Dear Friend,

Welcome to "Kansas Common Sense." Thank you for your continued interest in receiving my weekly newsletter. Please feel free to forward it on to your family and friends if it would interest them. This week's headlines are:

• Honoring Senator Bob Dole for Service, World War II Memorial
• Common Sense Needed in Regulations
• Addressing Our Nation’s Fiscal Crisis
• Ending Hunger Requires the Dedication of Many
• Upcoming Listening Tour Stops
• "Coffee with Kansans"
• Visiting with Kansas Interns Working in Washington, D.C.
• In the Office

Honoring Senator Bob Dole for Service, World War II Memorial

On Tuesday, I attended a ceremony on the National Mall across from the World War II Memorial to recognize one of Kansas’ favorite sons, Senator Bob Dole, for his lifetime of service to our country’s veterans and his leadership in establishing the Memorial. Surrounded by family, friends from Kansas, and officials, the ceremony coincided with the anniversary of Dole’s injuries in World War II.  Sixty-six years ago this week, on April 14, 1945, then Lieutenant Dole was severely wounded in northern Italy while fighting for our country’s freedom.

During his nearly 36 years on Capitol Hill, Senator Dole was known as a leader who worked relentlessly to pass significant legislation that made a tremendous difference in the lives of many and in the success of our nation. Senator Dole achieved much during his service in Congress, but perhaps his most lasting legacy stems from his tireless efforts to build a memorial in Washington, DC to honor his fellow World War II veterans. At the request of Senators Roberts and Inouye, a plaque was dedicated at the ceremony to be placed at the entrance of the Memorial so that all those visiting the Memorial know of Senator Dole’s service and pivotal contribution in making the Memorial a reality.    

Senator Dole in his remarks on Tuesday concluded by saying: "I’m the most the optimistic man in America today." We ought to be optimistic because we have individuals like Bob Dole who have served our country.  Thank you, Senator Dole. Click here to view remarks I made this week on the floor of the Senate paying tribute to Senator Dole, and click here to view a photo from Tuesday’s ceremony.

Common Sense Needed in Regulations

It is a terrible development when hometown bankers find it is no longer worth the regulatory hassle and cost to loan to small businesses and families. The federal government is increasingly getting in the way of our economic recovery. There is a lot of talk in D.C. about treating community banks differently than the Wall Street giants, but I am not convinced that this talk will translate into results. I am committed to keeping the pressure on our regulators to make prudent decisions when examining community banks; that is why I recently introduced and sponsored legislation to help credit flow to small businesses and families in our communities. Click here to watch a quick video with footage from committee hearings and witness testimony on this important topic.

Addressing Our Nation’s Fiscal Crisis

On Wednesday, President Obama outlined his proposal to address our annual deficit – the difference between what the government spends and takes in each year. Under the president’s plan, taxes would go up significantly to pay down the deficit. But the reality is money raised by Washington D.C., results in more spending in Washington, D.C. – not saving. Even if all Americans earning over $100,000 were taxed at 100 percent, those funds would not cover the annual deficit this year.

The president’s proposal falls short of addressing the reality of our fiscal crisis. We can no longer afford "business as usual" in Washington. The best way to get our spending under control is to pass a responsible budget and stick to it. In coming weeks, we will begin work on the 2012 budget and I look forward to working on a commonsense plan that reduces our deficit this year, next year and well into the future.

Ending Hunger Requires the Dedication of Many

Many Kansans across our state are working to end hunger at home and abroad. On Tuesday, I thanked these individuals and groups who are making a difference in the lives of others when I accepted the Bill Emerson and Mickey Leland Hunger Leadership Award from the Congressional Hunger Center. As a member of the Senate Hunger Caucus, I am committed to raising awareness about hunger and look forward to continuing my work with Kansans and others who share the goal of ending hunger.

I was honored by the presence of Rick and Caleb McNary of El Dorado, who run an international hunger-relief organization called Numana at the ceremony. I was also humbled to be joined by Stan Stark of Haviland and Myron Voth and Phyllis Regier of Walton, who were in our nation’s capital representing Land O’Lakes, Inc.; and Jon Hixon of WaKeeney representing Cargill. Congresswoman Betty McCollum of Minnesota also received an award.

Thanks to Ed Cooney, the Executive Director of the Congressional Hunger Center, and U.S. Representatives Jo Ann Emerson of Missouri and Jim McGovern of Massachusetts – who serve on the Congressional Hunger Center Board – for this recognition. Click here to view a photo from the event.

Upcoming Listening Tour Stops

This month and next, I will be continuing my statewide listening tour. Please find more information about my upcoming town hall meetings below. If you’re nearby, I encourage you to stop by to share your thoughts.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Wabaunsee County Listening Tour Stop
Location: Grandma Hoerner’s Foods
Address: 31862 Thompson Road
Time: 9:45-10:45 AM

Shawnee County Listening Tour Stop (hosted by Topeka Chamber of Commerce)
Location: Holiday Inn
Address: 605 SW Fairlawn
Time: Noon-1 PM

Namaha County Listening Tour Stop
Location: Centralia Community Building
Address: 106 John Riggins Avenue
Time: 2:30-3:30 PM

Brown County Listening Tour Stop  
Location: Horton Blue Building
Address: 716 1^st Avenue West
Time: 4:30-5:30 p.m.

"Coffee with Kansans"

It was a pleasure to once again welcome Kansans at my weekly Wednesday morning coffee in Washington, D.C. The number of attendees at this week’s "Coffee with Kansans" doubled since last week’s inaugural event, and I am eager to visit with even more Kansans in the future. Click here to view photos from the event.

I will be back in Kansas while the Senate is not in session, so my next "Coffee with Kansans" event will be held on May 4^th, 2011. I am excited to host the next coffee in my new official office location, Russell Senate Office Building, Room 354, at 9:30 a.m. If you plan on being in Washington during the first week of May, I would encourage you to RSVP by clicking here. I look forward to visiting with you.

Visiting with Kansas Interns Working in Washington, D.C.

On Thursday, I met with 18 students who are participating in the University of Kansas’ (KU) Washington Internship Program. This program began in 1984 and since then, more than 400 students have participated in the semester-long internship experience. During their semester in Washington, D.C., students work in a full-time internship and have the opportunity to attend a weekly seminar to hear from a variety of speakers. The students I met with this week attend classes at KU, Kansas State University and Wichita State University. Click here to see a photo from their visit. Click here to learn more about KU’s Washington Internship Program.

In the Office

This week we had several visitors in the Washington, D.C. office from across the state. Click here to view some photos of these groups.

Contact Me

It is an honor to serve you in Washington, D.C. Please let me know how I can be of assistance. To send me an email, click here. You can also click here to contact me through one of my Kansas offices or my Washington, D.C., office.

Very truly yours,

Jerry