Americans For Prosperity

Susan Estes of AFP and the upcoming summt
09
Aug
By Bob Weeks

Susan Estes of AFP and the upcoming summt

On the Joseph Ashby Show, Susan Estes of Americans for Prosperity-Kansas appeared on August 7, 2014. Bob Weeks is the guest host. We discuss the the goals of AFP and the upcoming Defending the American Dream Summit in Dallas. There are bus trips available from Wichita.
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In Kansas fourth district, fundamental issues of governance arise
01
Aug
By Bob Weeks

In Kansas fourth district, fundamental issues of governance arise

The contest in the Kansas fourth district is a choice between principle and political expediency, and between economic freedom and cronyism. While some news articles and political columns have described the contest for Republican Party nomination for United States House of Representatives between Todd Tiahrt and Mike Pompeo as a yawner, as between two candidates with few and only minor distinguishing positions -- there are important differences. The press is starting to notice. In the Wall Street Journal columnist Kimberly Strassel made the case for this contest's importance as a bellwether of Republican sentiment: A big decision comes Tuesday in…
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For Tiahrt, economic freedom is not a good thing, it seems
30
Jul
By Bob Weeks

For Tiahrt, economic freedom is not a good thing, it seems

Kansas congressional candidate Todd Tiahrt has criticized Charles Koch and Americans for Prosperity, leading us to wonder if Tiahrt understands or embraces the principles of economic freedom and free markets. In a recent speech, candidate for United States House of Representatives Todd Tiahrt criticized Americans for Prosperity and Charles Koch, telling an audience "in general, they try to fight programs that they think are not good for Koch Industries." He also said that for Mike Pompeo, Tiahrt's election opponent who is supported by Americans for Prosperity, they "think it’s all about the money." These allegations are contrary to positions and…
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28
Jul
By Bob Weeks

For McGinn, a liberal voting record is a tradition

Based on votes made in the Kansas Senate, the advertising claims of Sedgwick County Commission candidate Carolyn McGinn don't match her record. In a radio advertisement, Carolyn McGinn says she is conservative. In a mailer, she touts her "fiscal conservative leadership" in the Kansas Senate. But voting records don't match these claims. Several voting scorecards in recent years show Senator McGinn ranking low in terms of voting for economic freedom issues. These issues generally concern taxation, wasteful spending, and unnecessary regulation. In recent years, a freedom index has been produced by Kansas Policy Institute. In 2012 the Kansas Economic Freedom…
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Wichita city council schools citizens on civic involvement
19
Jun
By Bob Weeks

Wichita city council schools citizens on civic involvement

Proceedings of a recent Wichita City Council meeting are instructive of the factors citizens should consider if they want to interact with the council and city government at a public hearing. At the June 17, 2014 meeting of the Wichita City Council, one agenda item was a public hearing to consider adding a property to the city's facade improvement program. Susan Estes of Americans for Prosperity-Kansas appeared before the council during the hearing to express concern that a member of AFP (me) had made a request for information on the item, but had not received the information by the time…
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Kansas news media should report, not spin
25
Apr
By Guest Author

Kansas news media should report, not spin

A Hutchinson News editorial contained an uninformed opinion of which special interest groups are working for the best interests of Kansans. Following, Dave Trabert of Kansas Policy Institute explains that influence may be shifting from media, unions, the education establishment, cities, counties, and school boards to those with different views -- those of limited government and economic freedom that empower citizens, not an expansive government and its beneficiaries. The editorial referred to is Goodbye Democracy, Hello Wealthocracy. Media spin a threat By Dave Trabert Kansans are bombarded with claims that range from innocently incomplete to quite deliberately false. Increasingly, the…
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31
Mar
By Bob Weeks

Kansas newspapers against the children

A Kansas newspaper editorial illustrates that for the establishment, schools -- the institution of public schools, that is -- are more important than students. An unsigned editorial in the Garden City Telegram proclaimed "Another attempt to undermine public schools materialized last week in the Kansas Statehouse." (Legislators turn to ALEC for poor plan on schools, March 25, 2014.) What was in a bill that so worried the Telegram editorial writers? According to the op-ed, the dangerous provisions are "expansion of charter schools, overhaul of teacher licensing and tax breaks for private school scholarships." To the Telegram, these ideas are "radical"…
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13
Mar
By Bob Weeks

Harry Reid takes money from companies under investigation for bribery law violations

The Washington Examiner reports "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has received campaign contributions from people and political action committees linked to multiple companies suspected of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act." This comes as the Senate Majority Leader has used the Senate floor to criticize Charles and David Koch for doing things that Reid doesn't like ... such as advocating for and supporting free markets, economic freedom, and limited government. Near the end of February Reid said from the Senate floor this about ObamaCare: "Despite all that good news, there's plenty of horror stories being told. All of them…
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