Kansas views on RPS, consolidation, health compact, Roberts, Sherow, Kobach, KU ranking
Energy standard – Despite Gov. Sam Brownback’s sudden lack of support for it, the renewable energy mandate in Kansas deserves to be kept in place. The renewable portfolio standard has created thousands of jobs in the wind industry, provided new income to farmers and kept electricity prices in check for utility customers since bipartisan approval by the Kansas Legislature in 2009. Unfortunately, its few enemies are rich and influential in the strong-arm kind of way when it comes to lavishing campaign contributions on lawmakers.
Consolidation – Rural voters shouldn’t be taken in by Gov. Sam Brownback’s efforts to mislead or make us afraid. He is simply trying to divert attention from the fact he has failed to support public education, and that will hasten consolidation. Without adequate funding, small rural districts have no choice but to move faster to merge.
Health compact – One of the many ill-conceived pieces of legislation passed by arrogant conservatives in Topeka and signed into law by Gov. Sam Brownback is proving troublesome as the general election draws nigh. Written as a repudiation of the Affordable Care Act, HB 2553 would have Kansas join a multistate compact that would take federal money used for health care programs and use it as the states see fit. Kansans are discovering the trust placed in the conservative bloc might have been ill-advised.
Roberts – There’s nothing new about politicians skewing the truth or repeating misleading statements to voters. But the level of misinformation from Sen. Pat Roberts’ camp – and the sophomoric way in which it’s being doled out – reeks of a campaign in the throes of fearful desperation. What’s more, it’s only September. October is certain to bring more mudslinging, misdirection and more “be deathly afraid of Obama” to all of the big political races in the state, in the hope that fear, not facts, will cast voters’ ballots.
Sherow – Many Kansans have had enough of the tired, counterproductive approach of Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler. Democrat Jim Sherow offers a refreshing alternative to the obstructionism from Huelskamp and his tea-party crowd that has stymied progress in Congress on agriculture, immigration, health care and other issues important to Kansas and the nation.
Kobach –Secretary of State Kris Kobach has enough strikes against him to be retired from the playing field at election time. He should be replaced by his challenger, Democrat Jean Schodorf.
KU ranking – The recent U.S. News and World Report magazine report dropped the University of Kansas from 47th among public universities to 50th. In the ranking of national universities, KU dropped from 101st last year to 106th. This is particularly bad news when KU used to be ahead of most schools in the Big Eight and Big 12. In the new ratings, KU is topped in the public school classification by Texas, 17th; Texas A&M, 25th; Colorado, 38th; Missouri, 45th; and Nebraska, 45th. Kansas now is tied at 50th with both Oklahoma and Iowa State; Kansas State places 74th; Oklahoma State 76th; Texas Tech 84th and West Virginia 93rd.
This story was originally published September 21, 2014 at 7:08 PM with the headline "Kansas views on RPS, consolidation, health compact, Roberts, Sherow, Kobach, KU ranking."