Everybody assumed that Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson would run for governor in 2010, when the two-term limit kicks in for Kathleen Sebelius. As of Friday, “I’m out,” he said. Parkinson, a former Kansas Republican Party chairman, was Kansas Democrats’ best hope of extending their winning streak. Now what? The only other existing party stars are 3rd District congressman Dennis Moore of Lenexa, incoming state Treasurer Dennis McKinney and Attorney General Steve Six – but Moore has said he wants to run for re-election in 2010, and the other two haven’t even had a chance to win their seats outright, let alone use them as springboards to higher office. Somewhere Sen. Sam Brownback (the likely GOP gubernatorial nominee in 2010) is smiling.
As the Obama economic recovery package comes together and heads to Capitol Hill, all eyes will be on congressional Republicans. Will they be with the new president or against him? It’s all in the price tag and details, suggested Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who used the word “trillion” 10 times Monday to describe the Democrats’ likely plan. “We should have a simple test: Will the yet-unwritten, reportedly trillion-dollar spending bill really create jobs and grow the economy – or will it simply create more government spending, more bureaucrats and deeper deficits?” House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, has emphasized that he wants a plan to favor tax cuts over big spending. Is it too much to hope both parties’ leaders will treat the current economic peril with the same bipartisan spirit they exemplified post-Sept. 11?
The war between Boeing and EADS/Northrop Grumman on Capitol Hill is one of more than words. According to Legal Times, Boeing spent more than $14.8 million in 2008 on lobbying, including $1.55 million to outside lobbyists related to the on-again, off-again Air Force tanker contract. Meanwhile, EADS spent $1.82 million on outside lobbyists and $18.4 million on in-house lobbying efforts. The lobbying star power the companies called on included former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt (Boeing) and former Louisiana Sen. John Breaux (Northrop). Meanwhile, the $35 billion bidding process is stalled, though a Northrop lawyer says, “I’m hopeful a decision will be made quickly and we’ll be moving rapidly towards a new procurement.”
Sedgwick County Manager William Buchanan won the County Commission’s approval last week to authorize up to $500,000 in construction change orders for the National Center for Aviation Training. Giving such spending power to a public administrator can be risky. But the $54 million center is a high priority for local economic development long term, and its construction during these uncertain times will be served by such flexibility. Buchanan has such authority on the Intrust Bank Arena, too. And frankly, after 18 years on the job, Buchanan has more than earned such trust.
Everybody assumed that Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson would run for governor in 2010, when the two-term limit kicks in for Kathleen Sebelius. As of Friday, “I’m out,” he said. Parkinson, a former Kansas Republican Party chairman, was Kansas Democrats’ best hope of extending their winning streak. Now what? The only other existing party stars are 3rd District congressman Dennis Moore of Lenexa, incoming state Treasurer Dennis McKinney and Attorney General Steve Six – but Moore has said he wants to run for re-election in 2010, and the other two haven’t even had a chance to win their seats outright, let alone use them as springboards to higher office. Somewhere Sen. Sam Brownback (the likely GOP gubernatorial nominee in 2010) is smiling.
