Letters to the editor on protecting the courts, water plan, sales tax vote, Brownback, Roberts

Protect judiciary

The following letter was submitted by Sara Beezley, Girard; Jim Bush, Overland Park; Mike Crow, Leavenworth; Jack Focht, Wichita; Jerry Goodell, Topeka; Rich Hayse, Topeka; Christel Marquardt, Topeka; Linda Parks, Wichita; Rachael Pirner, Wichita; Dave Rebein, Dodge City; Zack Reynolds, Fort Scott; Bill Swearer, Hutchinson; John Vratil, Overland Park; Tom Wright, Topeka.

Kansans have a right to expect their judges to be independent and not obligated to any person, religion or organization when deciding cases. In 1957, we enshrined that ideal in the state constitution by providing for an independent nominating commission to evaluate the qualifications of candidates for the Kansas Supreme Court. Until this year, the same process was used for our Court of Appeals. The objective is to provide the governor with only well-qualified individuals from whom to choose a new appellate jurist.

Unfortunately, Gov. Sam Brownback has repeatedly shown his determination to sidestep that ideal and to make the appellate courts subservient to the whim of the governor. When the Legislature repealed use of the nominating commission for the Court of Appeals, Brownback was quick to sign the bill into law.

As past presidents of the Kansas Bar Association, we feel we should be able to trust a lawyer like Brownback – the head of the executive branch in Kansas – to respect the importance of an independent and coequal judiciary. But to the contrary, we are alarmed at the erosion of judicial independence.

We are also concerned about the woefully inadequate funding of the judicial branch of our government that has been promoted under Brownback. This has resulted in court closings and an interruption of the administration of justice for our citizens.

Although we represent a wide range of political affiliations, and we do not speak for the KBA or its members, we know from experience that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Paul Davis understands and appreciates that there are three coequal branches of government. We are confident that he will halt attempts to control the independent courts from the Governor’s Office.

ASR not viable

“Still questions about water plan” (Oct. 6 Letters to the Editor) pointed out the fatal flaws of the proposed Aquifer Storage and Recovery project, including catastrophic dewatering of the aquifer facilitating salt intrusion and agricultural water rights restrictions.

The record of the ASR system documents its inability to recharge the Equus Beds. Mother Nature further exposed the Achilles’ heel during recent drought, demonstrating that the ASR project does not create a viable long-term water supply for Wichita.

Alan King, Wichita’s director of public works and utilities, stated the ASR program is generating only half the water projected – 1.8 billion gallons per year instead of the projected 3.5 billion. U.S. Geological Survey records show it has not even produced 1.8 billion gallons over the past seven years.

Wichita recently provided scare projections as to potential water rate increases if the sales tax does not pass (Oct. 12 Eagle). The public should question the validity given the financial hole the water utility has dug by investments in ASR.

El Dorado Reservoir has been designated as a regional water supply. Many studies have shown the reservoir is capable of more than 22 million gallons per day in the drought of record. Under normal rain, the reservoir can produce 30 million gallons per day surplus.

Wichita should incorporate this into its supply, let the Equus Beds rest and recharge, and plan on future removal of the salt plume. This action would protect and preserve the aquifer for future generations.

If not now, when?

If not now – when? This phrase from the Yes Wichita 1-cent sales tax campaign caught my attention. As a 71-year-old on a fixed income, I support the sales tax that will move our city forward and proactively address water, jobs, streets and transit – not just for now but for the future, for my grandchildren.

As a former mayor, I saw us defer action or take Band-Aid steps to address the need on future water shortages. I saw us use composite materials to get us by on street maintenance. I saw us do little to really address public transit – all so we wouldn’t have to raise property taxes. Yes, we’ve had job initiatives in the past, just like every city, but ours are woefully underfunded compared with theirs.

If we are to be a progressive city, if we are to be the best as well as the largest city in the state of Kansas, then we need – now – to address these issues. We need to support the 1-cent sales tax. We need to invest in our future and our grandchildren’s future.

We’ve talked enough, studied enough, deferred enough. Now is the time to act. And if not now, when?

Strong leaders

As a farm broadcaster and as executive director of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, I had the pleasure of working closely with both Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Gov. Sam Brownback. I know them both to be hardworking servants of the people of Kansas.

Independent Senate candidate Greg Orman claims that removing Roberts from the Senate will help end gridlock in Congress. This is naive at best, for at least two reasons. Roberts is adept at working with members of both parties in both houses. In addition, Orman’s idea that he will be able to determine the leadership in the Senate by threatening to align with the other party shows how little he knows about the way things operate in Washington, D.C. Now is not the time to trade an experienced, honest, hardworking senator for a candidate with no government background who thinks he can fool voters into believing he is not a liberal Democrat.

At the state level, putting a Democrat in the Governor’s Office would bring the Washington-style gridlock to Kansas, as both houses of the Legislature will undoubtedly remain in Republican hands. Just look back at the last time we had a Democrat as governor. In addition, I know Brownback to be a good, moral and ethical man, and a strong leader who isn’t afraid to try new ways to make state government more efficient.

Covered up

Former CIA senior analyst Ray McGovern says Kansans need to know that Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., was key to the attempt by former President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney to politicize the “intelligence” conjured up to justify the attack on Iraq.

As Senate Intelligence Committee chairman from 2003 to 2007, Roberts succeeded in covering up the fraudulent (not mistaken) nature of the pre-Iraq War “intelligence” for the next several years. Though it’s common knowledge today that the Bush administration’s justification for the Iraqi invasion was cooked and its dissemination was facilitated by Roberts, the people of Kansas need to be reminded of the key role Roberts played in America’s misguided policies that continue to haunt us with an endless Middle East war.

We must not send Roberts back to Washington, D.C., because he is definitely a major contributor to the problems we face today.

Excessive muting

Whom do I send my bill to if my mute button breaks before the November election?

Letters deadline

Letters to the editor about the Nov. 4 election must be received by noon Thursday to be considered for publication.

This story was originally published October 25, 2014 at 7:04 PM with the headline "Letters to the editor on protecting the courts, water plan, sales tax vote, Brownback, Roberts."