Congress

By Kim Wilhelm (GODDARD, Kan.) State Senator Dick Kelsey, R-Goddard, has announced he's suspending his campaign for Congress.  His campaign manager says Kelsey's wife has been dealing with health issues and at this time, the family is focusing on those.  Kelsey will continue his work in Topeka as a state lawmaker. He'll decide later the status of his run for Congress.  

We should find out in February who will get the $35 billion contract to make refueling tankers for the the U.S. Air Force, but first Congress is looking into the latest problem with the competition. The Senate Armed Services Committee heard testimony Thursday on a clerical error that mistakenly sent Boeing and EADS information about the other's bid. Two federal employees lost their jobs after the confidential information got out. This is the Pentagon's third attempt in ten years to award the contract to replace tankers that are now more than 50 years old. Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown said he's amazed how long it's taken to get a final deal.

A new national social media campaign gives you the opportunity to communicate your transportation priorities to Congress. The Kansas Department of Transportation is participating in the "I Told Congress About Transportation" campaign, featuring Facebook, YouTube videos and written comments to raise public awareness. People can log into Facebook and share their thoughts on the "I Told Congress About Transportation" forum: http://on.fb.me/IToldCongress . They can also comment and upload videos to YouTube at: http://bit.

A new Gallup Poll finds members of congress are some of the least trustworthy professionals. The annual survey asks participants to rank their level of trust in the honesty and ethics of people in different professions. Members of congress ranked near the bottom, where they were joined by lobbyists and car salesman. Of the 22 jobs included in the survey, health care workers were considered the most trustworthy. Nurses, pharmacists and doctors were ranked one, two and three, respectively.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Kansas House adopts a resolution calling on President Bush and Congress to prevent the Air Force from awarding a tanker contract to a French company. The House passed the measure today on an unanimous voice vote. The Senate approved a similar resolution last Friday. Legislators are upset with the Air Force's decision to award a 35 billion dollar contract to Airbus over Chicago-based Boeing. Kansas officials worry that the Wichita area would lose up to 500 jobs and 3,800 statewide.

The House has voted to let the Pentagon continue using taxpayer dollars to sponsor NASCAR race teams. By a 281-148 vote, lawmakers rejected an effort by Minnesota Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum that would have ended the practice. McCollum aides said the Army is spending $7 million on a sponsorship this year, and the Air Force and National Guard are spending additional money. McCollum said the military spends the funds to place decals on race cars and for a few driver appearances.

Congress heard arguments Wednesday for why cell phones need FM transmitters built in them from radio station owners. They said during an emergency, it's important to know what's going on to stay safe. The committee hearing the arguments, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, also heard opposing arguments from groups arguing this is just a way for radio to be relevant, even though more and more people choose to listen to music streamed over the Internet. Many cell phones already have FM transmitters installed in them, but they aren't as popular as others.

Eyewitness News spoke with Todd Tiahrt about this latest effort.  Look for that entire interview here at kwch.com shortly. Press Release from Todd Tiahrt's Office Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Goddard) today sent the following letter to Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne requesting he provide specific documentation regarding the KC-X aerial refueling tanker contract decision to provide clarification for Members of Congress. The letter also highlights how substantial information was provided by the Air Force to the Lexington Institute on the day of the award announcement regarding the decision and rationale.

Questions for the candidates for congress, that is. KWCH 12 is hosting two candidate forums next week. On monday October 4th, the candidates for house district one, and those running for district four the next day. Those forums will be on the air from 6:30 to 7-pm, followed by a hosted chat on our website. We welcome you to suggest questions you'd like to ask the candidates and you can do that right here on this same website...just go to the Campaign 2010 section.

After meetings between the White House and the House Republican leadership, President Obama's job speech has been moved for Thursday. It is the first time the House of Representatives has rejected a request by a president to speak to a joint session of Congress at a time he requested. The White House released the following statement: “Today, the President asked to address the Congress about the need for urgent action on the economic situation facing the American people as soon as Congress returned from recess.

Unless Congress takes a moment off of Fiscal Cliff deliberations to deal with the Farm Bill the price of milk could double.  Those in the industry are calling it the 'Dairy Cliff' and dairy farmers aren't happy about the lack of action. The way current law is written, if a new bill,  or an extension of the old one, isn't passed by the end of the year a 1949 law goes back into effect.  That would force the government to buy milk at twice the price it's selling for today and drive up the cost for everyone.

A new Gallup Poll finds members of congress are some of the least trustworthy professionals. The annual survey asks participants to rank their level of trust in the honesty and ethics of people in different professions. Members of congress ranked near the bottom, where they were joined by lobbyists and car salesman. Of the 22 jobs included in the survey, health care workers were considered the most trustworthy. Nurses, pharmacists and doctors were ranked one, two and three, respectively.

Congress heard arguments Wednesday for why cell phones need FM transmitters built in them from radio station owners. They said during an emergency, it's important to know what's going on to stay safe. The committee hearing the arguments, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, also heard opposing arguments from groups arguing this is just a way for radio to be relevant, even though more and more people choose to listen to music streamed over the Internet. Many cell phones already have FM transmitters installed in them, but they aren't as popular as others.

Dislcaimer: This press release is a statement provided by the elected official's office. U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) issued the following statement regarding the latest Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report predicting the government will run a deficit of more than $1 trillion for the fourth straight fiscal year: “Today's CBO report was a sober reminder that Congress and the President cannot continue to ignore our country's fiscal problems. America's debt now stands at more than $15 trillion and has grown by nearly $4.5 trillion in the past three years alone.

Congress has approved free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama, ending a four-year drought in the forming of new trade partnerships and giving the White House and Capitol Hill the opportunity to show they can work together to stimulate the economy and put people back to work. The House and Senate voted Wednesday on the three trade pacts, which the administration says could boost exports by $13 billion and support tens of thousands of American jobs.

After meetings between the White House and the House Republican leadership, President Obama's job speech has been moved for Thursday. It is the first time the House of Representatives has rejected a request by a president to speak to a joint session of Congress at a time he requested. The White House released the following statement: “Today, the President asked to address the Congress about the need for urgent action on the economic situation facing the American people as soon as Congress returned from recess.

Disclaimer: This news release is a statement provided by the elected official's office.  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 15, 2011   SEN. MORAN TO PRESIDENT OBAMA: CALL CONGRESS BACK TO WASHINGTON President should work with Congress today on growing the economy and creating jobs   WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today called on President Obama to come to the table and bring Congress back to Washington, D.C., to work on a commonsense plan to grow the American economy.

It's something that impacts you every time you use plastic to pay, but you probably don't even know it. Right now -- businesses pay fees to accept debit and credit cards.  The fees vary depending on which card is used, if it's a consumer, government, or corporate card, or a rewards card, or other variables.   Ask a small business owner about those fees, like Sarah Bagby, and she;ll tell you "it's a huge expense. "  A fee can be up to 5% of card transactions.  "But as a business owner, I don't have time to go through and check every single one," for differing fees.  "But I know that the bottom line is these fees are expensive for a merchant.

The House has voted to let the Pentagon continue using taxpayer dollars to sponsor NASCAR race teams. By a 281-148 vote, lawmakers rejected an effort by Minnesota Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum that would have ended the practice. McCollum aides said the Army is spending $7 million on a sponsorship this year, and the Air Force and National Guard are spending additional money. McCollum said the military spends the funds to place decals on race cars and for a few driver appearances.

A new national social media campaign gives you the opportunity to communicate your transportation priorities to Congress. The Kansas Department of Transportation is participating in the "I Told Congress About Transportation" campaign, featuring Facebook, YouTube videos and written comments to raise public awareness. People can log into Facebook and share their thoughts on the "I Told Congress About Transportation" forum: http://on.fb.me/IToldCongress . They can also comment and upload videos to YouTube at: http://bit.