Kansas Values Needed in Washington, Now More Than Ever

Tomorrow (Jan. 29) will mark the 149^th anniversary of Kansas statehood. It shouldn’t surprise anyone the dramatic impact that the Sunflower State and her people have had on America and the world. Settlers to the Kansas Territory helped lead the abolitionist movement against slavery in the 1850s.  At a later time in our history, Kansas granted women the right to vote years before the U.S. Constitution required it.

We will never forget the many famous sons and daughters from our state like Amelia Earhart, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Bob Dole, to name just a few. Kansas has been both the breadbasket and air capital of the world, leading the way in industries such as agriculture and aircraft manufacturing.  Today, the state is moving toward the cutting edge in animal health science and cancer research.

I believe at the heart of the history and people of Kansas has been a set of core values – perseverance in difficult times, self-reliance, innovation, strong families and perhaps most important of all, a love of freedom and liberty.

These values are lacking from our leadership in Washington, D.C., and we must do everything we can to bring Kansas values to our nation’s capital. In 2008, the American people asked for change in direction and purpose, electing President Obama, as well as a large Democrat majority to Congress.  Unfortunately, while we have had change it is still not the change we need.

To cite just two examples, President Obama and Democrats in Congress have spent so much of your money on financial bailouts, “cash for clunkers,” and nationalizing whole industries, it will take generations to pay it all back. Yet our economy still languishes, and millions remain unemployed. Democrats have insisted on pushing a government takeover of our health care without listening to the concerns of Americans who question the cost and ultimate effects of such a massive change on the quality and cost of care they receive.

Perhaps most troubling of all are the ethics scandals that have plagued both political parties, where special interest lobbyists cut insider deals with Congress to waste your money on pork barrel projects of questionable worth. This practice undermines our system of democracy by destroying any faith people have that Congress really has their best interests at heart. Without the participation of all our citizens in government, we risk handing complete control to the lobbyists who follow narrowly focused agendas with little concern for the resources Congress spends.

As we celebrate our state’s birthday and plan for the future, we would do well to bring Kansas values to Washington: perseverance against special interests; promoting self-sufficiency instead of government dependence; finding innovative ways to solve problems; and promoting policies that encourage strong, healthy families.

If we commit to bring those values to Washington, then freedom, liberty and economic opportunity will follow.  If that happens, then Kansas – and our nation – will be well and prosperous for another 149 years.