Thomas Holbrook
LibertarianQ1 In their 2024–2025 report, the Missouri Office of Rural Health reported that 42% of counties in MO do not have a hospital. What policies, if any, do you plan to implement to address access to health care, primarily in rural areas?
“I would attempt to submit legislation that would do away with certificate of need, as that is what is preventing medical care facilities from opening. Though the stated intent was to prevent duplication of services, it has also prevented rural areas from having ready access to basic healthcare needs.”
Q2 The Missouri Department of Agriculture has reported that Agriculture and related industries have contributed 93.7 billion dollars in economic output and 456,618 jobs to Missouri in 2021. Would you continue to develop and support agtech business in Missouri as well as the education and scientific training for Missourians to contribute to this industry? Why or why not?
“I believe that it would be a better idea to stop conducting trade wars, which causes the cost of everything to go up. The more countries buy our produce, meat, and dairy, the better off our farmers will be. In other words, get the other politicians out of the way and prohibit any future President from implementing tariffs without congressional approval.”
Q3 America has a growing AI industry, supporting cutting-edge innovation but raising issues of resource use, privacy, and economics. In your opinion, what are the costs and benefits of new data center construction in Missouri and how would your policies accomplish a balance between them?
“At the moment, the cost is too high as the electrical grid will not be able to handle such things. An electrical grid upgrade will be necessary to mee the energy needs. Also, data centers can be built without using massive new structures. Micro data centers would be more appropriate as that would cost less, consume less energy, and not make the surrounding areas unlivable. Meta and other companies need to look at the old school data centers built by the companies that operate as the Internet backbone.”
Q4 If elected, in what capacities would you refer to scientists when you are deciding how to vote on a policy?
“I would weigh what the intent of the policy is and balance it with U.S. Constitution. This isn’t to say that I don’t trust scientists, but the constitution restricts the government and for good reason.”
Q5 What are your opinions on the current state of science literacy, and how could K-12 education standards be adapted to improve the public understanding of and relationship building in science?
“We need to speak to parents of students and convince them not to be afraid of science in the first place. Influence can work much better than any legislation. I do not care for the book banning by groups like “Moms for Liberty,” who have likely not read the constitution.”