Good for House-Senate negotiators for taking a stand against allowing 14- and 15-year-old brides in Kansas, despite the efforts of state Sen. Kay O’Connor, R-Olathe, and others to let younger teens wed with a judge’s permission. Prompted by the appalling case of the 22-year-old Nebraska man who married his 14-year-old pregnant girlfriend in Kansas last year, this is Kansas’ chance not only to set a minimum marriage age, but to set one that aligns with the state’s age of consent for sex (16).
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Maybe there is some political argument for declaring that the Federal Emergency Management Agency “is in shambles and beyond repair,” as senators did in releasing the results of a Senate inquiry Thursday. But many Americans will be skeptical of the call to scrap and reinvent the nation’s emergency response infrastructure, in light of the troubled track record of the new Department of Homeland Security. Especially with tornado season in progress, hurricane season starting June 1 and the threat of further terrorist attacks ongoing, this is one “bumbling bureaucracy” that needs to be fixed as soon as possible, and without closing for business.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
If Congress is going to pass an immigration bill this year, President Bush must take a strong leadership role. To his credit, he began doing so this week. He gave a speech Monday challenging those, primarily from his own party, who are calling for mass deportations. Then Tuesday he met with a bipartisan group of more than a dozen senators. The lawmakers hailed the meeting as a breakthrough that could help the compromise bill — which includes a guest-worker program and a path to citizenship — pass the Senate by the end of May.
The biggest challenge will be reconciling the Senate bill with the House bill, which focuses on border security and would make illegal immigration a felony. That will only happen with presidential leadership.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Travel to New Hampshire and Iowa aside, Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., still seems to think it’s too early to say whether he’s running for president in 2008. Not so the Spalding Group’s Republican Source Web site, where you already can buy “Brownback 08” shirts, caps, mugs, buttons, bumper stickers and mouse pads. Of course, you also can buy the same merchandise for 11 other potential GOP contenders. The site urges Republican shoppers: “Pick your favorite from an illustrious field of potential candidates and demonstrate your support. This is your chance to take a stand as we strive to keep the White House!”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
I don’t get the hand-on-hip pose of President Clinton’s presidential portrait. Rather than seeming casual — as Clinton said he wanted — it looks forced and awkward, particularly how his hip extends. Am I missing something? (And, please, keep your comments clean.)
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
It’s great news that Invista is adding 60 new jobs to its corporate headquarters in Wichita — especially given Boeing Wichita’s announcement last week that it was cutting 900 jobs. The Invista jobs will average $85,000 a year, according to the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition. Even though Invista is a subsidiary of Wichita’s Koch Industries, it could locate anywhere. Thanks for choosing Wichita.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
