Letters on CURB, Medicaid expansion, Rep. Bridges retiring, Muslims speaking out, immigrant students

CURB was a powerful voice for consumers

Consumers have lost a powerful voice before the Kansas Corporation Commission with the changes to the Citizens’ Utility Ratepayer Board (Dec. 17 Eagle). Its consumer counsel is prohibited from sharing information with the Legislature or media. Does this mean that we no longer value facts with full analysis?

CURB was created to advocate for the consumer when utility companies petition the KCC for rate increases. It has provided needed balance and fairness in the process. Your utility bill would look much different today if it were not for the efforts of CURB. Government works best when there is a balance of power, and we have Margaret Miller and Margaret Bangs to thank for their vision and passion in the creation of CURB.

As one of three commissioners on the KCC (1985-90), I saw firsthand the value of this organization. I am alarmed at the trend in our state government that values political agendas over the common good.

The average Kansas ratepayer deserves a seat at the table when decisions are made that affect their daily lives. When large corporations have unfettered sway over decision makers, the “little guy” loses.

Let us, please, choose the common good over political agendas.

Allow a full debate

Jeff Glendening, state director for Americans for Prosperity, continues to claim that Medicaid expansion would not work for Kansas (Dec. 13 Opinion). He continues to use certain cherry-picked statistics to support his claim. Similar arguments are also voiced by people such as Rep. Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, chairman of the House Health and Human Services Committee, and representatives of the Kansas Policy Institute and the Kansas Chamber.

Meanwhile, professionals in the health care field say the exact opposite. Julie Elder, chief medical officer of GraceMed Health Clinic, wrote that expansion can help both working Kansans and our health care system in Kansas (Dec. 13 Opinion). She pointed out that, contrary to Hawkins’ claim, there are few health care options available for low-income working Kansans. As a result, they too often do without health care until they end up in our emergency rooms.

It would seem logical that such an issue should be fully debated, and that debate should take place in Hawkins’ committee. Unfortunately, House Speaker Ray Merrick, R-Stilwell, has purged that committee of Republicans interested in opening such a debate. It appears that Merrick and Hawkins are determined to continue to close the door on any open discussion of this issue.

Kansans should call upon their representatives to allow for a full and open debate of this issue. Then perhaps we can structure a workable plan by and for Kansans.

Bridges will be missed

I fear that the resignation of Rep. Carolyn Bridges, D-Wichita, from the Legislature will be only casually considered by most who have been made aware (Dec. 16 Eagle).

Bridges, a talented and dedicated public schools veteran educator, will be sorely missed as the Legislature considers budget items that will affect the operations of Kansas schools. She reports having met predictable, often mean-spirited resistance to the initiatives she has identified as essential to the improvement of curriculum and instruction. Her expertise as a classroom teacher and building and central office administrator has been demeaned by far less qualified legislators as issues directly related to the improvement of our public schools’ mission have been considered.

Kansas citizens who value our public schools are being denied a fair, measured and exceptionally well-informed voice in our Legislature by virtue of Bridges’ resignation. The already challenged sense of being respected that Kansas educators are experiencing takes another powerful hit. Those of us who embrace this profession with heartfelt pride are once again concerned about the welfare of students in our public schools. And we wonder: Who else cares?

A person of integrity

Though I am saddened that Rep. Carolyn Bridges, D-Wichita, has chosen to give up her legislative seat, it is not hard to understand why, and I thank her for the time she spent in Topeka trying to make a difference.

I know her to be a person of integrity who possesses the wisdom to know there is more than one way to make a difference. She chose not to continue trudging through the quagmire at the Capitol. Her time can be better spent working locally to make things better, including helping her grandchildren become good citizens and stewards.

It seems unlikely that the next legislative session will be any more productive or less contentious than the last, and I expect that we will see the departures from Topeka continue.

Muslims speaking out

Several times since the attacks on Paris and San Bernardino, there have been statements made by Muslim communities and organizations denouncing the attacks and expressing that they are more than willing to work to end terrorism. They are extending a helping hand, which President Obama asked them to do, but nothing is aired or printed about them. They were extending help long before Obama even asked, and that was not reported either.

Now, because the mainstream media ignore these organizations, attacks against Muslims are increasing. People are screaming at Muslim women and children. People are leaving death threats at mosques. People are once again attacking Sikhs under the mistaken impression they are Muslim.

If the mainstream media would report what is going on, and how Muslims are trying very hard to help us defeat the terrorists, maybe most of these stupid people would realize that Muslims are not the enemy – only the terrorists are.

We need to put pressure on the media to report these statements, how Muslims are helping by convincing those in their community that the terrorist organizations are nothing but criminals and discouraging any of their members from joining the terrorists, and to reveal the mistreatment of Muslims.

Students are succeeding

More than 1,000 students received their degrees from Wichita State University on Dec. 13. Van Tran was one of them.

Years ago when Van came from Vietnam, she enrolled for English classes at the Wichita Indochinese Center (WIC) at the lowest level. Gradually, she moved from one level to another and finished the advanced level while working at Raytheon.

One day I told her that she had learned all she could at WIC, and I insisted she go to Butler Community College. I asked her not to stop there and said she should move on to WSU, and that is what she did.

She received an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from WSU in 2009 and joined Cessna Aircraft as an engineer. While continuing her full-time job at Cessna, with great determination she pursued her education and received her master’s degree in mechanical engineering Dec. 13.

Another Vietnamese student of WIC, Kimberly Cottrell, learned English at the center and in May 2015 graduated in biomedical engineering and enrolled in the pharmacy program at the University of Kansas. These and other language-handicapped students succeeded through their determination.

According to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s logic, these two and many more of our students should not have gone to WSU but should have worked all their lives on hourly wage jobs.

This story was originally published December 19, 2015 at 6:03 PM with the headline "Letters on CURB, Medicaid expansion, Rep. Bridges retiring, Muslims speaking out, immigrant students."