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NBAF – Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, and House Speaker Mike O’Neal, R-Hutchinson, make a potent threesome. That all are open to the idea of boosting the state’s commitment to the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility takes a little of the sting out of the Obama administration’s decision to cut funding for the project. No less important, the lawmakers’ sentiment underscores the state’s commitment to continue to pursue the project, which would be both an economic and scientific boon to Manhattan and the animal-science corridor. Indeed, the entire state would benefit from NBAF itself as well as from private animal-health firms that would be involved in research related to the work to be done at the federal site.
Manhattan Mercury
Drug testing – Our primary objection to the proposal by state Rep. Kasha Kelley, R-Arkansas City, to require Kansans who receive public assistance to undergo drug testing is the cost of the testing and lack of any evidence beyond hearsay that there are sufficient numbers of people using our tax dollars to feed their drug habits to make a testing program cost-efficient.
Topeka Capital-Journal
Water bill – House Bill 2451 is intended to remove the “use it or lose it” provision attached to groundwater rights and thereby conserve water. It’s touted as protecting, at least to a limited extent, the Ogallala Aquifer, letting rights-holders maintain their rights without forcing them to use the water. Knowledgeable observers, however, point out that until sufficient funding is provided to repurchase water rights and address the consumption patterns affecting the aquifer, little progress can be expected. And given the current attractive prices for irrigated crops, the incentive to retire water rights is low.
Lawrence Journal-World
Wind credit – U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran’s support of the extension of an important wind-energy tax credit is good for a promising but still young industry – and good for Siemens Wind Energy of Hutchinson. “There are members of Congress who feel we ought not to pick winners and losers, to let the markets decide,” he said about critics, including Kansas’ own Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Wichita. “I believe it’s better to get this industry up and running, then let the country decide … rather than pull the rug out overnight.” Agreed.
Hutchinson News
Kobach – Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, perhaps the nation’s leading legal advocate for anti-immigrant legislation, looks ridiculous. Kobach wants state and local law enforcement to apprehend individuals driving dusty pickup trucks who just might possibly be illegal immigrants. What kind of leadership pushes for legislation – based on doubtful information – that is expressly intended to scare undocumented immigrants into leaving the country? This is about as demagogic a thing as we’ve seen since the era of communist-baiting Sen. Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s.
Winfield Daily Courier
Happy hour – Kansas legislators are considering legalizing happy hour in the state. And, yes, before you check your calendars, this is 2012. Current Kansas law: “No club, drinking establishment … shall offer to sell or serve any drink to any person at any time at a price less than that charged all other purchasers of drinks on that day.” Odd that such a law was passed on full-priced drinks. But, legislators, it’s time to sober up, and let Kansans get happy.
Kansas City Star
