It was disappointing but not particularly surprising that Kansas Sens. Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran were among the lawmakers who blocked a vote last week on the DISCLOSE Act. The measure would have required independent groups to disclose the names of contributors who give more than $10,000 for use in political campaigns. These groups are spending millions of dollars trying to influence the elections, but voters don’t know who is bankrolling this spending.
The Sedgwick County Republican Party went over the top in censuring County Commissioner Jim Skelton (in photo) last week for the sin of being bipartisan. According to the resolution, Skelton “publicly supported a Democratic candidate over a Republican candidate.” In commenting recently to The Eagle about the challenge by Republican political novice Ben Sauceda to 11-year commissioner and current Chairman Tim Norton, who happens to be a Democrat, Skelton had dared to say: “I want people on the board who are going to be working for their constituents, not working against the government. I don’t want to work with someone who every time you turn around, they’re voting against something.” The message of Skelton’s censure – that party fealty means more than anything to the county GOP, including collegiality.
Congratulations to the volunteers who worked so hard and for so many years to achieve Saturday’s public dedication of the Vietnamese American Community Memorial along the Arkansas River. The project, a proud addition to the riverfront featuring lead artist Babs Mellor’s vision of an American soldier and a South Vietnamese soldier, had to overcome some hard feelings a few years ago related to its proximity to Veterans Memorial Park. It now stands nearby as a poignant and enduring tribute to the unique partnership of the South Vietnamese military and the U.S. military in fighting the communists during the Vietnam War. It also will stand as evidence of the generosity of the local South Vietnamese community, which has enriched Wichita in the decades since.
