Cindy Circo Starts GO for KC PAC

Circo’s PAC logo

Kansas City Mayor Pro Tem Cindy Circo is forming her own political action committee (PAC). Circo’s PAC is called ‘Growth and Opportunity for KC", the shorthand nickname will be ‘GO for KC’.
A news release says it will be "designed to support candidates and programs with a shared vision for expanded growth and opportunity in Kansas City".
"“I’ve enjoyed being a part of the effort to get Kansas City back on track, and GO for KC will allow me to take an even more active role in shaping the future of our city for years to come," Circo said in a statement.
The PAC may also be a vehicle to run for higher office if Circo decides to do that.
Circo may not have any office in mind right now, but having the PAC established could help make a quicker campaign launch if she decides to do that.
In the release, Circo mentions several topics the PAC may get involved with:
-jobs

-online infrastructure ( think Google Fiber)
-technology applications for enviro entail issue
-neighborhood development

Kansas’ McConnell AFB Wins Battle for Tanker

Topeka Capital Journal:

The U.S. Air Force selected McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita as the first active-duty operating facility for a new generation of air refueling tankers, the Kansas congressional delegation said Wednesday.
McConnell is scheduled to begin receiving the first of three dozen KC-46As in 2016 to replace the Eisenhower-era KC-135R tanker aircraft. Nearly $200 million will be invested in upgrading facilities at the base.
McConnell and Forbes Field in Topeka were finalists among U.S. facilities to receive the advanced aircraft, but the Kansas bases were competing in separate categories. While McConnell won the active-duty operational mission, Forbes lost to Pease Air Force Base in New Hampshire to be the first Air National Guard facility to get upgraded tankers.
“Realistically,” Gov. Sam Brownback said, “it was highly unlikely that two bases in the same state would be selected to host the initial round of KC-46 bases.”
Forbes could be eligible for future installments, but those base selections won’t start for at least another 10 years, said Maj. Joe Blubaugh, wing executive officer for Kansas National Guard’s 190th Air Refueling Wing stationed at Forbes Field.
More: http://cjonline.com/news/state/2013-05-22/air-force-selects-wichita-base-new-tanker-aircraft

Lee’s Sumitt Lawmaker Backs Off Resignation Threat

Grisamore

St. Louis Public Radio:
A Missouri lawmaker who threatened to resign unless one or both of his key bills survived the last day of the 2013 legislative session is staying put, even though both bills failed to make it out by Friday’s deadline.
State Representative Jeff Grisamore (R, Lee’s Summit) said his resignation threat was based on frustration with the Senate’s inaction on the bills — House Bill 717 would have provided funding for disabled children and House Bill 727 for disabled adults. Both bills died when the Missouri Senate chose not to advance them on the final day of session.
“We don’t need to be waiting and allowing such important bills that impact our most vulnerable citizens in Missouri, folks with disabilities and at-risk women and children and families, be put off until the last minute,” Grisamore said.
Grisamore changed his mind after talking with House Speaker Tim Jones (R, Eureka) and Majority Floor Leader John Diehl (R, Town and Country).
“They assured me that they’ll do everything they can to help us next year insure that the omnibus disability bill passes,” Grisamore said.
More: http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/mo-lawmaker-who-threatened-resign-over-bills-failure-pass-changes-his-mind

Nixon Says OK Town Can Look to Joplin for Hope

Missouri Governor jay Nixon says the recovery from a devastating tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri two years ago will serve as a guide for residents of Moore, OK, as they recovery from their massive tornado that struck Monday.
“It is a long and daunting path. But the light of Joplin, and the hope you instill in people, can help illuminate the way,” the Governor said..
Nixon was in Joplin for the second anniversary of the Joplin tornado that killed more than 150 and leveled southern parts of the town.
The pictures of the Oklahoma devastation are similar to the flattened neighborhoods of Joplin.
“Joplin is many things, and right now I believe you are a beacon of Hope. A sign that in times of great need, we are not alone. A sign that wounds do heal, though sometimes they still hurt. That life changes, but it goes on,” Nixon said Wednesday.

Kansas & Missouri Earn ‘C-Minus’ Grades for Infrastructure

Kansas and Missouri earned middling grades from experts who assessed the infrastructures of both states.
Kansas got a ‘C-minus, so did the state of Missouri.
“Is a C-minus good enough?’ asked one of the contributors to the report, Tom Jacobs, one of the reports co-chairs.
The reports were prepared by the Kansas, Kansas City and St. Louis sections of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
A panel of engineers looked at a wide range of infrastructure components in assessing the states.
It ranged from the conditions of roads, bridges and dams to the quality of schools.
Missouri got grades of ‘C’ for its aviation, railroads and schools. That was the highest grade the state received.
It got a ‘D-minus’ grade for its dams and a ‘D-plus’ grade for Missouri’s energy industry.
Kansas scored highest with ‘C-plus’ grades for its schools and roads.
Both states are struggling with money because of the recession. The authors expressed frustration with politicians at every level.
Another contributor, Larry Freevert, however, reserved his harshest comments for member of Congress..
He said Washington politicians are too consumed with what he called, ‘the crisis de jour’”.
“They’re looking at things like immigration, gun control, Social Security. Those are pressing on their plates right now. And infrastructure gets pushed back,” said Freevert.
The lowest grades came in the rating for both states dams and bridges.
Kansas earned a ‘D-minus’ grade for its dams.
Kansas’ 6,087 dams is second only to Texas. The state has 230 on the “high hazard” list. That means if one of those fails, it could result in killing someone or damaging property.
More than 3,000 Kansas bridges are on the structurally deficient list.
One of the authors, Alex Darby, noted Kansas has recently de-regulated some dams from inspection.
“That isn’t the solution, de-regulating them,” Darby said.
Missouri’s dams also earned a ‘D-minus’ grade. The report says Missouri could use more regulation of its dams, especially the ones on farms that may have been forgotten.
Missouri got its highest grades for is schools and roads.
The state of Missouri’s roads was a major topic for the just-finished session of the state legislature.
An effort to devoted 1-cent of the state sales tax for roads failed in the final days.
Missouri continues to talk about the future of I-70 that stretches from Kansas City to St. Louis.
Missouri’s money problem with roads, according to the report, is complicated by its low fuel tax. That tax is the state’s main source of highway money. That problem is complicated by cars getting better fuel mileage and more conservative driving practices by drivers.