Kansas Senate Jim Zeller

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Oct 19, 2008 by James Carlson

By James Carlson

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Jim Zeller has served at the feet of Kansas' halls of legislation for years. Now he wants to enter.

The former sergeant-at-arms for the House of Representatives is seeking the 18th Senate seat held by first-term Democrat Laura Kelly.

The fifth-generation Kansan returned from the Vietnam War to enter the Kansas Highway Patrol Academy, then joined the Kansas Army National Guard.

Asked what songs he liked to crank up, the career military man responded with some patriotic choices: "God Bless the USA" and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."

It was standing inside the House chambers where he says he really absorbed many of his Republican views.

He has taken a pledge not to raise taxes, supports building the coal-fired power plants in western Kansas, wants to reform the current system for nominating judges and would like to repeal the law granting in-state tuition to the children of illegal immigrants.

"You can be assured that my voting record will reflect the desires of the hardworking people of this district who can't afford the government taking more of their limited resources," he said.

In the tight economic times facing the state, he supports an audit-like system similar to the Base Realignment and Closing procedure that the military underwent in recent years. After a top- to-bottom review of every agency, he would make a "thoughtful determination of which programs to terminate or streamline."

He also wants to establish a budget stabilization fund, in which the Legislature will place an allotted amount of state dollars each year as a kind of rainy-day fund.

Asked about high tuition rates, he said the state already subsidizes the state's universities above the national average and that the state is "going broke" because of it. He instead called for better accountability of state funding.

His fiscal conservatism extends into how he would deal with the 10-year transportation plan the Legislature will have to consider in the 2009 session. He supports funding only to maintain roads at their current condition and only spending money for enhancements on a case-by-case basis.

"During these tough economic times, we have a responsibility to tighten our belts," he said.

James Carlson can be reached at (785) 233-7470 or james.carlson@cjonline.com.