Jim Meyer helps lead ResistNet, a local tea party site.

It’s Time tot Get Off the Fence
by Jim Meyer

Note: The following viewpoint is solely my own. It does not represent an official endorsement by ResistNet or its partner organizations.

Even if the time hasn’t come for all ResistNet members to decide who should be the “Tea Party” Candidate for Congress in the Kansas Third Congressional District, and even if the time hasn’t come for ICaucus to render its judgment on the matter, I believe that the time has come for me to decide–and to announce–which candidate I personally favor in the Third District Congressional race. (more…)

Some tech companies are even having a hard time finding qualified employees to fill their openings, a reflection both of the competition to hire talent and of some workers’ unwillingness to move.

“Due to the recession and the economy, people are reluctant to seek change,” said Robert Greene, a tech recruiter in San Mateo, Calif. “They become more risk-averse in times when the economy is not good. People got burned. They went to companies and then got laid off. They don’t want to have that situation happen again.”

So why is unemployment so much higher now? A dearth of job creation. Through the first two quarters of 2009, the economy created just 40 million jobs vs. the 47 million it created two quarters into the 2001 recession. Now, eight months into a recovery, the economy still isn’t adding positions. In fact, it has lost an additional 1.1 million jobs - including 36,000 last month - despite a rebound in gross domestic product growth.

Here’s the quote from the Cornell Daily Sun:

Sun: Despite the concern, why has America’s unionization rate been falling for the past several decades?

A.S.: It’s a combination of three factors. [...]The private sector has decided that they want to give people a communist choice, which is no union. That’s all they really want on their ballot, and anyone who really tries to buck the domination and tyranny of the employer will pay a price.

Sun: What do you mean by a communist choice?

A.S.: I’m just saying that in the communist countries when they have elections, there’s really only one choice. What employers want is to make it very clear there’s only one choice as far as they’re concerned, which is no union

In both the headline and the body of an article on the KC Star Prime Buzz, Steve Kraske mentions two moderate Republican candidates — pro-life, fiscal moderate Nick Jordan and pro-choice moderate Kevin Yoder — who will appear at a forum sponsored by Hope for America Coalition.

It has long been clear that either Jordan or Yoder are the preferred choices of a small group of establishment, out of touch Republican leaders, and while either may yet win the Republican primary in August 2010, a victory is far from certain.  Jordan suffers from under-performance in a self-released poll, that shows him “leading” with a mere 27% of the vote, despite spending over $1 million less than two years ago against Democrat Dennis Moore.  Only three candidates — former Rep. Patricia Lightner, John Rysavy, and Daniel Gilyeat — entered the race prior to Dennis Moore’s decision to not run for re-election.  Jordan and Yoder waited until Moore drop out.

Kraske continues to do a disservice to both The Star and 3rd District voters by oddly ignoring candidates who have not been pre-approved by the moderate and liberal Republicans who at most represent 40% of the party’s voters.

Fifty-seven percent (57%) of voters say the health care reform plan now working its way through Congress will hurt the U.S. economy.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 25% think the plan will help the economy. But only seven percent (7%) say it will have no impact. Twelve percent (12%) aren’t sure.

Lawmakers working to craft a new comprehensive immigration bill have settled on a way to prevent employers from hiring illegal immigrants: a national biometric identification card all American workers would eventually be required to obtain.

About 11.4 million out-of-work people now collect unemployment compensation, at a cost of $10 billion a month. Half of them have been receiving payments for more than six months, the usual insurance limit. But under multiple extensions enacted by the federal government in response to the downturn, workers can collect the payments for as long as 99 weeks in states with the highest unemployment rates — the longest period since the program’s inception.

Link.

Spring Break “No School Day Camp” at Mahaffie
The Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm is offering a day camp on Wednesday, March 17th from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the historic site, 1200 Kansas City Road in Olathe.

The camp is available to kids in kindergarten through sixth grade and features history based games, crafts, living history activities, movie times and stories frown from cowboy culture. Weather permitting, campers will spend time indoors and outside.

The cost is $50 for the first child in the household and $40 for each additional household participant. Registration is open until Thursday, March 11th. For more information or to register call (913) 971-5111 or email mahaffie@olatheks.org.

State of the City Scheduled for March 12
Olathe Mayor Michael Copeland will deliver his State of the City Speech on Friday, March 12th at the Olathe Holiday Inn. The luncheon is scheduled to begin at 11:45 a.m. and conclude at 1:00 p.m. Tickets are available through the Olathe Chamber of Commerce, (913) 764-1050.

PRESS RELEASE
March 1, 2010

For Immediate Release
Speaker Pro Tem of the Kansas House Arlen Siegfreid (R-Olathe), House Majority Leader Ray Merrick (R-Stilwell), Assistant Majority Leader Peggy Mast (R- Emporia) and Majority Whip Rob Olson (R-Olathe) released the following statement in reference to a quote from Jerry Moran’s U.S. Senate campaign to The Hill Blog regarding Congressman Todd Tiahrt’s complete exoneration by the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

Siegfreid stated, “Todd Tiahrt is a man of honor and integrity, so it was no surprise to those of us who know him that he’s been fully exonerated by the Standards Committee. What does come as a surprise is the reaction from Jerry Moran, who appears poised to ignore the ruling and continue attacking Rep. Tiahrt on the issue. This isn’t the way to earn the respect of Kansans. I’m supporting a genuine statesman. Perhaps the news of Rep. Tiahrt’s exoneration and his opponent’s reaction tells voters all they need to know when choosing a Senator.”

Merrick said, “The unfounded political attacks against the character and integrity of Todd Tiahrt have no place in Kansas.”

“Apparently, the truth is not important to Jerry Moran. I am disappointed that after all his talk about his Kansas values and his Kansas roots, Jerry Moran brings the dirtiest of Washington politics home with him. Conservatives expect to be attacked by Nancy Pelosi and her liberal elite friends, but when a fellow Kansan seeks to perpetuate the same baseless, partisan slurs and false accusations it is negative campaigning at its worst. Kansans deserve better,” said Olson.

Mast stated, “Kansans believe that honesty and integrity are more than just words. We expect our political leaders to debate the issues with passion and vigor, but to conduct themselves and their campaigns with honor and truthfulness. To attack a man’s character without cause or justification is out of bounds. Jerry Moran and his staff should know better.”

Referenced quote from Jerry Moran’s campaign to The Hill Blog, “The fact there’s not apparently an ongoing inquiry by Congress, we don’t think that takes away from the manner in which Tiahrt has operated in the Congress for many years.” The senior campaign staff continued, “You will hear more from us on that.”

# # #

I am writing today about the race for your next U.S. Senator. I have looked at the candidates, and the choice is clear. I have chosen to support Todd Tiahrt for the U.S. Senate, and I am asking you to join me.

Todd Tiahrt is a leader on the issues that matter most to conservatives. Whether he is fighting for fiscal restraint, tax reform or a strong national defense, Todd is always out front bringing others with him. The nation’s premiere conservative grassroots organization, the American Conservative Union, recently awarded Todd a 95% lifetime ranking - the highest of anyone in the Kansas Congressional delegation.

I am asking you to join me in doing more than voting for Todd on Election Day - I am asking for your financial contribution to Todd’s campaign. We have seen before the depths that people will go to in order to stop a Conservative leader - and I am asking you to make your $25, $50, $100 or even $500 contribution to Todd’s campaign today.

You have an opportunity to support a true conservative leader, whose vote can be counted on for the important issues facing our country. That conservative leader is Todd Tiahrt. Todd has the vision and leadership skills necessary to be a conservative leader in the US Senate.

Thank you for your time.

Steve Forbes

P.S. Your support means that Todd will have the resources to ensure victory - please make your donation today.

News release prepared by: Katie Mayes, 785-532-6415, kmayes@k-state.edu

K-STATE STUDENTS ELECT NEW PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT

MANHATTAN — In a general election March 2-3, students on Kansas State University’s Manhattan campus elected Danny Unruh, senior in food science and industry and political science, Manhattan, as student body president.

Unruh’s running mate, Annie Oliver, senior in life sciences, Prairie Village, will serve as vice president.

“Annie and I are so very excited to have been elected student body president and vice president,” Unruh said. “We have a profound love for K-State and the people that make it such a great place. We look forward to providing the students at K-State with financial accountability, a cutting-edge classroom experience and a sustainable future.” (more…)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2010
Contact:
Wendy Knox 202.225.6216
Sam Sackett 316.262.8992
Tiahrt Supports State Hearings on Kansas Jobs, Opposes Onerous EPA Regulations

WASHINGTON-U.S. Congressman Todd Tiahrt (R-Goddard) today along with other members of the Kansas delegation, sent a letter to Carolyn McGinn, Chairwoman of the Kansas Senate Committee on Natural Resources, in support of upcoming committee hearings regarding the recent regulations proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the impact these regulations could have on Kansas businesses. Click here to read the letter. (more…)

As you can see, we have revamped and modernized the format of our regular E-mail updates. We hope that these will be more informative and useful to you, the citizen activists on our mailing list.

We understand that your time is a valuable commodity, and this has driven our initiative to make our E-mails more “user-friendly.” In this vein, we invite you to give your feedback on the changes at info@hfapac.org.

We look forward to a highly successful year in defense of the Constitution in 2010!

Sincerely,

Steve Shute
Executive Director
Hope for America Coalition
Kansas 3rd Congressional District Debate Taking Shape (more…)

Comments from the Chairman

Our momentum is building and the winds of real change are blowing strong toward “Victory in 2010″. A quick glance at the calendar will show that we have only a few months and many events facing us as we look forward to November and the General Election. (more…)

In the past few months, we have witnessed an intense legislative attack in many states against pregnancy resource centers. It is hard to comprehend why these centers, which have absolutely no monetary gain and exist solely to assist and support pregnant mothers in need, could be the target of such negativity.

To see what pregnancy centers are really like, view the video below - made by Focus on the Family Action - which shows the true story of a young pregnant woman who decided to choose life and received support for her decision through a pregnancy resource center in Colorado:

On the heels of President Obama’s pledge to freeze non-defense discretionary spending comes even more evidence that resources for schooling don’t equal reform of schooling. Quality time with great teachers, not quantity time with ineffective ones, is what distinguishes economic winners and losers, according to a new report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Compared to their peers in 29 other countries, American 15-year olds place 21st in science literacy (see p. 6), and 25th in math literacy (see p. 12) according to the latest Program for International Student Assessment (PISA).

Taxpayer group supports privatization of monopolistic, non-inherently governmental service

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Facing projected losses of $238 billion over the next ten years, U.S. Postal Service (USPS) officials pushed to end Saturday delivery services during Congressional hearings this week. With more people switching to electronic mail, the USPS saw a 13 percent drop in volume last year, more than double any previous single year decline. (more…)

Link.

Their places in the NCAA tournament appear secure, so Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri might not have much to play for in this week’s Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City besides improving their seeds. Still, The Star’s beat writers say the three teams have room for improvement.

Lenexa, KS - infoZine - Judge Kate Baird’s last day with the city will be February 28. In her new role as a deputy disciplinary administrator, she will handle issues relating to attorneys’ code of professional conduct for the state’s Disciplinary Administrator’s Office.

SCR 1615, the state sovereignty resolution, will have a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee this Thursday, Feb. 25 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., room 143-N.

House Judiciary Committee members

Hearings are held so citizens and lobbyists have the opportunity to testify. At a later time, the committee votes on the bill and it is sent to the full Senate with a report on committee action.  Usually the bill is not voted on in committee the same day the bill is heard. The public can attend any of the meetings.

The House Judiciary Chairman is Rep. Lance Kinzer. To testify at a hearing, you should contact the committee secretary.  In this case, the House Judiciary Committee phone number is (785) 296-5805.

You will need to find out:

• the time limitations
• the number of copies of testimony to provide
• other guidelines

If you know of others testifying on this bill, try to coordinate testimony prior to the hearing to avoid duplication.

Seating will be limited, but due to the sound system, you might be able to hear the testimony in the outside hallway.

You will be asked to register at the door. If there is not time for all interested parties to be heard, you may submit written testimony.

If you decide to testify:

• Begin your testimony by addressing the chair and committee members. Introduce yourself, declare who you represent, and state if you are a proponent or opponent of the measure.
• Be courteous in your language and address.
• Be brief–do not repeat what others have said.
• Try not to be nervous–most hearings are informal. There may be questions from the committee members.
• There is to be no clapping, booing, cheering or disruption of any hearing.
• There may be no decision made by the committee on the day of the hearing. Continue to watch the Committee Agenda in the Calendar for final action on the bill.

State Sovereignty Resolution Senate Votes

The link above will take you to a page that not only has the votes and the explanations of votes, but also contains a link to the official resolution with the latest amendments and a link to the official Senate Journal.

The Democrats are highlighted in yellow so it’s easy to see the party differences.  A story is also appended below.

In honor of your liberty,

Mary Pilcher Cook

IDG News Service - If you haven’t changed the default password on your home router, you may be in for an unwanted visit from Chuck Norris — the Chuck Norris botnet, that is.

Discovered by Czech researchers, the botnet has been spreading by taking advantage of poorly configured routers and DSL modems, according to Jan Vykopal, the head of the network security department with Masaryk University’s Institute of Computer Science in Brno, Czech Republic.