Missouri House 147th District candidate: Kathryn Swan

Name Kathryn Swan

Age 65

Place of birth Cape Girardeau

Spouse's, children's names

Spouse - Reg Swan

Son - Regan Swan (Jessica)

Daughter - Maria Childress (Jim)

Grandchildren - Sonnie Childress, Tripp Swan, MacKenzie Hahs, Peyton Hahs

Education

AA - Nursing

BSN - Nursing

Postgraduate work - Business

Occupation Businessowner

Employer JCS Wireless

Businesses owned, all or part

JCS Wireless

AMS Mini Storage

Public offices held or sought; give dates

1992-1995 Cape Girardeau Board of Education

1996-2006 Cape Girardeau Vision 2000/2020 Community Relations Council

2002-2012 MO Coordinating Board for Higher Education

2004 MO Higher Education Loan Authority

2005-2007 Cape Girardeau Planning & Zoning Commission

2006 MO Math, Engineering, Technology & Science Alliance

2010-2012 Cape Girardeau City Council

2011 MO Senate Reapportionment Commission

2012 - present Missouri House of Representatives

Website www.kathyswan.com

Email kathyswan147@gmail.com

Phone (573) 335-3515

Do you support Amendment 2?

Yes. Results from my 2016 constituent survey indicate that 91% of respondents in our district support a law to establish campaign contribution limits. Missouri is one of only 12 states with unlimited candidate contributions. Amendment 2 would limit contributions to $2600 from any person, business, or committee in any one election (primary or general) for state officials. It also imposes the same limit on contributions to and from Political Action Committees and other committees.

Do you support Amendment 3?

While research shows great benefits to children and our society for high-quality early childhood programs, this Amendment is troublesome. It would impose a tax increase, bypass the normal legislative appropriations process, and impose a vague administrative grant program. Also, language regarding abortion is included as it speaks to "only hospitals and health care facilities ...shall be eligible to receive grants." There is a better way to fund and administer early childhood in our state.

What steps should be taken to improve funding for Missouri's roads and bridges?

There are different options for funding improvements to our transportation infrastructure, such as allowing tolls on certain highways and bridges, entering public-private partnerships to lease certain roads, or a TEMPORARY state fuel tax increase. However, our first step is to evaluate current state spending to determine how we could reallocate existing dollars for transportation and implement an accountability system for how these dollars are spent.

Besides roads and bridges, what is the biggest challenge for the state of Missouri that the legislature needs to address?

Our biggest challenge is the state budget and our tax credit program. There are over 60 tax credit programs in Missouri for which the legislature does not consider in the budget process. Historically, the annual total of all tax credit programs has varied from $400 million - $600 million. We must evaluate these programs, establish priorities for our state, and create a process of checks and balances in coordination with our state budget.