(Photo courtesy of campaign website)

Pete Hoekstra represented West Michigan including his hometown of Holland for 18 years in the U.S. House. He is now one of three Republicans vying for his party’s nomination for U.S. Senate.

In an interview with WMUK Wednesday morning, Hoekstra discussed a Federal Elections Commission complaint filed against a Super PAC supporting Republican rival Clark Durant. Hoekstra says the Super PAC violated campaign finance law by not including any contribution records in its latest report. He says they only amended the record after deciding to launch television advertising.

Hoekstra says contributions to campaigns, PACs and Super PACs should be reported on-line. He says current technology makes it possible to put them on-line within 72 hours of when they are received.

In response to a question on Twitter about education, Hoekstra said the No Child Left Behind Act has put a burden on local schools while moving control to Washington D.C. He says responsibility for education should rest with the states and local school districts.

Hoekstra says a deal reached last year that calls for across the board cuts, including defense, was a mistake. He says there could be strategic cuts in the military.

Hoekstra says he doesn’t favor tax increases, but believes that tax reform could help create more jobs. He says that would bring more money to federal coffers.

Hoekstra says Republican voters looking for sweeping change shouldn’t be put off by his 18 years in Congress. The Holland Republican says he was part of reform efforts involving union elections, national intelligence and fiscal policy.

WMUK has extended invitations to all of the Republican candidates for U.S. Senate who are actively campaigning. Tuesday's interview with Randy Hekman can be heard here. An interview with Clark Durant is scheduled for next week.