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Republican
Leaders Press Announcement
Speaker Pro Tem of the Kansas
House Arlen Siegfreid (R-Olathe), House Majority Leader Ray Merrick (R-Stilwell), Assistant Majority
Leader Peggy Mast (R- Emporia) and Majority Whip Rob Olson (R-Olathe) released the following statement in reference
to a quote from Jerry Moran's U.S. Senate campaign to The Hill Blog regarding Congressman Todd Tiahrt's complete exoneration by the
House Committee on Standards of Official
Conduct.
Siegfreid stated, "Todd Tiahrt is a man of honor and integrity, so it was no surprise to those
of us who know him that he's been fully exonerated by the Standards Committee. What does come as a surprise is the reaction
from Jerry Moran, who appears poised to ignore the ruling and continue attacking Rep. Tiahrt on the issue. This isn't the way to earn the respect
of Kansans. I'm supporting a genuine statesman. Perhaps the news of Rep. Tiahrt's exoneration and his opponent's
reaction tells voters all they need to know when choosing a Senator."
Merrick said, "The unfounded
political attacks against the character and integrity of Todd Tiahrt have no place in Kansas."
"Apparently,
the truth is not important to Jerry Moran. I am disappointed that after all his talk about his Kansas values and his
Kansas roots, Jerry Moran brings the dirtiest of Washington politics home with him. Conservatives expect to be attacked
by Nancy Pelosi and her liberal elite friends, but when a
fellow Kansan seeks to perpetuate the same baseless, partisan slurs and false accusations it is negative
campaigning at its worst. Kansans deserve better," said Olson.
Mast stated, "Kansans believe
that honesty and integrity are more than just words. We expect our political leaders
to debate the issues with passion and vigor, but to conduct themselves and their campaigns with honor and truthfulness. To
attack a man's character without cause or justification is out of bounds. Jerry Moran and his staff should
know better." Referenced quote from Jerry
Moran's campaign to The Hill Blog, "The fact there's not apparently an ongoing inquiry by Congress, we don't
think that takes away from the manner in which Tiahrt has operated in the Congress for many years." The senior campaign
staff continued, "You will hear more from us on that." #
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Education In Peril
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House Ed Budget hears bill declaring all new teachers expendable for five years!
The House
Education Budget Committee held a hearing on HB 2699 which would change the probationary period from three to five years. This means that school districts could let teachers go at
the end of the school year without having to justify the decision for five years instead of the current three. Obviously,
it makes it easier to balance your budget if you can just let more teachers go without the worry of defending your decision.
The proponents, including Superintendents Brenda Dietrich of Auburn-Washburn and Jim Lentz of Augusta, admitted that
there were very few teachers that are “on the cusp” of being a good teacher after three years. Most, they told
the committee, had demonstrated that they met standards within the three year probationary period; some demonstrate it almost
immediately. Yet the bill puts all teachers under the “no rights for five years” category regardless of their
performance and there is no companion bill requested by United School Administrators to allow them to grant due
process rights to those teachers who demonstrate their excellence in just one or two years. Terry Collins, Director of
the Doniphan County Education Cooperative, Cheryl Semmel of United School Administrators, and Mark Tallman of KASB all testified in favor. Blue Valley USD 229 was represented
by their lobbyist Bob Vancrum who submitted written testimony in support. The bill was requested by USA. KNEA President Blake West
and General Counsel David Schauner both appeared in opposition to the bill.
Said West,
“Please consider this: during her first three years in the profession, a typical high school
teacher will have taught over 2,000 lessons and worked with 400 to 1,000 or more students on a day to day basis.
An elementary teacher will have taught far more lessons. Surely an administrator who is making appropriate
classroom visits should be able to observe and determine if a teacher has grown and demonstrated professional competence within
2,000 lessons taught over three years. If we are NOT evaluating teachers with enough frequency and rigor
to determine their competence over three years, then we are failing to provide our students with the learning environment
they deserve.”
Pro-Life and Pro-Marriage
Groups To Protest Yoder
Kansas pro-life and marriage groups are planning to protest Kevin Yoder's appearance at the March 20 debate scheduled for Kansas 3rd District Congressional Candidates. Yoder has consistently supported
abortion and opposed legislation establishing the legal term marriage as between a man and woman. The former Democrat, Yoder
is running as a Rhino Republican for Congress. He recently attended a fundraiser by activists who oppose 2 Amendment rights.
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Theis Park was another Political Chips event where many organizations were able to work together to propel the Tea Party movement
into a summer of protests against Washington's abuse of power, Dennis Moore's and Emmanuel Cleaver's lack of responsiveness
to voters in their districts. 
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