He had just come from Pittsburg, where he visited with representatives of a highway advocacy group and shared some suggestions for a proposal to expand U.S. Highway 69 all the way to the Oklahoma line. Ryun said he advised them on how to put their proposal together, suggesting that they point out how dollars spent toward highway expansion will translate into economic growth. He also recommended working closely with the Kansas Department of Transportation and with legislators.

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As for getting back in the game, the Republican former legislator said, a little more than a year ago, he began to consider whether he should run for Congress again.

"The second question was, 'Is there the support?' And so I began to have 'listening' meetings after the first of the year and the support has been wonderful, fantastic in many places," he said.

"They know what I've done along the way, working on lower taxes... when I first went to Washington almost 12 years ago in '97, one of my first issues was to begin working on some of the commitments I made to help work on lower taxes, like the child tax credit."

He also worked on relief from the marriage tax penalty, debt tax, and small business tax, "...all of which has been important in terms of helping the economy grow," Ryun said.

As he has visited with people across District 2, Ryun said, it has become clear to him that more still needs to be done to create a healthy economy.

"The thing I have picked up on, and the thing I have felt is that my work isn't done -- that it's not completely accomplished yet," he said.

Asked what he thinks of the proposals to eliminate the Internal Revenue Service, Ryun said, "I think there has to be some reform and there's a need to address that issue, but you also have highways you have to build and you have to have some means of being able to support our military, so I look to the practical side of that. I'd like to see a lot of reforms. There are things I have, through the years, worked on, addressing that issue."

He said there are a number of alternatives being proposed to replace the current tax system.

"You've got a sales tax, you've got a flat tax, you've got the "fair" tax (proposal). You know, all of those are good for healthy debate. The more reforms we have, in terms of making it more responsible, I'm all for. That's why, through the years, I have worked on tax issues like that, trying to return more money back to Kansas, in the pockets. Having served on the Budget Committee, my view is that Washington has more than enough of your money. It's a matter of how they spend it. That's why reform is important, that's why lower taxes are important. You know, fiscal responsibility is important, and that's what I've worked on."

Ryun said he supports the U.S. military and, as a Congressman, he worked to keep Kansas military installations open and well equipped. Part of that involved working to help develop the kind of infrastructure that would provide not only needed housing, but the kind of practice ranges that soldiers needed, so that when the Base Realignment and Closure program evaluated the bases, they would have favorable reports.

"And we did have that. The Kansas delegation -- I was a part of that -- Fort Leavenworth, Fort Riley, Forbes Field in the Second District, all of those are favorable. And that's $500 million a year for Kansas, which is significant for the future of this state," Ryun said.

Concerning the Iraq war, he said, "I'm in support of our troops. You know, I have looked to the military leaders. They have been successful with regard to the surge. I want to see our military men and women coming home, but premature departure could destabilize that area. At the same time, the approach that we've taken, so far, is the right one. The surge has made a difference. And so now, we get the Iraqi government on its feet and then we begin the process of gradual withdrawal when our military leaders tell us it's time to do that. I have looked to them for the guidance and leadership, and I still do, because I think they really hold the answer, not a group of elected officials in Washington."

Asked what other issues he sees as priorities, Ryun said immigration is an important issue.