Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (in photo) “had the temerity to state in public what many others think in private: that the Republican Party has become so intransigent that even Ronald Reagan couldn’t fit under its tent,” Dana Milbank wrote in the Washington Post. Bush noted this week that Reagan got a lot done because he tried to find common ground with Democrats. Reagan also raised taxes several times. Not surprisingly, Bush was condemned by tax-pledge enforcer Grover Norquist, who called his views “foolish” and “bizarre.”
Johnson & Johnson announced this week that it was withdrawing its support of the American Legislative Exchange Council. In the past few months, more than a dozen companies, including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, McDonald’s and Walmart, have dropped their memberships with ALEC, a corporate-backed organization that provides “model legislation” for state lawmakers. The companies have been under pressure from liberal activists because of ALEC’s support of voter-ID laws and “stand your ground” gun laws. Common Cause has also filed a federal complaint that ALEC is violating tax laws by acting as a lobbyist and not a nonprofit. ALEC announced in April that it was refocusing its agenda on economic issues.
Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration is receiving deserved praise for its efforts to encourage businesses to employ Kansans with disabilities. “I give this administration credit for showing more interest in the first two years than previous administrations on this issue,” Tom Laing, executive director of InterHab, told the Topeka Capital-Journal. Brownback signed a bill May 29 giving preference to state contractors who employ disabled Kansans.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (in photo) “had the temerity to state in public what many others think in private: that the Republican Party has become so intransigent that even Ronald Reagan couldn’t fit under its tent,” Dana Milbank wrote in the Washington Post. Bush noted this week that Reagan got a lot done because he tried to find common ground with Democrats. Reagan also raised taxes several times. Not surprisingly, Bush was condemned by tax-pledge enforcer Grover Norquist, who called his views “foolish” and “bizarre.”
