The 2005 agenda

The Associated Press takes a look at the agenda of Kansans in Congress for the 2005 session.”Airplanes and cows drive the Kansas economy, and they will dominate the agenda of Kansans in Congress in 2005,” writes AP’s Libby Quaid.Sen. Pat Roberts will help lead efforts to protect the nation’s food supply, Quaid writes. Sen. Sam Brownback and Rep. Todd Tiahrt will work on strengthening the state’s aircraft industry and protecting it from foreign competition. And Brownback, of course, is expected to become even more prominent in the abortion debate as he moves to the Senate Judiciary Committee.Quaid adds: “Others in the delegation may have an eye on higher office. Republican Reps. Jerry Moran and Tiahrt and Brownback have been considered potential gubernatorial candidates in the past.” Tiahrt and Moran said they have no plans, yet, to run for governor. Brownback said flatly he won’t run for the office. “We just finished one of the longest presidential campaigns in world history,” Brownback said. “I think it’s time right now to focus on the business at hand and work in the Senate, and that’s what’s going to be my primary focus.”That means the Sam Brownback Watch turns its eye toward a 2008 run for president. Speculation continues…Other links:Pat Roberts links Intelligence agencies face staff shortage: “Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., created the intelligence community’s answer to GI Bills and other military scholarships,” reports The Associated Press. “Under the program, undergraduate and graduate students can receive up to $50,000 for two years of tuition if they agree to take needed jobs in an intelligence agency for up to three years.”Sam Brownback links Suffer the Little Children: Brownback continues to argue for stronger U.S. efforts to end fighting in Sudan, according to a Wall Street Journal article reprinted at SudanTribune.com. “To hasten a conclusion of this long war, Senator Brownback suggests that Washington should answer Uganda’s request for military helicopters.” GOP sets up Senate collision on judges: “Republicans are moving quickly to push parts of their conservative agenda,” writes USA Today. “Frist has added two staunchly anti-abortion conservatives, Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., and Sen.-elect Tom Coburn, R-Okla., to the Judiciary Committee, which holds hearings on all judicial nominations and decides which ones to send to the Senate floor. Already on the 19-member panel are three GOP senators who are members of the Federalist Society, a group of lawyers that has been lobbying for the appointment of more conservative federal judges.”How to contact As always, you can find information to contact members of the Kansas congressional delegation here.