151st Missouri House district candidate Ryan Wm. Holder

__Name:__ Ryan Wm. Holder

__Age:__ 56

__Place of birth:__ Advance, MO

__Spouse's, children's names:__ Nancy (wife), 2 Daughters Leah and Jesse, 2 sons in the military, Ethan (Army) and Zachary (Navy)

__Education:__ Graduated High School at Advance High in 76, joined Air Force for 4 yrs., then 2 years at SEMO.

__Occupation:__ President/Feild Rep. of Laborers Local #1104 in Cape Girartdeau

__Employer:__ Local #1104

__Businesses owned, all or part:__ Nancy and I have a small farm outside of Advance.

__Public offices held or sought; give dates:__ I ran for this position in 04 and again in 2012

__What makes you the most qualified candidate for this position?:__

I will not claim to be the most qualified candidate as to start a dual against my opponent. I am qualified because of my heart for the working people of my district. The people that struggle to make ends meet, The people that have worked all their lives to achieve a life after retirement but find that they still have to struggle to make ends meet because the increase in social security benefits for cost of living DO NOT nearly keep up with the price of goods in todays economy. I am qualified because I am willing to stand up to the constant attack on workers to minimize their ability to make a decent living and put a little something back for a rainy day. I am willing to fight for the displaced worker that has no opportunity to join the work force due to the past migration of industry that left this country by droves. I'm qualified because of my freedom to vote as I choose and the people of my district mandate, not some special interest group looking to increase their bottom line at the cost of a worker having to choose between medicine for their children and paying the electric bill.

__What are the biggest issues facing your district? If elected, how would you address them?:__

The people thinking that the leaders of the MO House and Senate and the US Congress are doing a good job and working hard for the working poor. People had better start voting their pocket books or they will soon not need a pocket book.

__Among the most debated ballot issues for the Aug. 5 election is Amendment 7, the transportation tax. Are you in favor of or against the measure? Why?:__

That is sad that it is the most debated. Although I plan to vote for Amendment 7, if it passes I fear that legislators will take the opportunity to eliminate the existing inflow of funds and give that money to some corporation that already has more than it need, or come up with a way to fund Charter schools or school vouchers.

__Do you support Medicaid expansion in Missouri? Why or why not?:__

I do. Reports show that roughly 7,000 people a yr will die because they can't afford health care, but they would qualify for care if Medicaid were expanded. We are sending the federal government how many tax dollars a year that could return to MO if we expanded Medicaid? Yet politicians just want to snub their nose at Pres. Obama and let those 7,000 die? God Bless America.

__Amendment 1 will also be considered by voters on Aug. 5. What is your stance on the measure commonly known as "right-to-farm?":__

I have a lot of people telling me that the measure says nothing at all. If indeed it says nothing at all, why is there so much money being spent on signs, tv adds, public forums and so on? I smell a RAT so I am voting against it.