Daily Archives: Sept. 1, 2008

Don’t give up on immigration audit

Sept. 1, 20086:05 a.m.

If the Legislature intends to inject itself into the federal problem of illegal immigration, it should do so knowing as much as possible about what undocumented residents cost Kansas, how much they pay in taxes and how they affect labor costs and employment. That was why state Rep. Nile Dillmore, D-Wichita, successfully sought an off-session audit of illegal immigration’s economic impact. So it was good to see such a planned legislative study escape the ax last week in Topeka, after deputy post auditor Leo Hafner told legislators that studying illegal immigration is “one of those things where you’re literally trying to nail Jell-O to the wall.” When the audit panel considers the issue again this month, it should try to focus the study, not scrap it.

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Immigration | Comments

Open thread 9/1

Sept. 1, 20086:03 a.m.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Open thread | Comments

Downtown gets a new champion

Sept. 1, 20086:00 a.m.

It’s good to hear that the Wichita Downtown Development Corp. finally has found a new president — Jeffrey Fluhr, currently executive director of the Baton Rouge, La., Downtown Development District.

Fluhr comes with high praise from his Baton Rouge colleagues, who say he was a key player in revitalizing their downtown business district and waterfront — and that he sees similar challenges in Wichita’s riverfront and arena district.

We hope he hits the ground running as an effective champion for downtown.

By | Filed under Wichita | Comments