Stimulus bill

19

Jul

Wichita school district’s cost-shifting burdens federal coffers

When USD 259, the Wichita public school district, recently sold some bonds, they took advantage of a new program called Build America Bonds. This program was passed as part of the federal stimulus program earlier this year. The benefit to the Wichita school district is that the federal government will pay 35% of the interest on the bonds. Reading the news release from the school district, it's just like free money. Pennies from heaven, as it were. The problem is that the Build America Bonds are a tremendous burden to federal taxpayers, and will likely be so for some time.…

15

Jul

Wichita school bond sale claims mislead

In a news release, USD 259, the Wichita public school district, is claiming a huge victory in the first sale of bonds authorized by last year's election. But if you place the facts in context, with proper background, it turns out the conditions of the sale are quite different from what USD 259 claims. Here's the biggest discrepancy in the Wichita school district's telling of the story: During last year's campaign for the bond issue, the district used 4.75% as an estimate for the interest rate for the bonds. The news release is correct in stating that the rate the…

12

Jun

Maybe props are stimulus, too

The Kansas Meadowlark wonders about construction equipment moved into place apparently just for effect: Tax dollars for props for Biden’s visit to Overland Park? Wasteful spending for Biden to avoid? By the way, why was it necessary for our former governor Kathleen Sebelius, now Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, to travel to Kansas for this event? Doesn't she have national health care to plan for, or at least swine flu to stomp out?

06

Apr

Stimulus is theft

In Theft In Name Of Stimulus Is Still Theft, economist Walter E. Williams makes a powerful argument for something that those who love liberty know: self-ownership is the foundation. "If we accept the idea of self-ownership, then certain acts are readily revealed as moral or immoral. Acts such as rape and murder are immoral because they violate one's private property rights. Theft of the physical things that we own, such as cars, jewelry and money, also violates our ownership rights." Why aren't some people able to accept this? The reason why your college professor, politician or minister cannot give a…

27

Mar

Myths of Roosevelt and the New Deal presented in Wichita

Yesterday Burton W. Folsom, professor of history at Hillsdale College spoke to a capacity crowd at a luncheon sponsored by Americans for Prosperity-Kansas and the Flint Hills Center for Public Policy. His topic was three myths of the New Deal, based on his recent book New Deal or Raw Deal? How FDR's Economic Legacy Has Damaged America. The first myth is that the New Deal got us out of the Great Depression, or at least made good headway. Massive spending and a doubling of the public debt, however, didn't do much to cure unemployment, as admitted by Roosevelt's treasury secretary…

27

Mar

By Guest Author

AIG hysteria tramples liberty

From Dave Trabert, president of the Flint Hills Center for Public Policy. The Founding Fathers, who took such deliberate care to preserve personal liberty in our Constitution, would be ashamed by the hysteria and pandering that have consumed Washington, D.C., over bonuses paid to employees of American International Group. There is no justification for rewarding people for failure, but the conduct of elected officials calling for legislative retribution is far more egregious. Members of both parties are tripping over one another in a rush to endorse legislation that would tax bonuses paid to employees of companies receiving bailout money at…

21

Mar

Wichita Tea Party on Tax Day Flyer

Susan Estes has created a printable flyer to promote the Wichita tea party protest on tax day, April 15. Click on Wichita Tea Party Planned for Tax Day, April 15 to learn more about the event. Thanks to Susan Estes for creating the flyer, and for the great imagery. It hints of one of the themes of the protest, which is "Flush twice, it's a long way to Washington!" Click on Wichita Tea Party Tax Day Flyer to download the printable flyer. It's a pdf file.

21

Mar

Articles of Interest

Stimulus, invisible hand, Kansas wind. Stimulus Delusions (T. Norman Van Cott at the Foundation for Economic Education) More argument that the economic stimulus is harmful to the future of our economy. "Does it matter whether the dollars come from taxes, government borrowing, or the government’s printing press?" No, of course it doesn't. Stinson Morrison forms stimulus practice (Wichita Business Journal) A law firm with a Wichita office (Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP) establishes a "Stimulus Strike Force." No, it's not an effort to save the taxpayers from having to pay for a harmful, pork-laden spending program that will permanently expand the…

07

Mar

Kansas City Tea Party Protest, Again

Actually it was in suburban Olathe, Kansas. The Kansas Meadowlark provides coverage when you click on Tea Party in Olathe today.

07

Mar

Stimulus, the Audacity of Dopes

This is one of my favorite signs from the Wichita Tea Party Protest held on February 27, 2009. Cheryl Green is the creator of the sign; I am merely the photographer.

01

Mar

Kansas City Star covers tea party — sort of

The Kansas City Star covers yesterday's tea party protest in the story Protesters gather at Sen. Claire McCaskill’s office in Westport. But, the phrase "tea party" isn't mentioned. I don't know why. See more coverage of the event by clicking on Kansas City Tea Party Protest Photos.

28

Feb

Kansas City Tea Party Protest Photos

Coverage of a snowy Kansas City tea party protest provided by Chuck Armstrong. Click on Kansas City Tea Party: February 28, 2009. Coverage from the Kansas Meadowlark is at "Tea Party" Rally and March to Senator McCaskill’s Office in Kansas City. Also photos at Kansas City "Tea Party" (Stimulus and Bailout Protest).

27

Feb

Wichita Tea Party News Coverage on KSN Television

The Wichita Tea Party protest as covered by KSN Television, February 27, 2009. A very good job by reporter Josh Witsman. "Someone needs to go and cut up Congress and President Obama's credit card, because it’s not their credit card -- it's our credit card."

27

Feb

Wichita Tea Party: Susan Estes

Susan Estes addresses the crowd at the Wichita Tea Party protest, February 27, 2009.

27

Feb

Wichita Tea Party: Nancy Armstrong

Nancy Armstrong addresses the crowd at the Wichita Tea Party protest, February 27, 2009.

27

Feb

Wichita Tea Party: Cheryl Green

Cheryl Green explains why she's protesting at the Wichita Tea Party, February 27, 2009.

27

Feb

Wichita Tea Party Citizen Report

A citizen report submitted by John Todd. Photos are available by clicking here. More coverage and video can be viewed by clicking here. An estimated 100-plus citizen activists assembled today near Second and Waco Streets to participate in a protest of the federal stimulus package and bailouts. The event was billed as The Wichita Tea Party. Two men drove 200 miles from Garden City to attend. Other Kansans were here from Abilene, Hutchinson, Andover, and Augusta. A gentleman from the Kansas City area came dressed in a pink pig suit with a sign denouncing "pork spending." He delighted the crowd.…

27

Feb

Wichita Tea Party Photos

In Wichita, it was a cold day with a freezing wind, but quite a few protesters --human, canine, and porcine -- came out to show their displeasure with the direction of our country. Appreciation was also expressed for the members of the Kansas Congressional delegation who voted against stimulus pork and bailouts. Click here for more photos from this event. Or, click here for an automatic slideshow. See more coverage by clicking on Wichita Tea Party.

27

Feb

Articles of Interest

Subsidizing Bad Ideas What are some of the things wrong with the president's plan to solve the mortgage crisis? Howie Rich of Americans For Limited Government explains: "First, the plan is emblematic of America’s new “dependence mentality,” which is advanced by politicians like Obama who rhetorically extol the virtues that once made this country great while they systematically remove brick-by-brick the incentives needed to make it great once again. Second, it’s more of the same smoke-and-mirrors Washington politicians employ to hide the true coming-and-goings of your tax dollars in our nation’s capital. Third, it rewards many of the same financial…

26

Feb

In Wichita, Angry Citizens Revive Boston Tea Party Protest

Wichita Tea Party organizer Nancy Armstrong talks about Friday's Wichita Tea Protest on KAKE Television: Coverage at KAKE Television is at Angry Citizens Revive Boston Tea Party Protest. Other stories at Voice For Liberty in Wichita are at Wichita Tea Party Area Residents Plan Wichita Tea Party Wichita Tea Party, from AFP