It’s disappointing that Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., has signed on as a co-sponsor of xenophobic legislation sponsored by Sen. David Vitter, R-La., to deny birthright citizenship to children who are born in the United States to illegal immigrants. Under the bill, a child would be born a U.S. citizen only if one parent was a U.S. citizen, legal resident alien or active member of the U.S. armed forces. “Sen. Moran believes the federal government must enforce our laws and not reward illegal behavior. Making this change will discourage, rather than encourage, illegal immigration,” Lindsey Trent, Moran’s press secretary, told The Eagle editorial board. Vitter contends that such birthright citizenship, or what he and other critics call “birth tourism,” is not protected by the 14th Amendment. But even the Arizona Legislature recognized, as of last month, that curbing birthright citizenship is one anti-immigration measure too far.
Even after two rounds of painful cuts, the Wichita school district isn’t quite halfway toward covering its projected $30 million budget shortfall. The district announced its “phase two” cuts last week, which included eliminating 72 positions and cutting its funding for the Parents as Teachers program and the National Academic League. The first two phases of cuts total about $13.7 million. Coming up with another $16 million in cuts likely will require furloughs, layoffs or pay cuts to classroom teachers — or maybe all three. Already, the district has made an early retirement offer to up to 200 teachers and administrators. It’s only going to get worse.
Fresh off its impressive performance hosting the NCAA women’s tournament, Intrust Bank Arena has booked a Dec. 8 game between the men of Kansas State University and West Virginia University, pitting current KSU coach Frank Martin against predecessor Bob Huggins. What’s more, the University of Kansas and University of Southern California men are working on plans to play a December game at Wichita’s year-old downtown arena. These are just the kind of contests, with big-name teams and significant regional drawing power, that arena proponents dreamed of all along.
“Tiahrt is, in simple terms, nuts.” — Joe Vince, a retired ATF agent and critic of the Tiahrt amendment restricting release of gun-trace data, on Minnesota Public Radio
“It is amazing what people will say when they want to make money off the violation of Americans’ privacy.” — former 4th District congressman Todd Tiahrt, in an online commentary in response
“Can’t say it enough, so why not on Senate floor? Congrats @WichitaState Shockers on NIT Victory!” — Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., on Twitter
It’s disappointing that Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., has signed on as a co-sponsor of xenophobic legislation sponsored by Sen. David Vitter, R-La., to deny birthright citizenship to children who are born in the United States to illegal immigrants. Under the bill, a child would be born a U.S. citizen only if one parent was a U.S. citizen, legal resident alien or active member of the U.S. armed forces. “Sen. Moran believes the federal government must enforce our laws and not reward illegal behavior. Making this change will discourage, rather than encourage, illegal immigration,” Lindsey Trent, Moran’s press secretary, told The Eagle editorial board. Vitter contends that such birthright citizenship, or what he and other critics call “birth tourism,” is not protected by the 14th Amendment. But even the Arizona Legislature recognized, as of last month, that curbing birthright citizenship is one anti-immigration measure too far.
