The Wichita Eagle, April 6
Kansans need better leadership than they got from Denning and Wagle
We were disappointed this week at the political strong-arm tactics and lack of leadership shown by high-ranking members of the state Senate, namely Majority Leader Jim Denning and President Susan Wagle.
Denning and Wagle temporarily stopped progress toward a school funding solution when they delivered an ultimatum to their colleagues: No debate on education funding until you approve a constitutional amendment that would eliminate the courts from the school funding equation.
We were shocked that the Senate leadership would stoop to such dictatorial tactics. Members of the Senate were shocked, as well. And it wasn’t a partisan matter.
Sen. Barbara Bollier, a Republican, described the actions of her party’s leadership as “the equivalent of poor parenting, making idle threats and actually attempting to bribe people for what I would call a tyrannical stance.”
Senate Vice President Jeff Longbine refused to join Denning and Wagle in the ultimatum. “My way or the highway is never a good strategy,” he said.
Sen. Anthony Hensley, minority leader of the Senate, said Denning and Wagle acted like “schoolyard bullies” who were holding schoolchildren hostage.
To Denning’s credit, he realized his mistake and apologized for blocking debate on school funding. He took the blame for a bad idea and said Wagle had gone along with him.
But it appears Wagle continued the strong-arm tactics, and they were motivated by politics, not by a desire to find a solution on school funding.
After the Senate developed a school funding plan, Hensley, the Senate minority leader, suggested that Wagle threatened to strip senators of committee chairmanships if they didn’t support the plan. Wagle didn’t deny Hensley’s statement.
Wagle characterized her private discussions with senators this way: “I felt like in order to keep a Republican majority in the Kansas Senate through the next election that we need to make sure we don’t force ourselves into another tax increase.”
Translated: “Saving our seats is more important than solving the school funding situation.”
Earlier in the week, Wagle complained that legislators had been “pushed into a corner” on school funding.
Actually, legislators pushed themselves into a corner by failing to take steps earlier to address school funding. Instead, members of the Republican leadership - including Wagle - pinned their hopes on a study they commissioned, believing it would say the foundation of the argument for more school funding is flawed.
The study blew up in their faces when it said Kansas schools need between $1.7 billion to $2 billion in new funding over the next five years to meet performance goals.
Make no mistake, we do not offer this commentary in support of a tax increase or of any specific school funding plan.
The point is this: We elected people like Denning and Wagle lead.
That means they should take ownership of difficult situations, rather than seek political cover. It means they should find solutions, rather than position themselves for another term.
It doesn’t mean they will serve up ultimatums and browbeat their colleagues to advance their political agenda.
Kansans deserve better than they got this week from their leaders.
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The Topeka Capital-Journal, April 8
Sports gambling window doesn’t need opened yet
The U.S. Supreme Court has not yet ruled on lifting a federal ban on legalized sports betting. Such a ruling is expected later this year. If the court favors broadening the availability of legalized sports wagering, as expected, the decision would enable states with casinos to offer sports books as alternative to staples such as slots and table games.
Kansas legislators are wise for holding off on the prospect for now, a move defended by Sen. Bud Estes, R-Dodge City, who chairs the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee. Greater concerns face legislators as they attempt to close the current session, though bills regarding sports books will be worth examining next year if the Supreme Court allows such action in states other than Nevada.
Do not let a politician fool anyone into thinking the revenue stream will be altogether bountiful. The margin for casino profits on sports betting is relatively small. One estimate, which could be generous, calls for a $75 million annual windfall if Kansas was to impose a 6.75 percent tax.
Still, any estimates are premature until the state’s casinos actually decide whether to implement such forms of gaming. The take on such wagering would be higher at casinos near urban markets, namely the state-run casinos in Kansas City and Mulvane, though Estes’ hometown, Dodge City, certainly has a stake to the action as home to Boot Hill Casino and Resort.
Any potential revenue stream would be sliced even more if the state accepted a proposal from professional sports leagues to provide them a cut of the profits. Wagering on professional sports has been going on in Nevada for years and not provided professional leagues any cut. Why do so now in Kansas, or any other state, if such action is extended elsewhere in the U.S.?
Safeguards professional leagues have used for years to ensure integrity will remain in place. So too will penalties imposed if players are found to have gambled on games. Referees are also held to high standards and proper codes of conduct.
“What do we get in return?? asked Kevin Fowler, a Topeka attorney representing state-owned casinos. “What are they required to do for Kansas in exchange for that fee? The answer is nothing.?
Legislation proposed in a Kansas Senate bill also needs additional restrictions that prohibit gambling on high school sports. In all likelihood, other flaws must also be worked out. Legislation could be patterned after measures that will be written in states that have been on the forefront of the movement to legalize sports books.
Any potential revenue stream is good for Kansas to consider and since casinos already exist, the availability of sports book wagering makes sense if legalized. Kansas casinos will appreciate the opportunity to see what kind of excitement, what level of interest and what revenue a sports book can add to their operations.
Another opportunity that will require some sophisticated fine-tuning is the potential of mobile apps casinos could also be allowed to use for patrons to place wagers remotely. That method is viewed as another technique for reducing the amount of sports gambling conducted through illegal bookies.
The need to get everything right dictates that Kansas wait on the Supreme Court ruling and then act on the prospect of sports gambling if casinos are legally permitted to introduce that form of wagering.
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The Lawrence Journal-World, April 8
If Trump wants to take on China, he needs to start doing it smartly and with our allies by our side.
Here in Kansas, the brewing trade war between the U.S. and China looks particularly frightening.
Agriculture and aviation - two of Kansas’ most important exports - are at risk of large tariffs. This is one war where the Sunflower State is full of flower children. Let’s give peace a chance, the farmers chant.
Fears aside, there are reasons to believe the U.S. should become tougher on trade with China. The solar industry may be a prime example. Yes, in this war, even rays of sunshine are cause for concern.
While it is tempting to think this trade war is about protecting blue collar American jobs and stemming the tide of cheap imports into America, a recent article in The New York Times argued it really is about who is going to control the high-tech industries of the future.
The solar industry is a worrying example, the Times’ Shanghai bureau chief Keith Bradsher reported on Friday. His article noted that until about 10 years ago U.S. companies played a leading role in producing solar panels. Then, the Chinese government decided to finance a major expansion of the solar industry. Today, 75 percent of the world’s solar panels are produced by Chinese firms.
True, President Trump is no fan of solar panels, preferring coal-fired power plants, but even his administration can see the beginnings of a dangerous trend. “China’s success in producing solar panels has given Beijing a blueprint for seizing the lead in a long list of other high tech industries,” Bradsher wrote.
China has a $300 billion plan called Made in China 2025. It calls for using state-controlled banks to make low-interest loans to high-tech industries. Among the goals are acquiring Western competitors and building immense factories with significant economies of scale, the Times article reported.
This is the sort of practice that free trade frowns upon. It is the sort of future America should be worried about. China is not a free nor democratic country. It is in no one’s interest to see it control the most important industries of tomorrow.
Whether a traditional trade war is the right method for pushing back against China, however, is unclear. Whether anyone wants Trump as a general in this war also is questionable. His sense of strategy seems to be lacking. If we are going to fight China, it would be wise to have some friends standing by our side. Trump’s strategy on this and so many other matters has alienated our key allies, and now we find ourselves largely going alone in this battle.
It may well be a battle worth fighting, but only if it is fought smartly. In the meantime, Kansas farmers - and many others - will wait and worry with good reason.
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