Author: Bob Weeks
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Sedgwick County, Golf Warehouse, reveal shortcomings in procedure
A decision by the Sedgwick County Commission to grant a forgivable loan of $48,000 to The Golf Warehouse is yet another example of local government relying on corporate welfare as economic development, and exposes how little deliberation is given to making these decisions.
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Arts won’t go away in Kansas
Around the country Kansas is being portrayed by government arts supporters as having taken a giant step backwards. For those who value the tenets of classical liberalism — liberty, individualism, skepticism about power, spontaneous order, free markets, limited government, and peace, to name a few — Kansas has moved forward. It’s sad and telling that…
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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Wednesday June 1, 2011
Today: Transportation planning; Pompeo, Huelskamp ‘no’ on debt limit; This Week in Kansas; Kingman is the first; Legislature is through for season; Stossel looks at energy.
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In Wichita, corporate welfare not needed, after all
Announcement of a new developer proceeding with a Save-A-Lot grocery store project — without any of the subsidies Wichita approved — raises questions as to whether the city’s original offer of public assistance was genuine economic development, or just another instance of corporate welfare.
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Kansas needs truth about schools
Kansas needs an honest assessment of the performance of its schools from education commissioner Diane M. DeBacker.
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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Tuesday May 31, 2011
Today: Pachyderm to feature DA Foulston; Sedgwick County Commission; Kansas budget signed; KPERS suit threatened; Stimulus jobs — or not; Government doesn’t create jobs.
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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Wednesday May 25, 2011
Today: The failure of American schools; Professors to Koch Brothers: Take your green back; History and legacy of Kansas populism; Federal grants seen to raise future local spending; Debt observed as sold.
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Kansas needs a dynamic economic growth policy
A dynamic market where many new business startups attempt to succeed and thrive while letting old, unproductive firms die is what contributes to productivity and economic growth. But most economic development policies, including those of Kansas and Wichita, do not encourage this dynamism, and in fact, work against it.
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Pickens criticism illustrates divide between free markets and intervention
Criticism by energy investor T. Boone Pickens of U.S. Representative Mike Pompeo and Koch Industries continues to illustrate the difference between those who believe in economic freedom and free markets, and those — like Pickens — who invest in politicians, bureaucrats, and the hope of a government subsidy.
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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Tuesday May 24, 2011
Today: Wichita office condo values; Gates’ education reform criticized; Pawlenty, Gingrich on ethanol; Permission required to export natural gas.
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In Kansas Legislature this year, opportunities for saving were lost
This year the Kansas Legislature lost three opportunities to improve the operations and reduce the cost of state government.