Daily Archives: April 21, 2007

Open thread

April 21, 20071:04 a.m.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Open thread | Comments (132)

Masterson unlikely to get big pay raise

April 21, 20071:02 a.m.

State Rep. Ty Masterson, R-Andover, is correct that serving in the Legislature can be a sacrifice. And that job duties can extend beyond the 90-day session. But his attempt to give lawmakers, particularly himself, a large pay raise is unlikely to fly.
Masterson wants to link legislative pay to the federal poverty guidelines, which are based on the number of people in a household, the Lawrence Journal-World reported. In Masterson’s case, there are eight people in his household, so his pay would be $34,570. Lawmakers currently are paid $84.80 per day when they are in session, plus $99 per day for expenses — or about $17,000 per session, plus extra money if they are in some leadership positions. That’s not a lot, but it’s not poverty wages.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Kansas government | Comments (47)

Yahoo human rights suit will be a test case

April 21, 20071:01 a.m.

Yahoo is guilty of “an act of corporate irresponsibility,” said Morton Sklar, executive director of the World Organization for Human Rights. Yahoo is being sued for turning over information to the Chinese government about the identity of dissidents who had posted writings on the Internet espousing democracy, the Washington Post reported. The Chinese activists reportedly have been arrested and tortured as a result. Yahoo officials said they had to comply with Chinese law in order to do business there.
Human rights advocates are attempting to turn the suit into a test case in their efforts to hold American companies accountable for human rights violations in other countries. Should American companies doing business in other countries comply with their laws, even if they go against the core values of our country?
Posted by Patrice Hein

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Business | Comments (26)

McCain a gun-rights guy

April 21, 20071:00 a.m.

Two days after the worst shootings in U.S. history, the Arizona senator and GOP presidential candidate declared his belief in “no gun control.” Though in the past he has supported background checks for gun show sales, for example, he told a S.C. crowd that the way to prevent more carnage like the Virginia Tech tragedy is by preventively identifying the would-be perpetrators. “I strongly support the Second Amendment and I believe the Second Amendment ought to be preserved — which means no gun control,” McCain said.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Health and safety | Comments (26)