Here are today’s headlines from the Kansas congressional delegation:Rep. Nancy Boyda (D) !(American Apparel & Footware Assn. commentary) USA : AAFA urges Congress to end the shoe tax: Fashion fads come and go every year, but the shoe tax has persisted for more than 75 years. U.S. Representatives Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Nancy Boyda (D-KS), along with 35 original co-sponsors, officially introduced the Affordable Footwear Act of 2007 (H.R. 3934) to roll back the outdated tax. This common-sense tax relief legislation eliminates the import tariffs, collectively known as the shoe tax, on all lower- to moderately-priced footwear as well as all children’s shoes, or about 60 percent of all shoes sold in the United States. “The Affordable Footwear Act of 2007 is genuine tax relief for all consumers,” said Kevin M. Burke, president & CEO of the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA). “Our association has been working hand-in-hand with members of Congress and the entire U.S. footwear industry to abolish the shoe tax.” The depression-era shoe tax was implemented to protect the domestic footwear industry. Today, with 99 percent of all footwear sold in America being imported, the shoe tax has not only out-lived its purpose but is also unavoidable.Sen. Sam Brownback (R) !(The Hill) Brownback to meet Rudy: Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) is considering endorsing Rudy Giuliani for the GOP presidential nomination and will meet with him Thursday in Washington to hear his views on abortion. Brownback, who ended his White House run last week and is a champion of social conservative issues, said he would consider Giuliani because he had heard that the former New York City mayor had changed his position on partial-birth abortion and has pledged to appoint to the courts strict constructionists who would not overturn anti-abortion laws. If Brownback pledged his support, it would be a big boost for Giuliani. It might help shore up the biggest perceived weakness of his candidacy – namely, the lack of support among social conservatives because of his stance on abortion. “I’m going to meet with him and I’m going to talk to him and hear what he is specifically saying now because he’s changed on a number of the abortion issues,” Brownback said in an interview. “He’s changed on partial-birth abortion] and he : has said he would appoint strict constructionists.”Sen. Pat Roberts (R)![(Des Moines Register) Subsidy provision threatens farm bill: A Senate agreement to set up a new subsidy program sought by Iowa corn growers was threatening to unravel amid opposition from the crop insurance industry. The program, which would reduce crop insurance premiums for farmers who enroll in it, is a key feature of a draft farm bill that the Senate Agriculture started debating Wednesday. Failure of the deal would be a setback for the panel’s chairman, Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Ia. But several senators, led by Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., said the program could hurt the federally subsidized insurance system and increase premiums for farmers who stick with traditional subsidy programs. The new program could cost the insurance industry an estimated $2.3 billion over five years. Roberts proposed changes that would gut key provisions of the plan, rendering it unattractive to farmers, said Ron Litterer, a Greene, Ia., farmer who is president of the National Corn Growers Association. The committee put off a vote on Roberts’ proposals until today.Rep. Dennis Moore (D) !VIDEO: Hearing on Iraq Costs & Interest: Readiness: The Budget Committee holds a hearing, “The Growing Budgetary Costs of the Iraq War,” to examine the impact of a sustained presence in Iraq and the additional “borrowing costs” of interest payments on the debt incurred. A total calculation through 2017 brings an estimate of $2.4 trillion. Rep. Dennis Moore questions CBO Director Dr. Peter Orszag on military readiness.