Topeka — U.S. Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Wichita, accused Kansas University Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little of overly strong rhetoric in a video put out by a science and research group that urges Congress to stop the sequester.
Across-the-board cuts in federal spending, known as the sequester, are set to take effect March 1 unless Congress and President Barack Obama reach a deal.
A group called ScienceWorksforUS put out a news release and video messages from higher education officials, business leaders and students urging Congress to end the budget sequester, saying the cuts would have drastic effects on federally funded research.
In one of the videos, KU Chancellor Gray-Little talks about how federal funds support medical research at KU that saves lives and improves the economy.
"The solution to America's financial challenges should be balanced, and should recognize that the discoveries universities make today will be the foundation of our economy tomorrow," Gray-Little says.
Pompeo said Gray-Little's use of a balanced approach "is code for more taxes on hard-working Kansans and more money distributed to Washington, D.C."
He added, "While I share the Chancellor’s desire to make our Kansas schools great, she ignores the threat to those same young people resulting from the fact that every graduate of her college this May—my son Nick among them—is already responsible for over $54,000 in federal debt.
"As for private enterprise, she fails to recognize the simple truth that it is not federal government spending that creates wealth, jobs, and prosperity for our state and for our country," he said.
He said the video was an example of the "hysterical" rhetoric about sequestration.
Pompeo called sequestration "a home run" and said that when he voted for it he wanted deeper cuts. "That's why it's only a home run and not a grand slam," he said.
Under sequestration, automatic cuts of $85 billion would be made over the next seven months. That would include cuts of 8 percent in defense spending and 5 percent in most federal programs. Over a decade the cuts would total about $1 trillion, cut evenly between defense and domestic spending.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates sequestration will cost 750,000 jobs.
Comments
Joe Hyde 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Rep. Pompeo thinks Chancellor Gray-Little's use of the word "balanced" is code for "more taxes on hard-working Kansans"?
Okay; let's see if he's bright enough to give us a code word for: "dump the state income taxes of 191,000 business owners onto their salaried employees".
weeslicket 2 months, 3 weeks ago
pompeo: "... my son Nick among them—is already responsible for over $54,000 in federal debt."
or more correctly: the son is responsible for re-paying his student loan (i.e., the son's debt); payments on his debt will be made to the lending bank (i.e., not the federal treasury).
DCLawHawk 2 months, 3 weeks ago
You're missing the point entirely, weeslicket. He's not talking about his son's personal student loan debt. He's talking about the fact that his son's share of the national debt (like your own share) is up to about $54,000. $16.5 trillion in debt divided by about 300 million US population = roughly $55,000 in national debt per person.
jocknavals 2 months, 3 weeks ago
which is about as much as a new heavy duty pick up truck costs. we all owe for one truck each. that's not outrageously out of hand. we could all take out a 5 year no interest loan with a $4,000 cash rebate. We could all send the money to the Feds, reducing the debt to $0. and with $4k cash in everyone's pocket, the economy would be stimulated. then we could all default on our loans, and the big banks would fail, and this time, close down, and be gone. WIN, WIN, WIN.
Fatty_McButterpants 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Considering that the U.S. owns the bulk of its own debt, perhaps Republicans should stop being so "hysterical" about the debt.
irtnog2001 2 months, 3 weeks ago
If we own our own debt it means we are just printing money and inflating the currency.
johndeere 2 months, 3 weeks ago
He's referring to his son's portion of the balooning additional federal deficit under Barry O, 6 trillion and counting
weeslicket 2 months, 3 weeks ago
pompeo: "As for private enterprise, she fails to recognize the simple truth that it is not federal government spending that creates wealth, jobs, and prosperity for our state and for our country," he said.
article: The Congressional Budget Office estimates sequestration will cost 750,000 jobs.
pompeo: " HYSTERICAL ! "
fred_mertz 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Why did Obama suggest and sign the sequestration if it would have such dire consequences?
Lieutenant 2 months, 3 weeks ago
There's enough blame to go around. Forget who's to blame and fix it.
rduhrich 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Why is being an idiot seem to be a prereqresite for representing the Republican party? And why do Kansans keep electing ignoramuses like Pompeo? We're the laughingstock of the nation.
Lieutenant 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Right you are Can't stand what the right wing is doing to our country and state.
oldbaldguy 2 months, 3 weeks ago
we have always had morons and crooks in congress. the modern media just makes it more obvious. there is a good reason why pompeo was booted off the ag committee.
TheSychophant 2 months, 3 weeks ago
What's the bid deal?. I didn't think anybody really takes anything Gray-Little says seriously.
irtnog2001 2 months, 3 weeks ago
I don't trust anyone with 2 last names.
2xhawk 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Actually, it was Huelskamp that got booted off the Ag Comm., but Pompeo is an embarrassment, also.
Pompeo got his start by creating a business that lived off government contracts, then went to work for some Wichita oil guy, then ran for Congress on Koch money and contacts. That's Koch Industries, the 2d largest privately owned company in the U.S. (world?) that doesn't pay taxes in KS because it meets the definition of a "small" business.
Who knows? Maybe his son (actually step-son) Nick can find some connection that can get him a good paying job at Koch, or maybe create his own business - that'd be even better because then he could, as a "small" businessperson, skip out on that dad-gum $54,000. Win!
Lieutenant 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Good one. Guys like Huelskamp and Pompeo are a disgrace to Kansas. But people like that keep getting elected.
hedshrinker 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Inadequate funding of K-12 and public jr colleges and universities and ideological pressure on the academic content provided therein are creating a third-class education for Kansans and the US at large which are moving us further and further down the global competition ladder. The drunk- on -power legislative atmosphere in one-party red states like KS is moving us quickly to third world status. Trickle down economic theory is a complete bust....why can't we get these idiots out of power ? Wake up people!
Cant_have_it_both_ways 2 months, 3 weeks ago
If the Grey has enough resources to make a video, then she does not need more funding. She is in a chair where she is supposed to manage the taxpayers resources. I have no compassion for her or her cause.
Fatty_McButterpants 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Yes, because it takes a lot of money to be able to make a video these days. It's not like cameras are built into cell phones and computers or anything.
oldbaldguy 2 months, 3 weeks ago
got my morons mixed up.
Jack Martin 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Chancellor Gray-Little is one of 150 university chancellors and presidents calling for a balanced approach. As she wrote in December, this means that "all options — discretionary spending cuts and reforms to entitlements and taxes — need to be on the table." http://www.kansascity.com/2012/12/04/3948529/as-i-see-it-fiscal-cliff-cuts.html
As the CAO of Black & Veatch stated in the video referenced by Congressman Pompeo, research universities are economic drivers. Indeed, the one area in which the Simpson-Bowles Commission called for increasing federal spending was on research and development because of the economic benefits.
This research - whether it is the search for treatments and cures at the KU Cancer Center, cooperation with the aerospace industry at NIAR in Wichita, or the biosecurity research that would be done at NBAF - contributes to the prosperity and well-being of Kansans and Americans.
The sequester, being a blunt, across-the-board cut, will have serious effects on all of these efforts and on the future prosperity of the nation. Just yesterday, former NIH Director Dr. Elias Zerhoui, who served during the George W. Bush Administration, said the sequester "would be a disaster for research, which is not an activity that you can turn on and off year to year." He said the sequester will set back medical science for a generation. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/02/21/former-nih-director-the-sequester-will-set-back-medical-science-for-a-generation/
Finally, here's a link to the video in question: http://www.scienceworksforus.org/bernadette-gray-little-stop-the-sequester
And the videos from a range of research universities around the nation: http://www.scienceworksforus.org/economy/america-s-research-community-speaks-out
irtnog2001 2 months, 3 weeks ago
With all those research bucks coming to KU what is the chance of diverting some to reduce tuition and benefit undergraduates?
boltzmann 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Given the large number of undergraduates involved in undergraduate research at KU, it would seem they are getting a benefit from research funding.
irtnog2001 2 months, 3 weeks ago
How many might that be?
boltzmann 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Ok. I thought it would be obvious, but maybe to everyone it is not. Research groups at KU are funded by federal grants. Undergraduates do research in those groups, getting trained on equipment and techniques funded by the federal money by graduate students and postdocs funded by the federal grants. This experience gives the undergraduates significant value added that can be translated into getting a better job or getting accepted by a better graduate school. Graduate schools in the sciences view undergraduate research experience as a significant factor for admission.
irtnog2001 2 months, 3 weeks ago
You didn't answer the question. What % of undergraduates actually work for research groups at KU?
boltzmann 2 months, 3 weeks ago
There are a large number of students who do undergraduate research, especially in the sciences. I don't know the exact percentages, but among BS science majors it is probably a majority or close to it. The bottom line is that undergraduate research options are available to all students, even if some do not take advantage of thr opportunity. You might check out the KU Office of undergraduate research if you are interested in learning about it.
irtnog2001 2 months, 3 weeks ago
I got to do "undergraduate research" once and it amounted to washing test tubes and beakers. Hope they are getting better experience than that.
oneeye_wilbur 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Wish the chancellor would enact a sequester at KU so those employees would feel the pain when they are forced to give up something
irtnog2001 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Can anyone substantiate that Koch and it related entities do not pay KS income tax under the new tax rules? I doubt Koch is organized as a pass through tax entity to its shareholders/members/partners although it is possible.
vertigo 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Kock Industries and its related industries its related entities are S Corps, meaning they are exempt from state taxes.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/janetnovack/2011/10/05/billionaire-poster-boys-for-tax-reform-mellon-buffett-schwarzman-and-koch/
irtnog2001 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Without seeing a list of the multitude of Koch related entities subject to KS tax and how the ownership of each relates it is difficult to know for sure they pay no tax, however, thanks for the citation.
vertigo 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Google "Koch S Corps"- you'll see a lawsuit between the state of Mass and 25 S Corps owned by Koch.
Cant_have_it_both_ways 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Don't blame Koch. They are doing business under the current tax code that our elected officials blessed us all with. Koch is one of the largest employeers. It provides health benefits, retirements and numerous other things for an ungrateful workforce. When are those who don't know how to generate revenue going to quit blaming those who do. Remember, there is nothing wrong with creating wealth, unless you are the poor schmuck that is not doing it.
Hepburn 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Ah, the "let them eat cake" rationale, Can't. Remember the French Revolution?
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 2 months, 3 weeks ago
I think we need a very unbalanced approach. Cut military spending by at least 50%, and use the savings to remake the US economy in environmentally sustainable and peaceful directions, and the resulting explosion in economic growth would dramatically decrease the deficit within a decade or so.
yourworstnightmare 2 months, 3 weeks ago
""As for private enterprise, she fails to recognize the simple truth that it is not federal government spending that creates wealth, jobs, and prosperity for our state and for our country," he said."
Saying it often enough doesn't make it true, Mike. Government spending creates jobs just as any employer does. Just ask the defense industry in the post cold war early 90s, which tanked and cut jobs in southern California, as well as the defense industry today, who are scared stiff about the sequester and what it will mean for jobs in their industry.
DougCounty 2 months, 3 weeks ago
That's particularly hilarious from Mike Pompeo, who created Thayer Aerospace company to subcontract building parts for Boeing's defense contracts. Furthermore, he created some of his contract jobs in Mexico instead of in Kansas.
http://www.kansas.com/2010/07/11/1399181/how-true-are-claims-in-pompeo.html
What a guy....
toe 2 months, 3 weeks ago
He is right.
yourworstnightmare 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Gosh, ya convinced me with that air-tight argument.
yourworstnightmare 2 months, 3 weeks ago
"He added, "While I share the Chancellor’s desire to make our Kansas schools great, she ignores the threat to those same young people resulting from the fact that every graduate of her college this May—my son Nick among them—is already responsible for over $54,000 in federal debt."
It is to laugh. Talk about self-inflicted wounds. Public college prices are soaring as a direct result of reduced funding (and reduced taxes) from the state.
Sorry to hear about your son's debt, Mike, but you have only yourself and your idiotic GOP policies to blame.
Kansas does the self-inflicted wound and whine better than anywhere in the country.
They hit themselves in the head with a hammer and then complain about the pain.
irtnog2001 2 months, 3 weeks ago
From the outside it looks like KU is rolling in money and plays a shell game with all of its entities and foundations to hide it and protect from spending it on their main mission-educating undergraduates. I hope I am wrong but my gut tells me otherwise.
question4u 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Sequestration was created as a doomsday scenario extreme enough so that everyone would be eager to avoid its disastrous consequences and hence consider compromise infinitely preferable.
How much more evidence does anyone need of the ineptitude, incompetence, and extremism of Representatives from Kansas than Pompeo opening his mouth?
Liberal 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Can someone tell me how much less they will spend this year after Sequestration vs what they spent last year?
DCLawHawk 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Liberal, Actually the federal government will still spend MORE this year, even with the sequester, than it spent last year. Also, the cut in non-defense discretionary spending in the sequester is LESS THAN the total amount appropriated for the Superstorm Sandy cleanup. Because the sequester does not even touch entitlement spending (aka mandatory spending), the total spending in FY13 will exceed the total in FY12. That is a big part of the reason why the sequester is overblown--and Rep. Pompeo's critique is accurate.
Liberal 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Exactly my point DCLawHawk...
Armstrong 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Gray-Litttle also babbled on about how police, fire fighters and teachers would be losing thier jobs. Umm sweet pea those jobs are funded by the individual states not the United States.
DougCounty 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Umm honey bunch, you been list'nin to that crazy Romney guy, haven't you? Here's a flash from the past 'splainin how Mitt --and you-- was way off base, as usual. The feds shell out billions to the states to administer funds for police, fire fighters and teachers: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/12/mitt-romney-federal-spending-police-teachers-firefighters_n_1590872.html
Armstrong 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Then I should be expecting a large tax return this year as I don't have to support them anymore. Huffington Post - really?
DougCounty 2 months, 3 weeks ago
So you don't think the billions and billions of federal monies received by the state/local governments is accurate because I happened to pull up a Huffington Post article? Really? Then use your own sources and prove otherwise. I can certainly find plenty of other sources to back me up, but it's time you do you own homework.
And look up "hyperbole" while you're at it. I certainly never said that local and state taxes weren't a significant part of the mix--all three play major roles. Just ask any firefighter, teacher or policeman.
bluekansas 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Rep. Pompeo (R-Koch) Defends ‘Vilified’ Koch Brothers From ‘Nixonian’ Obama
After the Koch brothers secretly mobilized $100 million from fellow billionaires to unseat President Barack Obama last weekend, Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) wrote an op-ed in Politico today accusing the Obama administration of harassing the co-owners of Koch Industries and Pompeo’s greatest contributors.
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/02/03/418215/rep-pompeo-r-koch-defends-vilified-koch-brothers-from-nixonian-obama/?mobile=nc
by bluekansas
oldexbeat 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Wichita was built on WWII and federal funds -- all those bombers and jets and airforce bases -- Pompeo was a birther, too, as I recall. Clearly an ignorant man. Oh, and the Interstate Highways -- thank you Ike and Cold War money. So much federal money. Of course, Koch Brothers employees don't like so admit reality.
laredo 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Yes Pompeo don't take any criticism for not doing what you were elected for. Criticise someone for trying to do theirs.
Armstrong 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Critisise or correct? Seems like Gray - Little has beed into the Blue Kool Aide a few too many times. Or, economics just is not her subject.
UneasyRider 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Tend to believe Gray-Little is a lot smarter and more intelligent than Pompeo. After all, he's an elected Republican in Kansas totally owned by the Kochs.
Armstrong 2 months, 3 weeks ago
I'd go Pompeo, he hasn't been indoctrinated into the liberal " school of higher learning ". Besides Gray - Little is spouting the same lame policy our Failure In Chief has been the last 4 years
UneasyRider 2 months, 3 weeks ago
So being chancellor of major university is a failure? So winning election twice as POTUS makes someone a failure? But being elected as republlican congressman in a backward redneck state makes someone a success?
Armstrong 2 months, 3 weeks ago
I probably wouldn't be so cocky about propping up a failure, POTUS or not
UneasyRider 2 months, 3 weeks ago
So, he's a failure. Did you quote Fox or Limbaugh for this "FACT"?
Armstrong 2 months, 3 weeks ago
History
UneasyRider 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Same history that says W was a success. Try quoting a real historian.
Centerville 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Nothing like another academic shill for Obama. Yawn.
UneasyRider 2 months, 3 weeks ago
So anyone agreeing with Obama is a shill? Explain how he was elected twice as POTUS. Remember Fox and Limbaugh don't count as reliable, factual sources. After all, according to them Romney was to be elected in a landslide. What happened there?
yourworstnightmare 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Pompeo is a right wing anti intellectual ideologue. He would criticize KU for saving children.
Pompeo and his ilk don't want to make government better and more efficient. They want to destroy government and bring it down.
Armstrong 2 months, 3 weeks ago
So according to your logic Pompeo wants to eliminate his own job. I will put that one in the wrong cloumn for now
UneasyRider 2 months, 3 weeks ago
So maybe Pompeo isn't smart enough to realize what he is supporting? Sounds logical to me.
repaste 2 months, 3 weeks ago
"They want to destroy government and bring it down." Not quite. They want government to do as they choose, protect wealth, enrich themselves, and control the most personal aspect of our lives. They want the Government to stop regulating industry and start regulating our bedrooms and bodies.
barredjack 2 months, 3 weeks ago
And I thought all the fear mongers worked in Congress. Turns out, there are some working in higher education also.
UneasyRider 2 months, 3 weeks ago
There is a slight difference between elected people and educated people. Most educated people are not fear mongers, in spite of what Fox news claims.
The_Big_B 2 months, 3 weeks ago
The cuts will be good for America. "Across the board" cuts are idiocy. Not everything the Govt does is equally worthy of funding.
UneasyRider 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Really feel sorry for those who lack skills or ability to think for themselves. But then there's always Fox or Limbaugh to tell them what they think. Really pathetic.
barredjack 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Because people disagree with you, you assume they can't think for themselves. They present facts and you resort to ad hominem attacks. The real problem is elitism and why it causes people like you to look down on the rest of us. Do yourself a favor and chill out, drink a beer, and get laid. I promise you the world won't end tomorrow because we cut a little bit out of the GROWTH of government. Despite the Chancellor's talk of doom and gloom, KU will go on. The med center will continue to pursue research and the men's hoops teams will continue to put the whooping on opponents. Rock chalk.
yourworstnightmare 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Kansas is predicted to be one the harder hit states by sequestration. This is because on average, kansas receives more federal dollars than other states relative to the size of its economy (ag subsidies and defense industry spending).
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/02/23/4083529/as-sequestration-nears-gear-up.html
JayHawke 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Take a careful look at Pompeo’s background. Born in California, attended West Point, and obtained, at federal taxpayers’ expense, what amounts to in today’s dollars a $350,000 to $400,000 education. Spent the absolute minimum of five years active duty in the Army and then left the military to attend law school at Harvard and go on to benefit from federal government contracts as owner/investor in “Thayer Airspace,” again at federal taxpayers’ expense. His criticism of Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little is a shining example of hypocrisy at its finest.
irtnog2001 2 months, 3 weeks ago
He has a better resume than Gray-Little
Commenting has been disabled for this item.