Not much to pontificate about today. Let’s go to the links…Sam Brownback links(KC Star) Brownback’s plan would entice cures for diseases: Sam Brownback doesn’t begrudge American men their drugstore virility. He just thinks drug companies should focus on saving more than people’s sex lives.The Kansas senator, a Republican and a leading social conservative, has introduced legislation that he hopes will spur drug companies to develop cures for diseases that debilitate and kill millions of people every year in poor nations.The carrot: If the companies come up with such cures, they would get six-month to two-year extensions on patents for the so-called “lifestyle” drugs aimed at problems like erectile dysfunction. A patent extension on a single popular drug could be worth billions of dollars to a company’s bottom line, experts said.(Yekir.am in Armenia) Bill on Support to South Caucasus States Introduced before US Senate: A bill on support to states of the South Caucasus and Central Asia for ensuring US national security interests, containing Russia’s geopolitical ambition, as well as creation and support to a network of US military bases is introduced before the US Senate. Bill co-sponsor, Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) stated that US vital interests in the Caspian region include ensuring independence and security of Azerbaijan and Georgia. Extremely important pipelines of oil and gas transit pass through those countries. (Washington Post) Senate, House GOP increasingly at odds: From immigration policy to energy to emergency spending, House Republican leaders are publicly breaking ranks with their counterparts in the Senate, fearing that Senate efforts at compromise are jeopardizing the party’s standing with conservative voters.The tension, in some sense, is built into the system, said Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., a former House member. Because they represent an entire state, senators must tend toward compromise. Since senators stand for re-election every six years, only 15 Republicans are facing this year’s stiff headwind, compared to all 231 Republicans in the House. Some House Republicans believe their Senate colleagues are insensitive to their political difficulties.(Dallas Morning News)Migrant expenses may fall to states: As the Senate inches toward votes on a plan that would legalize millions of immigrants, one topic remains unaddressed: What would be the effect on state and local governments?Legalization supporters argue that the Congressional Budget Office estimate ignores the gains that would accrue if illegal immigrants come out of the shadows: more tax payments, greater worker productivity and the prospect that some would move to better-paying jobs with health insurance.”I hope we also get some credit in cost estimates] for how much these people are going to be working and how much they are going to be paying in taxes,” said Sen. Sam Brownback, a Kansas Republican who strongly supports the Senate legalization plan. “Immigration study after study has shown this is a powerful, positive force in this economy.”How to contactAs always, you can find information to contact members of the Kansas congressional delegation [here.