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David Burk, Wichita developer, overreaches
Read more: David Burk, Wichita developer, overreachesToday’s Wichita Eagle contains a story about a well-known Wichita real estate developer that, while shocking, shouldn’t really be all that unexpected. The opening sentence of the article (Developer appealed taxes on city-owned property) tells us most of what we need to know: “Downtown Wichita’s leading developer, David Burk, represented himself as an agent of…
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An inept Kansas smoking analogy
Read more: An inept Kansas smoking analogyIn today’s letter in the Eagle, Claycomb says that although the United States Constitution gives us the right to bear arms, since that right is heavily regulated, government has license to regulate smoking, as smoking isn’t mentioned at all in the Constitution.
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It’s not the same as pee in the swimming pool
Read more: It’s not the same as pee in the swimming poolIn a column in the February 27, 2008 Wichita Eagle (“Smoking ban issue not one to negotiate”), columnist Mark McCormick quotes Charlie Claycomb, co-chair of Tobacco Free Wichita, as equating a smoking section in a restaurant with “a urinating section in a swimming pool.” This is a ridiculous comparison. A person can’t tell upon entering…
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Kansas can’t afford a cigarette tax hike
Read more: Kansas can’t afford a cigarette tax hikeThe Kansas Health Policy Authority’s recommendation to use a 75-cent cigarette tax increase to pay for health costs should be worrisome — not only to smokers, but also to non-smokers and fiscally responsible legislators as well. The approach may seem appealing at first, but such tax increases are notoriously unpredictable and regressive. Funding a high-profile…
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Smoking is healthier than fascism
Read more: Smoking is healthier than fascismThere’s a Facebook group named Vote NO on Statewide Smoking Ban (Smoking is healthier than fascism). Started by Wichita activist Wendy Aylworth, the description of the group starts with the rallying cry “We must stop this tyranny of the majority!” Yes, we must.
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Kansas historic preservation building tax credits discussed
Read more: Kansas historic preservation building tax credits discussedSometimes on blogs people don’t take the time to read comments left to posts. Sometimes those comments provide valuable discussion and illumination of public policy issues. So here I take a moment to elevate a few comments left to a recent blog post.
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Kansas school spending advocates exaggerate employment losses
Read more: Kansas school spending advocates exaggerate employment lossesYesterday I reported how Kansas school spending advocates lie about facts in order to score political points with their constituencies. Today we again see how the school spending lobby distorts facts, this time in a very substantial way concerning an important matter.
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The changing face of journalism
Read more: The changing face of journalismAs newspapers and other forms of traditional news media experience economic difficulty, a gap has been created that needs to be filled. One of the solutions is the rise of non-profit organizations that have stepped in to provide the watchdog service that investigative journalism provides. Jason Stverak, author of the piece below, is president of…
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Ad spotlights Kansas school spending
Read more: Ad spotlights Kansas school spendingA television advertisement is calling attention to some facts that Kansas school spending advocates don’t want you to know.
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Wichita downtown planners hosting events
Read more: Wichita downtown planners hosting eventsThe Wichita Downtown Development Corporation is holding two events in February that should be of interest to those concerned about the future of downtown Wichita and the city and region as a whole.