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Daily Archives: April 28, 2006
Is ‘United 93′ too soon?
April 28, 200612:01 p.m.
When the trailer for the new movie “United 93” was shown at theaters, some audience members yelled “too soon.” But Cal Thomas argues in a column in Friday’s Eagle that “if anything, this is a film that isn’t too soon; it isn’t soon enough.” Thomas argues that the film about the Sept. 11 hijacking of the plane that crashed into a Pennsylvania field “reminds us of what we must never forget” and “is a necessary reality check for those with short memories.” What do you think? Anyone plan to see it?
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Concealed-carry licenses should be open records
April 28, 200612:09 a.m.
Karole Bradford, program director of Safe State Kansas, argued in a commentary in The Eagle that concealed-weapon licenses need to be open records to make sure the permitting system works properly (are only the people who qualify for the permits receiving them?) and to track the impact of the new law (are permit holders committing crimes?). She’s right. Some lawmakers have argued that the records should be closed for safety reasons (so that a criminal won’t know who is carrying and who isn’t). But that seems a big stretch (are muggers going to first do a database search before robbing someone?) and not enough of a reason to close these records. As Bradford wrote: “This is what the Kansas Open Records Act is all about — subjecting governmental decision making to public scrutiny so that Kansans can be sure the law is being followed.”
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
What did Morris say, and when did he say it?
April 28, 200612:07 a.m.
Did Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, say that he was in contact with an employee of the Kansas Supreme Court who guaranteed he or she could sway the court to accept a school-finance bill? Morris says “no.” So do three other senators. But three more — including Sen. Susan Wagle, R-Wichita, and Sen. Jim Barnett, R-Emporia — claim Morris did say that in a conversation with them. Who is right? Who knows? But at least seven lawmakers have been interviewed by investigators in the attorney general’s office about Morris’ luncheon with Justice Lawton Nuss. Lawmakers should trust the A.G. office — and a separate inquiry into Nuss’ role by the Commission on Judicial Qualifications — to determine if there is any evidence of attempts to influence the court. And in the meantime, the controversy doesn’t change lawmakers’ responsibility to suitably finance public education.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Press briefings have turned into a TV show
April 28, 200612:03 a.m.
“The Washington press corps — working in an industry that’s been transformed by talk radio, 24-hour cable news and the Internet — still views the White House briefing room as it was back in the 1950s — or the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s or even early ’90s,” Ari Fleischer, President Bush’s first press secretary, wrote in The Washington Post. “Despite dramatic changes forged by live coverage and instant analysis, the press fondly adheres to the notion that the briefing can be conducted the way it used to be. But as Tony Snow, the new White House press secretary, will soon discover, the briefing is no longer a briefing, it’s a TV show.”
Fleischer said that the briefing participants mostly talk past one another, with reporters playing it up for the cameras and the spokesman trying hard not to say something that he doesn’t want repeatedly endlessly on cable news shows. Fleischer said the more substantive briefings occur in smaller groups when the cameras aren’t rolling.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Optima buses for Miami mean jobs for Wichita
April 28, 200612:01 a.m.
Congratulations to Optima Bus for landing a highly competitive $178 million contract this week to manufacture 300 Opus buses over five years for Miami-Dade County, with an option for 300 more. Because the contract is 10 times bigger than any other Optima has won, the company plans to add 50 assemblers, 20 engineers and more to its 180 workers, and spend $500,000 to reconfigure the plant at 77th Street North and Hydraulic. “It’s jobs, jobs, jobs, at this point,” CEO Michael Monteferrante said. This is exciting news for the Wichita area, especially given the latest Boeing Wichita layoffs.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
