January 28, 2007
Dear Editor,
I am responding to the personal attack leveled at me, published Jan 25th, in your opinion section.
In the article the Chairman of the Democratic Party of Butler County, Gary McEachern is asking citizens to pay careful attention to my voting record. Since he did not provide a reference on how to do this so I am providing the proper website where that information may be obtained.
Just go to; http://www.kslegislature.org/, this is the Kansas Legislature Home Page and by clicking on the items in the upper left hand corner you can navigate to the specific site. It is helpful if you know the bill number or date the action was voted on.
If you have difficulty getting the information give me a call, Topeka Office 785-296-7655.
To fully address each slanderous and hateful statement will take some space so please bear with me. I will give you the abbreviated version and if you are not convinced I am telling you the truth call me. Something my accuser did not do and should be expected from a chairman.
He stated my campaign ads reporting that I was supported by AARP and the Kansas District Judges Association was listed as untrue. I have letters from both organizations on file that thanked me for supporting their issues during the 2005-2006 session. I think we all know the difference between support and endorse.
A letter from AARP Kansas dated June 8th, 2006 says in part" Thank you for supporting the increase in the Personal Needs allowance (PNA) for people who received Medicaid or SSI and live in nursing homes or other institutions".
The letter continues; "Thank you again for helping to improve the quality of life for some of our most vulnerable citizens. We look forward to working together again during the upcoming session" Signed Sincerely, Maren E. Turner, Director and David Wilson, Volunteer State President.
The letter from The Kansas District Judges Association and Kansas District Magistrate Judges’ Association, dated June 5th, 2006 included the following: "We send this note for ourselves and also on behalf of the members of our organizations. Thank you for your vote in favor of the package of legislation for judicial improvement, incorporated into the Judiciary Conference Committee report, which included our joint salary initiative"
The letter continues; "We are confident that the enhanced compensation you supported for us at the trial court level will help retain on, and attract to, our trial benches capable and worthy judges". "Again, thank you, Jointly and Sincerely, Ernest L. Johnson, President, KDJA, and Timarie Ann Walters, KDMJA.
I think they sound fairly supportive. As you see the dates on both letters were early June, long before the November 06 election.
Next personal attack;
The fact I voted against several poorly scripted and unfunded attempts to raise fees at the Regents Colleges over and above the Governors Budget Recommendation is true. I did not vote to "slash $23 Million from the proposed operating budgets". The referenced money was never requested in the original budget that I supported and was approved on final action.
Look in the House Journal on March 18th, the 48th day of the 2006 session and you will see where I and the majority voted against all floor amendments to HB 2482 that were never accepted. I did vote Yea along with the majority on the final action to approve the measure.
The attempt to bust the budget without extensive committee hearings and no revenue source was a tactic employed by some at the 11th hour. By requesting a roll call they get a record of individual votes to use to provide half-truths such as you saw published on Jan 24th.
In the course of developing legislation I and my colleagues have to cast literally thousands of votes in committees, sub committees, and on the House floor. Some votes are required to be recorded, some are requested to be recorded, but most are not until "final action". When all votes must be recorded and placed in the official record..
As I reported in one of my previous legislative updates there over 1500 Bills introduced during the 2005 06 session and only 215 or about 15% became law.
According to the article The Butler County Democratic Party is convinced I am not a man of my word. I would like to know what you and the citizens of the 75th District think. I have been in public service since the early 1980's serving on the city planning commission. During 1985 to 1997 I was a 3 term trustee at Butler County Community College, from 2001 to 2005 I was a member of USD 490 Board of Education. I am currently serving my second term as your State Representative from the 75th District.
The chairman stated my voting record caters to extremist interests and without listing those specifically he has me wondering who he is referencing? Could it be AARP?, Pro-Life groups?, Health Care Facilities?, Nursing Homes?, School Districts?, or maybe Farm Bureau, Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas Bankers Association, or the NRA?
Just this past week the I voted for and the House passed a bill authorizing $280 million set aside to keep the promise to fund K-12 education in 2007 and 2008. We also set aside $76 million for the Regent schools to help address the "crumbling classroom" infrastructure issues.
I think it is important to know that Democratic Chairman McEachern, whose signature appeared at the end of the defamatory letter is a former teacher in El Dorado before becoming Superintendent at Bluestem School District. He retired from the education system eligible for full KPERS retirement and is now back employed at USD 490 as a special education instructor, getting close to $54,000 annually. I wonder just who does he serve and what is his motivation?
The real tragedy to this whole issue comes from the fact that Gary and I grew up in the same Southwest El Dorado neighborhood, I am a couple of years older than he; however he attended school with my wife at Skelly School in the late 50's, continued through Junior High, and EHS. We have helped him with the Broncos Baseball team host family project, and even worked closely organizing high school class reunions.
I would think that if ever he had a question as to my integrity, intent, or questioned my judgement on any issue he would have contacted me. I have not spoken to him in months. It saddens me to know; what we have witnessed is a total annihilation of a friendship that spans 50 years. How sad is that? And to what end?
A phone call to ask questions, solicit a response, verify the statement, or even have the courtesy to say "I am getting ready to publicly call you a liar" would have been the proper thing to do. A simple phone call could have made all the difference in the world.
At a time when recent election results and statements by politicians and citizens are a calling for unification and bipartisan cooperation. When we all are tired of the political rhetoric , name calling and mud slinging we get this letter from one of the Democrat Party Leaders. I am disappointed he took the low road.
I have always promised to use my best judgement and to represent the best interest of the majority of my constituents. I do my due diligence and I obtain all the information available before making any decision. I will continue to do just that.
As always I want to know what you think, contact me www.johngrange.net, grange@house.state.ks.us, 785-296-7655, State Capitol Room 411-S, Topeka, Ks. 66612, or 1115 Rim Rock Road El Dorado, 67042.
