20 Counties and 2,000 miles
Over the latest congressional work period, I conducted a 20-county 2,000 mile listening tour traveling from eastern Kansas to counties on the Colorado and Nebraska borders and back again. I spoke to farmers and ranchers, took part in a technical broadband summit, toured hospitals, met with students and held numerous town hall meetings.
Overall, there is a disturbing and palpable fear that our country is on the wrong track, and that the country we honor and cherish so deeply will not be the same America for future generations. However, the single biggest topic that is causing the most frustration and anger among Kansas citizens is the continuing and ever-increasing government regulations.
As one manufacturer I met with said, “We are not being governed. We are being ruled.”
Time and again while touring businesses, factories, farms and ranches, I receive complaints that Federal inspectors or hired private contractors are agenda driven, too quick levy fines, and warn that if they are appealed the fines double. This is just plain blackmail.
I have always fought this tidal wave of regulations, and will continue to battle against regulations that stifle our economy and punish our job creators. I have introduced a comprehensive regulatory reform bill in the Senate forcing the Federal Government to provide a cost-benefit for all Federal regulations and providing full transparency and extending all comment periods for folks to weigh in to 180 days. Currently my legislation has 35 Senators signed on as co-sponsors, and I’ll keep pushing for more.
Here are some other highlights from the tour:
I had the chance to visit another example of a highly successful Kansas manufacturer. Koch and Co. in Seneca builds beautiful cabinets and doors. They are shipped all over the US. Owner Jim Koch and CFO Jeff Conner stand in front of two doors, high quality samples of their 500 employees' considerable talents.
I had a terrific time with the Washington Rotary Club. Club President and District Court Judge Paul Monty heads up a great organization.
I really appreciated the hospitality of Marie and Alan Bruna at Bruna Case/IH Implement in Clay Center. It was so helpful to hear from the producers who gathered for a town hall meeting. Again regulations were a hot topic.
We had a great crowd for breakfast with the Kansas Grain and Feed Association in Wichita. These folks are the valuable partners of producers all over Kansas.
I enjoyed sharing ideas with the student body at both Jetmore High School and Lakin High School, home of the mighty Broncs. They fully understand the dangers of over-regulation and over-taxation to their futures.
I had a wonderful lunch at the Black Bison Pub in Syracuse. Matt Gould's entrepreneurial spirit, hospitality and creativity are impressive. This is a must stop for all Kansans.
Gooch's Food Store has been a successful family business and a fixture of Tribune's Main Street for 65 years, all the time in Dwight Gooch's family. It was great to visit with another strong Kansas family making a valuable contribution to their community.
I had the great opportunity to talk about and read about the U S Constitution to the 4th Grade class at Scott City Elementary School. They are very bright, interesting, fun, well prepared and full of questions.
It was a pleasure to visit the brand new Dighton Pharmacy and visit with owner John Brunswig about economic opportunity in rural America.
I had a great visit at Lane-Scott Electric Co-Op where we discussed my bill, recently signed into law, to provide rural co-ops and charities with the ability to continue offering pensions to their employees.
I was able to visit with a couple hundred Kansas community bankers and credit union officers at the Topeka Federal Home Loan Bank's Annual Management Conference. We discussed needless government regulations and the negative impact they have on Kansas consumers. Let's repeal Dodd-Frank!
It was a real treat to tour Children's Mercy Hospital today. They are doing truly amazing work.
Lastly, I had a lot of fun serving coffee at the Kansas Combat Air Museum Pancake fundraiser. The museum is located at Forbes Field in Topeka. If you haven't been there, it is definitely worth your time, and your kids will be thrilled.
New Tanker Mission Coming to Wichita
I was joined by my colleagues U.S. Senator Jerry Moran and Congressman Mike Pompeo in applauding the Air Force’s announcement of the final decision to base the new KC-46A tankers at McConnell Air Force Base following a lengthy environmental impact review.
I am proud of the airmen at McConnell for earning this mission based on their excellent record of service. Once again, Kansas will be taking a leading role in protecting our national security by providing next generation capability in global reach. As the Air Capital of the World, Wichita is the perfect home for this new mission. The men and women who will operate and maintain the KC-46A at McConnell are part of a community of unwavering support for their critical mission and a deep understanding of the support their families and loved ones need back home.
IRS to Rewrite Controversial 501(c)(4) Regulations After Threat of Legislation
Mere months after Senator Jeff Flake (R-Ariz) and I introduced legislation that would have protected the free-speech rights of 501(c)(4) organizations by prohibiting unfair Internal Revenue Service (IRS) targeting, the IRS has decided to rewrite controversial proposed regulations that would have allowed targeting of groups for their political beliefs and would have limited free speech.
In a Finance Committee hearing, I asked IRS Commissioner Koskinen to scrap the IRS’ proposed rules to limit free speech and codify discrimination in the tax code once and for all. I am pleased the Commissioner has come to agree with Senator Flake and me that the agency must stop all actions on these regulations given the controversy and ongoing investigations into the IRS’ unlawful abuse of conservative groups.
These regulations were a deliberately designed abuse of federal resources and enforcement powers for purely political purposes -- part of a larger pattern of this administration using the IRS to shut down its critics and opponents. While I am pleased the IRS will start over, I will continue to be vigilant in the fight against all Obama Administration regulations that ignore the Constitution.
Check Senator Roberts’ Website, YouTube and Facebook Sites for Updates
You can visit my YouTube site for more information on what’s happening in Washington, D.C., and Kansas by visiting www.youtube.com/SenPatRoberts. It's a great place to find speeches and debates on the Senate floor, press conferences, interviews and Senate hearings. You can also stay updated on all these happenings on my Facebookand Twittersites.
If you wish to contact me about an issue or want more information, please visit my website, roberts.senate.gov.
