Candidate questionnaire: Donna Lichtenegger

Candidate Name: Donna S. Lichtenegger

Party: Republican

Age: 59

Place of birth: St. Louis

Spouse: John Lichtenegger

Children: Brent Lichtenegger, Leigh Ann Flanagan (Lichtenegger)

Occupation: Retired dental hygienist

Education: Normandy High School 1969 graduate

University of Missouri 1969-1971

St. Louis Community College Forest Park 1971-1973

AS Degree in Dental Hygiene

Employer: Retired/Volunteer Dental Hygienist

Businesses owned, all or part: Our family owns Appleton Valley Farms, Inc.

Previous offices held/sought: State Representative Dist. 157 2002

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

Answer: The administrative budgets of most agencies should be reviewed for cuts. So far the bureaucrats have been cutting programs but not administrative expenses. I would limit Historical Tax credits and other tax credits. I would reduce or eliminate the subsidies for private companies and for Amtrak, ball parks, and other sports related projects. I would reduce the spending on private universities in order to hold spending levels for our public universities.

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: I would not ask the voters to approve a tax increase for highway construction until MODOT agrees to review the large amounts being spent on million dollars a mile sound barriers in St. Louis and on one-tenth of a mile markers on our interstates. A lot of money is wasted on these items when we need to spend the money on maintenance and making sure all of our bridges can handle two-way traffic.

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

Answer: Tax credits need to be targeted for real economic development that creates real jobs. I would eliminate tax credits for retail and commercial developments that do not create manufacturing jobs. Missouri has given out hundreds of millions in tax credits without seeing a return proportionate to the tax incentives and investment made. We should require an analysis for each project considered. Fundamentally we nee to change and improve the business climate in Missouri.

Question 4: What is the most important state issue for constituents in the 157th District?

Answer: Jobs. Missouri lost 101,500 manufacturing jobs in the last decade and our per capita income drop was the worst in the nation next to Michigan. I will work to fundamentally change the tax structure in Missouri to retain and recruit good companies for Missouri. We need to study states like Texas where a lot of Missouri jobs have gone. I was chairman of the Fair Tax in the Eight Congressional District and would support that change for Missouri.

Closing remarks: Just as important as jobs is health care for all Missourians. I have devoted my life to health care field for 30 years providing services for the insured, uninsured, Medicare, Medicaid and those who could not pay at all. I will work to avert the impending shortage of nurses and other heath care providers by expanding enrollments, lowering the interest rates on student loans. As your representative I will work to expand health care options.