Candidate questionnaire: Bill Burlison

Candidate Name: Bill Burlison

Party: Democratic

Age: 79

Place of birth: Wardell, Mo.

Spouse: Michal Sue Prosser

Children: James, Laura, and Jeff

Occupation: Attorney

Education: B.A. and B.S. in Education, Southeast Missouri State University, '53 and '59 respectively; Bachelor of Laws and Juris Doctor, University of Missouri-Columbia, '56; M.E. University of Missouri-Columbia, '64; M.A., The Catholic University of America, '93; LLM., American University's Washington College of Law, '05.

Employer: Sole practitioner

Businesses owned, all or part: none

Previous offices held/sought: County School Board President; Prosecuting Attorney (3 terms); County Council (2 terms); Assistant Attorney-General; and U.S. Congressman (6 terms).

Question 1: Missouri has seen two straight years with steep declines in revenue. What programs should be cut or eliminated to reduce spending?

Answer: Perhaps most programs if there is to be no increased in taxes.

Question 2: Federal highway funds are projected to be cut dramatically. Would you consider asking voters for a tax increase to fund highway construction. Why or why not?

Answer: Yes. Highways are essential for our economy, our pleasure, and our culture and society.

Question 3: Should the use of tax credits for economic development be expanded, curtailed or eliminated? Why?

Answer: Curtailed, or at least carefully examined. This is one of the explanations for our enormous federal public debt and the difficulties we encounter in balancing the state budget.

Question 4: What is the most important state issue for constituents in the 159th District?

Answer: The most important issue is the economy. A significant part of the problem is the interest required to be paid on a $13 trillion dollar public debt. There are two methods to amend the U.S. Constitution to require a balanced budget; one by the Congress, one by state legislatures. The Congress has come close, and now we will finally get the job done on the heels of this deepest recession since the Great Depression.

Closing remarks: Qualifications are important. I have seven academic degrees from four prominent universities and have been an adjunct in Law and Government in four institutions of higher education. My opponent has one degree. I have twenty-six years of elective office on the local, state and national levels, while my opponent has six years on the state level. My community service projects, programs and organizations exceed those of my opponent. Are education, qualifications and experience important?