Quick takes Archives - Page 5 of 19 Voice For Liberty

Oct

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Monday October 10, 2011

AFP meeting features former Congressman Tiahrt. Tonight's (October 10th) meeting of Americans for Prosperity, Kansas features former United States Representative Todd Tiahrt speaking on "How regulations affect our economy." There will be a presentation followed by a group discussion. Tiahrt represented the fourth district of Kansas from 1995 to 2011. He is presently our states Republican National Committeeman. ... This free meeting is from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the Lionel D. Alford Library located at 3447 S. Meridian in Wichita. The library is just north of the I-235 exit on Meridian. The event's sponsor is Americans for Prosperity,…

Oct

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Wednesday October 5, 2011

Green energy in Kansas. Kansas Representative Charlotte O'Hara of Overland Park issues a cautionary note on Kansas energy policy. Commenting on Kansas Governor Sam Brownback's recent energy policy forum, she writes: "I applaud the governor’s energy summit, however with the recent events and controversy swirling around the issue of renewable/green energy initiatives at the federal level (Solyndra), we in Kansas need to step back and analyze whether our current tax incentive packages for green energy is based on sound economic principles or rather an attempt to embrace 'green' energy for politically correct reasons. Here’s the question that begs to be…

Oct

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Monday October 3, 2011

Wichita City Council. Tomorrow the Wichita City Council considers these items: First, the council will have a do-over of a public hearing it held on September 21st. The need for this arises from a mistake regarding proper notification. Mistakes like this are not uncommon at Wichita city hall. ... Then the council considers revising the development agreement for the Ken-Mar TIF district. More about that at Ken-Mar TIF district, the bailouts. ... The council will be asked to approve an agreement with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 513 providing for pay raises of 2.5 percent per year for the…

Sep

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Wednesday September 28, 2011

Obama’s intercontinental railroad. Burton Folsom notices a recent speech by President Barack Obama that mentioned how America built the "intercontinental railroad." Folsom grants Obama some slack for the gaffe -- we all make them, after all -- and explains to readers the most important lesson that should be learned from our experience building the transcontinental railroad: "... the story of the transcontinental railroads really is a great teaching tool for today. If we study the Union Pacific, the Central Pacific, and the Northern Pacific Railroads, we learn they all went broke after receiving a combined total of 61 million acres…

Sep

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Monday September 26, 2011

Who creates jobs? Paul Jacob of Citizens in Charge Foundation knows that it's not government that creates jobs. It's people that do. And, there is one presidential candidate who knows this too. This candidate said during a recent debate "The fact is I can unequivocally say that I did not create a single job while I was governor." Read more at Who Creates Jobs? Pompeo to address Pachyderms. This week's meeting (September 30th) of the Wichita Pachyderm Club presents U.S. Representative Mike Pompeo of Wichita on "An update from Washington." ... The public is welcome and encouraged to attend Wichita…

Sep

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Friday September 23, 2011

Downtown Wichita site launched. As part of an effort to provide information about the Douglas Place project, a proposed renovation of a downtown Wichita office building into a hotel, a group of concerned citizens has created a website. The site is named Our Downtown Wichita, and it's located at dtwichita.com. Keystone pipeline hearing, bus trip. On Monday the United States Department of State will hold hearings in Topeka concerning a proposed petroleum pipeline. Says Americans for Prosperity: "Our great country has an opportunity to complete a project that would provide billions of dollars in economic activity, create thousands of high-paying…

Sep

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Tuesday September 20, 2011

Douglas Place value. The budget published by the city for the Douglas Place project, a downtown Wichita hotel, includes $2,600,000 for purchase of the existing building that will be turned into the hotel. According to Sedgwick County, the property has an appraised market value of $710,900. A good question for someone to ask is why the developers are paying so much more than that -- or why the property is appraised so low if in fact it is worth $2,600,000. Or, does the fact that the city is offering subsidies drive up the value of property? Douglas Place vote delayed.…

Sep

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Monday September 12, 2011

TIF not good for everyone, it seems. One of the criticisms of tax increment financing (TIF) is that it diverts tax revenue away from the general operations of government and into the hands of private concerns. Supporters of TIF deny this, using a variety of arguments. But as always, actions speak louder than words. In this case, examination of city documents finds that the Wichita Downtown Development Corporation, which is funded by a special property tax district, is exempt from the TIF district. (Actually, it's the SSMID that's exempt, but the only reason the SSMID exists, and the only thing…

Sep

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Friday September 9, 2011

A citizen call to action. This month's meeting of Americans for Prosperity, Kansas focuses on the Douglas Place project in downtown Wichita. Event organizers write: "On September 13, 2011 the Wichita City Council will be holding a public hearing to consider approval of millions of dollars of public incentives being offered to the downtown Douglas Place project developers. Monday's meeting will have these topics: Learn about the incentive programs being offered. ... Learn and consider getting involved in this issue as a citizen. ... Consider testifying before the City Council. ... Attend the council meeting to show your support for…

Sep

By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Tuesday September 6, 2011

Live music example of overcriminilization, regulation in Wichita. The Wichita Eagle reports on examples of problems establishments have faced for not complying with Wichita's requirement for a live music license, which costs $400 per year. In the story No entertainment license in Wichita? Live music is illegal, it is reported that city officials are working with art gallery and coffeehouse owners to revise the ordinance. I agree with Adam Hartke, who wonders why there should be any fees. Like the recently passed regulations on haunted houses, these regulations appear to be regulating something that's not a problem. Tax reform in…