Month: January 2009
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First Amendment Defense Thorny Issue for Kansas Ethics Commission
The Kansas Meadowlark is covering a case before the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission that has free speech implications. The Meadowlark’s report is First Amendment Defense Thorny Issue for Ethics Commission.
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Is 65 Percent the Solution?
At the Kansas Education blog, a post titled Is 65 Percent the Solution? examines some of the arguments and policy considerations surrounding the popular proposal that schools must spend at least 65 percent of their funds in the classroom. Whatever that — “in the classroom” or on “instruction” — means. And that’s part of the…
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Another Misleading Question by GPACE
Yesterday we saw how the website of the Great Plains Alliance for Clean Energy contains a list of ten questions for Sunflower supporters. My post GPACE “Sunflower” Questions Misleading showed how these questions are designed to influence public opinion in a very misleading manner. One of the ways some of the questions are misleading is…
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Wichita Construction Company Contributes; Hopes Schools Will be “Big”
Sunday’s Wichita Eagle contains a profile of Rick McCafferty, executive vice president of Key Construction. (A Conversation with Rick McCafferty January 18, 2009) In this article, Mr. McCafferty is quoted as saying “Schools are going to be big for us. Obviously we are pleased that Wichita passed its school bond issue.” Quite an understatement, I’d…
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President Obama on Government Transparency
The way to make a government responsible is not simply to enlist the services of responsible men and women, or to sign laws that ensure that they never stray. The way to make government responsible is to hold it accountable. And the way to make government accountable is make it transparent so that the American…
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Just Say No to Stimulus
“Congress should not enact an expensive spending bill under the pretense of stimulus or recovery. We cannot spend our way to prosperity, and such an expansion of the federal government will put a crushing burden on taxpayers in the long-term.” That’s the online petition at NoStimulus.com. This website, a project of Americans For Prosperity, provides…
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Annoyed by Anti-Annoyance Law
Here’s Paul Jacob‘s commentary for today. I’m annoyed by a new law passed in the Michigan town of Brighton City. According to the ordinance, police may fine anyone who is too annoying in public. Up to $500. The ordinance states: “It shall be unlawful for a person to engage in a course of conduct or…
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Welcome to Washington
I am not entirely sure it is not, but my personal impression is that nothing makes people more cynical about government than working for it. I have never heard a libertarian speak about the futility of most government departments the way American and foreign officials often do in restaurants or bars on Capitol Hill, on…
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What does Success Mean for President Obama?
Today’s Wichita Eagle editorial is typical of many that wish our new president success — for the good of the nation, of course. What, however, does success for President Obama mean? There are two (or more) ways that success might be realized. One definition of success is that President Obama is able to lead our…
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Wichita School Board Races Need Candidates
Here’s a letter from citizen activist John Todd, encouraging residents of USD 259, the Wichita school district, to consider running for and serving on its board. As of this morning, one incumbent and one other person have filed. With the passage of the $370 million dollar bond and with USD 259?s budget in excess of…
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GPACE “Sunflower” Questions Misleading
The website of the Great Plains Alliance for Clean Energy contains a list of ten questions for Sunflower supporters. (It seems if you’re an environmentalist, the term “Sunflower” is enough to let you know what these questions are about. For normal Kansans, though, they’ll need a little more information. These questions refer to Sunflower Electric…
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Analysis: The Sebelius Court
Somehow, notice of a few things slipped by. First is the excellent Kansas Supreme Court Blog. I don’t know who is writing this blog, but it contains a great deal of information about its narrow topic. Second: From this blog I learned that the lawyer that Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius recently appointed to the Kansas…