KC Buzz Blog

Feeling Rumsfeldian today?

     Kansas' evolution debate has been a reporter's quote dream. And today, as the Kansas Board of Ed votes on yet another set of science standards, we got this gem from intelligent design proponent John Calvert:

"I think this is a subject where being sure may not be the best thing in the world," he said. "If you don't know something and you know you don't know something, you're better off than if you don't know it and you think you know it."

Calvert, who said this while addressing the Board this morning, was arguing that students suffer if evolution is taught as a neat explanation for the history and development of life.

Posted by David Klepper

Under the rainbow

  "Why do we still allow such moronic throwbacks to vote in national elections?"

And that's one of the nicer ones.

Check out the nasty things people are saying about the Sunflower State on the NYT blog:

Read it here.

Thanks to Red State Rabble for the heads up.

Posted by staff

Kansas School Board returns to evolution. Again.

    Two years ago, any time the Kansas Board of Evolution brought up the word “evolution” you could expect standing room only.
   Yet today in Topeka, with the board poised to repeal the controversial science standards that cast doubt on evolution, it was just another board meeting. The only reminder of the contention that’s marked the debate were a handful of local television cameras and a thick red rope erected to separate the board from any overzealous members of the public.
   The board is expected to vote at  4 p.m. today on new standards that return evolution to its former place in the scientific canon. The vote is largely a foregone conclusion, and only a handful of people addressed the board during its public comment session this morning.
   Still, familiar faces showed up to make their case, one last time. Harry McDonald, a retired science teacher from Olathe and a member of Kansas Citizens for Science, applauded the board for quickly revisiting the science standards.
   “The time for deliberation has passed,” he said. “It is time to act.”
   John Calvert was back too. Calvert, an intelligent design proponent from Lake Quivira, was a leading voice in the effort to put more scrutiny of evolution into the science standards. He came to the board meeting today armed with a few hundred more names on petitions asking the board to keep the current standards.
  Asked whether he was resigned to the board’s decision, Calvert chuckled.
   “I have a press release prepared,” he said with a smile.
Posted by David Klepper

FDA lab update

   Earlier this month, The Star reported on bipartisan congressional efforts to save 13 regional Food and Drug Administration labs, including one in Lenexa. (Confidential to Claire McCaskill: That's just over the state line from Missouri.)

   Now, we're informed by Rep. Dennis Moore's office that FDA staff meetings to discuss the potential closings have been postponed as agency brass respond to congressional inquiries and try to ensure Reps. Moore, Boyda, Cleaver and Graves and Sens. Brownback, Roberts, and Bond (who all wrote various letters to FDA questioning the proposed closings) are happy with the process. No word on when those meetings might be held.

   At stake: More than 50 jobs in Lenexa.

Posted by Matt Stearns

Roberts and Sebelius -- allies

    Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts found an ally Wednesday in Gov. Kathleen Sebelius in his drive to restore money for military construction projects in the state.

    The Governor's Military Council, an appointed bipartisan advisory group of civilians and armed services members, agreed to support efforts by Roberts and other senators to protect some of the planned military projects recommended by the Pentagon.

    In Kansas, $365 million in new construction at Forts Riley and Leavenworth could be affected.

    Those projects and others around the country are at risk because of a budget passed last week in the House which dropped millions of dollars in earmarks -  projects added on by legislators - and $3.1 billion in new construction recommended by the Pentagon's Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

    Roberts said he hopes the council's show of support  "will give us a little push. We're right up against the deadline."

   Because the last Congress didn't get around to approving parts of the 2007 budget, the current one has until Feb. 15 to pass one or the government will shut down due to a lack of money. That last happened during the Clinton adminstration during a budget fight with the Republican Congress.

    Roberts and several other senators hope to amend a measure funding government operations to restore $3.1 billion in BRAC projects. They include construction of a new barracks at Fort Riley to replace ones that are half a century old, and new runway.

    "These are not add-ons," Roberts said. "These are Department of Defense expected funds. There will be no earmarks."

Posted by David Goldstein

Olathe residents: Get your questions ready

   Kansas state legislators representing Olathe will be on hand to answer questions and give residents an update on activities at the State Capitol.
  The forum will be at 8:30 a.m.s Saturday, at the Olathe City Hall, 100 East Santa Fe. For more information call (913) 971-8609.

Posted by Mike Ekey

Clinton confirmed for KS Dems

   It's official: a day after KC Buzz Blog reported the rumors, the Kansas Democratic Party has confirmed former President Bill Clinton as the keynote speaker at the D's annual Washington Days gathering next month.

   Clinton will speak at the Topeka event March 2, the same day he'll deliver the Landon Lecture at Kansas State University.

   Gov. Kathleen Sebelius released a statement saying she is "delighted" Clinton accepted the party's invitation.            

   Last year's Washington Days speaker was Sen. Barack Obama.

   Tickets for Clinton's Washington Days address, $125 a piece, won't be available until Feb. 14.

Posted by Keith Chrostowski

Clinton (Bill that is) coming to Kansas for the Dems?

   This just in from a source close to the state Democratic Party: Bill Clinton will be the guest speaker at the party's Washington Days celebration next month.

   The official word from the party is that they can neither confirm nor deny Clinton is the speaker. They say an announcement about Washington Days will be made soon.

   This is no secret: last year's speaker - U.S. Sen. Barack Obama - will be hard for the Dems to top.

   Washington Days, the annual gathering of Kansas Democrats, is set for March 2 and 3rd at the Ramada Inn in Topeka.

   Earlier today, it was announced that Clinton will give this year's Landon Lecture at K-State.

Posted by David Klepper

A ban on new coal plants?

    A legislative committee in Kansas today heard from both sides of a proposed ban on new coal plants.

    This is in reaction to plans to build the biggest new coal plant west of the Mississippi in far western Kansas. Opponents say the plant will pollute and eliminate a great opportunity to explore wind power or other more green energy proposals.

   Supporters, however, say it's not your grandfather's coal plant. They say modern pollution controls and environmental safeguards ensure this will be a clean plant. And they say it could give a boost to wind energy by adding transmission lines in that part of the state. Plus, it'll add jobs in an area that needs them bad.

   Lawmakers in the House Utilities Committee say they'll probably vote on the proposed two-year ban on new plants this week. With Gov. Kathleen Sebelius opposed to the ban, and with only a handful of lawmakers seriously suggesting it, we're predicting a tough road for this legislation.

Posted by David Klepper

It's Kansas Day

    Come to the Kansas capitol today and you'll see hundreds of people running around, yelling, carousing and acting like 10-year-olds.

   No, we're not talking about lawmakers, lobbyists or the statehouse press corps (none of which really likes to run very much).

   It's Kansas Day, which means the statehouse is filled with school kids on field trips. There are historical reenactors, renditions of "Home on the Range," and a whole lot of love for the 34th state.

   As the state celebrates its 146th birthday today (if my math is correct), we'll ask: what's the biggest challenge facing the Sunflower State right now? The economy? Educating our kids for the future? Health care costs? Energy policy? Something else?

Posted by David Klepper