A rather shocking video on the Kansas Watchdog news site shows a staffer of Congressman Dennis Moore showing his distaste for openness and public access to the Congressman’s office.
When Congressman Moore’s office was contacted, they stated that any citizen in Kansas has the right to request to not be filmed. While this is true, it certainly could have been done in a more tasteful manner, without the obvious contempt for those delivering petitions and letters to Rep. Moore’s office.
Further, a congressional staffer works for the public, and if they are uncomfortable with being filmed while working for the public, then maybe they should find a different line of work.
Congressman Moore and Nancy Pelosi’s Democrat majority said if they were elected, they would usher in a new era of open government. Perhaps Congressman Moore should educate his staff that they work for the people, and as part of the new “open” government, we the people have a right to know and see what happens in our office!
A new documentary about the dangers of the environmental movement will be premiering around the globe this Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 7pm. Not Evil, Just Wrong will premiere in Wichita and Topeka.
Americans for Prosperity and the Flint Hills Center for Public Policy will be co-hosting the premiere at Wichita.
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A TEE Party activist displays his T-shirt
Around 80 citizens attended AFP’s TEE Party in the capital. Activists stood outside the House chambers to greet legislators as they entered and then moved to the viewing balcony to see our government at work. One activist had a campaign flyer from her Senator stating that she had worked to remove the franchise tax, eliminate the estate tax and make Kansas a more tax friendly state. She planned to remind her Senator what she said on the campaign trail.
At noon activist regrouped for a quick lunch. A few legislators joined the group including Sens. Susan Wagle, Dick Kelsey, Mike Petersen and Rep. Steve Brunk. A few organizers quickly addressed the group, including FairTax from Kansas City, Sedgwick County Commissioner Karl Peterjohn and grassroots activist and TEA Party organizer Amanda Grosserode.
FairTax activists have plan in place to bring the FairTax to Kansas. A bill is currently working its way through the Missouri Senate. Advocates noted the devastating effects that could happen here in Kansas if Missouri becomes much more business and tax friendly than Kansas.
Karl Peterjohn gave some tips on effective lobbying. He spoke about the important impact citizens can have on their government.
Amanda Grosserode mention another protest for Congressman Dennis Moore. Details will be announced on their website soon.
Participants were encouraged to visit legislators in the Docking State Office building and in the capital. Some plan to stay and hear the Governor’s address at 4pm if possible. Buses leaving for Johnson County and Wichita will still leave on time at 4pm however.
Reactions from citizens vary. A common theme seems to be the amount of taxpayer funded lobbying that is occuring under the dome. A group from invisiblekansas.com was also under the dome urging no cuts to their taxpayer funded activities. There seems to be every constituency imaginable under the dome lobbying legislators right now except taxpayer citizens.
AFP member Vonda Wiedmer displays her T-shirt message
There’s a TEE Party in the statehouse today. Americans for Prosperity – Kansas has organized grassroots activists to come and encourage lawmakers to not tax their way out of their spending problem. Citizens met this morning at 10am and are now spread throughout the statehouse speaking with legislators about what needs to be done to fix their budget problem. Here’s what AFP Director Derrick Sontag had to say this morning.
- “This is not just your regular veto session. We’ve been spending too much money in this building since day one.”
- Spending has increased by 48% since 2004. “Those are the real numbers folks.”
- “The budget that they are proposing to finish off this year leaves $39, $40 million in the bank.” That’s significantly less than what is required by statute. But then again, statutes can always be changed to suit the situation.
- “If they had just spent what they took in, they’d have a billion in the bank.” 22 months ago the state of Kansas had $1 billion in the bank. Now the state is still trying to fix a $1 billion plus problem
- Legislators knew the problem was coming and yet did ignored their own staff. “They were warned by their own staff two years ago”, that they’d have a negative balance.
- By law the legislative session must be wrapped up in 90 days. “They have nine more days to go.” A tax increase is certainly not outside the realm of possibility. “They’ll get creative and do whatever they have to do at the end of the day.”
- K-12 education is being asked to cut less than one percent of their budget. Yet K-12 spending has increased by 53% since 2003. “It’s simply not sustainable.”
Flint Hills Center investiative reporter Paul Soutar spoke briefly about his newest report on how much money K-12 education is sitting on.
Citizens are now spread throughout the capital speaking to legislators, encouraging them to not raise taxes and hurt the Kansas economy even more. More later in the day.
Bob Weeks at Wichita Liberty has an excellent explanation of Proposition K and its potential effects on property values and tax rates. The post is in response to a con editorial in the Wichita Eagle, “Tax Plan Would Shift Burden, Be Arbitrary.” The Eagle also featured a guest column in favor of Prop K, “Proposition K is Fair, Equal, Transparent.”
Weeks expertly dissects arguments opposing Prop K, showing the lack of logic behind each one. As you read both Wichita Eagle columns and Week’s post, keep in mind our current system and ask yourself which you would prefer.
Also, note which side is attempting to solve the property taxation problem and which is simply trying to find excuses to keep the old system in place.
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