George Tiller’s Wichita abortion practice ended with his murder. Pro-choice Gov. Kathleen Sebelius went to Washington, D.C., leaving a pro-choice successor with no plans to run for the job. Kansas’ likely next governor is Sam Brownback, perhaps the most anti-abortion member of the U.S. Senate. So it was curious to see the reaction of Mary Kay Culp, executive director of Kansans for Life, to last week’s resignation of Jack Confer as executive director of the Kansas Board of Healing Arts: “Jack Confer was our last hope against the complete and total corruption of this state by abortion forces,” Culp told the Topeka Capital-Journal, “and with his resignation, no matter what the reason, that hope is dashed.” Whatever drove Confer’s decision, the board seemingly has yet to find its footing after its 2008 overhaul by the Legislature. Kansans need a health care regulatory authority that is professional, apolitical and stable.
In an article on the bonds between residents at the C Street town house in Washington, D.C., Politico characterized Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, has having been “distraught” that prominent socially conservative Sens. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., and Tom Coburn, R-Okla., endorsed their fellow C Street resident Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Hays, in the state’s GOP Senate primary next year. Tiahrt has attended C Street events but isn’t considered a regular at the house, known for its Bible study and fellowship.
DeMint said: “They’re both good guys, so I wouldn’t say anything bad about either one of them. I just know Jerry better. I think he might be able to help shake things up a bit.” Coburn said of Moran: “He’s not an appropriator. He’s in a farm state, and he voted against the farm bill. He demonstrates courage.”
Tiahrt told Politico: “A lot of people are focusing their attention on the candidates in the primary because they know it’s about the future of the party. It’s not based on roommates. It’s based on ideas. And when it’s based on ideas, I get more support.” He also said: “My roommate endorsed me — I’ve been married to her for 33 years.”
Reactions to any White House initiative tend to stay within party lines. So it was surprising to see how Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., regarded the Obama administration’s decision to restrict compensation for top executives at the biggest bailed-out banks. “I have no problem with greed being curtailed,” McCain said.
Apparently Sen. Pat Roberts (in photo), R-Kan., does: “It’s a bad precedent. You have government determining the pay of a company that may be in the business of trying to get the best employees they can to save the company. It’s very competitive out there. I’m not waving flags for people to get excessive pay or golden parachutes — what I object to is the government making that decision.”
“We are Velcroed to them.” — Suzie Ahlstrand, vice president of community advancement for the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce, in one of the recent national articles about Wichita’s slumping aircraft companies
“If I could do it over, I would wear a Bass Pro Shop cap or dress as a caveman.” — Rep. Bill Otto, R-LeRoy, on the flap created by his anti-Obama YouTube rap video, in which he wore a hat labeled “Opossum, the other dark meat”
“So people who dis you and do not agree/Are just not racist and that includes me.” — Otto again, in a new rap video with a more positive tone
