When the Kansas Senate failed Wednesday to override Gov. Mark Parkinson’s veto of this session’s anti-abortion bill, state Sen. Ralph Ostmeyer, R-Grinnell, said what many Kansans surely were thinking: “We will have a change in governor. We will get this passed. It is just a year away.” After 16 years of governors willing to veto anti-abortion bills, Kansas seems likely to elect pro-life hero Sen. Sam Brownback to the job in November. But Ostmeyer said something else at odds with reality in the GOP-controlled Legislature, in which every vote can seem to be about abortion: “Someday I hope the unborn has a voice in these chambers.”
State Rep. Raj Goyle, D-Wichita, widened his fundraising lead in the 4th Congressional District race, while businessman Mike Pompeo pulled away from his Republican challengers. According to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, Goyle received $300,000 in contributions during the first quarter of this year and had 800 itemized donations. He had $817,000 in cash on hand at the end of the quarter. Pompeo had $176,000 in contributions during the quarter, 181 itemized donations and $433,000 in cash on hand. Businessman Wink Hartman had $24,000 in contributions, 29 itemized donations and $35,000 in cash on hand. Hartman loaned $217,000 to his campaign and spent $270,000, the biggest expense being television ads. State Sen. Jean Schodorf, R-Wichita, received nearly $6,900 in contributions, had 10 itemized donations and loaned $22,000 to her campaign. Businessman Jim Anderson received $9,000 in contributions, had 12 itemized donations and loaned his campaign $2,400.
After so many months of nothing but layoffs, the day that Wichita has been waiting for came Thursday: A planemaker announced it was hiring. Hawker Beechcraft plans to add more than 100 engineers by the end of 2010. Another 40 to 50 people will be hired for its supply chain and operations areas. Rich Jiwanlal, Hawker Beechcraft’s vice president for human resources, said: “To be able to do this in the current environment is a very exciting thing for our company.” And our community. Meanwhile, 30 employees of Airbus North America Engineering moved Friday into the former Kansas Sports Hall of Fame building in Old Town — an expansion intended to accommodate 100 employees by 2012.
“Do you miss me yet?” — Former Wichita Mayor Carlos Mayans, concluding a call to The Eagle editorial board
“You can’t have government small enough to drown in a bathtub and big enough to pull your behind out of a flooded river.” — Rep. Ann Mah, D-Topeka, on the House GOP leadership’s failed budget proposal
“We’re slamming down beers, putting on beer goggles and waiting for the last wasted girl in the building.” — Sen. Ty Masterson, R-Andover, on the legislators pushing tax hikes while catering to gambling interests
