Category: Opinions

Governor’s staff member advises on appointments

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Opinion column
by Murrel Bland

She is one of the most loyal and closest advisers to Gov. Sam Brownback. Her job often draws controversy and, at times, legal action.

Kim Borchers was the featured speaker at the monthly meeting of the Congressional Forum Friday, Dec. 18 at the Reardon Convention Center. She told of her duties as appointment secretary for the governor. She said that she advises Gov. Sam Brownback in some 750 positions on about 175 state boards.

Borchers worked in Brownback’s political campaign and served in his transitional staff as he became governor. In 2009, she made headlines in Topeka when she lobbied for the public library to restrict access for sexually oriented books.

Borchers laments the “inflammatory speech” used against Brownback by his political enemies. State Senator Anthony Hensley, a Democrat from Topeka, and a frequent critic of Brownback, said that Borchers is influenced in her decisions because of her conservative religious views.

The governor and Borchers were named as defendants in an open records lawsuit that was filed recently by the Hutchinson News. The newspaper alleges it was denied information that should be public concerning the appointment of judges. There was a similar case in Salina when the county commission voted to expand itself from three to five.

Dane Hicks, who prides himself as a conservative who favors limited government and is the editor of the Anderson County Review in Garnett, recently criticized Brownback for stonewalling “what should be obvious releases of public information.”

Controversy has surrounded the appointment process in another state agency—the Kansas African-American Affairs Commission. The commission’s executive director position had been vacant for seven months. Kenya Cox, a Republican, Wichita, was recently named to the post, effective Jan. 11. James Barfield, a former commissioner from Wichita, accused Brownback of rejecting three previous candidates for executive director because they were not Republicans. Cox was a staff member of Mike Pompeo and Todd Tihart, two conservative Republican members of Congress from Kansas. Cox was an unsuccessful candidate in 2012 for the Kansas Senate.

Borchers said anyone who is interested in serving on Kansas commissions and boards may telephone her at 785-368-7321 or write her at 300 S.W. Tenth Ave., Topeka, Kan 66612. The website is www.governor.ks.serving-kansans/office of appointments.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press.

Fear must not drive us to hateful acts, U.S. attorney says

Barry Grissom
Barry Grissom

Opinion
Guest column

by Barry Grissom, U.S. attorney for the District of Kansas

The Paris attacks, and then San Bernardino, have raised people’s anxieties and concerns about terrorism. But as Americans we must not let fear drive us to hateful and divisive acts toward Muslims in this country.

As U.S. attorney for the District of Kansas, I believe that keeping the American people safe is my top priority.

At the same time, I urge Kansans not to turn against one another by letting this fight be defined as a war between America and Islam. That is what the terrorists want and it is the only way they can succeed — by manipulating us into betraying our own values.

Just as it is the responsibility of Muslims around the world to root out misguided ideals that lead to radicalization, it is the responsibility of all Americans of every faith to reject discrimination.

At the Department of Justice, we always have a concern when we see rhetoric cross the line and become threats or violence. So we are monitoring any potential backlash and will respond where we see action that violates our country’s protections against hate crimes.

Let me also make this clear: Decisions as to the resettlement of refugees within the United States are part of the federal government’s constitutional and statutory authority over immigration.

Various federal laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of national origin, and the Department of Justice takes very seriously its responsibility to ensure that those laws are enforced in appropriate circumstances.

Barry Grissom is the U.S. attorney for the District of Kansas.

Election year to dominate legislative session

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Opinion

by Murrel Bland

There probably won’t be any increase in Kansas taxes next year. At least that was the prediction from Kathy Damron, the lobbyist for the Kansas City, Kan., Area Chamber of Commerce, when she reported to the chamber’s Legislative Committee Friday morning Dec. 11.

“This will be an election year and all 165 Senate and House seats will be up,” Damron said. Nonetheless, there still will be financial issues the Legislature must face, she said.

“There is a known budget shortfall of nearly $200 million for next year’s budget,” she said. “The Governor (Sam Brownback) has thrown cold water on both tax hikes and spending cuts.”

Damron said a pending Kansas Supreme Court case concerning school finance could change the entire nature of the Legislative session if the decision comes before the Legislature adjourns.

There was some good news with sales tax receipts, Damron said.

“In November, Kansas collected about $3 million more in individual income tax than anticipated—an increase of .3 percent above the most recent estimates,” Damron said. “Sales and use tax receipts were $3.5 million more than estimated.”

Damron said that Gov. Brownback and his advisers and legislators have been criticized for using money that was intended for road construction to pay other state bills. To fill the gap in the Kansas Department of Transportation, the governor is proposing to issue $18 million in bonds.

Damron said the issue that would eliminate the state income tax is most likely to be debated. Gov. Brownback has argued this “March to Zero” in income tax will help the state’s economy grow. His critics have argued this is a bad policy and causing too much reliance on sales tax paid by those who can least afford it.

The chamber’s Legislative Committee reviewed its final draft that will be presented to the chamber’s Board of Directors.

Among those issues considered for approval:

• Supports a property appraisal process that provides the business community with a high level of certainty and consistency.

• Supports a reform of payday lending that ensures a clarity of loan terms to the consumer.

• Supports legislation that streamlines and expedites local government and local neighborhood organizations in dealing with blight and abandoned properties.

• Opposes changing provisions that expand gaming that would hurt the Hollywood Casino.

• Supports a healthcare plan that provides coverage for low-income Kansans, many of whom are part of the workforce.

• Supports a new funding formula that provides a high-quality education for every child.

• Supports an origin-based sales tax for intrastate purchases.

The Wyandotte County Legislative Delegation will hold a public hearing concerning the 2016 session at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, at the West Wyandotte Library, 1737 N. 82nd St., Kansas City, Kan.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is the executive director of Business West.