As we do each election cycle, Kansas public school teachers who are members of KNEA gathered in committees across the state to begin the process of interviewing candidates for state offices. Our interviews were focused squarely on issues related to strong public schools and student success. Kansans have voted, but long before election day Kansas teachers became involved. In their soul, teachers believe it is their responsibility to stand for their profession, for learning, and most importantly for their students.
Teachers will be in their classrooms teaching after the election. We will continue to invite the Governor to include teachers and all educators, in any and all policy discussions related to public schools. As an organization, we pledge to be available to work with the Governor and the Kansas Legislature moving forward.
Nearly 25,000 public school teachers, higher education educators, administrators, para professionals, retired educators and pre-service students comprise our association. We believe it is our duty to advocate for those who sometimes have no other voice speaking on their behalf, Kansas students. Our members understand that this responsibility does not end with one election. Moving forward, we ask our members and all public school supporters to remember the following:
First- Do what you do best everyday, teach and support your public schools and students.
Second- KNEA members and public school supporters should remain engaged. The outcome of one election does not bury the issues we must confront in order to continue to ensure quality public schools in Kansas.
Third- Once the rhetoric has died down, reality in Kansas classrooms means that educators, community leaders, elected officials and students will need to work closely together to overcome obstacles and achieve success. KNEA will lead the effort to organize and move Kansas public schools forward. We hope you will join us.
Kansas NEA has been a public education leader and advocate for more than 150 years. We don’t bathe in the glow of our successes for too long, nor do we shrink from challenge. Educators teach students who will create and someday fill the jobs that fuel the Kansas economy. Educators are professionals who are accountable and driven to provide opportunity, protect our most cherished asset, and lay a foundation for the future.
We’ve raised our hands for public schools in Kansas and now we ask YOU, parents, leaders, students and teachers to join us as we continue to advocate for the future of Kansas and the students who will shape it. On behalf of Kansas NEA members, educators and students, I thank you for your effort and challenge you to keep advocating for quality public schools for every Kansas student.
This is a special week for those who are involved with the production of food and fiber. It marks the 44th observance of Earth Day on Tuesday.
John Schlageck writes for the Kansas Farm Bureau.
The original premise of Earth Day was to promote the conservation of our natural resources. It is only fitting that on this day we showcase the progress of the Kansas farmer and rancher – but is there really any question most people who live on the planet Earth support its survival?
To help put Earth Day in perspective, this celebration of our planet really began gathering steam at the beginning of the ‘90s. It became a very “in” thing to bang the environmental drum.
Back then, I remember “Fortune” magazine proclaiming for the first time the environment was a cause worthy of saving. Others shouted from the mountaintops that while Motherhood, apple pie, baseball and the flag all may be subject to controversy – saving our planet was beyond debate.
This same idea is back in vogue today. In this perfect world, people will fully understand the tools they use, and some believe they can provide for themselves without depending on the professionals and specialists.
Life would slow down and be viewed as a whole. This ideology offers a sense of place – of being rooted. Ancient wisdom and grassroots democracy are essential. Quality and equality of life are where it’s at. Much is said about ends but little about means. This ideology speaks poetically about much – plainly about little.
So what happens after Earth Day passes?
Most folks go about their daily lives and forget about Earth Day. Some will focus on small things like recycling or changing their shopping habits. Some fringe environmentalists may be forced to re-think their radical positions of imminent apocalypse.
Protecting and caring for this old world we call home is often a struggle. Like each day’s sunrise and sunset, we often take it for granted. Conservation of our planet can be a challenge because some regard the land as a private commodity.
Others, including farmers, ranchers and those who make their living from the land, view this planet as a community to which they belong. They love, respect and care for the land. They adhere to an ethic, which enlarges the boundaries of their community to include soils, waters, plants and animals.
There is no other way for the land to survive the impact of modern man. We must always remember while our land yields fruits, vegetables and grains, it also yields a cultural harvest – one we as inhabitants all share and must nurture.
Let’s remember throughout the year, not only on Earth Day, that land is used right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the living community. It is used wrong when it tends to be otherwise.
The bulk of all land relations hinges on investments of time, forethought, skill and faith, rather than only investments of capital. We have continually modernized our farm equipment, plant foods, herbicides and other production inputs. We are proud of the abundance of the crops we produce.
We can never throw away or limit the tools which have provided so much for so many. Let’s remember throughout the year our commitment to the successful and wise use of our life-giving land. Let’s remember that we have not outgrown the land.
John Schlageck, a Hoxie native, is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas.
In October 2009, President Obama reversed the policies of both President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush by committing the United States to U.N. Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) negotiations. In the years that followed, the Senate made it clear to the president on numerous occasions that it will not ratify any arms treaty that does not secure our country’s sovereignty and protect our citizens’ individual freedoms. These issues have not been resolved. Yet, in October 2013, the Obama Administration signed the U.N. ATT in a direct dismissal of the American people and the bipartisan Senate majority that rejects this treaty.
Sen. Jerry Moran
Even though the treaty will never be ratified by the Senate, the fact that the administration signed the treaty in the face of such strong opposition by Congress gives us little faith they will not try to implement the Arms Trade Treaty in the absence of ratification. That is why in January, the Senate and House passed legislation which includes specific language prohibiting any funding of the U.N. Arms Trade treaty unless it is ratified by the U.S. Senate.
Throughout this process, it has been disturbing to watch the Administration reverse U.S. policies, abandon its own negotiation principles, admit publicly the treaty’s dangerous ambiguity, and hastily review the final treaty text.
After signing the treaty, Secretary Kerry stated that “[t]his treaty will not diminish anyone’s freedom” and that it “reaffirms the sovereign right of each country to decide for itself… how to deal with the conventional arms that are exclusively used within its borders.” While the treaty does include a preamble referencing lawful firearm ownership, it is not binding and the treaty itself does not recognize the ownership and use of firearms or individual self-defense as fundamental rights.
Secretary Kerry says this treaty is about “keeping weapons out of the hands of terrorists and rogue actors.” However, North Korea, Syria and Iran – who most would agree are “rogue actors” – voted against the ATT. If 50 nations ratify the treaty it will take effect, but those rogue actors will not be a party to it and will not follow its provisions, leaving them free to continue dealing in arms. Meanwhile, the United States could find itself handcuffed when it comes to aiding our most vulnerable allies – including Israel, Taiwan and South Korea – due to international pressure exerted under the guise of the Arms Trade Treaty.
Additionally, the export of firearms from the United States is already subject to a very strict and complex set of guidelines. The U.S. International Trade in Arms Regulations, which were written in accordance with the Arms Export Control Act, strictly limits the transfer or sale of firearms and has been doing so since the 1950s. Other nations, primarily our allies, have followed our lead, mirroring our controls because they are so comprehensive. Like gun control laws, even with the Arms Trade Treaty, bad actors will continue to act accordingly.
If the ATT could work, it would not be necessary. There is no reason to believe the ATT will succeed where past U.N. Security Council Arms Embargoes have failed. Smothering the world with law will not affect nations who choose not to respect the treaty, or are too ill-governed to enforce it.
In fact, the State Department itself has described the goals of the treaty as “ambiguous,” hardly instilling confidence that American rights will be secure. Good treaties are not ambiguous, and our constitutional rights are too important to be entrusted to a dangerous treaty drafted by nations hostile to the ownership of firearms by private citizens. That is why Congress stands in firm opposition to the treaty’s ratification. Just in case with this Administration that is not enough, the passage of language prohibiting any funding of the enactment of the treaty has made it unequivocally clear that Congress is committed to upholding the fundamental individual rights of Americans and rejects the U.N. ATT. We will not be bound by the treaty and we will not fund its implementation.
Sen. Jerry Moran is a Republican representing Kansas in the U.S. Senate.
As the American economy continues to struggle for recovery, policymakers and the public need to be aware of the key advantages available to our nation through increased domestic oil and natural gas production.
A recent Harris Interactive poll shows that American voters see great value in a strong domestic energy sector. Nine out of ten respondents said that developing more domestic energy here in the U.S. is important, and 73% support increased domestic oil and natural gas production.
Unfortunately, discussions taking place in Washington threaten to put the strength of American energy at risk. Whenever the debate in Washington turns to spending and debt, some policymakers repeatedly haul out proposals for punitive tax increases on oil and natural gas. This is not a popular idea, according to the poll, which found 81% of voters nationwide believe policymakers in Washington should solve the nation’s budget issues without raising energy taxes.
Tax reform is another area where voters are wary of the potential for harm to U.S. energy production and energy security. When asked about tax reform, 56% of voters said they opposed changes to the tax code that could decrease investment in energy production and reduce energy development in the U.S. versus just 30% who said they would support such actions.
Tax reform may help keep America competitive in a global marketplace, but it must be done carefully. Cost recovery measures, like the percentage depletion deduction and the intangible drilling costs (IDCs) deduction, are neither subsidies nor loopholes but tax provisions critical for American independent oil and natural gas producers to sustain capital availability and formation to promote continued oil and natural gas exploration and production activity. By improving cash flow, these cost recovery measures allows American independent producers to invest more money into creating jobs and producing the energy that keeps our economy running.
For some companies in the retail and service sectors, reduced marginal rates might outweigh the loss of deductions that allow a business to recover costs. But for capital-intensive industries like oil and natural gas or manufacturing, cash flow and cost recovery will typically be very important factors in how they decide to invest in their operations.
Recent studies show that repealing percentage depletion and IDCs would result in fewer wells drilled, fewer Americans employed, and less energy produced here in the U.S. This impact is both significant and immediate. According to studies, over 190,000 Americans would be unemployed within one year if percentage depletion and IDCs were repealed; growing to 265,000 jobs lost over a decade. For states where independent oil and natural gas producers are responsible for the majority of production, oil and natural gas production could fall by as much as 60% and industry workforce could fall by as much as 33%.
That kind of impact would be almost impossible to offset just by lowering marginal rates.
Tax reform that damages cost recovery measures like percentage depletion and IDCs in order to pay for lower rates could hit the brakes on America’s energy and manufacturing revolution. It makes no sense to target for higher taxes an industry that is an engine of job creation and revenue generation.
The American oil and natural gas industry has the power to help our slow-growth economy. If federal government tax and regulatory policies would encourage more development of our nation’s ample oil and natural gas resources, the oil and natural gas industry could invest more, create more American jobs, increase revenue to government, and produce more of the energy we consume.
That’s the kind of bipartisan solution that’s needed in Washington today.
Making the right decisions on energy is so important for our nation’s energy future. Energy access, not taxes, remains the key to moving our nation toward energy independence and unlocking new jobs for Americans.
The views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the author. These views and opinions do not represent those of the Post News Network and/or any/all contributors to this site
By Congressman Tim
From job-killing regulations to invasions of our privacy, the executive branch in Washington is out of control.
The alphabet soup of federal agencies is on an all-out push to produce new regulations: from the EPA, to OSHA, to HHS. According to the Heritage Foundation, during President Obama’s first term in office, the annual regulatory burden on the economy increased by $70 billion! And in 2012 alone, the President’s team put forward 2,605 new rules. Of those new rules, 69 cost more than $100 million, but only two rules actually decreased regulations.
Consider the story of Marty the Magician. Marty owns a rabbit as part of his act. He was informed by federal regulators that he has to file a “contingency plan” for handling his bunny in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. Marty is subject to an unannounced home rabbit inspection by the U.S. Department of Agriculture once a year to evaluate his plan, and he will be required to carry a copy of the contingency plan with him at all times.
In Kansas, we know a little bit about federal rules and regulations causing us headaches.
New school lunch regulations have taken away the flexibility of local school districts to provide meals that parents want and students will eat. The regulation will cost schools at least $3.4 billion to implement – taking much of that money out of the classroom.
The Fish and Wildlife Service wants to list the lesser prairie chicken as endangered even though Kansas has enough birds to still allow them to be hunted.
Sunflower Electric has been unable to bring much needed new power generating capacity online in Holcomb because of federal rules. Now, President Obama’s EPA is proposing a rule that even the EPA admits would prevent coal-fired plants from being built for nearly two decades. This will lead to more expensive, less readily available power to our local economy.
Regulations even threaten our religious liberties. A rule promulgated by Health and Human Services Secretary Sebelius in the name of Obamacare mandated abortion coverage in all insurance plans, even by employers who hold Constitutionally-protected rights of conscience opposed to it.
Last week, I worked with my House Small Business Committee to pass our Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2013. This proposal requires the federal government to account for the real economic impact of any new regulation. It also requires regulators proposing new regulations to identify alternatives that would minimize any adverse impacts on small businesses. Further, I amended the bill to increase transparency in these agencies. My amendment requires federal agencies to turn over all information on how proposed rules impact small businesses before the regulation is finalized. At a minimum, small businesses and all of America should know why and how agencies make decisions that so affect our daily lives.
The House also passed a bill this summer, called the REINS Act, to require all major regulations to gain Congressional approval before taking effect. If Washington adopted this approach, Americans could rest easier knowing bureaucrat-filled agencies inside the DC beltway would no longer be free to pass regulations that strain the bounds of common sense – like their abandoned proposal to limit the ability of kids to work on farms.
When dealing with a huge Washington bureaucracy, legislative proposals like these are a necessary check on this ongoing DC power grab.
My faithful listeners have been hearing me say that this weekend will be my last broadcast on 910 KINA. After Saturday and Sunday at 9am, The Joan Jerkovich Show will go silent on KINA. While my last radio show is all about saying our goodbyes, this, my last blog for the Eagle Media post.com will leave you with my message of how to make your dreams a reality.
Two short years ago, having my own talk radio show was simply a dream that I had. Today it is a reality. The dream that I have for the future of my talk radio show and my writing is yet to unfold, but I can’t leave KINA without thanking my radio mentors, my co-workers, and most especially Jerry Hinrikus for seeing something in me that I maybe didn’t see in myself and for giving me this opportunity to live out my dream!
Thanks also to my faithful listeners and followers. It would be an honor and a privilege to have you stay in touch via my website, joanjerkovich.com. As “Your” Life Coach, I welcome you to walk by my side as together we make our dreams a reality!
Make Your Dreams a Reality
Dreaming about what we want in life is the fun part. It’s where we languish in the thoughts that fuel our fantasies for that life we’ve always wanted to live…but just haven’t gotten around to accomplishing yet.
Do you dream of being financially independent where you can spend your days on whatever strikes your fancy? Or, do you dream of having that great relationship or job that just hasn’t seemed to come your way? How about, do you dream about doing something big in life that will leave an imprint on humanity or the world once you’re gone? No matter how big or small your dream is, it’s your divine right to choose how to live your life. So, turn your dreams into reality by following these steps:
Dream Big
The dreams that you have held dear for many years are most likely the ones that you will be able to sustain and achieve, so, take that dream and make it bigger than life! Get a little crazy with your dream and make it look, in your mind, like a blockbuster movie that you have created. Put in the sights and smells, set the stage and don your costume, all the while visualizing yourself in the starring role. Give your Life Dream a name and plaster it on the biggest, most obnoxious movie marquee you can visualize. Know in your being that what you are seeing is a new beginning in your life!
Gauge your Commitment
Making your dreams a reality will require commitment, consistency, discipline and drive. Either ponder these in your mind or write them on a piece of paper then come up with a plan for how you are going to keep these necessary components of success active and alive as you move forward with your plan to make your dream a reality.
Talk Back to Your Barriers
Many people don’t achieve their dreams because barriers such as fear of failure or success or change get in the way. Other common barriers are self-doubt, feeling like they won’t know what steps to take or like they’ll look or sound “stupid” or “incompetent” taking those first few steps toward their dream. Other barriers can be mental or physical health problems, addictions, relationship challenges or financial woes. Whatever your barriers are, talk back to them or make a plan to resolve them, so that your mind and energy can be freed up to move forward with creating a new life for yourself.
Gather Success Tools
If your dream requires that you learn a new skill set or seek knowledge or get specialized training, do just that. If you need money to launch your new project get creative with how you’re going to raise capital. While money can seem to be the biggest barrier toward achieving dreams, many very successful people grew their companies from the ground up by simply working hard and growing slowly. Often, those are the companies that are still in operation today because they built-in to their company ways do more with less money.
Set a Plan of Action
Dreams don’t just happen. For them to become a reality you need to get up off the couch and do something! To reap the rewards of actualizing your dreams, you need to have a plan of action, set a time frame for accomplishing your goals and be mindful of consistently moving forward, keeping the end goal in sight. Easier said than done…but a necessary component, especially when challenges arise. Expect to have challenges and setbacks and they will be easier to deal with when they rear their ugly head.
Build in Accountability
Letting someone know of your dreams and goals helps keep you on track and on task. Make them your accountability partner and ask them to specifically help encourage you when you start to lose focus and determination. Often, when the going gets tough, it takes grit and discipline to keep moving toward your goal. Don’t be a quitter or give up. Some day you’ll look back on what you’ve achieved and wonder how you ever accomplished all you did! Yeah!
The Most Critical Component for Success
If you make achieving your dream your Life’s Legacy, it will fuel your passion to create a new reality. The Life Coaching callers that I talk with get the most passionate and excited when they feel that to achieve their dream would be to achieve a greater purpose in their lives. They often equate their dream to their life mission that will leave the world, and humanity, in a better place.
What Life Legacy will you leave the world and mankind as you seek to make your dreams a reality?
Joan Jerkovich is a Board Certified Life Coach. Email her your questions @ tjjs.radio@gmail.com, or arrange a time to talk with Joan in person on her radio talk show atwww.joanjerkovich.com.
Listen to “The Joan Jerkovich Show” weekends @9am on 910 KINA
My husband is far right politically and his brother is far left. I hold my breath every time they get together as their conversations always turn to politics and things get really heated. I know this makes other family members uncomfortable as well so want to know how to stop it or at least tone it down.
Sex, money, religion and politics…the hot button conversation topics where only the brave dare venture! While I welcome these conversation landmines on my radio show, even I know to play them down when talking with my friends and family.
While this intense political discourse may make you uncomfortable, you surely realize that some people enjoy sparring over politics, even if things get heated. The critical issue here is whether or not your husband and his brother can walk away with mutual respect and an attitude to “agree to disagree”. If, in the final analysis, these heated debates don’t turn in to personal attacks that mar their relationship, then I say, “Let ‘em go at it”! If it does mar their relationship, that’s a problem they will need to solve.
Your question seems to point to your personal discomfort, and your perception that other family members also get uncomfortable. Do they? Is that a fact? If so, you can ban together and tell them to go elsewhere to have their debates. If the discomfort is mostly yours, know that you can choose how to deal with this. Join in on the debate, ignore it, walk away, calm yourself with deep breathing, use earplugs, or take a video of them for playback at Christmas so they can see how ridiculous they get over the politics they have very little personal power over! Choose your strategy for coping based on how tolerant you’re feeling that day. Notice that I didn’t make a point of your getting them to quit debating politics? Yes, they can be asked to do it out of earshot, but ultimately this is your discomfort, not theirs.
Embrace Your Personal Power with Life Coaching~
Explore your personal beliefs on adults being responsible for their own actions and feelings.
How can you channel your discomfort about this in to strategies for letting go of trying to control other people and situations?
What might your discomfort be saying about you and what can you learn from this experience?
Please SHARE this on Facebook and lend your COMMENTS ~ we learn from each other!
Follow Joan’s Life Coaching Questions, Podcasts, Blogs and Empowering Messages atwww.joanjerkovich.com
Joan Jerkovich is a Board Certified Life Coach. Email her your questions @ tjjs.radio@gmail.com, or arrange a time to talk with Joan in person on her radio talk show atwww.joanjerkovich.com.
Follow Joan’s Life Coaching Questions, Podcasts, Blogs and Empowering Messages atwww.joanjerkovich.com
Listen to “The Joan Jerkovich Show” weekends @9am on 910 KINA
I’m a kind of computer geek and getting around people makes me uncomfortable unless they’re already my friends. Most of my friends are virtual friends from online gaming. How do I make new friends and especially meet girls I can date?
First, you need to get out more to new places that you don’t usually go to, and, you need to get involved in groups that interest you where you can meet new people. Before you throw out a big “Duh” to my response, you might be surprised by the geeks I’ve heard from who lament not having any friends, or anyone to date, yet admit to spending all their time with their computer avatars role playing through life as their alter ego. I know that you may like those characters to role play right on to your couch, especially one of those sexy cosplay girls, but, that just ain’t gonna happen!
You need to role-play into real life. Step away from your computer, or say goodbye to your online gamer friends, take off your headset and put down your video-game-controller, then go relate to some real people. When you do that, pay attention to how you look. Don’t wear your dumpster diver T-shirt. You know, the one with the tiny little holes that you think “no one can even see”…And wash your greasy hair ~ that is unless the group of friends you hope to meet hang at the local trading card shop playing “Magic, The Gathering” ~ then you’ll fit right in!
It’s OK if meeting new people, and especially girls, are uncomfortable for you. Remember when you were a newb at gaming? You learned the rules of the game then played it until your skill level rose. The rules are the same for conquering your social awkwardness. Learn the rules then practice, practice, practice. Try using your interest in role-playing to imagine yourself as that confident, masculine warrior who fears no mission or adventure in whatever the realm. Imagine that you’re going to pull out your spell book and cast a Level 5 Charm Spell on that cute girl you’ve been fantasizing about. You know, the one you see at the Quick Shop when you stop by for your Red Bull before hitting your gaming all-nighter. So stop your lagging and GL2U!
Embrace your Personal Power with Life Coaching~
Have you researched ways to conquer social awkwardness and anxiety?
Where are you going to go to meet people, guys and girls, to practice, practice, practice improving your social skills?
How much effort will you promise yourself to put forth, toward diminishing your social awkwardness?
Please SHARE this on Facebook and lend your COMMENTS ~ we learn from each other!
Follow Joan’s Life Coaching Questions, Podcasts, Blogs and Empowering Messages atwww.joanjerkovich.com
Last week’s posts for you to read and comment on:
Mistrust Boyfriend?
Set Healthy Boundries
Supporting Homeless Friend
Guilt over Aging Parents
Dealing with Guilt
No Money for Rent or Food?
Perfectionism – Black or White Thinking Hindering Success
Joan Jerkovich is a Board Certified Life Coach. Email her your questions @ tjjs.radio@gmail.com, or arrange a time to talk with Joan in person on her radio talk show atwww.joanjerkovich.com.
Follow Joan’s Life Coaching Questions, Podcasts, Blogs and Empowering Messages atwww.joanjerkovich.com
Listen to “The Joan Jerkovich Show” weekends @9am on 910 KINA
