And we're back.

The KYD Burro Blog is back in business. We'll be using the blog as an ongoing discussion about policy and priorities for the the next year. Remember, we won. Elections have consequences. But we only won nationally. State-wise, we do not have the same mandate as President-elect Obama and the Democrats of the 111th Congress. However, to say that this lack of a mandate means that we should fight aggressively for our beliefs is to throw away our traditions of fighting for justice as a party and our proud history of progressive policy as a State. (The Grange, anyone?)

As chair of the Labor caucus, I'll be advocating for equal protection in the workplace, stronger occupational safety standards and the right to organize. But we can not advance our own issues and causes to the detriment of each other. We won this election together and now it's time to win these battles together. For example. as chair of the Labor caucus, I'll also be advocating for policies like the Employment Non-discrimination Act, the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay act, and stronger pollution standards.  These three issues concern the workplace, but also touch on LGBT issues, women's rights, and environmental protection. 

Over the next few weeks and months, we'll be developing priorities and goals for the coming legislative session. Feel free to add your voice to the discussion.

Hours before election!

This year has been in many ways, a pivotal year in the American Story.

Senators Barack Obama and John McCain are at the forefront, with the race for the White House, Congresswoman Nancy Boyda and Lynn Jenkins running in the 2nd Congressional District of Kansas, and Representative Tom Holland and Senator Roger Pine race for the 3rd Kansas State Senate District.

In the 2nd Congressional District, the race seemed to tighten and it the hope of this opinionated pundit that Congresswoman Boyda wins. Lynn Jenkins has ran a VERY negative campaign in the last remaining months, citing Boyda as a "Tax and Spend Liberal" that voted for the quote unquote largest tax increase ever. Jenkins also ran adds attacking the congresswoman for stepping out of a congressional hearing.

From what I have been able to gather about my portion of the 2nd District is that voters aren't buying what Jenkins is selling when it comes to attacking Boyda. The congresswoman won Jefferson County (VERY Republican) by 51% of the vote. Everywhere you go, there aren't very many that think Boyda deserves to be voted out because of the fact that she has been able to do in two years pale what the last republican to hold the office, Jim Ryan was able to do in ten.

In the 3rd Kansas Senate District, Tom Holland as been hitting hard against Roger Pine for the fact that the senator has been living in Leavenworth County while serving as treasurer on a drainage district board and registered to vote in Douglas County. Shortly after the primary, the Pine family registered to vote in Leavenworth County however, Sen. Pine was still serving on the drainage board until almost a month before the election. Holland, State Senate Democrats, and The Topeka Capital Journal have cited that Sen. Pine wrote annual $900 checks to himself and two other board members for "consulting" while other members served for no pay. Pine has yet to address this issue without referring to the questions brought by the Capital Journal as "mudslinging".

When it comes to the Presidential Election, I have way to much to talk about to mention in this one post. I will say that the election has had mixed signals out of the McCain Campaign, negative ads about Obama's relationships with Bill Aires and Rev. Wright and McCain's Hilarious appearance on SNL, while Sen. Obama's campaign is ahead in the polls going into Election Day.

Regardless of what happens tonight after the polls close, America decides the future of the American Experience.

Good Luck to us all!