Politics

Kansas Bioscience Authority, protected

April 19, 2011

The Kansas Bioscience Authority has been protected by Kansas Senate leaders Steve Morris and John Vratil.

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Political contributions disclosure said to be harmful

April 13, 2011

Forced disclosure of the identity of donors to political campaigns is a powerful force in favor of incumbents.

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Latest public pension fund data show taxpayers still on hook for trillions

April 4, 2011

Despite pension fund investment gains in 2010, taxpayers still owe state and municipal workers trillions of dollars for promised benefits no matter how much funds earn during the next 30 years.

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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Tuesday March 29, 2011

March 29, 2011

Today: Follow-up to Koch profile; the decline of Detroit: a lesson for Wichita?; Moran to vote “no” on debt ceiling; golden geese on the move; legislators will have more access to SRS case files; Wichita unemployment rate improving, government planners vs. individuals.

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Weekly Standard: The left’s obsession with the Koch brothers

March 28, 2011

Matthew Continetti of the Weekly Standard has written a profile of Charles and David Koch and Koch Industries, focusing on politics and the attacks by the political Left. A key passage in the story explains what those who believe in economic freedom have known all along: If Charles and David Koch really wanted to make a lot of money for themselves, they would act like most corporations: seek fortune through government intervention, not through competition in free markets.

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Wichita Eagle editorial page: arm of Democratic Party?

March 25, 2011

The Wichita Eagle editorial page promotes a political party fundraiser.

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The Left’s ‘obsession with all things Koch’

March 23, 2011

The Center for American Progress, through ThinkProgress, “has carried on a bizarre vendetta against Charles and David Koch and their company, Koch Industries.”

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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Tuesday March 22, 2011

March 22, 2011

Today: Progressive government; identity theft possible; is the automobile this bad?; mayor recalled; public union issues.

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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Sunday March 13, 2011

March 13, 2011

Today: Wichita city council this week; how attitudes can differ; private property and the price system; toward a free market in education; are lottery tickets like a state-owned casino?; money, banking and the Federal Reserve; Wichita-area legislators to meet public; Pompeo to meet with public; losing the brains race; Teachers unions explained.

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Tea party has nothing on Wisconsin union supporters

February 28, 2011

While the political left like to portray tea party protesters as racist neanderthals hell-bent on violent overthrow of the U.S. government, the tea party has nothing on government union members when it comes to protesting. Union leadership can’t bring itself to condemn even the worst excesses of the union protests.

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Public workers and their pay

February 28, 2011

In the controversy over public sector unions and worker pay, the political left argues that government workers are not overpaid. Evidence from California, however, shows that when everything is considered, public sector employees are paid much more than similar private sector workers.

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Koch critics examined

February 28, 2011

Critics of Charles and David Koch allege that the philanthropists have tried to hide their political involvement and contributions over the years. While false, many uncritically believe it. And at the same time, the media gives Koch critics a pass on their lack of transparency.

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Kansas judicial selection should be reformed

February 28, 2011

Removing politics from the Kansas judiciary is about as likely as removing the moo from a cow.

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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Sunday February 27, 2011

February 27, 2011

Today: Boeing tanker contract; Kansas Economic Freedom Index; elections this week; civility is lost on the Wisconsin protesters; help Wisconsin Governor Walker; Wichita city council.

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Atlas Debrief: It’s only “planning,” not “secrecy”

February 17, 2011

Will a closed-door meeting of Democrats receive much coverage and scrutiny?

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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Thursday February 3, 2011

February 3, 2011

Today: Wichita-area legislators to meet with public; fairness; regulations to eliminate; Kansas considers major change in state pension plans; funny campaign websites.

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Charles and David Koch v. George Soros: Free markets or not

January 31, 2011

The protests surrounding a conference of free-market advocates reveal the political left’s misunderstanding of the relationship between business and government, and between freedom and coercion.

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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Wednesday January 26, 2011

January 26, 2011

Today: Kansas legislature website; warden to speak; Why have your own state if you’re not special; the plain truth about who owns the Democratic Party; Kansas repealer; school choice in Kansas; Kansas Days.

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Wichita downtown planning, not trash, is real threat

December 8, 2010

While city takeover of the management of trash service is bad, the real threat to economic freedom in Wichita is downtown planning.

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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Tuesday December 7, 2010

December 7, 2010

Today: Political pretense vs. market performance, “Begging for Billionaires,” O’Toole on urban planning, Kansas House of Representatives leaders elected, school lessons learned.

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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Monday December 6, 2010

December 6, 2010

Today: Economic freedom lecture, liberal success factor, Joshua Blick, economy, Rasmussen polls, Kansas Democrats, young Republicans.

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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Tuesday November 30, 2010

November 30, 2010

Today: Climate change and global warming alarmism, Kansas schools and politics, Charter schools, Todd Tiahrt.

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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Monday November 15, 2010

November 15, 2010

Today: Wichita city council, Wichita Pachyderm Club, Politics, Downtown Wichita revitalization, Wichita Metropolitan Area Planning Commission, Taxation, Education, United States Congress, Term limits.

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Sedgwick County Republicans elect leadership

November 12, 2010

The Sedgwick County Republican Party met to elect its leadership, and while the party has made improvements in inclusiveness, some still feel left out.

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Political attacks not all bad

November 8, 2010

Dr. Mel Kahn of Wichita State University explains why he believes negative attacks and the accountability they generate are essential to democracy.

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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Monday November 8, 2010

November 8, 2010

Today: Wichita city government, Politics, United States Congress, Airport security.

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In state legislatures, Republicans make gains

November 5, 2010

In the 88 state legislative bodies that held elections this week, Democrats held a big advantage over Republicans. 52 bodies were under Democratic control, with 33 in Republican hands. (Two are evenly split, and one is non-partisan.)

After the election, the situation is nearly exactly reversed, with Republicans in control of 52 bodies, and Democrats, 31. The New York and Oregon senates are still undecided at this moment.

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Washington Post doesn’t care much for accuracy

November 4, 2010

When news media make errors — even if only in opinion columns — what is the responsibility for issuing corrections? For the Washington Post, the editorial page department doesn’t seem to accept much responsibility

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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Thursday November 4, 2010

November 4, 2010

Today: Kansas legislature, Mike Pompeo, Raj Goyle, Politics, Property rights, Republican Party, Sam Brownback, Smoking bans, Tim Huelskamp

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Kansas House of Representatives, a bloodbath for Democrats

November 3, 2010

Before yesterday’s election, conservatives in Kansas hopefully thought it might be possible to gain a working majority in the Kansas House of Representatives. The surprising result was a conservative wave larger than any election observer could have foreseen.

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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Tuesday November 2, 2010

November 2, 2010

Today: Kansas fourth district, Mike Pompeo, Raj Goyle, Tea Party, Wichita Pachyderm Club, Barack Obama, Americans For Prosperity, Politics, TIF districts

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Last-minute Kansas fourth district campaign finance

November 1, 2010

Analysis of campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission finds Republican Mike Pompeo raising more money than rival Democrat Raj Goyle in the campaign for United States Congress from the fourth district of Kansas.

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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Sunday October 31, 2010

October 31, 2010

Today: Carl Brewer, Corporate welfare, Economic development, Elections, Free markets, Politics, Tea Party, Wichita city council, Wichita city government, Wichita and Kansas schools.

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Democrats block me in Wichita

October 29, 2010

This afternoon I attended a Democratic party rally at Old Town Square in Wichita. The featured speaker was candidate for United States Congress from the fourth district of Kansas Raj Goyle. I hadn’t expected to be blocked, but that’s what happened.

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Pompeo increases lead over Goyle in Kansas fourth

October 29, 2010

Today KWCH Television and SurveyUSA released a poll surveying the candidates for United States Congress from the fourth district of Kansas. The results show Republican Mike Pompeo increasing his lead over challenger Raj Goyle, the Democratic Party nominee.

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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Friday October 29, 2010

October 29, 2010

Today: Elections, Politics, Sam Brownback, State of the State KS, Tea Party, Wichita Pachyderm Club, Tea Party

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Business can oppose incentives and use them

October 27, 2010

In the campaign for United States Congress from the fourth district of Kansas, Democrat Raj Goyle criticizes leading opponent Republican Mike Pompeo for accepting economic development incentives while opposing their existence.

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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Wednesday October 27, 2010

October 27, 2010

Today: Education, Elections, Kansas Supreme Court, Mike Pompeo, Politics, Raj Goyle, Walt Chappell, Wichita and Kansas schools, Corporate welfare

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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Sunday October 24, 2010

October 24, 2010

Today: Free markets, Raj Goyle, Sam Brownback, Mike Pompeo, Kansas fourth district, Music, Free trade, Wichita Eagle opinion watch, Facebook, Computing, and Politics.

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