oklahoma CityUniversity. Before being elected to Congress, he was a Missouri state representative from 2006-2013.
Social media: Website: electjasonsmith.com Facebook: Jason Smith Twitter: @JasonSmithMO
ELLIS, 62, lives at 298 Barrington Place, Festus. She is married to Ann Gettinger. She is a licensed clinical social worker, certified reciprocal advanced alcohol and drug counselor and certified experiential therapist. She suspended her private psychotherapist practice in Sunset Hills to run for office. She is a 1974 graduate of NorthwestHigh School and received a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1977 and a master’s degree in social work from WashingtonUniversity in 1978. She has been a vice chair of a community health center since 2011 and a secretary of a domestic violence foundation board since 2016.
She was involved with Recovery Central-St. Louis, was on the Brown School of Social Work Alumni Board and ran workshops on domestic violence, trauma and addiction, experiential therapy and psychodrama.
Social media: Website: Ellisformissouri.com Facebook: Ellis for Missouri Email: Ellisforcongress2018@gmail.com
What are your thoughts on how to protect insurance coverage for those who have pre-existing conditions?
Smith: Access to health care coverage should be available to every person. In the mid- 1990’s, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act prevented insurance companies from using a person’s medical history to deny coverage or set exorbitant premium rates. But we must do more. Last year I supported the American Health Care Act to guarantee insurance coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions, and make changes to the insurance market to decrease costs and increase the quality of care by letting patients see the doctor of their choice.
Ellis:I would do everything possible to protect Medicare. It’s not acceptable that anyone should have to decide between food and medicine. A single-payer plan like Medicare for all would provide necessary care at a reasonable cost. We must safeguard coverage for pre-existing conditions. We need to be able to negotiate prices for prescription drugs and must not be controlled by Big Pharma. Strengthening and improving the Affordable Care Act to cover more people and expanding Medicaid at the state level will provide people with health care they deserve. I see the ACA as a pathway toward Medicaid for all.
What should Congress do to address the opioid crisis?
Smith: Far too many Missouri families have felt the heartache caused by a family member or friend suffering from an addiction to opioids. These drugs reach our state through various means – including over-the-counter prescriptions and substances coming across our southern border. That is why it is so important we support local law enforcement agencies and border security agencies. Additionally, the U.S. House of Representatives passed my legislation known as Perioperative Reduction of Opioids Act to prevent opioid addiction at its most common origination – the surgical setting.
Ellis:Congress should develop a comprehensive plan to combat the opioid epidemic. We need input from clinicians, scientists, physicians, economists and others to be certain that the policies that are introduced are sound and evidence-based. It is imperative that we remove the stigma of addiction and educate people on how addiction impacts the brain and how recovery is possible. We need strong drug courts that will allow individuals to receive treatment instead of incarceration, treatment facilities that treat the individual and provide clinicians who are well-versed in addiction treatment.
What steps should the federal government take to protect the integrity of our elections?
Smith: Democratic free elections are one of the greatest rights of Americans. Honoring the value and privacy of every ballot is what sets us apart from regimes around the globe. Beyond enhanced cybersecurity to protect our election databases, we must not allow municipalities to devalue the vote of American citizens. In San Francisco and Chicago, illegal immigrants are being granted the right to vote – ignoring the very voting laws of their states. This further erodes the integrity of our elections and removes yet one more reason for folks to immigrate legally.
Ellis:The integrity of elections has been compromised since the Citizens United decision by the Supreme Court. We need to create bipartisan legislation to remove this reprehensible decision and eliminate the influx of “dark money” into our elections. We need to strengthen our existing policies to be certain that each person is allowed full access to the process, including examining how we can increase turnout. This is our most sacred civic process, which we need to protect from intrusion by foreign and domestic entities.
How would you address the ongoing federal deficit and national debt?
Smith: Washington spends too much of your hard-earned money. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was an important step in taking money out of bureaucrats’ hands and putting it in yours. You know best how to grow the economy, not some government agency. President Trump and I have reduced federal agency bloat and waste. Gone are taxpayer subsidies for electronic vehicles or grants to failed companies like Solyndra. Agency budgets are at lowest levels since the 1980s. I support an amendment requiring government to balance budgets every year.
Ellis:The recent “tax cut” enacted by Congress has provided the millionaires and corporations with the majority of the cuts and left the middle class and working class behind. Trickle-down economics will never work and “investment” from corporations has not materialized. The administration has jeopardized our nation by this extreme debt. Any tax cuts need to be given to those who deserve and need them most. The cuts in Social Security and Medicare are already occurring to try to offset the wealth that is being accumulated by the top 1 percent.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Smith: Fighting for my friends and neighbors from southern Missouri is the honor of a lifetime. I will never get tired of arguing for Missouri values and fighting to protect our way of life. Over the last two years, we removed more than 1,000 burdensome federal regulations that harm farmers and families. We have reduced the footprint the federal government has on Missourians while protecting our constitutional rights and liberties. The economy is booming, unemployment is at historic lows and Americans are keeping more of what they make. A lot has been accomplished, but the work is only getting started.
Ellis:Washington is run by insiders who make millions of dollars on the backs of citizens. We need new public servants who will listen to their constituents. Since March 2017, I have held town halls throughout the district and have traveled more than 46,000 miles. I will work across the aisle for solutions. Concerns that people have expressed are access to affordable health care for all, protecting public schools so that all students have a quality education and providing good jobs by rebuilding the infrastructure, including broadband in rural areas.