Senator Roberts: Cap & Trade Bad for Kansas

Senator Pat Roberts continues to be an advocate for Kansans - whether it's opposing government-run health care or fighting energy legislation that will hit Kansas agriculture, small businesses, and families with higher taxes. Here is a letter to the editor by Senator Roberts in the Salina Journal:

Cap and tax problems

The latest cap and tax proposal introduced by my Senate colleagues from Massachusetts and California might sound pretty good on the coasts, but to those of us that live and work in Kansas and across the Midwest, this bill raises the price of gasoline, diesel, fertilizer, natural gas and coal.

If this bill were to pass, Kansans, and all Americans, including those in big cities that depend on the food and fiber we grow, are likely to see an increase in our utility bills, transportation costs and basic consumer goods in exchange for little to no reduction in carbon emissions.

It is not in the best interests of the United States to undertake mandatory carbon reductions until developing countries like China, India and Brazil agree to the same. As a member of the Senate Agriculture and Senate Finance Committees, I will continue to fight against such proposals that limit our ability to compete in a global marketplace, ration domestic energy and result in greater government bureaucracy.

-- U.S. SEN. PAT ROBERTS, R-Kan.

Obama's (DIS) APPROVAL

According to a new SurveyUSA poll (conducted Sept 27-28) - 39% of Kansans approve of the job Barack Obama is doing as President. 57% of Kansans disapprove.

Most surprising to us in the poll: When you look at the President's approval by age group - the age range 18-34 disapproved of the President more than any other range. 30% approve/65% disapprove. Very shocking when you think back to the campaign and how our country's youth was the most energized by Obama's movement of CHANGE. Good to know that at least Kansas' youth understand what he's doing to our country.

Also in the poll - Senator Roberts job approval holds strong at 54%/37% disapprove. Looks like Kansans do support him in his opposition to the President's health care plan.

Gingrich to speak at Dole Center

Former Speaker of the House and conservative policy guru will be speaking at KU this fall.

From the Topeka-Capital Journal:

As part of a series of programs this fall at the Dole Institute of Politics at The University of Kansas, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will be the inaugural Robert J. Dole Distinguished Visiting Fellow.

Gingrich will visit the institute on Nov. 4. Doors will open at 6 p.m., and the program will begin at 7:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

Gingrich was first elected as a U.S. representative from Georgia in 1978. He then served as House speaker from 1995 to 1999.

Shocker: Another Entitlement Program Bankrupt

Congress is in the midst of possibly creating a whole new government entitlement program via government-run healthcare and at the state level, a KU study reveals the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System is "bankrupt". Shocking!

At the federal level, Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security are all rapidly becoming insolvent and yet liberals are insistent government do more, spend more, and promise more...to more people! This will for sure be front and center for the state legislature when they reconvene in January.

From the Lawrence-Journal World:

TOPEKA - A Kansas House committee is preparing to take up the state pension system's long-term funding problems.

Chairman Kevin Yoder says the Appropriations Committee will review a recent report about the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System at a meeting next week.

The report by the University of Kansas describes KPERS as "bankrupt."

State officials disagree but acknowledge significant funding issues in the pension fund for teachers and government workers.

Late last year, KPERS projected the gap between its income and expenses over the next 25 years at $8.3 billion. However, KPERS officials say no current retirees' benefits are in danger.

Alan Jilka for Congress: He's Bilingual!

We didn't think the Democrats would even find someone to run for Moran's seat. But former three-term Salina city commissioner and mayor Alan Jilka announced yesterday. Jilka's campaign manager - a Sebelius minion - used an interesting rationale for his candidacy: he's bilingual...and spent time in Latin America.

From the Salina Journal:

...And, he speaks Spanish

Jilka has hired as a campaign consultant Chris Cardinal of Lawrence. Cardinal, originally from Salina, worked on campaigns for Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, as well as for groups such as the Kansas Health Care Association and the Great Plains Alliance for Clean Energy.

"I will say I know that Alan's going to be a really hard worker. He's going to run a grass roots campaign, he'll be visiting a lot of different areas and making sure he can connect with as many constituents as possible," Cardinal said Wednesday.

He said Jilka's city government experience will aid his candidacy, as will Jilka's interest and experience visiting and living in Latin American countries, and Jilka's fluency in Spanish.

"He will be able to communicate with quite a few (Hispanic) constituents with whom there may not have been as strong a connection by those representing them in the past," Cardinal said. FULL STORY

Kansan Refuses to Be Victim

This letter to the editor today is a must read in the Topeka-Capital Journal. Apparently, this Kansan was used in a column awhile by back liberal and former Congressman Dr. Bill Roy. Roy portrayed this man as being a helpless victim and a reason why we should simply give in to government run health care. Liberals LOVE to use people and their unfortunate stories for their political gain. However, this citizen not only stands up for himself, but refuses to play the victim. We will let Mr. Asher speak for himself.

Surprise, surprise, I somehow garnered the attention of a political figure as important as Bill Roy when I attended Rep. Lynn Jenkins' town hall meeting in Holton. Never did I imagine he would want to write about me in his Sept. 19 column in The Topeka Capital-Journal.

I am honored. But let's look a little closer at what Roy had to say in his column, just to set the record straight.

It is true that I am a dialysis patient, although I am 49, not 45 as Roy said in his column. I hate that my treatment is paid for by the government. Yes, I said hate. The more the government pays, the more control it wants. And that control will be between you and your doctor. Is that the kind of care you want?

I don't think the government will do a good job with my medical care, and I talk from personal experience. I don't think that if 47 million people were added to the ranks of the insured that we would have enough medical personnel to care for them all. Finally, I don't believe a government that can't run the post office efficiently, that can't run Cash for Clunkers correctly, should run medical care, which will cost us trillions of dollars and amount to 1/6th of the total budget. Would you?

So you see, Bill Roy, I may have lost control of my medical treatment, but I have not lost the right to voice my concerns about the direction some in Washington, D.C., are trying to take us. And I will be at the voting booth each and every year to cast my ballot for those who believe as I do.

I am so glad I had the opportunity to meet you, Bill Roy. The next time we meet, I hope you won't feel the need to write about me just to pen a column to support your views - views that if they become policy will hurt this great country and run up a debt that our grandchildren will never be able to repay.

MATTHEW S. ASHER,

Holton

Cato Institute: Education Funding & Results

Great chart from Cato Institute regarding education funding since 1970 and test scores. We think it speaks for itself. h/t Kansas WatchDog

From Cato:

The debate over No Child Left Behind re-authorization is upon us.

Except it isn’t.

In his recent speech kicking off the discussion, education secretary Arne Duncan asked not whether the central federal education law should be reauthorized, he merely asked how.