SIX DEMOCRATS FACE OFF FOR U.S. CONCRESS: PROSECUTOR KISER TIRED OF BUSINESS AS USUAL

Running for Congress in 1992 is not something Jon Kiser has thought a lot about. But as the late March filing deadline approached and several potentially strong candidates ruled out running, Kiser was encouraged to consider the race himself.

On the afternoon of the final day to file, the 32-year-old Wayne County prosecuting attorney formally entered the race.

"Like many people in the 8th district, I was just sick and tired of business as usual in Washington. I would like to help curb big government a bit," said Kiser. "I looked at the candidates that had filed on the Democratic side and basically did not perceive a viable contender against Bill Emerson in the fall.

"I got calls from people I consider to be relatively influential who urged me to run; so after some thought, I filed."

Kiser contends his qualifications are stronger than the other five Democrats in the race and believes he has the best chance of unseating Emerson in November.

"My vision for America and the direction I would vote to take the nation and 8th congressional district is more in tune with traditional Democratic values," declared Kiser. "I would represent the views of people in the 8th district and would be better suited to help lead in Congress once the Clinton-Gore team is successful in the fall, to implement programs and the Democratic Party platform."

Last week, Kiser was endorsed by the St. Louis Post Dispatch for the Aug. 4 primary election.

Like the other candidates, Kiser is focusing heavily on jobs during his campaign.

In particular, Kiser points to the closing of factories by Brown Shoe around the 8th district that cost 3,200 jobs recently, which he notes has been a trend because of foreign competition.

"We are losing jobs in the shoe and garment industry at a very alarming rate," said Kiser. "We have got to do something to keep our jobs here and not send them to Mexico and foreign countries."

The 8th district has some of the highest unemployment in the state, and from his travels around the district Kiser sees jobs as the prime concern.

"We need to increase access to jobs by increasing production and basically stimulate our industries. I think workers in Southeast Missouri can outproduce anyone in the world - all we need to do is guarantee them a level playing field," explained the candidate.

In evaluating the nation's economic condition, Kiser said it is clear the nation needs to balance its budget; however, that effort should be spread out over a four to six year period and without reducing entitlement programs like Social Security.

"When you start balancing the budget, everybody is going to have to take in their belt a notch," he observed.

Continued lowering of interest rates should help the economy some but Kiser feels a re-adjustment of tax codes is in order so the middle class will have more money to spend.

"Large corporations and people earning over $200,000 a year should be paying a little more of their fair share in taxes, leaving the middle class more money to take home each month they do not have to pay out in taxes," said Kiser.

The consumer spending generated by the tax code changes would stimulate the economy, added Kiser.

While Kiser regards balancing the budget to be a top priority, he opposes an amendment to the constitution requiring one. "Members of Congress should have the intentional fortitude to balance the budget without a constitutional amendment," he said.

If there were an amendment or legislation outlining a process for balancing the budget, Kiser stressed the wording should specifically exempt entitlement programs.

With the end of the Cold War, Kiser sees the military budget as an area of major cuts. "The Cold War is over and we've won. There is absolutely no reason to have the massive military build up we have," he declared. "I don't want to cut the military drastically, but it should be to a level that reflects the current world situation."

Kiser supports continued research of high tech weapons systems that can be built if the world situation starts to change.

He opposes aid to the Soviet Union to help their economy at a time when the United States is in a downturn. He does, however, support humanitarian aid.

"I'm not against some technology sharing and sharing some of our business expertise in how to be productive capitalists, but as far as mass export of dollars to the former Soviet Union, I'm not in favor of that at all."

If elected, Kiser said he would support the Freedom of Choice Act now before Congress that basically puts into law the provisions of Roe vs. Wade.

"I am personally opposed to abortion. I think it is morally wrong," said Kiser. "But I don't think big government should be involved in making that decision. Women are intelligent enough to make a decision on whether to bear a child without government telling them."

In looking at the health care issue, Kiser said he would work for some kind of universal health care system for all citizens.

"We are the only industrialized nation that does not have it," he stated, adding that the present system has squeezed the middle class out of the market. "The system is not accessible to working poor and middle income.

"We spent a higher percentage of our GNP on health care than anyone else, but other countries get a better return," said Kiser. "The essential element lacking now is a net under working poor and the middle class. We need to guarantee that health care is available to them through a universal health insurance system. We need to see that everyone is covered by some kind of health insurance policy."

Kiser is also calling for efforts to cut down on fraud and abuse in the health care industry.

A life-long resident of Piedmont, Kiser attended Southeast Missouri State University for two years before graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a B.S. in Education. He graduated from law school at the University of Missouri in 1985. Kiser was elected prosecuting attorney in 1986 and re-elected in 1990.

Kiser said he plans to spend around $10,000 in the Democratic primary and stressed that he has focused on a grassroots effort to win support from Democrats.