All members of Congress — Republicans and Democrats — should be concerned about the executive power and privilege claimed by the Bush administration. But today’s House Judiciary Committee vote to hold two Bush aides in contempt may not be the smartest response.
The committee voted along party lines to hold Josh Bolten, White House chief of staff, and Harriet Miers, former White House counsel, in contempt for refusing to testify in an investigation into the firings of nine U.S. attorneys.
But former Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., argued, “Absent showing that a crime was committed in this process, I think the White House is going to win an argument in court,” the Washington Post reported. He contends that the better approach would be to file a lawsuit challenging President Bush’s executive privilege claim.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
The federal minimum wage increased Tuesday to $5.85 an hour, but that didn’t help an estimated 19,000 Kansans not covered by the federal law. Those Kansans still only have to be paid the state’s minimum wage — a measly $2.65 an hour.
“The Kansas minimum wage is a poverty wage,” Carla James, president of Kansas Action Network, said at a Statehouse rally Tuesday calling for an increase in the state wage, the Topeka Capital-Journal reported.
The Legislature rejected a proposed increased this past session, with many lawmakers arguing it might hurt small businesses. It’s also unclear how many Kansans actually make only $2.65 an hour.
But Heidi Zeller of KAN noted that if a person works full time at $2.65 an hour, he earns less than $6,000 annually. “A job should keep you out of poverty,” she said, “not keep you poor.”
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
John Edwards’ new YouTube video is a clever and strong response to the guff he’s gotten about his hair, including the killer "I Feel Pretty" video, which shows him endlessly primping. Edwards’ own 30-second video, set to the music of "Hair," shifts from pictures of hair to photos of Iraq, Katrina and a protest about the lack of health care. It ends with the line, "What really matters? You choose."
Still, Edwards likely will continue to be dogged by his mane, especially because the Washington Post reported that Edwards has paid much more than $400 for a haircut. At various times, the Edwards campaign has flown his Beverly Hills stylist to other cities to give Edwards a trim, and has paid as much as $1,250 in expenses.
Apparently, hair matters at least a little.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Further evidence that GOP primary politics can get rough, especially over defining social issues: Sam Brownback’s Iowa "robocall" assault on the pro-life credentials of Mitt Romney and Tom Tancredo, which has both candidates demanding apologies. Tancredo’s acceptance of campaign money from a Planned Parenthood backer might be a legitimate criticism (though it hardly matters, given Tancredo’s lack of electability). But does the Brownback campaign really think it’s fair to blast Romney for his wife’s past donations?
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Good for the Wichita City Council for not only speaking out Tuesday in support of Sedgwick County’s much-maligned downtown arena but also passing a resolution restating the council’s support for the project. The city can help address public concerns about arena parking. But, as City Council member Paul Gray said, "We need to stop this crazy talk about shutting the arena down."
Posted by Rhonda Holman
How sad to see the Prairie Rose Chuckwagon Supper, and its cowboy movies and wagon and train rides, apparently brought down by Wild West World’s bankruptcy. As our editorial Tuesday noted, there are other ways to enjoy "lip smacking bar-b-que and great cowboy music," as a Prairie Rose billboard put it, but none quite so informal and entertaining as at the working ranch near Benton.
With the supper club now closed and up for auction Aug. 24, its many fans can only hope a buyer will step forward who is interested in reopening the Prairie Rose and keeping its tunes and food coming.
Posted by Rhonda Holman