More nanny statism in Kansas

It looks like the governor will be signing a statewide smoking ban into law. Today, the House voted 68-54 to concur with the conference committee agreement reached between select members of the House and the Senate. Governor Parkinson has already issued a statement confirming that he will be signing House Bill 2221 into law.

I'm a non-smoker, and think smoking is a nasty habit, and I hate the smell of it in restaurants. This issue brings out the libertarian in me. Smoking is a perfectly legal activity, and while not healthy, who is the government to tell owners of private property which perfectly legal activities they can do on their own property?

Oh yes! Please protect me from second hand cigarette smoke Nanny Kansas! Or how about if I just don't frequent businesses that allow smoking?

Well, at least gamblers will be free to kill themselves slowly by ingesting smoke while pulling the levers of the one arm bandits at casinos. Yes, there's an exemption for casinos. How absolutely hypocritical!

How long will it be before Big Macs are banned from McDonalds?

Do drugs? No dough!

Sometimes common sense rears its beautiful head at the statehouse. Rep. Kasha Kelley (R, Ark City) is advocating for a bill requiring random drug testing for adults applying for or receiving cash assistance from the state.

From this article in the Capital Journal, Kelley "deflected harsh criticism last year accompanying her sponsorship of legislation, rolled into House Bill 2275, designed to improve oversight of aid distributed by the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services. Agency officials estimated 3 percent to 8 percent of those in the targeted assistance programs would test positive for marijuana, cocaine, crack or some other illegal drug. Kelley said legislators should stand up for the well-being of children in homes where drugs were abused."

The plan is for SRS to establish drug testing for recipients of Temporary Assistance to Families and General Assistance. About one-third of people in these programs would be screened annually.

Kelley said the state had an obligation, especially in the downtrodden economy, to hold adults accountable for use of tax dollars and to actively direct violators to treatment programs.

It's so sensible thinking anything else would be just silly. But of course the politically correct other side thinks it's "crazy and mean" to test "poor people." Seriously? If you're poor and need government aid, there's a few hoops to jump through anyway, and it's not asking too much to be sure you're clean before we write you a check! If these poor people are feeding their drug habits with the money we as taxpayers provide to them, they're not using that money to feed and clothe their children.

To me, THAT's crazy and mean.

I hope this bill makes it through.

Obama Sinks in Kansas

It's not like he stood much of a chance of winning the hearts of Kansans to begin with, but as President Obama struggles with his approval nationwide, he's suffering even worse here in Jayhawk Nation (sorry Wildcat fans). A Survey USA poll released Feb. 16 indicates that 35 percent of Kansas residents approve of how President Barack Obama is executing his duties as president while 62 percent of Kansans disapprove of the president.

Hmmm...I wonder what parts of the president's attempts to radically transform our healthcare, massive government spending, and returning to Pre-9/11 thinking my fellow Kansans aren't approving of? C'mon! He promised change people! He said he wanted to spread our wealth! He's keeping his campaign promises! Isn't that admirable?

Jobs Bill Introduced

I don't like the term "jobs bill" because it usually means more government largess and growing the public sector. That said, if a "jobs bill" will mean that the government will make it easier and more cost effective for the private sector to create jobs, then I'm all for it. Best: let the free market meet consumer demand, and the jobs problem will take care of itself.

Kansas State Representative Joe Patton (R-Topeka) today asked the House Committee on Taxation to accept his request for a jobs bill that would promote the creation of new jobs.

Rep. Patton told the committee the Kansas Legislature should focus on jobs. He said Kansas needs public policy that will get the state’s economy growing again, particularly in light of the current recession and declining revenues.

Patton said. “We know from history most new jobs coming out of a recession are created by new small businesses. However, the government hits these new small business with the same burden it applies to large corporations, as a result in part 90% of these business fail the first year.  This tax burden can make the difference between success and failure. If they can survive the first year, there is a large chance they will be around for a long time.”

As proposed by Patton, the bill would waive for the first year of operation the withholding tax and self employment tax for new small businesses, with 10 or fewer employees. Patton said the right public policy can put a new business on the path to success.

“My goal with this legislation is to give new businesses a head start by getting off their backs for one year. If the new small business survives the first year, chances are we will have the jobs and the revenue for the long term,” Patton said.

The committee agreed to introduce Patton’s bill. That's good -- getting off the backs of small business is the best way to stimulate job growth in Kansas.

Concealed Carry Law

A pet peeve of mine is entering the doors to my church and seeing a picture of a gun with a slash through it on the door. "Check your guns at the door, Baptists and Bad Guys!" It just seems so silly, because if a bad guy wants to come in and blaze away at a bunch of Baptists, that sign on the door isn't doing to anything to stop him -- in fact, it gives him comfort that he knows he's entering a gun-free zone. It's like posting a "No Guns" sign at the entrance to towns in the old west -- like Jesse James was really going to check his guns at the Sheriff's office. Representative Forrest Knox has introduced a bill that would alter the current laws dealing with any government owned, state or local, building posting a sign prohibiting the licensed carry of a concealed weapon.

House Bill 2685 requires that ‘adequate security measures’ be in place in any state or local publicly owned facility or premise if the facility or premise is posted prohibiting the carrying of a concealed weapon. Likewise, any properly licensed employee could carry a concealed weapon in his workplace at a publicly owned facility or premise unless the facility or premise provided adequate security measures.

Representative Forrest Knox, Altoona, asked for the introduction of this bill after considering the answer to the question, “Does the placing of a sign prohibiting the carrying of a concealed weapon in an unsecured facility cause the facility to be more secure or less secure?”

Knox stated, “Last year I asked this question to a Chief Judge who was testifying against a bill allowing prosecutors to carry concealed on the job. He would not answer the question.” The legislation allowing prosecutors to carry has since become law. Premises that provide adequate security measures are allowed to be exempt from the requirement of allowing prosecutors to carry concealed.

“Placing a sign”, Knox stated, “is sometimes perceived to provide some level of security. But it does the opposite. It becomes an invitation for criminals to a ‘gun free zone’.”

Knox questions whether liability issues need to be considered here. Does the placing of a sign imply an acceptance of responsibility for the provision of security? Does government owe the public more than this? These questions will undoubtedly be dealt with when HB 2685 is heard this week at the Capital in House Federal and State Affairs Committee on Thursday, February 25 at 1:30pm.

2010 Stimulus

Millions of dollars are going to be poured into the economy this year -- and I think it will really go a long way to stimulate the economy. These dollars are going to be spent trying to convince you to keep Democrats in their jobs. And it's going to take a LOT of money to do that.

In Memory of Ron Doole

In memory of Ron Doole, who I grew up watching as the weather guy on Ch. 27 (then KTSB, now KSNT), and then fell for his cute daughter at a Halloween party when she was dressed as a weather girl. I wish I would have had more time to get to know him. He would have been 75 today.

Topeka's Google Fiber Experiment -- Bring It!

Google announced they are "planning to build and test ultra high-speed broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the United States."

So the "winning" cities will get Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today with 1 gigabit per second, fiber-to-the-home connections.

Topekans have jumped all over this opportunity and have really demonstrated how they can pull together when the right opportunity comes along.

I, for one, did my duty to complete a nomination form to submit Topeka for consideration. Please do the same!

If you're on Facebook, be sure to join the "Bring Google's Fiber Experiment to Topeka!" group. As of right now, there are 2,265 members -- but we need many more if we're to impress Google!

You can also check Think Big Topeka's website for ways you can help bring the high-speed fiber optic network to Topeka!

Imagine what we could do! Topeka needs competitive advantages because, let's get real, we have our share of handicaps. But with this network, Topeka would be THE hot spot in Kansas with unparalleled access to the Internet. Speaking of competition, though, many other cities are campaigning and pulling together for the same thing -- so let's not be lax. Everyone needs to pull together and make this happen!

Texting bill passes Senate

The Kansas senate moved to outlaw texting while driving. Bully! Of course, I'm still free to fiddle with my GPS, change radio stations incessantly, and pop my boy on his head for bugging his sister. Seriously, my kids are more distracting than my phone. Are you going to outlaw transporting children under the age of, say, 15? I hear that kids over that age just sit there and sulk, so I can't imagine THEY'RE too bothersome.

Modernizing Access to Public Records

This just in...the Kansas Legislature approved a measure this week that will establish the Kansas Enterprise Electronic Preservation system (KEEP), a preservation process for maintaining the authenticity of state electronic records. Supporters of House Bill 2195 say it will give citizens the capability to actually access government records online and have them authenticated at a level that would be acceptable in a court of law.

My friend Rep. Mike Burgess (R-Topeka) says, “This legislation is cutting-edge and will help establish a digital repository for Kansas that meets national and professional standards.”

The House Committee on Government Efficiency and Fiscal Oversight introduced House Bill 2195. During testimony, supporters stressed the need to preserving and providing access to authentic electronic government records.

The bill now goes to the Governor for his consideration.

I really appreciate the intention behind this bill -- better preservation of records and transparency in government. There's too much hide-and-seek in government, and the PEOPLE should be able to better see behind the curtains.

Waiving bye-bye to marriage fees

Po' folk in Kansas can now get hitched without ponying up the marriage fee, thanks to HB 2585. This is a bill introduced by Topeka's Rep. Joe Patton (R).

“These are challenging times for Kansas families. I am pleased my fellow house members recognized the important role public policy plays in their success,” Rep. Patton said.

Currently the marriage fee is $69 which is split among various funds. Those that are unable to pay the fee will be able to file a poverty affidavit and have the fee waived much like Kansas courts currently do with docket fees.

Why do we care if poor people can afford to get married? Do we need more poor families out there? Yes! Well, no, but marriage is good! Married couples tend to provide stability for kids and the more the merrier when it comes to a strong society.

Way to go Joe.

Basketball Culture in Kansas

Let there be no doubt, this is basketball country. KU, ranked #1, is pretty much always ranked. K-State is now #7 in the nation!

Sure, it's an anomaly to have both teams ranked so high, but basketball brings this state alive. Even our Div II schools such as Washburn are solid programs.

But why doesn't that trickle down to high school? Prep basketball should be to Kansas what prep football is to Texas. It should be loaded with heated rivalries and huge turnouts, schools should pay plenty for the best coaches, and scouts from the major schools should all come here to find their future stars.

KU's Tyrel Reed of Burlington is one of my favorite players -- a smart player with speed and a great jumper...and he's a native. Speaking of anomalies, Tyrel shouldn't be one.

The founder of basketball coached here, our college teams are amazing, and yet the basketball culture doesn't kick off until kids reach their freshman year in college.

Then again, with the number of parents crowded into Sportszone here in Topeka on game nights, love for the game is on display. Let's get that enthusiasm pumped into the high schools too!

Happy Birthday Boy Scouts!

Yesterday was the 100th birthday of Boy Scouts of America. When I was in 5th grade or so, I joined a Boy Scout troop -- but I wasn't a very good one. My son is a Cub Scout, and since he started with his pack from its formation, he's forming friendships with other boys that I hope will last. I hope this group stays together.

What a refreshing organization in this age of political correctness and male bashing. The BSA teaches boys how to be boys, and then how to be men. It teaches what it means to be a true, God-fearing American. It's unabashedly male.

When I hear Girl Scout commercials talking about how girls will learn how to fix cars and go rock climbing, I'm thinking "that's great, I guess, if that's what girls today want to do," but I'm glad I don't hear Boy Scout commercials with boys talking about how they learned to sew and went shopping at the mall together. Yeah, I know, stop assigning stereotypes. But if boys want to sew (I think there may even be a merit badge for that) or go shopping (quite sure there's not one for that), they can do it on their own time. Troop time won't be wasted on anything but teaching boys the skills necessary to become exceptional men.

The Boy Scout motto is "Be Prepared," and with where our country is headed, we need many men who are fully prepared to tackle it. I'm thankful for the Boy Scouts and the role they play in building a generation of boys ready, able, and Prepared to be the leaders we will need. I hope my son will be one of them.

Happy 100th Boy Scouts!

An impersonal world with impersonal crimes against humanity

I heard a news story yesterday about thousands of credit card numbers stolen and for some reason it made me think of what kind of people could do that, would do that, and if I'd be capable of doing that. I don't mean technically capable, but morally capable.

If I could discard my moral code imprinted on me, and -- and this is key -- not think in terms of each of those numbers being real people, then I decided it would be easier. Once I thought of those numbers as grandmas and young parents like the people I know (like me too!) it makes the thought of doing such a thing impossible.

I wonder if the people who perpetuate such crimes are both computer gifted and completely detached from humanity because of it. Perhaps they can't personalize their crimes because their lives are spent playing video games and hacking into networks.

And that makes me think of all these kids who routinely murder video game characters and then go on to kill people in real life -- like this kid. Perhaps they can't humanize the people in the real world after casually killing people in their digital worlds.

In a completely unrelated line of thought, how about women who abort their babies? Without a sonogram, it's easier to de-personalize the "victim" -- but after a sonogram, a majority of would-be abortions are, well, aborted. This Washington Post article sourced a 2005 survey by Care Net which found that 72 percent of women who were initially "strongly leaning" toward abortion decided to carry their pregnancies to term after seeing a sonogram. Fifty percent made the same choice after counseling alone.

Read about the girl's story in that Washington Post article:

"As soon as I seen that, I was ready. It wasn't no joke. It was real," Makiba Smith, 16, said. "It was like, he's not born to the world yet, but he is inside of me growing."

In a world where people are more and more detached and isolated, we are all potential faceless victims. People who value life, respect it, and don't dehumanize it, will be much less likely to commit crimes against it.