Sedgwick County Legislator Honored
for Outstanding Public Service
Rep.
Geraldine Flaharty was recently awarded the Joan Finney Populist
Award during the Kansas Democratic Party’s annual Washington
Days luncheon. The Award was given by the Kansas Federation of
Democratic Women in recognition of Dedication to the People Of
Kansas. Remarks by KFWDC President Ardena Matlack from the ceremony
are below:
You all know some OUTSTANDING legislators. I want to tell you
about one in particular. This person reflects what KFWDC is all
about.
This woman has been in the legislature for 13 years, but she
was also a teacher for over 30 years at the elementary level-many
years as a Special Education teacher.
Those who know her say she is smart, dependable, fair minded,
a good listener, straightforward, honest, knowledgeable, diligent,
does her homework, has balance and perspective, responds to her
constituents, and is a LOYAL Democrat!
Her priorities are education, EDUCATION, women’s issues,
health care, and employment and training. A fan of hers, Marge
Zakoura-Vaughan says she appreciates that she works toward economic
justice. She subscribes to the concept that a job should keep
a person OUT of poverty, not IN poverty.
She is on the Joint Committee of Pensions, Investments and Benefits,
Education, and is ranking Democrat on Health and Human Services.
Even as a busy legislator she supports, mentors, and applauds
Democratic candidates.
She has supported and been a member of the Federation for many
years-is always willing to be a rank and file member or speaker
of the day. We appreciate her very much. As a past legislator,
I know the work is difficult, but her sense of humor mixed with
reality makes her job look easy.
Former Representative and Present Sedgwick County Commissioner
Gwen Welshimer stated “She fearlessly carries the flag with
distinction on women’s issues where it is very difficult
for anyone else to go. The opposition respects her”. I would
add that she is respected by everyone that knows her.
Lee Kinch, National Committee man from Derby stated “She
is one of the finest-SHE VOTES RIGHT!”
Geraldine Flaaharty, House of Representatives, District 98, would
you please come forward and accept the Joan Finney Populist Award?
You exemplify the KFWDC purpose. We appreciate you and love you.
Ardena Matlack,
President KFWDC
Democrats
In Congress Keeping Their Promises to Kansas Voters
Topeka
- This year's Fourth of July recess marks six months of strong
leadership from Kansas' Democrats in Washington. In the last six
months, Congressman Dennis Moore and Congresswoman Nancy Boyda
have done more to the advance the agenda of America's working
families than the Bush Republicans did in the last six years.
Democrats have worked hard to keep their promises to the American
people. Both houses of Congress have passed energy legislation
that strengthens our economy and national security by reducing
our dependence on foreign oil. Democrats have made our communities
safer by passing the 9/11 Commission recommendations, and Congresswoman
Boyda led the effort to give the American people honest leadership
and accountability by sponsoring and passing the toughest, most
sweeping ethics reform in a generation.
Both Congressman Moore and Congresswoman Boyda fulfilled their
promise of bringing transparency back to government by publicly
releasing their list of appropriations requests. Despite the fact
that the American people have called upon their leaders in Washington
to provide a more responsible and efficient federal government
Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) still refuse to
release their lists.
Democrats like Congressman Moore and Congresswoman Boyda raised
the minimum wage for the first time in a decade, passed a balanced
budget that includes tax cuts for the middle class, and kept promises
to the brave men and women who have served our country by passing
the largest increase in veteran's health care in more than 80
years.
Democrats have also fought for a new direction in Iraq, fought
to for our children's right to grow up healthy through the State
Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and kept their promise
to expand funding for life-saving stem cell research. Congressman
Moore also worked to support injured veterans and their families
by increasing their benefits with his American Veterans Disabled
for Life Commemorative Coin Act.
"Democrats
have accomplished more in the last six months than Republicans
did in six years," said Kansas Democratic Party Chair Larry
Gates. "After years of living with a rubberstamp Congress,
Kansans are looking for their leaders to expand access to health
care and fight for a new direction in Iraq. Kansas Democrats like
Dennis Moore and Nancy Boyda are keeping their promises to our
working families and making our communities safer and stronger.
Even if Republicans like Pat Roberts continue to stand in the
way, our Democrats will continue to look for partners who are
willing to put partisanship aside and work together to move America
forward. This Independence Day, Kansas' working families can be
proud that they finally have a Congress that is independent of
the Bush White House and their special interest friends."
Published on Kansas Democratic Party (http://www.ksdp.org)
Parkinson calls on President to
support lifesaving research
Ten
of the nation's lieutenant governors have joined bipartisan majorities
in Congress in calling for federal support for lifesaving research.
Lieutenant Governor Mark Parkinson and his colleagues from around
the country have sent a letter to President Bush, voicing strong
disagreement with his veto of Senate Bill 5, which would have
provided federal support for stem cell research.
"The majority of Americans believe we must take advantage
of this opportunity to seek an end to so many terrible diseases.
This research holds remarkable potential to create new treatments
and cures for the thousands of Kansans who suffer from Alzheimer's,
spinal cord injuries, juvenile diabetes and other debilitating
illnesses; and I'm very disappointed the President continues to
stand in the way," said Parkinson.
The text of the letter appears below:
June 26, 2007
President George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Bush:
As lieutenant governors, we are disappointed in your veto of S.
5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007. This bill garnered
bipartisan support from overwhelming majorities in both the House
and the Senate.
More than two-thirds of Americans support stem cell research,
yet your administration continues a policy of restricting federal
funding that has hindered the progress of potential medical advances
to the most debilitating and destructive diseases we face. Individual
states are increasingly encouraging stem cell research to support
the growth of universities, research facilities, and private firms.
The United States has always been at the forefront of the most
important medical breakthroughs and by vetoing S. 5, you have
given up the chance to continue America's global leadership in
eradicating devastating diseases.
The ravages of diseases like Parkinson's, diabetes, Alzheimer's,
multiple sclerosis and cancer, and the suffering of spinal cord
and traumatic brain injuries affect millions of our fellow Americans.
Stem cell research promises to make incredible advances in treating
and even curing these diseases and injuries. Had you signed S.
5, scientists and researchers would have been able to pursue treatments
and cures using new, healthy stem cell lines under strict ethical
guidelines.
Mr. President, on behalf of our constituents, we disapprove
of your veto. A bipartisan collection of senators and congressmen
are ready to stand beside you to advance the progress of medical
breakthroughs that could affect millions of Americans. Stem cell
research is our future, Mr. President. We urge you to change your
position and move our country forward.
Sincerely,
Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts
Rhode Island
Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge
Iowa
Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson
New York
Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi
California
Lieutenant Governor Barbara O'Brien
Colorado
Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn
Illinois
Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray
Massachusetts
Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton
Wisconsin
Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish
New Mexico
Lieutenant Governor Mark Parkinson
Kansas
Sebelius testifies on importance
of early learning
WASHINGTON,
DC - A national commitment to early childhood education is needed
if the United States is to close the achievement gap that holds
far too many children back, Governor Kathleen Sebelius told Congress
today.
Sebelius testified to the Joint Economic Committee, which is
made up of members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.
"Too many children are entering school without the basic
skills they need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond,"
Sebelius said. "Children who start off school behind their
peers are more likely stay behind throughout their school lives
and into adulthood, meaning they never reach their full potential.
A federal commitment to early childhood education will give countless
young Americans the start they need to succeed in school and in
life."
Sebelius pointed to studies showing a direct connection between
problems learning early in life and challenges faced later in
school and the workforce.
For example, the Connecticut Longitudinal Study, which tracked
students for several decades, showed that problems learning to
read at an early age lasted throughout their school lives. These
students were more likely to become teen parents and three times
as likely to be unemployed than students without similar reading
issues.
"What this tells us is that we can help lift children up
and expand their opportunities through investments in early learning
which close the achievement gap," said Sebelius.
"It also pays dividends far in excess of the cost, by reducing
the need for remedial programs, increasing worker productivity
and reducing the number of young people who turn to crime and
those who see their horizons limited by poor choices and abandoned
dreams," she continued.
Governor Sebelius pointed to Kansas as an example of how educators,
social service agencies, parents and business leaders could be
brought together to create a comprehensive early childhood education
network.
Kansas has developed a statewide plan for early learning, part
of which includes the pre-K pilot projects first proposed by Sebelius
in 2006. The first projects created early childhood classrooms
in six counties and that effort is being expanded this year.
Sebelius urged lawmakers to help states provide children with
additional opportunities for early learning, as well as help training
teachers and providing information to parents about the importance
of early childhood education and the quality of local early childhood
programs.
Published on Kansas Democratic Party (http://www.ksdp.org)
MySpace Only the Beginning in the
Crackdown on Sex Offenders
The following column is by Attorney General Paul Morrison:
My
office recently obtained the names of registered sex offenders
living in Kansas who use the social networking Web site MySpace.com.
We're thoroughly investigating these names and will punish any
offender using these sites in violation of their probation or
parole.
The information from MySpace is an important step in the right
direction. But it is only the beginning of our fight to keep kids
safe. We will continue to gather more information from this and
other social networking sites.
Web sites like MySpace have become a tool for sexual predators
and are increasingly unsafe for our kids. These sites allow children
to post and view inappropriate and suggestive material, and allow
predators to track their information online, all without most
parents' knowledge.
The freedom of the internet can become a parent's worst nightmare
unless sites like MySpace help to protect underage users from
inappropriate conduct and content. As attorney general, I will
keep my promise to push sites like MySpace to verify online identities
and age and require parental permission for children.
This year, we passed important legislation that increased the
amount of information sex offenders provide with their registration.
Now, law enforcement can better track these dangerous criminals
on the Internet through their e-mail addresses and online identities.
My office is also partnering with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation
in an effort to be proactive and investigate Internet predators.
With these additional resources, we can make our children safer
online.
Unfortunately, the anonymity of the Internet makes it nearly
impossible to verify the identity of everyone online.
As a parent myself, I urge everyone to monitor their children's
activities. Steps as simple as moving the computer to a shared
area, restricting Internet surfing to times when an adult is present
and talking about potential threats can go a long way in protecting
the safety of your child.
We're making progress in the fight to crack down on sex offenders
online. The Attorney General's Office will continue to work with
law enforcement, Web site providers and parents to provide more
tools and education to make the Internet a safer place for our
families.
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