U.S. Senator Jerry Moran  voted early Saturday morning against the passage of S. Con. Res. 8 – the Senate Democratic Budget Resolution, which narrowly passed, 50-49. Sen. Moran’s vote represents his opposition to Congress turning a blind-eye to America’s dire fiscal problems while continuing to spend more than it takes in, and raising taxes on hard-working Americans.

“The passage of this Budget Resolution is a tremendous missed opportunity for our nation,” Sen. Moran said. “The first vote on a budget in almost four years was an opportunity for the Senate to show the American people that Washington is committed to balancing the budget and addressing the long-term fiscal imbalances that threaten our future. Instead, this Senate vote defined two divergent visions for our country: one vision is of balanced budgets, smaller and more effective government, and individual responsibility; the other is of deficit spending, big government, and dependency.

“Senate Democrats will have to explain to their voters why in four years, the only solution they have to our country’s fiscal problems is to raise taxes by $1.5 trillion, increase spending by 62 percent, and do nothing to create a path toward a balanced budget. Instead of spending taxpayer money on expanding government programs we can’t afford, Congress should be tackling entitlement and tax reform, putting into place pro-growth economic policies, and promoting self-sufficiency.

“We were not elected to ignore America’s fiscal crisis; we were elected to confront it. Congress must do what Kansans do every day: make decisions passed on solid values and be held accountable for those decisions. Our economy can and will recover when we balance the budget and begin to live within our means.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Chanute woman was sentenced Friday under Jessica’s Law to life in prison for rape and sexual exploitation of a child, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said.

Amanda L. Grotton, 28, was sentenced to two concurrent sentences of life in the Kansas Department of Corrections without eligibility for parole for 25 years by Judge Darryl D. Ahlquist in Neosho County District Court.

In addition, Grotton was sentenced to 6 months in prison for obstructing official duty. She pleaded guilty to the charges last year. The sex crimes were alleged to have occurred in November 2008 against victims under the age of 14.

The case was investigated by the Chanute Police Department, the Iola Police Department, the Sedgwick County Exploited and Missing Child Unit and the Heart of America Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory. Assistant Attorney General Christine Ladner of Schmidt’s office prosecuted the case.

Schmidt commended the law enforcement officials involved on their handling of the case.

This week on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Tim Huelskamp (R-Kansas) delivered a strong speech in defense of traditional marriage and judicial restraint.  “As the Supreme Court Justices prepare to hear oral arguments in cases challenging the constitutionality of both federal and state laws that define marriage as a union between one man and one woman, Members of Congress who support traditional marriage should take a stand and make their voices heard,” said Huelskamp.  “It is disappointing that so few of my likeminded colleagues have exhibited the willingness to speak up for traditional marriage.”

The text of Rep. Huelskamp’s floor speech appears below:

“Thank you, Mr. Speaker.  Next week, the Supreme Court Justices will hear arguments on two cases that are fundamental to the way our democratic society functions.  On Tuesday, they will consider a challenge to California’s ‘Proposition 8’ law that prohibits homosexual marriage in that state.  And on Wednesday, they will look at the federal Defense Of Marriage Act

In the midst of all the discussion and protest surrounding these arguments, I would encourage the Court to not be distracted from the fundamental issue before them—will the U.S. Supreme Court choose to radically redefine marriage thus overturning the will of the American people as reflected in numerous votes by states, and by a vote of this body and signed into law by President Bill Clinton?

I urge the Supreme Court to uphold the will of the American people, support traditional marriage, and protect the democratic process by allowing the American people to express their will on this issue.”

WASHINGTON, DC – During the first consideration of the budget on the Senate floor in four years, U.S. Senator Pat Roberts offered several amendments to the Senate Budget Resolution, S. Con. Res. 8, to protect taxpayers and patients from the devastating effects of the President’s health care overhaul, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), commonly known as Obamacare, which passed three years ago this Saturday.

Senator Roberts released the following statement on his amendments and the third anniversary of Obamacare.  For audio and video of the statement click HERE.

“I have long said that Obamacare should be completely repealed.  We should replace it with a plan that actually lowers the cost of care for all Americans and keeps the government, and the IRS, out of the doctor patient relationship,” Roberts said.

“Tomorrow, as we reflect on the third anniversary of this law, it is important to note the veiled, costly, and clumsy implementation of Obamacare over the last three years. Folks, it is not getting better and only proves this is not the answer to our health care problems, despite all the Government advertising.”

“Premiums are rising almost as quickly as the stack of new regulations….already over 20,000 pages. Doctors, patients, and other stakeholders have been buried under an avalanche of new taxes and ill-defined, over complicated and remarkably costly rules. And the myth of ‘if you like your plan you can keep it’ has been completely exposed.”

“In the budget before the Senate this week, and in other legislation going forward, I will continue to push for serious reforms and full repeals of Obamacare.  After listening to families and the professionals that care for them, three years later it’s clear Obamacare is not the answer, and we must repeal or at least drastically reform this program to protect hardworking Kansans from this Administration’s healthcare overhaul.”

Roberts’ legislation eliminates wasteful spending, fights to protect taxpayers and patients by ensuring national health care costs and patient premiums don’t rise as a result of Obamacare, and bars the government from using comparative effectiveness research, another form of rationing, to deny coverage.

Here are summaries of Senator Roberts’ Obamacare amendments to the Senate Budget Resolution, S. Con. Res. 8:

Roberts Amendment No. 187 — Obamacare Marketing Prohibition Amendment

The amendment would prohibit funds for promotional or marketing materials promoting Obamacare and/or its benefits.

Roberts Amendment No. 188 — Obamacare Should Address What the President Calls a “Health Spending Problem” Amendment

The amendment would delay Obamacare funding until the CMS Actuary certifies it will not lead to a net increase in national health expenditures.

Roberts Amendment No. 185 Premium Reduction Guarantee Amendment

The amendment would prevent the Secretary of Health and Human Services to use funds to continue the implementation or management of exchanges including the associated subsidies until the CMS Actuary certifies that the implementation of Obamacare has resulted in average premiums for Americans being reduced by $2500.

Roberts Amendment No. 186 — Health Care Rationing Prohibition Amendment

The amendment would prohibit the use of data obtained from comparative effectiveness research to deny coverage of items or services under Federal health care programs and to ensure that comparative effectiveness research accounts for advancements in genomics and personalized medicine, the unique needs of health disparity populations, and differences in the treatment response and the treatment preferences of patients.

Roberts Amendment No. 189 – “Spending Problem” Amendment

The amendment would delay Obamacare funding until CBO certifies it will not lead to a net increase in national health expenditures.

During the health care reform debate in 2009, Senator Roberts was an outspoken opponent of the Affordable Care Act. As the Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, the Co-Chair of the Senate Rural Health Caucus and as a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Roberts has fought against hidden taxes, over-regulation, wasteful spending, and rationing in the President’s health care law.

 

HUTCHINSON, Kansas (AP) — Kansas lawmakers have decided they need more information before making changes to the state’s laws that restrict corporate farming.

A House committee decided Friday to have a judicial council review the corporate farming statute. A Senate committee, meanwhile, called for an interim committee to review the law before the 2014 legislative session.

Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration has been pushing to roll back the state’s decades-old limits on corporate involvement in farming. Some of the state’s biggest agricultural interests, including the Kansas Farm Bureau, are supporting the effort.

Proponents contend removing barriers to investment in large crop and livestock businesses would add fuel to the Kansas economy. But concerns also have been raised about allowing out-of-state ownership of corporate farms and eliminating the ability of counties to block corporate swine and dairy operations.