Here are today’s headlines from the Kansas congressional delegation:Rep. Dennis Moore (D)!(Wall Street Journal) Business Mobilizes to Defend Turf: Eager to demonstrate a sharp contrast with Republicans who dominated Capitol Hill for 12 years, new Democratic leaders are vowing to raise the federal minimum wage; reduce oil-company subsidies; give the government bargaining authority in purchasing Medicare prescription drugs; shrink student-loan fees; and impose mandatory controls on emissions of carbon dioxide and other so-called greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. … House Democrats hope they can win a minimum-wage boost without the concessions. “Give us a clean vote on our issue, and don’t] tie us to other things that muddy the water,” says Rep. Dennis Moore of Kansas. But industry lobbyists say Democratic leaders acknowledge privately that a deal with industry is likely to be necessary to get the measure through the closely divided Senate, where 60 votes are required to pass almost anything.Sen. Sam Brownback (R) ![(National Catholic Register) The Next Catholic President? (Interview with Sam Brownback): _The last Catholic president faced a world-wide war against communism and a crucial moral domestic reform (civil rights) at home. Do you see yourself facing similar issues?_ We certainly are facing a global war on terrorism with a dedicated enemy that seeks our removal from the Middle East and the establishment of an Islamic caliphate. We also face an extraordinary issue in the decline of the family. Four in 10 children are born to single moms. Half of our children spend a significant portion of their time in a single-parent home before the age of 18. The optimal setting is with a man and woman bonded for life. The institution of marriage is under extraordinary attack and it really needs support. It is one of the key reasons why I’ve stepped forward in this presidential race. I certainly appreciated his visionary leadership, and I would hope to be able to put forward visionary type leadership following the Kennedy tradition. I’ve worked well with his brother Ted in the Senate despite clear policy differences. My hope is to be able to work across the aisle on topics we agree on even though there are many we disagree on. A key part of that is not judging others. You can, and will, disagree on policy, but you don’t condemn another person.(Press Release) Romney, Brownback Sign Taxpayer Protection Pledge: Kansas Senator Sam Brownback (R) and Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (R), candidates vying for the 2008 presidential nomination, have jumped out early in the new year and signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform (ATR). The Pledge commits signers to “oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses … and oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.” Gov. Romney signed on Dec. 31, 2006. Sen. Brownback signed the pledge Jan. 1, 2007.Rep. Nancy Boyda (D)!(LJWorld.com) Doors opening for Boyda: When Nancy Boyda casts her first vote later today, she will do it from the floor of the grandest stage in American politics. “I’m respectful of it, but I’m not worried about getting eaten alive. I’m … a lot of people use the word ‘gutsy,'” said Boyda, congresswoman-elect for the 2nd District of Kansas. The Topeka Democrat, who will be sworn in today, will represent the district that includes the western half of Lawrence. For Boyda and her staff, Wednesday was about settling in and learning the ropes.