Former Republican state senator talks about conversion to Democratic Party

Weird article... Jean became a Democrat well before she was elected to the Senate.

March 16, 2013 at 5:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Bill limiting collective bargaining for Kansas teachers draws fire

Teachers not paid enough? Isn't that complaint everyone has. How much should teachers be paid? Name your price...

March 6, 2013 at 10:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Statehouse Live: Committee chairwoman says business-backed, anti-union bill needs more study

Go back and read Sec. 3 (d) 1. A donation is not a fee, due or assessment. You're welcome to feel intellectually superior if you like, but the bill says what it says.

February 6, 2013 at 3:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Statehouse Live: Committee chairwoman says business-backed, anti-union bill needs more study

Is it a due, fee or assessment? No. I understand focusing on the periodic part, but that argument is void unless you're talking about a due, fee or assessment. A donation is not that.

February 6, 2013 at 3:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Statehouse Live: Committee chairwoman says business-backed, anti-union bill needs more study

Please actually relate small parts of the bill to the overall bill. I've posted multiple sections of the entire bill. You can keep saying, "please read the bill" like an all-knowing liberal would in an attempt to avoid real arguments. You can keep doing that but the fact is, I have read the entire bill and the reality is, my interpretation of it does not agree with yours. Your welcome to continue to think whatever you like, but I do not agree with you that Sec. 3 (d) 1 prohibits all political activities by unions. What it does do is prevent non-volunatary dues, fees and assessments from the union being used for political activities. It makes unions get voluntary donations for union political activities. I understand you disagree, I understand you want to be superior and more intellectual, you're welcome to feel superior to me, I don't care. But in the end I don't agree with your interpretation.

February 6, 2013 at 3:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Statehouse Live: Committee chairwoman says business-backed, anti-union bill needs more study

My opinion is unions can continue to do exactly what they have been doing, with the exception that they have to get someone to write them a check or get a deduction from their actual bank account instead of their payroll.

I assume by Section 3 you mean this part:

(d) (1) It shall be a prohibited practice for a public employee
organization to endorse candidates, or spend any of its income, directly or
indirectly, for partisan or political purposes or engage in any kind of
activity advocating or opposing the election of candidates for any public
officeincluding any income in the form of or derived from any dues, fees,
assessments or any other periodic payments, directly or indirectly, to
engage in political activities as defined in paragraph (2).

This of course does not speak to donations.

Also:

(b) Should a member of a professional employees' organization want to donate money to such organization for the purpose of the professional employees' organization engaging in political activities, such member shall do so by a personal payment which notes that such payment is donated for the professional employees' organization's political activities. Moneys received by the professional employees' organization for political activities shall be deposited by such organization in a separate fund for political activities.

February 6, 2013 at 3:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Statehouse Live: Committee chairwoman says business-backed, anti-union bill needs more study

Violate what rights? The right to have the state collect your union political slush fund for you? Do me a favor and leave the state.

February 6, 2013 at 3:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Statehouse Live: Committee chairwoman says business-backed, anti-union bill needs more study

From the actual bill:

(b) Should a member of a professional employees' organization want to donate money to such organization for the purpose of the professional employees' organization engaging in political activities, such member shall do so by a personal payment which notes that such payment is donated for the professional employees' organization's political activities. Moneys received by the professional employees' organization for political activities shall be deposited by such organization in a separate fund for political activities.

February 6, 2013 at 3:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Statehouse Live: Committee chairwoman says business-backed, anti-union bill needs more study

He's a state Senator. And he said, "as a school teacher" which just happens to be his profession. Sorry you don't get this.

February 6, 2013 at 3:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Statehouse Live: Committee chairwoman says business-backed, anti-union bill needs more study

"As a school teacher." Well, let's see. Is he a teacher? Yes. Then he's speaking as a teacher. Did he say, "as every teacher in the state?" Umm, no.

February 6, 2013 at 3:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )