Kudos to two Wichita-area lawmakers, Sens. Jean Schodorf and Carolyn McGinn, for introducing a bill that would impose a no-protest buffer zone around funeral services.
The measure, similar to funeral laws being proposed in several other states, would help sideline the ghoulish Phelps “church” of Topeka, whose members have been noisily picketing funerals and harassing grieving family members in scores of anti-gay protests around the country.
Although there are legitimate free speech rights involved, grieving families have privacy and worship rights, too. Many legal experts think that a buffer zone could pass constitutional muster if the distance requirement was reasonable. The Kansas bill would impose a 300-foot buffer, the length of a football field — far enough to shield family members from in-your-face protests, but not so far as to prevent protesters from exercising their speech rights.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
It’s surprising that more “limited government” conservatives aren’t bigger proponents of open meetings and open records. Isn’t shining sunlight on government activities a key to keeping its power in check? But at least conservative Sens. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler (in photo), and Kay O’Connor, R-Olathe, get it. They, along with Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, received the Kansas Sunshine Coalition’s Friend of Open Government Award for helping make needed changes last year to the Kansas Open Meetings Act, including passing the “Lew Perkins” law that discloses compensation agreements of anyone in a public position. Now these lawmakers and others need to make campaign-finance records more open and timely, so that voters can know who is funding campaigns. To his discredit, Hensley helped blocked these new reporting rules last session.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Conservative New York Times columnist David Brooks argued on “The Charlie Rose Show” on PBS last week that the majority of Americans are somewhere in the political middle. As a result, a centrist third party could dominate politics. But he doesn’t see that ever happening, in large part because of our nation’s political primary system. He also said that moderates lack the think tank and academic support that helps give liberals and conservatives intellectual momentum. The best that likely could happen, he said, is that someone such as Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., would get elected president and help guide government more toward where most of the public is — the center.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Conservative columnist Bob Novak wrote in an interesting column that the new Medicare prescription drug benefit is unfolding as a major liability for the Republican Party and for chief White House strategist Karl Rove in particular, who envisioned the program as a way to make GOP inroads in a traditional Democratic constituency — low- and middle-income seniors.
Instead, the complicated and costly program is causing widespread frustration and anger among seniors trying to figure out how to use it, as well as anxiety among Republican leaders looking ahead to midterm elections. It will be interesting to see how well this issue plays out.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
Chicago Tribune writer Mark Jacob recently had this apt observation about 2005: From “God’s Rottweiler” to “Brownie” to “Scooter” to “The Hammer” to “Scalito” to the unmasking of “Deep Throat” and such fusions as “TomKat” and “Brangelina,” it really was the year of the nickname. (In prison, by the way, Martha Stewart was “M. Diddy.”) Especially because George Bush is such a habitual nicknamer himself, it makes you wonder why he hasn’t acquired any lasting monikers since “Dubya,” “43” and “Shrub.” Any suggestions?
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Having affordable, accessible air service isn’t just important for Wichita-area businesses; it’s also key to the region’s tourism efforts. It is difficult to land large conventions if our airfares are high and our service is poor. “It’s a reason not to come here,” John Rolfe, president and CEO of the Greater Wichita Convention and Visitors Bureau, told The Eagle’s editorial board. That’s why the bureau wisely is part of the legislative push to get state financial support for Mid-Continent Airport. “All of Kansas benefits,” 2005 board chairman Ken Lerman said at the bureau’s annual meeting Thursday. “Therefore, all of Kansas, including northeast Kansas, must now join Wichita in supporting quality air service and lower airfares in Wichita and south-central Kansas.” He’s right.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
