Roberts not a fan of Senate’s longer work week

Here are today’s headlines from the Kansas congressional delegation:Sen. Pat Roberts (R)!(Politico.com) Lawmakers Revolt Against Long Hours: Even before Democratic leaders have made good on promises to harness lawmakers five days a week, cross-party opposition is growing, with senators ready to revolt and House members simmering over the new schedule. … There’s a broadening bipartisan “uprising” to ditch the longer workweek among both lawmakers and staff, especially in the Senate, said a top Democratic Senate aide. “It’s a grind,” said Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., who enjoys one of the easiest commutes to the Capitol from his home in Northern Virginia. “It’s a lot more stringent than people originally thought it would be.” A visibly annoyed Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., agreed: “I just told (Reid) I won’t be back by 4:30” for the vote Monday, “even though I’m catching a 1:55 flight.”Etc.(AP) Boeing Aircraft Work in Budget: President Bush’s latest budget plan includes money for maintenance and upgrades on the Air Force’s fleet of so-called “doomsday planes” at Boeing Co.’s Integrated Defense System plant in Wichita, Kan. The Bush administration had sought to retire the four E-4B aircraft a year ago, but Kansas lawmakers pressed officials to keep the fleet for national security reasons. Work on the aircraft supports hundreds of jobs in the Wichita area. “I am elated by the news,” Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Kan., said Tuesday. “I am pleased the Pentagon listened to our arguments for the continuation of the program.” Tiahrt, along with Kansas Republican Sens. Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback, urged Pentagon officials not to retire the planes, arguing that millions of dollars to modernize two of the aircraft had already been spent.