Good for Gov. Kathleen Sebelius for vetoing a petty budget provision that would have required state advertising to include a line saying the ads were financed with Kansas tax dollars. Besides being a prime example of legislative meddling (even "help wanted" ads would have needed the disclaimer), the provision would have meant the state was lying on the frequent occasions when an ad was actually paid for by federal funds, private grants or lottery ticket sales.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Why can’t local professional sports teams attract more fans? Some think the spotty attendance at Wichita Wranglers and Thunder games confirms fears that Wichita isn’t big enough to support pro sports. But it’s not as if Wichita doesn’t have sports fans — even fanatics. Wichita State University Shocker baseball and basketball pull in large crowds and inspire intense loyalty. Shocker fans identify with the players and the tradition, and feel an active part of the program. I think local pro teams need to work harder at cultivating that sense of fan ownership. It can happen: Wichita Wings soccer attracted a rabid following in the 1980s (before it lost its major-league affiliation), drawing almost 10,000 fans a game. What do you think of the prospects for pro sports in Wichita? Why aren’t more people coming out to the games?
Posted by Randy Scholfield
Instead of triggering the mother of all court battles, as many predicted, President Bush’s nomination of John Roberts to the U.S. Supreme Court has thus far resulted mostly in peace and quiet. In fact, the war room that the White House created to help push the nomination is so silent that they are holding meetings just to give them something to do, The New York Times reported. That’s good news for the country, which doesn’t need another nasty slugfest. But it’s bad news for the special interest groups on the left and right that depend on controversy to fire up their bases and raise money.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Medicare’s long-term financial outlook is many times worse than Social Security’s. That’s why it was so frustrating to read in a Washington Post news article that researchers estimate that $1 of every $3 of Medicare spending goes for unnecessary or inappropriate care. Even more frustrating and unacceptable is Medicare’s and Congress’ failure to curb this waste. Or to even seem to care.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
What a relief to learn last week that Standard & Poor’s had upgraded the state’s “issuer credit rating” to “stable” from “negative,” where it had been since 2002. Prompted by the recent jobs growth statewide and the fact that the state ended the fiscal year July 1 with $47.5 million more revenue than expected, the upgraded rating is the latest signal that the state’s economy is on the mend. As state leaders strive to meet obligations next year, at least higher borrowing costs shouldn’t be among their worries. But that’s no reason to go on a borrowing binge.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
