60th District: Mark Schreiber (R)
By NewsPress Now
Candidate biography
Mark Schreiber, 68 years old, retired businessman
I worked for Westar Energy and its predecessor companies for almost 38 years, beginning as a biologist and retiring in 2017 as the Vice President of Government Affairs. I have served in the Kansas Legislature, representing the 60th House district for four terms. My wife, Angie, and I have been married 42 years and we have two children.
What makes you the best candidate for this position? What skills and expertise do you bring to the table?
It is my deep roots in this community and local service that have shaped the type of leader I am. My professional experience working in government affairs certainly provides an advantage for our community and my ability to get things done.
Long before, I became interested in politics, I was active in the Emporia area serving on various boards and supporting charitable causes. I have been a Rotary member for several years and believe in its motto, “Service Above Self”. There are many opportunities to serve in this district and I chose those activities where I could make a difference, whether it was on the SOS board, the Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Emporia Community Foundation, the Emporia-Lyon County Metropolitan Planning Commission, and the statewide Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence. Through these community and statewide services, I have met many people who I would not normally meet and learned from their experiences.
What are the three most important issues facing your district today?
The three issues that seem to be consistently at the top of the list as identified by discussions with the people who live here are:
Property taxes – this is an issue of both state and local governments. The state controls 21.5 mills of your total property tax. Twenty mills provides the funding for K-12 schools and 1.5 mills goes towards infrastructure costs at our higher ed institutions and other state buildings. The majority of your property tax is based on local budgets. I supported over a billion dollars in tax relief last session, but more has to be done to provide property tax relief to those in our community.
Education – Emporia is rich in educational opportunities, whether it is our K-12 schools, Flint Hills Technical College, or Emporia State University. Public education (K-12 and higher ed) consumes about 60% of the state’s budget, and we have increased education spending by 60% since 2016. In 2027, we must approve a new K-12 funding formula to replace the current one which will be expiring. The process will begin next year, and I support a formula that funds our K-12 schools, especially special education services appropriately and ensures accountability for the progress of our students.
Health care — specifically access to Medicaid, the cost of insurance and the continuing rise in medical debt across the state.
What ideas do you have to improve the quality of life for people in your district?
Government can help sustain or enhance quality of life improvements, but it can’t create it on its own. That role comes from its residents. When Angie and I began our life together here, Commercial Street was practically vacant on weekends. Now it’s hard to find a parking spot because of the vitality created by entrepreneurs who took a chance to open a business. The Kansas Department of Commerce has programs to incent and encourage the development of small businesses. I support funding for those programs through our state budget.
Quality of life also includes opportunities. Emporia is blessed with incredibly talented people, and I don’t want to see that talent leave the 60th district. So, we must ensure that businesses can provide good, high-quality jobs, our schools remain top notch and that our communities remain safe.
How can Kansas create and maintain an inclusive, supportive environment for all of its residents?
Government cannot force someone to like another person, but it can lead by example by not creating laws that disenfranchise people who are different. In my experience, most people want to be productive citizens, but through no fault of their own some are ignored or sidelined. History is full of such examples. Being inclusive and supporting residents begins with each of us. Legislators can lead by example by not passing legislation that isolates residents because of some difference. As a biology student, I learned that an ecosystem with no diversity of plants or animals is weak. Diversity is strength whether in our beautiful Flint Hills or in our communities.
What is your stance on healthcare access and affordability, and what measures would you support to improve healthcare for all Kansans?
Access to health insurance is important for everyone. That is why I have supported the expansion of Medicaid during my tenure as a legislator. We passed it in 2017, but it was vetoed by Governor Brownback and the House was unable to override the veto. In 2019, the House passed it again, but the Senate did not consider it. Unless voters elect more legislators supportive of Medicaid Expansion, it is doubtful such legislation will receive consideration during the upcoming session.
Currently, access to Medicaid has a coverage “doughnut hole”, which prevents some people from accessing it. Forty states (red and blue) have passed expansion. None have abolished it. I have spoken with legislators from states that have passed expansion, and none are so scared of it that they want to abolish it.
Health insurance is critical, but also having medical facilities nearby is essential. Rural healthcare is in trouble. Some of it stems from Medicaid reimbursement rates being too low. The legislature raised some of those rates this past session. Some of it is a result of rural towns declining, which makes it harder to recruit and retain doctors and medical professionals. This is a national issue, and I do not mind stealing good ideas from other states to try and protect rural healthcare in Kansas.
Medical debt has been an issue for many years. It is usually the leading cause of personal bankruptcies. Over the summer I visited with Newman Regional Health, a collection agency and a resident who is overloaded with medical debt. From those discussions, I continue to research what other states have done to control the rise of medical debt.
How would you work to support economic development and job creation in both rural and urban areas within the state?
It starts with having a strong education system that provides the skilled workforce needed. Adequate housing is critical in communities that want to grow. During my tenure, we have reduced the state’s impact on property taxes and created programs such as the Rural Housing Incentive District program to encourage availability of housing in our rural communities. We need to monitor these programs to ensure they are meeting the needs of our communities and employers.
Parents in our workforce need quality childcare. The opening of the Little Lyons childcare facility was a crucial step in increasing the availability of childcare in the Emporia area. In the legislature this year, we passed, and I supported the bill which increased the tax credit for household and dependent care expenses from 25 percent to 50 percent of the federally allowed amount, effective tax year 2024. We will continue to find ways to enhance childcare across Kansas.
How do you plan to bridge partisan divides and work collaboratively with both parties to pass meaningful legislation?
I plan to continue what I have been doing since I was first elected…. place good policy over politics. It begins with realizing that good ideas exist on both sides of the aisle. I seek out trusted information sources and follow up with my own research.
Many of our bills pass with wide bi-partisan majorities. The headlines of partisanship are caused by a few pieces of legislation. Unfortunately, social media is becoming a corrosive element in many of our deliberations. Ugly comments can be posted and spread so quickly now that thoughtful debates get stymied. A former state senator, who served about twenty years ago, recalls the time before today’s technology when constituents had to actually write a letter to their legislator expressing their support or disgust with the legislator’s actions. She said the tone of those messages was markedly different from today’s texts or blog posts. I choose to lead by example.
