by Murrel Bland
One of the most important issues early next year facing the 115th session of the U.S. Congress will be balancing the federal budget.
That was the view of U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder, R-3rd Dist., who spoke at the monthly meeting of the Congressional Forum Friday, Oct. 21 at the Reardon Convention Center. The Kansas City, Kan, Area Chamber of Commerce sponsors the forum.
“It will take a bipartisan effort to fix the budget,” Rep. Yoder said. He said special attention will have to be paid to entitlements such as Social Security and Medicare. He also said that the skills gap necessary for job growth will also will have to be addressed. He complimented President Doris Givens, of Kansas City Kansas Community College, who was in the audience, for the school’s efforts in training people with the right skills.
Another issue that Rep. Yoder commented on was the potential inequity in the organ donation bank. The Midwest, particularly Kansas, has a very high ratio of organ donations. That ratio is not as high in areas on either coast. However, the agency that the Department of Health and Human Services appoints to handle these donations would disproportionally shift these organs to coastal areas. Ken Wilk, a former state representative who now works for the KU Hospital, said he is most concerned about this potential inequity. KU has developed advanced procedures in such areas as liver transplants.
Rep. Yoder said an internet privacy bill he sponsored that passed the U.S. House overwhelmingly is still waiting approval in the U.S. Senate. He also discussed the need for an improvement in health services for military veterans.
The issue of large corporations who have moved to off-shore locations to escape U.S. taxes needs to be addressed, Rep. Yoder said. He said the high 35-percent corporate federal tax rate discourages such companies from staying in the United States.
Rep. Yoder will sponsor a Third District Job Fair from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, at the Technical Education Center of the community college, 6565 State Ave. The first hour will be reserved for military veterans. For more information, telephone 913-621-0832 or see the website www.yoder.house.gov.
Rep. Yoder faces serious opposition in the general election Nov. 8 from a Democrat challenger, Jay Sidie. Steve Hohe is the Libertarian candidate.
Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is the executive director of Business West.
Congressman Yoder, in regards to your quote “It will take a Bipartisan effort to fix the budget.” You’ve been in Washington for almost six years as a Congressman and do you really think Bipartisanship effort is going to happen, think again!
The House needs strong leadership (Speaker of the House) and followers (That’s you and the other 433 men and women) with vision who can see our country is being taken over the cliff. Just remember you are part of 114th Congress whose Speaker stated “Well! I guess we’re kicking the can down the road!”
I really think what you need to do is, Like we used to say in the Military: You all need a Come to Jesus Meeting!
Maybe you should visit my website http://www.stevehoheforcongress.com and take a few ideas.
In regards to your statement about the Federal corporate tax rate….I took offense on you pointing out that it’s 35%. I’m confident that the constituents of the 3rd congressional district are intelligent enough to know that, what you should of said is that we need to deregulate parts of the tax codes that discourage corporations to work in the U.S. and lower the corporate tax rate competitive to the international average which is roughly 28 percent. We could even go down to 25%.
In closing you need quit talking and start showing us something.
Don’t mention the military to Mr. Yoder. His voting record reveals NO support for the military, veterans or federal work force.