Leppert Visits KTBB

TYLER — Former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, now running for a U.S. Senate seat, makes a stop at KTBB. Leppert, a Republican, seeks the post that will soon be vacated by Kay Bailey Hutchison. Leppert says he thinks he can make a difference. He says not only did he have successes as mayor in setting priorities and cutting expenses — “but for 25 years I’ve led businesses. I’m the one that has signed both sides of the paycheck; I’ve created thousands of jobs. And that’s where the perspective needs to be. We need to reduce the role of Washington, not increase it.”

Leppert also commented on the huge debt currently faced by the United States. “Everybody in this nation understands that you have to live within your means, be it a family or a business,” said Leppert. “The disconnect is in Washington. Washington just needs to have the message.” On the future of the dollar in world commerce, Leppert said Washington must decide whether to make the hard choices and cut spending. He said national leaders must also reduce taxes and regulation to grow the economy.

Along those lines, Leppert addressed the topic of “entitlements” such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid — considered untouchable by many politicians. Leppert said, “We’ve gotta be realistic enough to understand that the three big entitlement programs — Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid — have to be reformed…I believe the deal is the deal that we made; I wouldn’t touch that. But we do have to reform those longer-term and understand that if we don’t, they’re simply not gonna be around — they’ll be bankrupt.” Leppert says such reform must happen “between the middle and the end of this decade.”