Posted by Joel Mathis December 13, 2004 at 11:01 a.m.

Jerry Moran takes a defeat

Is U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran losing influence within the Kansas Republican Party?Consider the following evidence, from [The Salina Journal:][1]"Members of the 1st Congressional District (Republicans) selected Randy Duncan as their new leader, even after hearing an 'impassioned speech' in which Congressman Jerry Moran endorsed John Thaemert for the post. "Duncan said he supports Moran and considers him a friend but does not support the idea of congressman-selected district and committee leaders. "'All it came down to is that Congressman Moran and Randy Duncan had a polite disagreement,' Duncan said. 'I feel people should decide who leaders are.'"There were some Salina Republicans, though, who were surprised and not real happy that voting members didn't support the candidate Moran endorsed. "'As popular as Jerry Moran is, you would think that people would support our congressman,' said former Sen. Ben Vidricksen." Other links:Pat Roberts links [Aid isn't keeping up with heating costs and people seeking help:][2] The number of people who apply and qualify for the state's heating bill assistance program is expected to continue its steep climb of recent years, The Kansas City Star reports. A spokeswoman for U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas, who sits on the Senate committee that oversees the program, said there had not been a huge outcry from Kansans seeking more money. "Senator Roberts would be willing to examine this issue, especially on determining funding for fiscal year `06," said Roberts spokeswoman Sarah Little.[Thompson right about risk:][3] "It was hardly comforting to hear Tommy Thompson comment on his way out the door as secretary of health and human services this month that he worries 'every single night' that terrorists will attack the U.S. food supply," The Wichita Eagle editorializes. "I think he was probably waving the same flag I've been waving ever since 1999," Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., told The Eagle editorial board. [Absence of KU, city from funding list is cause for concern:][4] "Two recent press releases from the offices of Sens. Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback listed funding approved by the Senate in the omnibus budget bill and later approved by President Bush," opines The Lawrence Journal-World. "It was interesting, however, that the long lists, which contained the remaining spending bills for fiscal year 2005, didn't include a single dime appropriated for a Lawrence or Kansas University project."Sam Brownback links [India-US synergy and convergence on world stage can work][5] "U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback has called for a free trade agreement between India and the United States, even as he warned that a part of the foreign direct investment flowing into China might end up in modernizing its military and threatening global security. And as a result, India is the best destination for U.S. FDI," according to The Times and Democrat. "Saying economic cooperation between India and United States 'must improve and improve quickly,' he said China continues to attract foreign direct investment several times more than India. 'China continues with its reforms programmed. It is also further opening up its economy.'"How to contact As always, you can find information to contact members of the Kansas congressional delegation [here.][6] [1]: http://www.saljournal.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/3911/format/html/displaystory.html [2]: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/politics/10402236.htm [3]: http://www.kansas.com/mld/eagle/news/editorial/10401937.htm [4]: http://www.ljworld.com/section/saturdaycolumn/story/190127 [5]: http://www.thetandd.com/articles/2004/12/12/business/doc41bbd3b39a592192076440.txt [6]: http://ljworld.com/extra/where_to_write.html#fed