Ryun on the issues

Iraq

"I still support the war because we're in a different global situation than ever before. And we're not fighting conventional wars where the enemy fights against our army. ... ... The United Nations and the rest of the world verified that there were 30,000 liters of anthrax. ... Saddam also used nerve gas against the Kurds and some in Iran and thousands of people died because of that. We know before the war there were weapons of mass destruction. And if you read further into that report, it will say that Saddam's intention was that when the rest of the world wasn't watching and sanctions were gone and perhaps we had moved on, what he had were dual-use factories that he would ramp up to produce weapons of mass destruction. Those dual-use factories could be used for commercial use now, but could easily be transferred to use for developing weapons of mass destruction. I believe he had the intent to do that. I believe the war is the right thing. Giving freedom a chance in that country is the best way to defeat our enemy."

Tax cuts

"I've been able to provide over the last few years an increase from a $500 tax credit to a $1,000 tax credit. And I know for those in Kansas who pay taxes, this year alone they'll pay as much as $1,000 less per family."

Deficit

"Ultimately, if you don't try to hold spending down at the budget level, then you end up contributing to greater deficits. ... One way to reduce the deficit and to keep on course is to stick to the budget. The budget this year, as it was worked through the budget committee, would allow us to reduce the deficit by half in the next four years if we stick with the numbers that we're currently on. And we're headed in that direction."

Funding for Schools

"I think it's more of a state issue in terms of how you figure out the funding. You only have roughly 6 to 7 percent that are federal dollars that come into it, and yet those are large enough that they are important to have, and it is a problem that we have to deal with, but I think it's more of a state funding issue than it is a federal issue."

No Child Left Behind

"I believe our president had the right intention in terms of the end of the process of education that all of our children would be well-educated with the kind of skills they needed for their future. It's just that when it went through the legislative process, I didn't feel like that particular piece of legislation arrived at its destination, so I voted against No Child Left Behind, because I believe that education on the local level is the way it should be handled. And parents have easier access to their board of education or their state elected officials."

Draft

"I don't believe that the draft should be reinstated. ... We have an all-volunteer service. It's doing exceptionally well. We need to applaud our men and women and thank them for what they are doing and see what we can do to help them, especially when they are separated from their family."

Patriot Act

"It borderlines on infringing upon civil liberties and yet we are dealing with an enemy right now that sees the open society in which we live and is willing to take advantage of that. It's not quite as intrusive as some would say that it is. Before you can actually activate the Patriot Act in many cases you have to have a judge to approve probable cause before you can actually go in. It's not an automatic... As a result of the Patriot Act, we've been able to chase down a lot of our terrorists and we've been able to find out through the financial networks where their money's being spent and how they're collecting it. "