Tax Relief a Must in Kansas
Story
Junior and Irene York have seen their property taxes increase 280 percent since they moved to their small ranch home in Louisburg, Kan., in 1991. Lawmakers worry that there might not be enough money to fund even current spending promises, let alone help the Yorks, people with disabilities and others looking to state government for assistance. “No new spending” has become the new mantra.

Police Chiefs and Prosecutors begin pushing Liberal Agenda
Story
The group of police chiefs and prosecutors got behind a $23 million increase in funding over two years for early childhood education programs proposed by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. “We don’t want America’s most vulnerable kids becoming America’s most wanted adults,” said Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson. Branson appeared with Shawnee County District Attorney Robert Hecht, Lenexa Police Chief Ellen Hanson and Topeka Police Chief Ron Miller. Americans for Prosperity issued a report that opposed an appropriation to a state pre-kindergarten program. The group said the pre-kindergarten program was a hidden subsidy for public education and had questionable results. Americans for Prosperity recommended that the money should be given as an income tax credit for stay-at-home moms to acknowledge “a parent is a child’s most important educator.” Hanson, the Lenexa police chief, said of American for Prosperity’s recommendation: “That particular point is kind of like the Dick and Jane reader. Life is good and mom was always at home baking cookies.”

Pew gives MO Gov Top Ranking
Story
Missouri government is among the nation's highest-performing states, according to a national report card released Monday by the Pew Center on the States. Missouri was one of five states that finished with a B-plus. It was the highest score among the state's eight neighbors and was behind only three states that earned A-minuses. "Our sound economic and management policies are paying dividends for Missourians," said Missouri Republican Governor Matt Blunt. Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius received a B-minus in which the KC Star did not report the poor ranking.

Congressional candidate’s ties to American Century questioned
Story
The two-term Kansas treasurer, a 2nd District Republican candidate for Congress this year, has received a gift of inordinate value to a politician — prominent face time in TV ads and mailings from American Century promoting its college-savings program, known as Learning Quest. Jenkins contended that any ad campaign American Century runs is aboveboard and meets all federal rules — and will do so in the fall, too. Treasurers of other states — including Missouri’s Sarah Steelman, who announced in January her plans to run for governor — appear in similar ad campaigns, Jenkins said. That is because the face of a public official provides assurance to potential investors that the state has oversight over the program. Democrats are reluctant to throw stones because one of their own, Securities Commissioner Chris Biggs, has appeared in TV ads aimed at educating Kansans on investments. “Saving for college is tough,” Jenkins said in one recent ad. “That’s why it’s a good idea to start early with a Learning Quest 529 plan.” Just days after she was re-elected in 2006, Jenkins announced that American Century had won a re-bid of the contract to manage the program six more years. At the time, Learning Quest had more than 93,000 accounts and assets of nearly $1.5 billion.

Sebelius Remarks Hurt Chances of Landing $450 Bio-Lab
Story
House Speaker Melvin Neufeld said Friday that Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ criticisms of President Bush’s fiscal proposals could hurt Kansas’ efforts to land a national security laboratory.

Air Force picks France over Kansas
Story
The U.S. Air Force chose a European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. team for a $35 billion contract to replace its aging fleet of refueling tankers, dealing a blow to Boeing and the Kansas economy. The contract will supply the Air Force with 179 tankers, which will be called the KC-45A. It's one of the largest defense contracts in history. The decision, announced Friday afternoon at the Pentagon, caused surprise and outrage. "I am deeply troubled by the Air Force's decision to award the... tanker to a French company that has never built a tanker in its history," U.S. Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, said in a statement. "I cannot believe that we would create French jobs in place of Kansas jobs."

Union Station wants tax increase for more funds
Story
Union Station, where finances remain precarious despite “Bodies Revealed,” wants a property tax increase. Station officials on Friday embraced a two-pronged plan that calls for a 5-cent tax increase and more private support to put the station on solid financial footing “for perpetuity.”

Coal vs. green
Story
Paul Jacobson, vice president of corporate communications for Evergreen Energy, Inc., in Denver, said coal today generated 70 percent more electricity than it did in 1970, but created 30 percent less pollutants. "If coal opponents want it to go away, they should tell us which 12 hours of electricity each day they wish to do without," Jacobson said. "Current methods of coal burning will be gradually replaced with clean coal technology, but it could take decades and decades."

State government transparency web site now online
Story
The state of Kansas has launched, KanView, the new government transparency web site. Americans for Prosperity-Kansas state director Alan Cobb says KanView is an important step toward giving Kansans easier access to learn how their tax dollars are spent by the state.

Sebelius appoints huge money donor to Chair Human Rights Commission
Story
Gov. Sebelius appoints HUGE Democratic donor, John Carmichael, ?to Chair Kansas Human Rights Commission. ?Carmichael apparently is exempt from Kansas Ethics Laws. The Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission failed to take action against a PAC ?John Carmichael was involved with that failed to file a report about political mailings in Nov 2006. The new Chair of the Kansas Human Rights Commission apparently does not support human rights for the unborn.

Liberal Missouri Representative promotes “Light Pollution” Bill
Story
If the bill if approved no protected place would be allowed to have night sky luminance any brighter than twice the natural luminance. The bill would require that by 2055, 90 percent of the protected areas have no more than 10 percent additional light above natural luminance. Setting delayed target dates gives businesses time to install efficient lighting as old fixtures wear out. “What would normally be millions of stars blazing away in a black sky has been lost to the majority of the American people,” said Bob Gent, the president of the International Dark Sky Association.

Taxes for Fitness Center
Story
The government-owned, Olathe Recreational Center was authorized to receive more than $12 million in funding — $6 million from the park sales tax and more than $6 million from general obligation bonds — beginning this year.