Sam Brownback links (Concord Monitor opinion) Just say Roe: Ted Kennedy and Sam Brownback have two things in common. They’re both members of the Senate committee that today begins reviewing the nomination of John Roberts to be the next chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. And they’d both like to hear Roberts say he can’t wait to overturn Roe vs. Wade. Okay, there’s a third thing. They’re both going to be disappointed.(Sacramento Bee) Senators will share in Roberts’ spotlight: Brownback, a social conservative, indicated early on that he was concerned Roberts might not be conservative enough, particularly on abortion. During his appeals court confirmation hearings two years ago, Roberts said he considered Roe v. Wade to be “the settled law of the land” and would have no problem applying the precedent. Brownback initially worried Roberts could be another Justice David Souter – a pleasant but mysterious Republican nominee who would tack to the left once confirmed. But as the nation’s leading conservatives have circled their wagons around Roberts, activists say it’s less likely Brownback will pressure Roberts to take conservative stands on the record.(Wall Street Journal opinion) Shall We Dance? A rising star with social conservatives, Mr. Brownback is expected to speak truth to power and respond to some of the more outrageous displays by his Democratic colleagues. He will focus on Judge Roberts’s views on social issues that matter to Mr. Brownback’s base and to his presidential prospects.Pat Roberts links (AP) Senator wants Pensacola rescue pilots’ careers protected: U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts wrote to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to express support Friday for two Navy helicopter pilots who were lectured about flying rescue missions over New Orleans without permission. The Kansas Republican asked whether the pilots’ actions a day after Hurricane Katrina made landfall would affect their military careers and questioned the Navy’s assertion that one of the pilots was not being punished when temporarily assigned to oversee a kennel.Jim Ryun links (AP) Missouri senators want to close loophole for sexual predators: Missouri’s senators want to close a legal loophole they say allowed a Missouri judge to throw out a conviction of a sexual predator. … Kansas Rep. Jim Ryun has written a letter urging the Justice Department to appeal Whipple’s ruling, saying it is contrary to a number of other court cases. “If permitted to stand, the practical impact of such a ruling would have devastating consequences for prosecutions of child predators who troll the Internet looking for children to entice and ultimately harm,” Ryun said in the letter.Gas prices (Knight Ridder) Farmers air worries on energy: Sens. Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts and 1st District U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran, all Republicans, had one clear message for the farmers: “We hear you.” “I think we will open a portion of the Alaskan wildlife refuge (the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) to drilling, and we absolutely must address the need for additional refining capacity,” Roberts said. Roberts said four Kansas refineries could be put back on line if environmental rules were relaxed. Brownback said the current energy bill will help by offering incentives for alternative energy and fuel-efficient cars. He also predicted new legislation to allow the expansion of existing refineries and the building of new ones.How to contact As always, you can find information to contact members of the Kansas congressional delegation here.