Americans for Prosperity Kansas hosted a Defending the American Dream Summit in Wichita today starting at 9 AM at the Beech Activity Center in Wichita. This event was for everyone but targeted free market, freedom-loving center-right folks. Approximately 300 freedom-loving Kansans attended the event.
This page was updated throughout the event, as were my Tweets on Twitter.
“This event will serve as a kick-off for the new legislative session,” said Americans for Prosperity-Kansas state director Derrick Sontag. “Going into the 2009 Legislature, we see an opportunity to help change the way elected officials view their obligations to taxpayers, and how our state budgets its funds.”
The AFP Kansas summit brings a full-house to the Beech Activity Center in Wichita.
Speakers at the AFP Wichita Summit:
Derrick Sonntag, new Kansas AFP state director, introduced a number of elected officials, including state senators, state representatives, and some local county and city leaders.
Stephen Moore
Breakfast Keynote Speaker
Wall Street Journal
Stephen Moore, Wall Street Journal
[Sorry I missed Moore's talk. I was late.]
See the comments about Moore’s talk from the Voice from Liberty in Wichita.
AFP Summit Bloggers briefly talked to Steve Moore after his talk. Moore was excited to hear Karl Peterjohn had been elected a Sedgwick County Commissioner.
Jerry Moran
U.S. Congress, Kansas 1st District
Congressman Jerry Moran
We must stop Congressman Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts) and TARP (Troubled Assets Relief Program) funding.
We will fail if ordinary citizens do not speak out.
Mike O’Neil
Kansas Speaker of the House
House Speaker Mike O'Neal
“News at the state level is not all that great: We’re broke.”
We’re a cash basis state. We cannot borrow money on the open market.
Disappointed with Governor: “I do not know what’s in the Governor’s budget”
See comments about O’Neal’s speech from the Voice from Liberty in Wichita.
Kim Borchers
AFP Topeka
Kim Borchers
Grassroots are the “little people.”
We are “obese” under the dome in Topeka.
Great leaders can differentiate between needs and wants.
Chris Steineger
Kansas State Senator
Steineger described himself as a fiscally-conservative Democrat, but liberal on other issues.
In 1861 we designed 105 counties so the county seat was a one day’s ride on a horse. We may not need 105 counties today.
Our backs are against the wall for the next two years. We have a two year opportunity to re-invent government.
UPDATE (1/14/2009): Senator Steinegar replies to criticism by the Kansas Jackass.
Greg Schneider
Author of four books, including the newly published “Conservative Century: From Reaction to Revolution” and Senior Fellow – Flint Hills Center for Public Policy
Greg Schneider
History teaches us to hope.
Schneider outlined specific ways conservatives have organized.
We need to get back on track today: get back to basics.
Schneider’s book: “The Conservative Century: From Reaction to Revolution”
Stephen Anderson
CPA, author of AFP’s Commonsense Model State Budget proposal.
Stephen Anderson
Explained KanView, which exposes Kansas government spending.
Kanview is good but can be improved. For example, it’s missing any measure of efficiency.
AFP’s Commonsense Model will be published in response to Gov. Sebelius’ budget.
Dave Trabert
President, Flint Hills Center for Public Policy, reforming the Kansas property tax
Dave Trabert
Proposition “K”, a better property tax system.
Ability to pay property taxes can’t keep up with appraisals in many counties.
Proposition “K” will stop appraisal-driven tax increases, improve transparency and accountability, may lower government spending, and create a better business climate.
Susan Wagle
State Senator, former Speaker Pro-tem of the Kansas House
Susan Wagle
We know the crisis that you’re in.
We’re concerned about balancing the budget. We’re already $200 million short.
We’re most concerned about the next budget too. That will take tremendous will power.
Force the papers to write about real costs. You’ll need to go to alternative press to get the real story. We’ve got to take it back … for our children … for us. We will never come out of this if we increase spending during this crisis.
Todd Tiahrt
U.S. Congress, Kansas 4th District
Congress Todd Tiahrt addresses AFP Summit
There is a lot of uncertainty today.
The Government plans to print more money, which will only lead to inflation.
Last year was the year of the bailout.
The best thing to do is to create private sector jobs.
12% of cost of anything sold in America is cost of regulations.
We need to be energy independent, and we can do that in 10 years. We need to start with conservation, but we need to drill. We need coal and wind, too.
Being part of the solution means you must be courageous.
Professor Stephen Ware
University of Kansas Law School, author of “Selection to the Kansas Supreme Court”
Introduced by Judge Tony Powell.
Talked about appointment of Mr. Dan Biles, a trial lawyer, to the Kansas Supreme Court.
What’s unusual about Kansas is about how little the people’s wishes matter. There are no checks and balances in the judicial selection process.
Three branches of government: Legislature, Governor, Supreme Court
The Supreme Court can override other branches of government by holding legistlation unconstitutional.
Kansas is the only state that gives its Bar majority control over its supreme court nominating commission.
2.7 million Kansas citizens get 4 commissioners on nominating commission.
9000 attorneys get 5 members on nominating commission and control the process.
The Bar claims the process is not political. But what about recent appointment of Biles?
Need to open up the politics to the people instead of letting the Kansas Bar control the politics.
Alternatives used in other states: Election is the most popular method used by other states. The other extreme is the “Missouri Plan,” which is much like the process used in Kansas. A U.S. Senate confirmation process is the middle ground for more transparency.
Kasha Kelley
Kansas House of Reprentatives
Live demonstration of KanView for budget transparency.
Other states are looking as Kansas as a model for budget transparency.
Kansas is a leader in transparency.
Jonah Goldberg
Lunch Keynote Speaker
Syndicated columnist, National Review Online, author of “Liberal Fascism.”
Jonah Goldberg
It’s a little weird being at a free market meeting at this time. It’s like going to a Star Trek convention.
His book described many “isms”.
Conservatives are often called “fascist” and “Nazis” by the left.
The Left uses “fascist” to describe people they do not like.
The Left wants bravery on the cheap. Where’s the bravery in bumper stickers attacking President Bush? Do they really fear Bush?
Nazis were socialists … enemies of capitalism.
“Nationalism” and “Socialism” are really interchangeable words.
Liberalism has never changed over the years. Liberals want “war powers” to control society.
The Left always wants a “new” New Deal: It’s purely about power.
Only liberals don’t believe in labels. It’s a way of short circuiting the argument.
The book made Goldberg much more Libertarian. Government cannot love you. It cannot be your Dad, Mom, …. Never confuse if for anything other than what it is.
One older attendee stopped by the blogging table and asked what we were doing. This person didn’t understand the Internet. He said: “I still live a normal life.” I was amused.
Sam Adams Alliance Blogger Meeting Follows AFP Summit
A follow-up meeting from the SamSphere Topeka was held after the summit.
Center-right bloggers in Kansas discussed some tech topics — and some met for the first time!
Related:
- In Wichita, 300 Citizens Rally for Free Markets and Limited Government, Voice for Liberty in Wichita, Jan 11, 2009.
Tags: AFP, Americans for Prosperity, Defending the American Dream Summit, Wichita
