Daily Archives: Jan. 25, 2010

Democrats schedule Wichita watch party for Obama’s State of Union speech Wednesday

Jan. 25, 20102:51 p.m.
President Obama

Pres. Obama

Sedgwick County Democrats will host a watch party Wednesday night for President Obama’s State of the Union speech.

The event is open to the public and will offer Democrats and others an opportunity to discuss the speech and how to move forward on issues the president raises, said Lyndsay Stauble, executive director of the county party.

The watch party will run from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. at the All Ocassions Event Center, 4940 E. 21st Street North, Wichita.

The president’s speech is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.

For information or to RSVP, call 316-262-7534.

By Dion Lefler | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments

Huckabee to campaign for Kelsey in Wichita in 4th District congressional race

Jan. 25, 20102:20 p.m.
Huckabee

Huckabee

Former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee will come to Wichita Feb. 24 to support state Sen. Dick Kelsey’s congressional campaign.

The Kelsey campaign announced today that Huckabee, the top vote-getter in the 2008 Kansas GOP presidential caucus, will make a campaign appearance and raise funds for Kelsey’s bid to replace Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard.

Last year, Huckabee endorsed and taped a radio commercial for Kelsey.

In November, Huckabee held a book signing at Watermark Books in Wichita and drew long lines of supporters who waited 90 minutes or more to get his autograph.

Kelsey is running for the GOP nomination against fellow state Sen. Jean Schodorf, R-Wichita; Republican National Committeeman Mike Pompeo, oilman and football-team owner Wink Hartman and small-business owner Jim Anderson.

Democrats seeking their party’s nomination include state Rep. Raj Goyle, D-Wichita, and Robert Tillman, a retired court services officer.

The Kelsey campaign said Huckabee will speak at an open event from 9-9:45 a.m. Feb. 24 at the Holiday Inn, 549 S. Rock Road, followed by a 15-minute news conference.

For information, call (316) 771-7310

By Dion Lefler | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments

Mayor to give State of the City address Tuesday

Jan. 25, 201012:36 p.m.
Brewer

Brewer

Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer will give his 2010 State of the City Address at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Wichita City Council Chamber at City Hall, 455 N. Main.

The city wants attendees to arrive early since there could be a line at the security checkpoint.

The speech will also be broadcast and replayed on cable Channel 7. It will be aired live at www.wichita.gov as well.

By Brent Wistrom | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments

Ban on using tax dollars to sue the state gets Senate Judiciary hearing

Jan. 25, 201010:50 a.m.

TOPEKA – Sen. Dick Kelsey wants to send a message to entities thinking about suing the state using tax dollars – don’t do it.

“In our Constitution the Legislature is clearly given the responsibly to determine policy regarding the expenditure of state funds,” the Goddard Republican wrote in testimony submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee. “It is our duty to decide what to spend and how to spend it, not the courts.”

The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hear testimony Monday on Senate Concurrent Resolution 1621, which Kelsey introduced. The resolution seeks to bar entities from using tax dollars to sue the state seeking more money.

“I also believe very strongly that it is wrong to use taxpayer money to sue the Legislature to get more taxpayer money,” Kelsey wrote. “If groups want to sue, let them use their own money.”

The resolution does not come with any penalties for groups that do use tax dollars to sue the state.

The group Schools for Fair Funding, which includes the Wichita district, filed a motion earlier this month with the state Supreme Court arguing that Kansas should be spending more money on public education. The motion argues the state is out of compliance with the court’s 2006 ruling that forced the state to increase funding for public schools by $1 billion.

Over the last year, Gov. Mark Parkinson and lawmakers have cut about $1 billion from the state budget which started at $6.4 billion.

For more, read Tuesday’s Wichita Eagle.

By | Filed under Statehouse | Comments