Reader Forum Changing Republicans I was raised by Republicans in the time of exemplary Kansas Republicans. Ike was idolized in my household, and Bob Dole sat more than once at our kitchen table. I was a Rooks County Young Republican with Jerry Moran, and Keith Sebelius nominated me for the service academies. Sam Brownback ran as a Republican. But the first thing he did was to attack, with great success, Republicans in the state Legislature and replace them with those who shared his ideology. He installed operatives in Topeka who cruised the Internet seeking (and finding, in the case of one high school girl) those who would disparage our governor. Retribution was swift and strong. Next, he attacked the state constitution when he and his now-compliant state Legislature altered it, again with great success, to take judgeships out of the hands of the citizens, and put them under his — the governor’s — purview. The consolidation of the power of all three branches of government, intended as a constitutional scale of checks and balances, The Hays Daily News • Monday, Oct. 27, 2014 was complete. Many of the judges holding these positions were Republicans. Next, he went after the public education system, denying certified teachers due process while eliminating the educational requirements that have historically determined the bottom-line requirements for those who would teach our children. In Kansas, teachers are our next-door neighbors, our nieces and nephews. And, being Kansans, most of them are Republicans. Brownback had to be forced by the Supreme Court to fund the schools and still managed to insert into the spending bill a tax credit for corporations that donate to private, religious schools. This seems like a wonderful thing, until you realize somebody has to make up that money when it’s diverted from the treasury. Who do you suppose that is? These attacks, I feel, are ample reasons to question if Brownback is really a Republican. One thing is clear from his attacks on the tax/ public education structure, and that is he doesn’t consider the farmers, the teachers and the wage-earners to be his constituency. These Kansans are bearing the brunt of his tax realignment. Remember also that Kris Kobach ran as a Republican. He ran against the specter of voter fraud and illegal aliens — and ultimately, illegal aliens committing voter fraud. None such had ever been recorded, but that was his platform and he was elected. He recently went all out in an attempt to block the resignation of the Democratic candidate in our senatorial campaign. He claimed confidence in the law he was enforcing, and his interpretation of it. Yet, when it was scheduled to be heard before the Supreme Court, he maneuvered to have it pushed to a lower court, rather than plead it before the highest court in the state. Why would he do this? There is only one reason. To delay the final decision on the matter until after the deadline for ballot printing had passed. This was the highest election official in the state using his office to try to tilt the field in favor of the candidate for whom he was a state campaign chairman. If this wasn’t illegal, it was at least PUBLIC NOTICES As taxpayers and citizens, we have a right to know about decisions and activities of our government. Public notices are legally required publications of certain important government records and of court proceedings and notifications. To view these notices online go to www.hdnews.net/notices/ (First Published in The Hays Daily News October 27, 2014) PUBLIC NOTICE for Operating/Capital Transportation Services Funding ACCESS Transportation/DSNWK is submitting an application for capital and operating assistance for transportation services under the 49 U. S. C. 5311 (rural public transportation) and the 49 U. S. C. 5310 (elderly/disabled transportation) of the Federal Transit Act. The applications will be for capital funds to replace vehicles in our current fleet and for operating funds to help provide public transportation services in Ellis County and Elderly/Disabled transportation to individuals served by DSNWK in the eighteen county area of northwest Kansas. As stated above, ACCESS Transportation/DSNWK receives Federal Transit Administration (FTA) operating dollars. This funding is utilized for the purchase of fuel, insurance, equipment, maintenance and storage. ACCESS/DSNWK is seeking Kansas Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certified companies as potential vendors for these services. Please contact: Anna Findley, Transportation Manager/DSNWK, (785) 621-2078, if you are a DBE or are interested in learning more about the DBE program. Written comments and questions in regards to this application are encouraged and will be accepted until November 8, 2012 and should be sent to: Anna Findley, Transportation Manager for Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas, Inc. at P. O. Box 1016, Hays, Kansas 67601. (Last published in The Hays Daily News November 10, 2014) (First published in the Hays Daily News October 13, 2014) IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF ELLIS COUNTY, KANSAS In the Matter of the Estate of CECILIA STAAB, Deceased Case No. 14 PR-96 NOTICE OF HEARING AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE STATE OF KANSAS TO ALL PERSONS CONCERNED: You are notified that on October 9, 2014, a petition was filed in this Court by Regis Von Lintel, executor named in the First Codicil (dated September 2, 2010) to the Last Will and Testament of Cecilia Staab, deceased, dated March 21, 2003, requesting the codicil and will filed with the petition be admitted to probate and record; petitioner be appointed as executor, without bond; and, petitioner be granted Letters Testamentary. You are required to file your written defenses to the petition on or before November 7, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. in the Ells County District Court, 1204 Fort Street, Hays, Kansas 67601, at which time and place the cause will be heard. Should you fail to file your written defenses, judgment and decree will be entered in due course upon the petition. All creditors are notified to exhibit their demands against the Estate within the latter of four months from the date of first publication of notice under K.S.A. 59-2236 and amendments thereto, or if the identity of the creditor is known or reasonably ascertainable, 30 days after actual notice was given as provided by law, and if their demands are not thus exhibited, they shall be forever barred. /s/ Regis Von Lintel Petitioner DON C. STAAB, #5596 1301 Oak Street Hays, KS 67601 Telephone: 785-628-8517 Facsimile: 785-628-2243 Email: [email protected] Attorney for Petitioner (Last published in The Hays Daily News October 27, 2014) an abuse of his elected office and impeachable under our state constitution. Finally, there’s Tim Huelskamp, a state embarrassment without equal, pushing Vern Miller and Phill Kline far down the totem pole. He spent his early congressional years writing bills exempting shoe imports and certain chemicals from U.S. tariffs. Who, exactly, was he representing? Lately, a flurry of fetus and marriage/religion related propositions, endless prattle on cable, and a steady source of fodder for the comedians. He voted against farm bills that are the lifeblood of the small Kansas towns. He pushed for a government shutdown in retribution for congressional refusal to repeal a bill he didn’t like. It didn’t matter his constituents in these small towns — the farmers, the FSA and USDA employees (almost all Republicans) — would lose. Again, it was his ideology that mattered more than the citizens he was supposed to represent. As election day approaches, I ask you to remember these things we have witnessed with our own eyes. Don’t vote for a party or an ideology, but for the good of our state. Vote for Kansas. Randall Baughman, Manhattan Medicare experiment If there is one topic seniors in Kansas can agree on it has to be the importance of protecting access to and viability of Medicare for us 65-plus folks. You and I paid into and now value the contract that guarantees quality health care via an established federal network. Hands down, it is the most valuable and popular federal program in the country. Why then did Gov. Sam Brownback and the state Legislature feel compelled to promote a compact with eight other states to move Medicare to state-run status, allowing member states to set their own health care policies while using federal dollars from a block grant? The Kansas Legislature approved and the governor signed the compact proposal in April. To become law, Congress must still approve Kids Go To The Polls November 4th Kids Voting Kansas, an affiliate of Kids voting USA®, was created as a solution to citizen apathy and poor voter turnout. Kids Voting sparks a renewed interest in American democracy. Kids voting Kansas has received enthusiastic responses from educators, volunteers, parents, and most importantly, the students. Students are not only exposed to the basics of an election, they also experience information gathering, decision-making, and the empowerment of voting. Students are active participants in this learning process, discussing and debating the election in school and at home. Kids Voting Kansas, an affiliate of Kids Voting USA®, began in 1992 in six Kansas communities. The program now encompasses 55 communities with over 230,000 students. On election day, kids go to the official polls with a parent or guardian and “Vote” on the same issues adults do. Results are reported to the news media just as official results are. Thanks to our Hays Sponsors who have made this program possible here! that bill, and the president must sign it. This move was part of the governor’s plan to bring more programs and their administration into state jurisdiction while claiming federal dollars to support them. Ask yourself: How well has the state done in funding its obligation to public schools or to state retirees via KPERS? Why should states take federal dollars to set up a new bureaucracy managed by the governor’s own appointees when the current federal program has worked so well for so many? Here is where you come in, dear concerned voter. Remember the popular outcry when the Affordable Care Act was still in the planning: “Keep your hands off my Medicare?” Ironically, it is the states, not the federal government, which have decided to get their hands on and experiment with our Medicare. If that plan is worrying, even infuriating, to you as it is to me, take your displeasure to the ballot box and vote all the “experimenters” out in November. A5 Morris. Davis is an honest man with integrity and is well-respected, as was Morris, by his peers in the Legislature. As you enter that voting booth, ask yourself, who would you rather have as your next governor? A governor who is willing to ruin his opponent’s reputation just so he can win an election? Or, an honest man who will work with both sides of the aisle in the Legislature and lead Kansas out of the mess we are in? I will put my money on the honest man any day. I hope you will join me in electing Davis as our next governor. Larry Weigel, Manhattan Follow the votes In this Halloween and election season, I find the scariest thing lurking in the shadows is not the ghoul who wants to get his hand in our candy bowls. It is Gov. Sam Brownback who wants to take over Medicare for Kansas seniors. Why has this prospect been absent from the conversations concernMary B. Schwindt, ing our future as Kansans Timken under the present administration? Last season, the Kansas Legislature passed House I, for one, will be glad Bill 2553 which, if given when the election is over and congressional approval, we are no longer subjected would give Kansas the to the campaign ads every authority to “suspend by few minutes on TV. legislation the operation I feel an important policy of all federal laws, rules, is being ignored by all the regulations and orders candidates. regarding health care” and Life is one of the greatest to take control of all federal gifts we receive from God. funds such as those that flow Gov. Sam Brownback and directly from Medicare to Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., health care providers in have both been leaders in Kansas. protecting this basic right. In a letter signed by Both have been strong Brownback on April 22 of advocates that the rights of this year, he states “Kansas the unborn are protected. already has experience with Remember Brownback was a successful state level reinstrumental in closing two form of a federal health-care of the Planned Parenthood program. In January 2013, clinics in Kansas, the biggest Kansas launched a major abortion provider in the U.S. reform of its Medicaid system by covering nearly I feel this is more important then anything else being 400,000 Kansans under KanCare.” Truly, I know debated. Mark H. Leiker, of no health-care provider Munjor who has had a favorable experience with KanCare, especially in regard to reimbursements. Any hospital Scripture says a man who official throughout Kansas, bears false witness against especially from small hospihis neighbor is like a war tals which have been forced club, or a sword, or sharp to struggle under a backarrow. (Proverbs 25: 18) log of unpaid receivables Nothing can be so injuri- from Kancare, will tell you ous to an individual as to Brownback’s reforms have harm his good name or not improved the Medicaid reputation. system — they have made This is what Gov. Sam it worse. And now he wants Brownback has done to his to take over our funding for opponent Paul Davis by alMedicare? lowing a cowardly group of We seniors like our unnamed Super Pac patrons Medicare, and we don’t to put up millions of dollars want it tampered with, so to pay for an inappropriate let’s stand up for ourselves. video shown during primeTake a look at the legislatime when young children tors who voted for this bill. are watching TV. The video In my district, Marc Kahrs is repeated hourly. voted for HB2553, so he will This ad goes against all not be getting my vote. And of the religious principles Brownback will definitely Brownback promotes, not be getting my vote. including one of the most Carol Denning, important commandments Wichita of all, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” When actual facts were The ironic and shamemissing from a pieced ful efforts by the Kansas together report obtained ille- Department of Children and gally by a Brownback staffer, Families to spend a week diga script was written to create ging for insignificant irregua distorted and deceptive larities in the books of Early storyline, followed by made- Head Start, imposing large up video graphics of sexual fines and essentially forcing scenes in an attempt to lead them to abandon substantial prospective voters to a false future funding that would conclusion about an event benefit impoverished children that was totally blown out of is just another of the long list proportion. of conservative attacks on Brownback’s’ below-thechildren’s welfare. belt video attack boldly It seems most social exaggerates and misrepreconservatives will bend over sents the truth in a manner backwards to force a woman that implies the worst about to have a child she doesn’t his opponent. want or is unable to care This is not a new tactic for properly. But as soon as by Brownback. He used it these babies are born, they against members of his own are “on their own” and left party who didn’t agree with to fend for themselves. him on the severe tax cut If social conservatives reissues that are now coming ally cared about the life and home to roost as revenues welfare of these children, start to tumble. and are not just interested in Former president of the imposing punitive sanctions Kansas Senate, and good on a “sinful” woman, they friend, Steve Morris was tar- would support programs such geted in his primary election as Early Head Start and be with a vicious smear camoutraged by KDCF’s recent paign that led to his defeat in harassment. When will pro2012. Morris was a member life folks realize the majority of our Kansas State Uniof beneficiaries of “welfare” versity Alumni Association in Kansas are impoverished Board of Directors when I mothers with children, and was the executive director the availability of these types in the late 1970s, and is one of public services are often of the most honest people a deciding factor in whether you’ll ever meet. they choose to abort or keep Yet he was thrown under their babies? Gary Brinker, the bus by Brownback. Davis Hays fits that same category as Important issues Slanderous ads repulsive Shameful attempts
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