Energy in Kansas and the expansion of tourism in the Flint Hills were the topics of discussion when U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback stopped in Emporia Friday afternoon to talk with constituents. Brownback also toured several Emporia businesses and industries, including McNeese Customs motorcycle shop and Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
Brownback, who is retiring from the Senate and has filed the paperwork to run for governor in 2010, said he’s visiting various communities to gather input from Kansans during the Senate’s two-week recess.
“I think we’ve got a real chance to expand the growth of tourism and recreational access in the Flint Hills,” Brownback said, mentioning biking trails, horseback riding and opportunities for people to get out and enjoy nature. “We’ve seen a step-up increase, and I think if we can become more accessible consistently, I think you’ll see more people come.”
Brownback met at the Chamber of Commerce with a cross-section of Emporians, including business owners and students at Emporia State University.
“I think Emporia’s positioning itself as the Front Porch to the Flint Hills is great,” Brownback said. “I think these are excellent activities. We’ve got to grow. We’ve got to create jobs and opportunities or we’re going to lose people, and Emporia’s working hard at doing that.”
Brownback also talked about his support of an increase in renewable energy standards.
“I think in addition to wind energy, we need to do all of the above, including nuclear.
I would love to see an expansion of the power plant in Burlington. I also think it should include coal, and we need to make it as clean as possible,” he said, noting that building a coal-fired plant at Holcomb would allow the state to expand its economy and market wind energy from that part of the state.
“I think energy is a key to Kansas’ future.”
Brownback also discussed people’s widespread dissatisfaction with how Washington is dealing with the economy.
“Everybody wants to get the economy growing again, and that’s been a big topic,” he said. “There are different philosophies. Do you try to stimulate the consumer or do you try to do it through government spending. I think a better route would be to try to stimulate private spending.
“People are upset and they’re scared. They don’t like all the government intrusion,” he said. “It’s about government getting involved in places people don’t think it should be.”
neighbor (anonymous) says...
“I think we’ve got a real chance to expand the growth of tourism and recreational access in the Flint Hills,” Brownback said, mentioning biking trails, horseback riding and opportunities for people to get out and enjoy nature."
There's very little public ground in the Flint Hills besides the Tall Grass Prairie reserve. There's no budget surplus for the State to expand parks services nor to buy more public access acres with. Are we still talking about an amusement park in the prairie? Or the privatization and development of our area lakes? Those kinds of proposals hurt past political candidates.
"Brownback also discussed people’s widespread dissatisfaction with how Washington is dealing with the economy"
He's retiring from where and wanting to work where?
"I think a better route would be to try to stimulate private spending."
Maybe Washington should have issued $30k checks to each citizen of the USA instead of taxing each of one of us that same amount. They doled that stimulus money to those companies who already have a proven track record for failure. I know if I was sent $30k, I'd certainly stimulate the economy by unloading some of my debt.
“It’s about government getting involved in places people don’t think it should be.”
Like the recent City ordinance, bailing out bankrupt-poorly ran businesses and banks, playing Police around the world, etc.
April 18, 2009 at 4:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
josiesbar (anonymous) says...
Haha, this just shows how out of touch with reality some elected officials are. As neighbor said, the Flinthills is almost entirely privately owned. Good luck talking a cattle farmer into giving up however many acres of pasture for horse and bicycle trails, not to mention you can't take 3 or 4 steps out there without stepping in a cow "pie".
As far as energy expansion, until the governor does away with the no wind turbines in the Flinthills thing, the idea of putting up wind turbines in the Flinthills is a pipe dream, compunded by the problem that, once again, the Flinthills is privately owned land. I do enjoy taking trips through there, but expanding recreation and tourism in the Flinthills just can't happen. Well, not without just a little "imminent domain"...
Matt
April 18, 2009 at 5:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
With IBP cutting slaughter out of the equation quite a few of those "privately owned" (by large cattle companies) might suddenly be a lot more willing to address alternative methods of income, there is a lot of beautiful country out there, but not everyone has a 4wheel drive with 10 ply tires to make the trip out there. I would be all for that ground being returned back into the hands of locals, I would love to get a few of my old fishing spots back.
April 18, 2009 at 6:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
alfalfa (anonymous) says...
Tourism and recreation.....everyone knows in a down economy, people tend to spend more money on tourism and recreation. Simply brilliant comments from Brownback.
April 18, 2009 at 11:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
josiesbar (anonymous) says...
goodoleboy,
My question to you is this. How do you suggest the the ground gets returned "back into the hands of locals?" Would you, for instant, be up for the government stepping in and saying "upp, hey, guess what? You don't own this land anymore, because goodoleboy wants his old fishing spots back." Sounds like a perfect plan to me! I mean, the government can make laws that replace common sense and personal responsibility, why not take private land away from the land owners, too, right? Good Lord, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Thomas Jefferson is turning in his grave right now. Unbelievable.
April 19, 2009 at 3:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
After spending sometime in Topeka at the Capital Alfalfa, I recognize his comments from previous candidates for the Governor's office. Naming tourism, namely agri-tourism, in your campaign is how you get support from three major lobbying groups who have obviously been working on him already. I'd almost be willing to bet my next paycheck that you are a member of two of them being a rancher yourself.
April 19, 2009 at 6:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
When I think of Kansas, I think tourism! When I was in the Army I met people from all over the country and many different parts of the world and they were all saving for that dream vacation to Kansas.............. oh wait maybe it was Hawaii, it's easy to confuse the two.
April 19, 2009 at 7:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
goodoleboy,
My question to you is this. How do you suggest the the ground gets returned "back into the hands of locals?" Would you, for instant, be up for the government stepping in and saying "upp, hey, guess what? You don't own this land anymore, because goodoleboy wants his old fishing spots back." Sounds like a perfect plan to me! I mean, the government can make laws that replace common sense and personal responsibility, why not take private land away from the land owners, too, right? Good Lord, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Thomas Jefferson is turning in his grave right now. Unbelievable.
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Unbelievable is your response, your assuming and when you assume you make an *** out of yourself. I only implied that maybe they might be inclined to sell the land back TO some locals or perhaps some of it to the government for a preserve of some sort. There really are some very pretty spots out there west of Madison that apparently we take for granted, there are people that would appreciate it, and while we might not be a major tourist hub, we do have a draw or 2 around here. Don't be so quick to jump down peoples throats without knowing specifics.
April 19, 2009 at 8:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
alfalfa (anonymous) says...
You are probably right neighbor, but I often disagree with the organizations I belong to. Tourism is fine I guess, but as has been pointed out, you don't find that many people saving for a dream vacation to Kansas. Don't get me wrong, I love Kansas, I would never live anywhere else, but we all have to face the facts, just as I will never grace the centerfold of Playgirl magazine, Kansas, and especially Emporia, Kansas, will never be one of the top 10, or even top 50 vacation destinations in the world or nation.
Kansas needs to build on what we have, some pretty good universities, energy production(ie oil, wind, nuke), agriculture(people will always eat, lots of room for improvement in value added) and light industry. We have a hard working work force and our cost of living is lower than many places in the USA, those are our strong points, tourism is a nice idea, but it won't be our future.
April 19, 2009 at 10:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
alfalfa....instead of my usual verbose post...I will just say I agree wholeheartedly.
April 19, 2009 at 11:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
josiesbar (anonymous) says...
seriouslyfolk, haha, too funny. I've always said the only reason people would spend a vacation in Kansas is because their car breaks down on the way to Colorado.
Goodoleboy, the people who own land in the Flinthills aren't going to be inclined to sell any of it, let alone small pieces of it, for a preserve. Sorry. I think it would be neat if they started raising Buffalo out there, and I knew a few people who are, but it won't replace cattle anytime soon. As far as your fishing spots, if you haven't done so, you might ask the landowner for permission to fish out there. Worst he can do is say no.
April 19, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
I know quite a few people that own land out there, I have plenty of spots to fish so don't worry about me. Since Tyson shut down the slaughter side of things along with a stagnant economy and last years fuel prices, cattle ranching is not as lucrative as it has been, thus there are a lot of companies that bought up large sects of land out there with Tyson in close proximity in mind that are now rethinking their positions and wanting to sell in order to buy up land in other areas closer to a slaughter operation. This comes directly from the ranchers I know in the area. Hence why I said there might be opportunity for the government or locals to reaquire some of the land. As you said, to see someone raising a large herd of buffalo out there, or have some on a preserve would be a welcome return to our heritage.
April 19, 2009 at 12:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
LOL Alfalfa, I'll have to take your word on the centerfold comment. I also agree with the majority of what you posted. You may not agree with the organization's stance on an issue, but your membership is being counted as a proponent on the issue by politicians and your dues are financing the lobbying effort just the same.
The tourism industry they are touting would have to be undertaken by individuals on their own properties. Examples are; bed and breakfasts, Dude ranches, Outfitting/Hunting Lodges, trail rides, Orchestra events on the prairie, and events like Jan Jantzen holds every year getting folks to pay $200 each to watch/help burn his fields. One candidate for Governor a few years ago spoke of his desire to sell off or lease land around area lakes to private investors so private resorts could be built to attract tourism money. Shangri La at Turkey Point, think it'd attract $$$$ tourists off Lake of the Ozarks or Tablerock?
goodoleboy, most of those large cattle operations and investors that bought up the Flint Hills didn't buy it simply because of the meat packing plant being nearby, they bought it because it is some of the most desired and valuable grasslands in the USA at some of the lowest price per acre in America. Just because the local slaughter operations ended at Tyson, doesn't mean the demand for meat dropped in the USA or the world. There will not be any big sell offs of FH land because of Tyson, and if any of the land does come up for sale, I highly the doubt the locals could compete with what it will sell for as demand for that type of property is still high.
April 20, 2009 at 12:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )