A message from Chairman Larry Gates:
We woke up this morning to a different country. We now live in a country where we have said no to failed policies of the last eight years.
Today we can hold our heads high. The hard work and dedication that you have shown over the past eighteen months has brought real change not just to Kansas but to the entire United States.
So thank you. Thank you for your tireless effort. Thank you for making phone calls, knocking on doors, helping out in our offices, talking to your friends and family and encouraging them to vote. Thank you.
Regardless of who won or lost, Kansas Democrats are better organized and more inspired then ever before. You are responsible for this achievement.
Thank you,
Larry Gates Chairman Kansas Democratic Party
You can join us in making history by volunteering to help out on election day. Also, checkout this new web ad from Barack Obama.
Pat Roberts went public with a new political TV ad which claims he will fight to make sure the Air Force gets it right on the Boeing tanker.However, Roberts doesn't say in the ad that he has failed to fight for Boeing and the tanker contract - twice.
Last week, Lt. Governor Mark Parkinson introduced a Budget Efficiency Savings Team (BEST) II, a program to continue the work started by Governor Sebelius to cut wasteful spending, identify savings and make Kansas government more efficient. (The Governor's program has already saved Kansas taxpayers $1 billion.)
On Monday, Republican Senator Derek Schmidt thought he'd take a stab a fiscal responsibility, proposing a "Government Efficiency Commission."
He sent a press release...
On his fancy stationary with royal blue ink and shiny gold leaf...
And a subtle, yet stately water mark...
And we hear his release was only available in printed form. No digital releases for him!
We called the Lt. Governor's office to see if their press release was equally beautiful. It turns out, they send all press releases by email, and any hard copies are printed on a black and white copier using recycled copy paper.
I hope Schmidt gets his Efficiency Commission so they can investigate how much his expensive stationary is costing Kansas taxpayers.
Kansas has the potential to be one of the country's leading producers of wind energy; and to help spread the word, Governor Kathleen Sebelius and Lieutenant Governor Mark Parkinson have formed the Kansas Wind Working Group.
Happy Thanksgiving
When Thanksgiving arrives each fall, it provides an opportunity to pause, reflect, and give thanks for our blessings.
Included in my many blessings is the rare and unique opportunity to wake up every day and do a job I love, with Kansans, the finest people on earth.
The following column is by Attorney General Paul J. Morrison:Home foreclosure is a growing problem in Kansas and across the nation. Mortgage fraud and subprime lending have left many homeowners stuck with home loans they can no longer afford. This fall, my office convened a task force to investigate this problem. Consumer advocates met with representatives from the lending and real estate industries to develop recommendations on how to stem the tide of home foreclosure in Kansas.
Republicans are still scrambling to point fingers at Democrats for being fiscally irresponsible, yet they continue to ignore their policy for the last seven years of this Bush presidency - spend, spend, spend!
Recently, Republican leaders of the Kansas Legislature expressed concerns that the decision by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to deny an air-quality permit for two new coal burning plants would have negative consequences for other businesses and industries. These concerns are unfounded and inaccurate.
"There's press here, I have to be careful. Don't tell Kobach."
This quote from Senate President Derek Schmidt (R-Hugoton) in the Wichita Eagle is quite indicative of state of affairs for the Kansas Republican Party.
What was Schmidt's crime? Having the audacity to agree with Governor Kathleen Sebelius. Didn't he get the memo? Republicans and Democrats aren't supposed to agree in Kansas.
On anything.
It is fairly apparent that Sen. Schmidt was commenting tongue - in - cheek, but even so it points out a sad reality - the Kansas Republican Party's leadership is more concerned about toeing the party line than they are about enacting sound policies that benefit the people of Kansas.
I suppose none of this should come as a shock from Kris Kobach and his Un-Republican Activities Committee.