Daily Archives: Jan. 14, 2007

Open thread

Jan. 14, 20071:05 a.m.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (36)

Kansas needs to be in on 2008 primary action

Jan. 14, 20071:04 a.m.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius included money for a 2008 presidential primary in her budget proposal, signaling that she understands the crying need to give Kansas voters a meaningful role in that vital selection process. The past cancellations of the primaries have been out of a recognition that they would come too late, after the nominees had been crowned. Yes, the prospect of having Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback on the GOP primary ballot should raise interest in the issue. But in telling the Topeka Capital-Journal that “the Republicans are interested in it because they’ve got a native son who wants to run,” Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, overlooked how wide open and compelling the Democratic nomination contest will be. With two competitive primary races, Kansas needs to get into the 2008 game.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Presidential race | Comments (18)

Don’t stick future generations with the bill

Jan. 14, 20071:03 a.m.

The Concord Coalition, a nonpartisan budgetary watchdog group, had an open letter to President Bush and Congress in the New York Times urging them to improve fiscal discipline and address long-term fiscal challenges. “Chronic heavy borrowing is gradually weakening our long-term economic strength,” the letter noted. “Moreover, failure to address the vast unfunded obligations of Social Security and Medicare — $39 trillion at last count — risks a generational conflict in which the children of today’s baby boomers will face the terrible choices of much higher taxes, dramatic cuts in their parents’ entitlement programs, greatly diminished ability to set their own spending priorities, or unsustainable debt.” Its prescriptions include: restore budget caps and pay-as-you-go rules, negotiate a bipartisan plan to balance the budget, and include long-term projections in the budget resolution.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Congress | Comments (82)

Let urban pioneers take the lead

Jan. 14, 20071:01 a.m.

It’s good that Commerce Street owners and residents aren’t waiting for city planners to spell out what their downtown neighborhood should look like — they’re moving ahead with plans for loft conversions, artist galleries and other revitalization ideas in keeping with these urban pioneers’ longtime vision of a funky alternative arts district.
City officials, who will eventually approve a Downtown Neighborhood Redevelopment Plan for this area, have wisely let Commerce Street stakeholders take the lead.
When the downtown arena was approved, some feared that this kind of locally driven, organic, small-scale regrowth would be pushed aside or overwhelmed by monolithic, top-down redevelopment plans.
That hasn’t happened so far. Where there is already momentum from locals with a direct stake in the area, it makes sense for public officials to get out of the way and let it happen.
Posted by Randy Scholfield

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Wichita government | Comments (33)

Kurtis’ Kansas sounds like a nice place to visit

Jan. 14, 20071:00 a.m.

More Kansans need to see Kansas and its potential as TV journalist Bill Kurtis does. He told a regional economic development group in Chanute Wednesday, “the No. 1 industry in America right now is tourism,” especially with boomers hitting retirement. “They want to go to a place where they can learn and experience something. We need to be ready.” Especially as more Americans continue to move to cities, he said, the state’s tourism lures could include natural prairie, historic sites, working ranches and showcases for local artisans. Kurtis, who owns a 8,000-acre ranch near Sedan, called for Kansas towns to set aside past rivalries and work regionally on their tourism potential. “You do it and I’ll sell it, by God,” he told the gathering. “We’ll have them rushing to this place. Do it before someone else gets the idea.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (14)