News from alternative media around Kansas for November 30, 2009.
Parkinson balances budget as promised, but now gearing up for tax hike(Kansas Liberty premium article) Analysis of the governor’s budget cuts, with a look forward: “Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson released a column yesterday illustrating how Monday’s cuts have devastated various [...]
The news that Kansas third district congressman Dennis Moore has decided not to seek reelection is a week old now, but the ramifications will take a while to shake out. As Martin Hawver put it in a recent Capitol Rail: “We don’t know who, but we’re imagining, somewhere [...]
To an appreciative Saturday evening audience, candidate for the Republican party nomination for United States Congress from the fourth district of Kansas Jim Anderson laid out in detail his political positions and his plans for Congress.
Anderson spoke as part of a series of events featuring Alan Keyes, who spoke [...]
Education, health care, Kansas school funding, unintended consequences.
Charter schools: Two studies, two conclusionsThis Washington Post article looks at two recent studies of charter schools to try and determine whether they perform better or worse than regular public schools. Kansas, in effect, has no charter schools. They’re allowed by state [...]
Illegal drug use and the accompanying war on drugs is a huge human problem in the United States. It’s time, according to some, for a radical rethinking of this situation. A group of current and former warriors from the frontlines of the war on drugs has such a perspective, and [...]
On Friday December 4, the Wichita Pachyderm Club presents Jack A. Cole. Cole is executive director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP). My interview with Cole is at Solution to drug problem to be presented in Wichita.
Here’s some information about LEAP from its website:
Founded on [...]
On Monday, the Wichita Chapter of Americans For Prosperity is holding an informative meeting to learn more about free market economics and its application.
The program is:
A trade exercise
A private property exercise
Group discussions of
“I, Pencil” by Leonard Reed
“The Law” by Frederic Bastiat
The Platinum [...]
On Monday and Tuesday, the Kansas House Appropriations Committee held hearings, and big topics were Kansas school funding and the Kansas budget. The reaction by school spending advocates to two speakers is illustrative of the highly divisive nature of public school operation and funding in Kansas.
We need to label them [...]
In an explanation presented to the Kansas House Appropriations Committee of how the Kansas state budget was balanced by Governor Mark Parkinson Monday, there’s a line item “Powerball income tax windfall.” The amount is $3.1 million, the result of a Kansan having won the multi-state jackpot not long ago. [...]
Topeka, Kansas — In testimony Monday before an interim session of the Kansas House Appropriations Committee, former Kansas Education Commissioner Bob Corkins supplied insight into Kansas school funding court decisions, and made some recommendations for the future.
In its ruling in the Montoy case (the 2005 case that ordered the Kansas [...]
Topeka, Kansas — At today’s meeting of the Kansas House Appropriations Committee, Walt Chappell presented ideas on increasing efficiency and reducing cost in Kansas schools.
Chappell, a Democrat from Wichita, was elected to the Kansas State Board of Education last year. He has 40 years varied experience as a [...]
Mike Pompeo at Wichita Pachyderm Club
Yesterday, Kansas fourth district congressional candidate Mike Pompeo addressed members and guests of the Wichita Pachyderm Club. His conservative message was [...]
Who knew?
Here’s today’s Capitol Flash from Martin Hawver, describing the lineup for a meeting of the Kansas House Appropriations Committee on Monday: “Queued up for that presentation … rogue State Board of Education member Walt Chappell, a Democrat from Wichita.”
In case you haven’t heard, Palin’s book, just out this [...]
Continuing a debate on Kansas school funding on the KPTS television public affairs program Kansas Week, Kansas Policy Institute (formerly the Flint Hills Center for Public Policy) President Dave Trabert appeared tonight to present KPI’s findings about school funding. While school spending advocates have criticized these findings, there’s [...]
Tomorrow, the monthly meeting of Kansans for Liberty features national conservative figure Alan Keyes and a presentation about Oathkeepers.
Keyes is in Wichita to endorse the candidacy of Jim Anderson for the Kansas fourth district congressional position. A preview of Keyes’ appearance by Wichita Eagle reporter Dion Lefler [...]
At yesterday’s meeting of the Wichita Metropolitan Area Planning Commission, a mix of politics and policy resulted in protection of a Wichita non-profit’s market, but at the loss of convenience to Wichitans.
The issue is about 65 red clothing recycling bins operated by American Recyclers of Tulsa. These bins [...]
The website GovTrack.us is a great resource for citizens who are interested in the United States Congress. With the rapid expansion of government in the recent past, this is something we should all be concerned with.
By using GovTrack.us, you can search for bills by their bill number, words [...]
I’m waiting for this headline to pop up in Kansas newspapers or blogs.
How else will Kansas leftists be able to describe Tom Wiggans, the newly announced candidate for the Democratic party nomination for Kansas governor?
Described by the Associated Press as “a former pharmaceutical company executive” — wait, doesn’t [...]
Last Friday, Jeff Fluhr, president of the Wichita Downtown Development Corporation, addressed members and guests of the Wichita Pachyderm Club. His topic was the future of downtown Wichita and its revitalization.
“It’s very important that we have a downtown that is very clear and very concise on where [...]
At stops in Topeka and Wichita, Kansas officials introduced the Efficiency Kansas loan program.
This is a program funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, better known as the stimulus bill. In Kansas, the State Energy Office, a subsidiary of the Kansas Corporation Commission, [...]
This Friday, the Wichita Pachyderm Club presents Kansas fourth district congressional candidate Mike Pompeo. This is another in a series of addresses by the Republican candidates for this position. All candidates have either already spoken to the Pachyderm Club or will be invited.
All are welcome to attend Pachyderm [...]
At today’s meeting of the Wichita City Council, an item no longer on the agenda still caused some controversy.
The Lord’s Diner, a charitable organization, had proposed buying a city-owned building at 21st and Grove and making a second site for their effort to feed Wichita’s poor.
Opposition from community [...]
There’s a new dog in town, and doing a great job already.
In New Mexico, the New Mexico Watchdog reported the story More Than 4,800 New Jobs Created in New Mexico in Less than a Month from Stimulus, According to Obama Administration Data, which is apparently the first [...]
News from alternative media around Kansas for November 16, 2009.
2010 Commission advocates tax hikes and wants more K-12 funding(Kansas Liberty) “The 2010 Commission, which monitors school finance, is recommending that Gov. Mark Parkinson and the Kansas Legislature raise taxes to maintain funding for K-12 education. The commission is not [...]
Last Thursday at a meeting of the City Clerks and Municipal Finance Officers Association of Kansas, the effectiveness of the federal economic stimulus and the Kansas economy were discussed. Americans For Prosperity National Director of State Operations Alan Cobb and Kansas Secretery of Revenue Joan Wagnon were [...]
In New London, Connecticut, developers wanted to build a new business complex on land owned by a number of homeowners, including Suzette Kelo. She didn’t want to sell, and the case eventually wound its way to the United States Supreme Court. In the decision, the court ruled in favor [...]
From the November 2007 archives. Since then, the Wichita schools have a new superintendent, and Kansas has raised its minimum wage.
An article in The Wichita Eagle “Plan offers hope for city’s troubled heart” (November 14, 2007) reports on the development of a plan named New Communities Initiative, its goal being [...]
The Wall Street Journal has compiled its editorials and op-eds into a collection titled The WSJ Guide to ObamaCare. It’s an invaluable collection of reporting and analysis.
For example: The German model, promoted by American liberals as a model to follow? “Alas, the German system is starting to come [...]
The blogger at the KRA got it just right in the post Liberal-socialists ignore government failure in insuring children.
It seems that at a recent rally in Johnson County, a sign said there were 58,000 uninsured children in Kansas.
The blogger points out “But doesn’t the state of Kansas [...]
Yesterday former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum appeared in Wichita to endorse the candidacy of Todd Tiahrt for the Republican party nomination for the Senate.
Santorum said he’s not often taken time to travel to help candidates, especially in primary elections. Referring to the “critical juncture” that he believes [...]
Last Friday immediate past Wichita mayor Carlos Mayans addressed members and guests of the Wichita Pachyderm Club.
Speaking of his experience as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives, Mayans said that Kansas state spending must be brought under control. Having served under governors from both parties, he [...]
This Friday, the Wichita Pachyderm Club presents Wichita Downtown Development Corporation president Jeff Fluhr. The topic is “Downtown Wichita’s Renaissance.”
All are welcome to attend Pachyderm club meetings. The program costs $10, which includes a delicious buffet lunch including salad, soup, two main dishes, and ice tea and coffee. The [...]
Young Americans for Liberty protest sign
Today Wichita Young Americans for Liberty held an event at Wichita State University to “protest our country’s communist tendencies and our government’s attempt to metaphorically rebuild [...]
On Wednesday, the Tea Party Express stopped in Wichita for a rally. Quite a few people attended — more on that in a moment — and the reaction to the event by Wichita’s Left perhaps says more about them than the protesters.
On several online discussion forums, including the Wichita [...]
Events over the last year have placed our nation’s monetary system in focus. Or, at least it should be in sharp focus, as U.S. monetary policy and the Federal Reserve System bear much responsibility for the financial crisis and the accompanying recession. Few politicians, Ron Paul being one, are [...]
News from alternative media around Kansas for November 9, 2009.
Political involvement and Kansas smoking ban(State of the State Kansas) “This week we focus on two issues: the proposed smoking ban in public places and getting young people involved in the political process.”
Districts Have Funds To Meet Projected $100 [...]Alan Keyes, former Reagan administration diplomat, National Security Council member, and presidential candidate, will speak at two events in Wichita supporting the Anderson for Congress campaign. Dr. Keyes will headline a public speech at the Beech Activity Center, 9710 E. Central, on Saturday November 21st at 7:15 pm titled [...]
Michelle Malkin in Wichita
At a fundraising event for Kansas Secretary of State candidate Kris Kobach, conservative author, journalist, and columnist Michelle Malkin delivered a message that appealed to conservatives, although not necessarily [...]
Legislation currently under consideration in Congress will allow citizens to sue the Department of Homeland Security if they believe that chemical plants are not in compliance with new regulations.
The new regulations — IST, or Inherently Safer Technology — are troubling enough, in that they may actually work [...]
Related content: Wichita’s tea party critics examined.
Today a large crowd — some people estimated the crowd at 1,500 to 1,700 — gathered on a beautiful fall day in Wichita for a stop of the Tea Party Express. The crowd enjoyed speeches and music. About 30 motorcyclists escorted the [...]
Yesterday the Wichita City Council approved plans for riverbank improvements that would benefit the Broadview Hotel in downtown Wichita. The cost is $2,200,000.
One of the problems with this action is that the renovation of the hotel is on hold, according to recent reporting. The reason given by the [...]
As Congress considers legislation that would force our nation’s chemical plants to make expensive changes in their processes and technologies, we need to make sure that we don’t cripple our economy just to appease a small group of environmental activists — all in the name of purportedly greater safety.
That’s the [...]
At a meeting of the Wichita City Council, it becomes clear that either the city doesn’t understand the meaning of the Kansas Open Records Act, or it has no intention of following it.
[...]Please note: Effective October 2, 2009, the location of Wichita Pachyderm Club meetings has changed. The new location is the Wichita Petroleum Club.
This Friday, the Wichita Pachyderm Club presents immediate past Wichita mayor Carlos Mayans as the speaker. His topic will be “National, State, and Local Issues.”
All are [...]
Remarks to be delivered to the November 3, 2009 meeting of the Wichita city council.
The Kansas Open Records Act (KORA), in KSA 45-216 (a) states: “It is declared to be the public policy of the state that public records shall be open for inspection by any person unless otherwise [...]
Wednesday, November 4, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, in the parking lot of Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, Sycamore and Maple Streets in Wichita. This is a stop on the nationwide tour of the bus and speakers.
“At each stop the tour will highlight some of the worst offenders in Congress who [...]
Economics In One Lesson
Henry Hazlitt
Economics In One Lesson, first published in 1946 and recently reissued by the Ludwig von Mises Institute, explains fallacies (false or mistaken ideas) that are particularly common in the field of economics and public policy.
At the very start of the book Hazlitt explains:
Economics is [...]
News from alternative media around Kansas for November 2, 2009.
Kansas House leaders question secretary of commerce’s departure to Missouri(Kansas Liberty) “The Republican leadership of the Kansas House is questioning the timing of former Kansas Secretary of Commerce David Kerr’s resignation to take a job as the director of the [...]
Although Constitution Day has passed for this year, the article below contains important ideas for us to remember every day of the year. Thank you to Al Terwelp of Overbrook for authoring this submission. I apologize for missing it on Constitution Day.
Thoughts on Constitution Day
Today, September 17, is [...]
Speaking to the Wichita Pachyderm Club on Friday, Kansas Representative Steve Brunk (Republican from Bel Aire) addressed taxation and spending in Kansas government.
Brunk said “We need more taxpayers, not more and higher taxes.” In evaluating legislation, he said he asks these questions: Does this help the state of Kansas [...]
