Free Republic

Senate President Steve Morris' performance on the state legislative stage will draw to an involuntary close after a 20-year run. The southwest Kansas Republican's place in the Capitol will be taken in January by someone voters thought offered more robust conservative credentials. Morris was driven into retirement along with seven other moderate Republicans in the Senate. All lost August primaries. It remains to be seen how Democrats fare in November, but the Senate will undoubtedly be led by members loyal to the conservative label.

House Speaker Mike O'Neal's retirement from elective office afforded the 28-year legislative veteran an opportunity to assess his personal political transformation and movement of the Republican Party to dominance in Kansas. The Hutchinson attorney who defeated an incumbent Democrat in 1984 on an economic development platform said he would emerge with a more conservative view of public policy. He said this journey coincided with growth in conservative sentiment among Kansas voters — especially on state budget issues.

A Kris Kobach recall march will take place Tuesday in the downtown Topeka area. Organizer C.E. “Sonny” Scroggins said the procession will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, at Constitution Hall, 425 S. Kansas Ave. Marchers will process west about a half-mile to the old Sumner Elementary School building, S.W. 4th and Western, then will move back to the Abraham Lincoln statue on the southeast portion of the Statehouse grounds. Marchers then will proceed to the Statehouse office of Kobach, who is Kansas secretary of state. Scroggins said he will point out historic sites along the march that are...

Six state senators in the moderate wing of the Kansas Republican Party on Friday endorsed the re-election bid of Topeka Sen. Anthony Hensley, the chamber's top Democrat. Sen. John Vratil, the Senate's vice president and a Lenexa Republican who chose not to seek re-election in 2012, said Hensley would continue to make policy decisions in the best interests of Kansans.

Kansans can share their firsthand experiences by completing and submitting the below form. It may be filled out anonymously or with contact information in the event the task force would like to follow up for more specific information.

In a column on his website, Fran Tarkenton wonders why Charles and David Koch are the targets of so much criticism. He writes: “So why do we vilify people who represent the greatness of America? Is it just because they have different political beliefs? It’s time to stop demonizing people who do things the right way and generate tremendous wealth — and value to all Americans. Those are the people we should celebrate, whether you agree with their politics or not! If we want to preserve America as the great place it is, we need more entrepreneurs, more innovators —...

I didn't realize John Walsh was such a liberal. He is supporting a candidate, in Kansas, that has switched parties from Republican to Democrat because a moderate cannot win a primary in a state wide election. He has solicited the support of Walsh in a state wide radio ad that purports to defeat a very conservative Phill Kline. Paul Morrison, I might add, supported a Senate bill which turned many hundreds of prisoners loose early resulting in several murders. For the details follow the link I have provided. It just astounded me, as this will be a close race, and...

Mad-cow fears spur changes at cafeterias in Aspen, Jeffco districts Fears that mad cow disease could spread to children have prompted some school officials to take beef off school lunch menus. The Jefferson County School District, the largest in Colorado, is taking a handful of beef and beef byproducts out of its school cafeterias until it can confirm they are safe to eat. A food contractor in Aspen has also stopped serving beef indefinitely to elementary and middle school students over fears of a mad-cow outbreak. "I know the government says beef is safe, but I don't believe the government...

Agree or disagree...this gives you something to think about. And this is not even close to the full list! RESUME: George W. Bush The White House, USA EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE LAW ENFORCEMENT: I was arrested in Kennebunkport, Maine in 1976 for driving under the influence of alcohol. I pled guilty, paid a fine, and had my driver's license suspended for 30 days. My Texas driving record has been "lost" and is not available. MILITARY: I joined the Texas Air National Guard and went AWOL. I refused to take a drug test or answer any questions about my drug use. By...

The Kansas National Guard's 73rd Civil Support Team (CST) (Weapons of Mass Destruction) has arrived at the Docking State Office Building, 10th and Harrison, Topeka, and is setting up a command post. The team was requested to go to the building in response to the discovery of a suspicious package emitting odors on the building's second floor. The Capitol Police have indicated that employees who worked on the third floor and above are being allowed to enter the building to collect their belongings and go home. With exceptions, employees who worked on the second floor and below will not be...

Republican California gubernatorial recall candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger picked up two key endorsements on Thursday and is expected to receive another one on Friday. Bill Simon, a conservative businessman who was the Republican nominee in the 2002 California gubernatorial race as well as one of the candidates in the October 7 recall election before dropping out, has announced he is officially endorsing Schwarzenegger's candidacy. "I am here to endorse Arnold Schwarzenegger for governor," Simon told a group of supporters at a Schwarzenegger town hall meeting. "I think Arnold Schwarzenegger is the right man to be governor of California." While Simon made...

Bush Campaign Update Upcoming President Bush fundraising campaign appearances: Tuesday, September 30, Chicago, IL Tuesday, September 30, Cincinnati, OH Upcoming Vice President Cheney fundraising campaign appearances: Tuesday, September 23, Manchester, NH Monday, September 29, Memphis, TN Contact Paul Dickerson at 713-817-7285 for more information. e-mail BushCheney04@swbell.net

In a move that surprised pundits across the political spectrum, the primary financier of the recall election scheduled to take place in California on October 7, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), issued an ultimatum on Tuesday to the two leading Republican candidates. Issa called for one of the two candidates to drop out of the race or he would urge voters to vote against the recall of Democrat Gov. Gray Davis. "As someone who some people call the godfather of the recall, nobody should be more determined to remove Gray Davis from office," said Issa, who dropped out of the race...

WASHINGTON (Talon News) -- Last week, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) claimed a victory in the battle over President Bush's judicial nominees when Miguel Estrada asked that his name be withdrawn from consideration. The New York senator was emboldened by the event and said that the Democrats will continue to block judges who are "far beyond the mainstream and refuse to answer questions." Schumer used his membership on the Senate Judiciary Committee to block nominees when Democrats were in the majority in 2001 and has led unprecedented filibusters of lower court nominees since his party was relegated to the minority following...

LONDON (Talon News) -- The Dixie Chicks have broken their promise that they would not speak out politically during their current European concert tour. "This is our first time back in Europe since the 'incident,'" said Natalie Maines to the concert crowd, referring to the statement she made in March before the war in Iraq began. During the March concert, Maines said, "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas." However, Maines has since offered what she describes as an apology for her previous remarks after a host of country music radio stations...

APC is in possession of a very controversial letter. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and their high-priced lobbyists have SOLD OUT their members, farmers and property rights advocates. Rather than fight they have decided to CAVE to The Nature Conservancy, the Land Trust Alliance and the rest of the land grab lobby. Recall that the Senate passed President Bush’s "faith-based initiative," otherwise known as the CARE Act (S. 476) AND included a nasty little provision in the bill that would UNDOUBTEDLY put a limitless amount of property and farmland into the hands of land trusts and government agencies. The...

Advertised on the County Music Channel, Natalie vs. Toby CMT at 4:30 Central Time.

Since I last wrote – we won a war, paid our taxes, and finished our regular session in Topeka. Plus, Governor Kathleen Sebelius has demonstrated the epitome of her liberal social views. In a striking action on the day after Easter Sunday, Sebelius vetoed a key pro-life bill, overwhelmingly approved by the Legislature, which promoted the common sense of thousands and thousands of Kansans. The vetoed bill was one regulating abortion clinics across Kansas. Amazingly enough, two years I discovered that there are absolutely no regulatory standards for abortion clinics. In comparison, veterinarian clinics are regulated and have to meet...

KU: No Position in the Iraqi Conflict Today’s Kansas news is filled with the exciting accounts about the Jayhawks advancing to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament. Here is another KU news item you probably haven’t read elsewhere. . . As our men and women in the military fight to free the people of Iraq from a madman dictator and protect our country from Saddam’s weapons of mass destruction, our own University of Kansas is still trying to determine which side they are supporting. That’s right. The high-paid University Leadership, in a recent memo, has announced an official position...

*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.kslegislature.org/klrd SESSION OF 2003 SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 2039 by Representative Klein As Recommended by House Committee on Judiciary Brief* Sub. for HB 2039 provides that by July 1, 2004, individuals with an Internal Revenue Service taxpayer identification number who meet all other requirements of the bill can obtain a temporary resident driver’s license. The temporary license, which expires in three years, will be a...