Legislative session starts with traditional events

Opinion

Written by Rep. Don Schroeder Tuesday, 22 January 2013 14:18

Schroeder The 2013 legislative session is off and running. We began the session Monday, Jan. 14, with the usual opening ceremony.

The governor presented his State of the State Address Tuesday evening. Of course, the message the governor gives is a reflection of his goals for the future of the state as well as the priorities he has for the current legislative session. Many of his goals center around efficiency and smaller government.

We received the proposed budget from the governor Wednesday morning, so I have not had a chance to look it over to any degree. It is several hundred pages and takes some time to sift through the contents. It appears the proposal to make up for the state’s lower revenues is to retain the sales tax.

Speaking of...

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Vote on U.S. debit limit can’t wait for 11th hour

Opinion

Written by Jerry Moran Tuesday, 08 January 2013 15:39

Moran Kansans gathered together over the holidays with hopes of spending time with family and friends, and reflecting on the many blessings we enjoy as Americans.

Instead, they were forced to spend Christmas and New Year’s Eve enduring the ups and downs of the “fiscal cliff” debate, as the president continued his campaign for higher taxes as the solution to our economic crisis.

Tax increases are damaging to the economy and make it more difficult for Kansans to make ends meet. With the expiration of the Bush tax cuts, Americans were facing more than $4 trillion in tax increases on Jan, 1, 2013. These increases were bound to affect all income levels. In fact, a Kansan earing an income of $43,000 would have seen a $3,000 increase in...

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State reports record-low birth rate for 2011

Opinion

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 06 November 2012 15:24

The Kansas 2011 Annual Summary of Vital Statistics reports that the state experienced the lowest decline in the state’s birth rate since the Kansas Vital Records system was established in 1912.

The report became available last week. It contains information on births, deaths, marriages, divorces, abortions and stillbirths. It serves as a tool for public health program evaluation and community health assessment.

The state’s record decline to 13.8 live births per 1,000 population is slightly lower than the previous low of 13.9 live births per 1,000 population in 1973, during the “baby bust” years.

The number of live births to Kansas resident mothers in 2011 was 39,628, down 2 percent from 40,439 in 2010.

Kansas resident mothers...

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While veterans hurt,VA bosses pamper

Opinion

Written by Rep. Tim Huelskamp Tuesday, 02 October 2012 14:24

While we continue to see and hear stories about America’s veterans receiving subpar medical care, the bureaucrats charged with overseeing the health needs of our brave men and women in uniform are apparently sparing no expense in taking care of themselves instead.

As a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee I take very seriously our responsibility to provide oversight of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. So this summer when it came to light that the VA spent more than $50,000 on a video featuring a General Patton impersonator, we demanded to know more. We feared it was just the tip of the iceberg.

And the tip of the iceberg it was.

Our own internal digging uncovered the first shock: at least $2.5 million spent last...

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