Letters on transparency pledge, KU and Legislature, immigration, Cal Thomas column, global warming

Have lawmakers sign transparency pledge

How cool is this? The nonpartisan Transparency Pledge to Kansas Taxpayers asks lawmakers to “pledge to increase Kansas government accountability by supporting public and transparent processes, timely and reasonable access to public information, and increased public participation.”

Please ask your state representative and senator to commit to this simple pledge. Find your legislators at kslegislature.org or at the free legislative hotline, 800-432-3924. Tell them to sign by Sunshine Week, March 13-19.

Legislature too busy?

The University of Kansas went out of state to seek about $330 million in bond proceeds to support the construction of a new science building and several other buildings. The issue from the legislative side is that KU did not get approval from the Legislature.

KU might have assumed that the Legislature was too busy thinking about miniskirts and gun-dealer discrimination to consider KU’s needs. It would have been almost a no-brainer to ignore asking the governor for help. The governor hasn’t left enough money in state coffers, and the highway funds can no longer support filling 10 potholes, let alone $330 million for something as frivolous as a science building. At this point, I doubt legislators could even support a creation theme park with a statue of Adam riding to a closed Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market on a dinosaur.

I am offended by what KU did. Before going out of state, it should have asked Sen. Michael O’Donnell, R-Wichita, if he could hawk a sufficient number of Garth Brooks tickets to support the project. Or ask Sen. Mitch Holmes, R-St. John, if he could put a kiosk in the rotunda of the state Capitol to sell burqas.

Restrict immigration

Allowing immigration, legal or illegal, while Americans are out of work by the thousands is counterproductive to economic growth.

Immigration must be tied to the unemployment rate. If that rate exceeds 5 percent, immigration should be halted. To protect American workers, illegal immigrants would be deported. But they would be put on a list for future admission, as the employment rate allows. This would ensure full employment for Americans and a promise of future employment, as needed, for legal immigrants.

This would stop the flow of capital from America to the countries of origin of our foreign workforce, leaving investment capital in this country.

A country that does not control its borders or its citizens’ employment rights is not a nation that will ever have homeland security for everyone.

Column was crazy

The Eagle is to be commended for including different sides of political issues, but Cal Thomas’ column this week was crazy (Feb. 10 Opinion). He said that Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders were peddling gloom and doom. Perhaps Thomas needs to see what the Republican presidential candidates are saying. Their comments about President Obama are the worst gloom and doom I have ever heard.

If you wear blinders to avoid seeing the good all around you, it would be hard to see what a great president we have now.

Facts on warming

I can’t believe The Eagle gave so much letter space to someone pushing the “myth of global warming” button (“Warming false alarms,” Feb. 6 Letters to the Editor).

Fact: 2015 was the hottest year on record.

Fact: Icebergs are melting. There are pictures of melt pouring off like Niagara Falls.

Fact: Sea level is rising. It has been measured.

Folks, there is an elephant in the room. If you can’t see it, you will believe it when it steps on you.

This story was originally published February 12, 2016 at 6:04 PM with the headline "Letters on transparency pledge, KU and Legislature, immigration, Cal Thomas column, global warming."