Monday Conversation is a question-and-answer interview with a local person. This week’s interview is with U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, who gives an update on his activities in Washington. Moran will be in town Tuesday for his Big First Listening tour. He will be at the Emporia Country Club from noon to 1 p.m. He will also be in Council Grove from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. at the Hays House and in Strong City at the Youth Technology Center from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m.
Q Your Listening Tour makes a stop in Emporia. Why should people come?
A Every year since I have been a member of Congress, I have conducted a town hall meeting in each one of the 69 counties I serve. The stop in Emporia will be my 57th stop. This is an opportunity for people to criticize, complain, make suggestions and give me my marching orders. The information helps me prioritize what’s important. Every time I have a conversation with a Kansan I learn something. It allows me to bring real-life stories of what Kansans are experiencing back to Washington and explain to my colleagues on the House floor what I heard, and it motivates me to work harder.
Q How is the session going, and what have you been working on?
A My goal this session is about fixing some problems that were created by legislation that was passed in previous Congresses. An example of that would be No Child Left Behind. That legislation is up for reauthorization this year. We have spent time with teachers and school administrators across Kansas looking for ways to make No Child Left Behind more satisfactory to the educational system in Kansas. At the end of last session, we introduced legislation and now we will reintroduce legislation dealing with improvements for No Child Left Behind. I have educators, more than ever before, coming and talking to me about this federal legislation.
Another example would be the prescription drug benefit. In my opinion it needs a number of changes in the way it relates to senior citizens as well as doing things that protect community pharmacies. We want to keep our hometown pharmacies in business today and into the future. So in general, education and health care are my big issues. I originally voted against both bills and so now we are in a position to make them better.
We are also considering a new farm bill. We currently operate under the 2002 Farm Bill and that expires this year.
Q What stands out in the farm legislation that has people worried or optimistic?
A There is a belief by most farmers that the farm bill we operate under today works reasonably well and so there is a fear of changes. Last week, Bush announced their farm bill proposal. My basic critique or criticism of that farm bill is based on the assumption that prices are relatively high and will continue that way into the future. I think that is a rosy expectation. We know that commodity prices go up and down, and you cannot assume that those prices are going to continue into the future. So if prices go down, then the program is underfunded and that is a concern for me. On the positive side, there is the opportunity for renewable fuels and moving our country to energy independence.
Q Is energy independence possible?
A We have seen benefits from an agriculture perspective of increasing corn and soybean prices based on the significant demand for ethanol. Currently, about 6 percent of the energy is renewable fuels, and we need to make a significant increase in that in a couple of years. To me, that is the direction we ought to be going. It’s a matter of agricultural benefit to farmers but is also jobs in rural communities.
Q What is your opinion on the debates in Washington about the war?
A It is about a policy decision by President Bush to send additional troops. I am not convinced that this plan will succeed, and I think the probabilities are against us. But I also know Gen. Petraeus from Fort Leavenworth. I know him, met him and saw him in Iraq. We asked for a new strategy and new leadership in Iraq, and the president has provided new leaders and proposed a new strategy in Iraq. Gen. Petraeus says give it six months to see if the strategy will work and then he will come back and level with the American public and Congress if it’s working or not. So from my perspective, I have concerns six months from now we may be having the same conversations. But I think we have to give it a six-month opportunity to find out — in hopes that I am wrong.
Q The presidential races are heating up. What are your thoughts?
A I have no particular thoughts. I am not championing the cause of any particular Republican candidates. It just seems awfully early for the politics to begin. Every campaign year it just seems to begin earlier and earlier. One complaint I have is this place continues to be a highly political place and we do not need politics on every issue and everything does not have to be determined by Republicans and Democrats. After the election of 2006, we need the opportunity to work together, try to solve problems and move the country forward. Unfortunately, people are already posturing for the next race. We really need to focus on doing what’s good for America.
Charles_Finkle (anonymous) says...
I met Jerry Moran one time at a barbeque. I told him that he'd get my vote if he could beat me at horse shoes. He declined, but challenged me to an arm-wrestling match instead. And do you know what he did to beat me? -That rascal covered his hand in melted butter! I couldn't get a grip! Even though I thought it was unfair, I still voted for him. -But I don't trust him, not one bit!
February 20, 2007 at 12:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )