Rep. Dennis Moore (D) !(Kansas City Kansan) Moore urged to support bankruptcy legislation: An industry trade association is urging U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore (D – 3rd District) to support legislation the group says will limit the consequences of an increase in bankruptcy filings. The National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys claims that a new law working through Congress would allow judges to rewrite loan arrangements for homeowners at risk of losing their homes through bankruptcy. “We’ve seen a significant increase in the number of people facing this issue locally,” Overland Park bankruptcy attorney Drew Frackowiak said. “We’re also seeing an increase in the number of people that we can’t help through the bankruptcy process.” … While Sommer says legislation in congress could alleviate those issues, Congressman Moore’s office said Monday that the Representative was still studying the issue. “As a member of the Financial Services committee, the Congressman is well aware of these loan issues and is supportive of steps to ease the crisis,” Moore spokesperson Rebecca Black said. “But he has not committed to any one solution (or) specific legislation.”(Kansas City Star) Dinner discussions bridge partisan gap: In power-hungry Washington, where partisan politics rule, 58 House members are promoting the quaint notion that Democrats and Republicans can talk nice with each other. They say federal lawmakers should refrain from personal attacks, that they should engage in “real debate” instead of prewritten, partisan speeches and that they should try – God forbid – agreeing once in a while. Every few weeks, usually after the last vote is cast on a Monday night, members of the Center Aisle Caucus head to Hunan Dynasty – “one of the few things people can agree on in Washington is Chinese food,” says the group’s founder – to practice their radically civil ways. There, they ponder and debate the big issues of the day, including war and peace, far from the cameras that prompt so much division two blocks away on the House floor. … The fledgling group has equal membership from each party and four co-chairs: Israel, Republican Reps. Tim Johnson of Illinois and Jo Ann Emerson of Missouri and Democratic Rep. Dennis Moore of Kansas. … The caucus got a kick start in suburban Kansas City in the summer of 2005, when Israel joined Emerson and Moore for an event on congressional civility at Johnson County Community College. When hundreds turned out, organizers knew they had struck a chord. “I think people in this country are just really fed up with all the partisanship they see on television and they read about in the papers,” Moore said.Rep. Jerry Moran (R) !(Emporia Gazette) Moran to meet with Emporia residents on refugee situation: Two meetings are planned this week to discuss a variety of questions about the influx of refugees into Emporia. Representatives from government and non-profit organizations will be present Wednesday evening to answer questions about refugees who are here now and those who may be coming. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Little Theater of the Civic Building, 111 East Sixth Ave. … The public also may meet with U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran, who will be at the Emporia Country Club on Thursday. The public portion of the meeting will begin at 12:30 p.m.