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Kansas may be conservative experiment
By Mike Hoeflich
May 16, 2012
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Kansas Legislature seemed to be unable to deal with what very well may become a disaster for the state over the coming years: a tax reform bill sitting on the governor’s desk that may cause the state to face a budget deficit of unprecedented proportions within five years.
Term’s end spurs reflection
By Mike Hoeflich
May 2, 2012
This Friday will be “Stop Day” at Kansas University, the day that signals the end of the teaching semester and the beginning of final examinations. Commencement will take place a week from Sunday.
KU buyout plan praised
By Mike Hoeflich
April 18, 2012
Like other faculty and staff at Kansas University, I received an email from the provost this week outlining the new Voluntary Separation Incentive Program [“VSIP”].
Case sets strip-search precedent
By Mike Hoeflich
April 4, 2012
Now that March Madness has come to an end, it is the season to begin watching the Supreme Court of the United States with great attention. Last week, the court heard three days of argument on the Affordable Health Care Act, and on Monday the court released its decision in the case of Florence v. Board of Freeholders, a New Jersey case concerned with the constitutional limits on when corrections officials may do strip searches of people in custody. The decision in the health care case undoubtedly is going to take some time, and how the justices will vote on the various issues presented by the case is still difficult to determine. However, the decision in the Florence case is now published and its facts and reasoning are important.
Legislature to blame for KPERS mess
By Mike Hoeflich
March 21, 2012
After months of debate, the Kansas House has passed legislation that would radically change the public employee pension system for new employees. (I should mention that university faculty are not part of KPERS.)  
Liberal arts still relevant
By Mike Hoeflich
March 7, 2012
Many of us who live in Lawrence in the shadows of Kansas University and Haskell Indian Nations University often forget that there is another institution of higher learning only 10 miles away in Baldwin City: Baker University.
Shoppers have no secrets
By Mike Hoeflich
February 22, 2012
Over the years I have written about the increasing penchant of both government and private corporations to gather and analyze data about individuals, often without individuals realizing the extent to which this occurs. Most folks don’t realize that their computers are littered with so-called “cookies” placed on them by websites they have visited. These cookies provide the websites with detailed information about the online activities of the computer owners.
Legislature should limit major initiatives
By Mike Hoeflich
February 8, 2012
It would appear that the governor and his staff members wish to remake some of the most essential and complex aspects of state government during this year’s legislative session. He has already given the Legislature plans to remake the state tax system and the school finance system, transform the present state retirement system (KPERS) from a defined-benefit plan to a defined-contribution plan, and put a cap on state spending through limiting the state’s ability to spend additional revenues beyond a certain fixed percentage.
Super PACs influencing races
By Mike Hoeflich
January 25, 2012
Over the past few weeks the results, many of them unintended, perhaps, of the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission have become apparent.
Birthday spurs a look back
By Mike Hoeflich
January 4, 2012
In a few days I will celebrate my 60th birthday, although I’m not at all sure that celebrate is the right word. These days, when I look in the mirror, the face I see more and more resembles that of my grandfather. Recently a student wanted to know whether I had been at Yale with her grandfather. Another student in the class is the daughter of a former student. All these, obviously, are signs that I’m getting older.

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