Listen in MP3 format

THIS RACE IS WIDE OPEN BECAUSE THERE IS NO INCUMBENT.

REPUBLICAN ROY HOLAND CAN'T SEEK RE-ELECTION BECAUSE TERM LIMITS PRECENT HIM FROM SERVING MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS IN THE HOUSE.

SO DEMOCRAT BOB TORP AND REPUBLICAN CHARLIE DENISON EACH HAVE THEIR EYES SET ON WINNING THIS SEAT.

TORP SAYS THERE ARE SEVERAL KEY ISSUES HE'S FOCUSING ON AS HE CAMPAIGNS FOR A SEAT IN THE MISSOURI HOUSE.

ONE WAY TORP WANTS TO DO THAT IS BY CHANGING THE SOURCE OF EDUCATION FUNDING.

RIGHT NOW, PROPERTY TAXES HELP FUND SCHOOLS IN MISSOURI.

TORP SAYS THAT SHOULD CHANGE.

TORP'S OPPONENT, REPUBLICAN CHARLIE DENISON SAYS HE'S ALSO INTERESTED IN EDUCATION FUNDING.

DENISON SAYS IT'S ONE OF SEVERAL ISSUES HE'S DISCUSSING AS HE CAMPAIGNS.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO HIGHER EDUCATION, DENISON SAYS ONE OF HIS PRIORITIES WOULD BE PASSING LEGISLATION THAT CHANGES THE NAME OF SOUTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY TO MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY.

HE SAYS HE AND OTHER LAWMAKERS FROM THIS AREA COULD BAND TOGETHER AND GET THAT PASSED.

BUT EDUCATION ISN'T THE ONLY ISSUE THE CANDIDATES IN THE 135TH HOUSE DISTRICT ARE DISCUSSING.

DEMOCRAT BOB TORP IS A LAWYER AND HE SAYS HE'S CONCERNED ABOUT EFFORTS TO LIMIT LIABILITY LAWSUITS, ESPECIALLY THOSE RELATED TO MEDICAL MALPRACTICE.

HE SAYS HE UNDERSTANDS WHY DOCTORS ARE UPSET WITH RISING MALPRATICE INSURANCE RATES BUT HE SAYS LIMITING LITIGATION ISN'T GOING TO GUARANTEE LOWER RATES.

BUT MANY REPUBLICANS LIKE TORP'S OPPONENT CHARLIE DENISON SAY FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS ARE DRIVING UP THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IN MISSOURI.

DENISON SAYS LIMITING THOSE LAWSUITS IS JUST ONE CHANGE THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE TO MAKE MISSOURI MORE BUSINESS-FRIENDLY.

HE SAYS HE'D LIKE TO SEE HEALTHCARE BECOME MORE AFFORDABLE FOR BUSINESSES WHO OFFER THIS BENEFIT TO EMPLOYEES.

THIS RACE IS JUST ONE OF SEVERAL RACES FOR SEATS IN THE MISSOURI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT'S GETTING ATTENTION.

AS REPUBLICANS SEEK TO RETAIN CONTROL OF THE HOUSE AND DEMOCRATS FIGHT TO RE-GAIN CONTROL AFTER LOSING THE MAJORITY TWO YEARS AGO, INDIVIDUAL HOUSE RACES TAKE ON INCREASED SIGNIFICANCE.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT INDIVIDUAL RACES OF IMPORTANCE HERE IN SOUTHWEST MISSOURI IN THE COMING WEEKS.

THIS PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT K-S-M-U DOT ORG AS PART OF OUR ROAD TO THE CAPITOL SERIES.

Related Items: