Daily Archives: March 30, 2009

Contradictory messages on auto bailout

March 30, 200912:24 p.m.

Obama AutosPresident Obama is correct to place new conditions and expectations on the auto industry before providing more bailout funds. But his announcement today was contradictory and worrisome at times. Obama said that his administration has “no intention” of running General Motors, yet it forced out GM CEO Rick Wagoner and likely will replace most of the company’s board during the next few months. He complained about decades of complacency and problems with the auto industry, yet he expressed confidence in its ability to remake itself.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under President Obama | Comments (49)

Green light for ‘patient pot’?

March 30, 20096:03 a.m.

marijuana1Will the regime change at the White House lead to more states approving the use of medicinal marijuana? Doing so seemed foolhardy as long as the Bush administration was raiding and prosecuting dispensaries in California and other states, which is why former Kansas Attorney General Robert Stephan’s advocacy of a medicinal marijuana law went nowhere in Topeka in 2007. But Attorney General Eric Holder has said the Justice Department plans to leave those operations alone as long as they comply with state laws. During his online town hall, President Obama drew the line at legalizing marijuana to fight the recession, though, saying he didn’t think that was good economic policy.

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Medicine | Comments (60)

Open thread 3/30

March 30, 20096:02 a.m.

screamthe15

By The Editors | Filed under Open thread | Comments (279)

Build a better presidential primary system

March 30, 20096:01 a.m.

It would be premature (and naive) to anticipate that the two major political parties will reform the presidential primary process in a way that gives more states a meaningful say in choosing the nominees. But at least there are signs of a willingness to try. The new Democratic Change Commission, which includes Kansas Democratic Party chairman Larry Gates, will seek to revamp the calendar so that favored states such as Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada hold their events in February 2012, followed by other states starting in March. It also wants to reduce the number of superdelegates, whose convention votes became such a contentious issue last year. Meanwhile, a new GOP committee is reviewing the timing of Republican nominating events. As it is, “I think we’re headed for essentially a national primary that happens on one or two days, and that’s not good,” David Norcross, a Republican National Committee member from New Jersey, told the Hill newspaper.

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Presidential race | Comments (7)

So they said

March 30, 20096:00 a.m.

grangejohn“We just decided it was time to quit dodging.” — Rep. John Grange (in photo), R-El Dorado, on why both legislative chambers finally voted to raise the state’s lowest-in-the-land $2.65-an-hour minimum wage

“This is crazy and it’s mean.” — Rep. Marti Crow, D-Leavenworth, arguing against a House-passed bill to require welfare recipients to be subject to random drug tests

“You want Grandma and Grandpa to come down to a state office building and pee in a cup so that they can take care of their grandchildren?” — House Minority Leader Paul Davis, D-Lawrence, arguing against requiring random drug tests for participants in the grandparents-as-caregivers program

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Kansas government | Comments (16)