Readers share thoughts on Sen. Claire McCaskill, employer compliance and Mayor Sly James
Breaking gridlock
Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri requested that the Democratic candidate withdraw from the U.S. Senate election in Kansas to help an independent candidate win.
This request was made to prevent the Republicans from gaining a majority in both the House and Senate. In other words, the Missouri Democratic senator wants continued gridlock in Washington, D.C.
During the past several years, the House of Representatives has passed about 40 bills with bipartisan support. But the Democratic Party’s control of the Senate blocked these bipartisan bills from being voted on in the Senate.
If the Republicans win back the Senate, many of these bills would again be passed, and President Barack Obama would then have to decide whether to sign the bills into law or veto them and continue gridlock in Washington, D.C.
Coach Bill Self would not let coach Norm Stewart pick his starting lineup, so please don’t let a Missouri senator tell Kansans whom to elect to represent them in the Senate.
Don’t let the Democrats force gridlock on Kansas and the nation for the next two years by using parlor tricks and playing politics.
Vote for Sen. Pat Roberts to get rid of gridlock in Washington, D.C.
Robert Jackson
Leawood
Employer compliance
The Kansas City Star is to be commended for its recent three-part “Contract to Cheat” series highlighting the importance of employer compliance with prevailing wage laws.
The Builders’ Association, a commercial construction trade association with more than 800 member companies employing more than 20,000 workers, is one of a number of construction trade associations that support the proper classification of workers in our industry.
A law, rule or ordinance is typically as effective as its enforcement, and it is imperative that the appropriate entities follow through when enforcement is required.
Kansas City has a memorandum of understanding with Missouri that is unique to the city and gives it the authority to enforce state prevailing wage acts on Kansas City public works projects.
Trade associations such as the Heavy Constructors Association, Mechanical Contractors Association, National Electrical Contractors Association and The Builders’ Association are all working with the city to advance compliance goals.
To achieve the greatest success in the area of compliance, self-governing industry organizations must continue to promote industry responsibility through educational programs, timely rules dissemination and government relations that advance quality construction and ethical practices.
Don Greenwell
President
The Builders’
Association
Kansas City
U.S. overstretched
It seems that Congress, once again, prefers to fiddle as the United States burns. Yes, burns with the monstrous heat wave descending upon us from the equatorial region by illegal immigrants — unaccompanied children now.
Deportation hearings? For what? Aren’t we, as a country, strained enough with the 11 million illegal immigrants (accompanied and unaccompanied) we already have?
Maybe — just maybe — our presidents should cease telling the whole world via the media that we’re the richest country on earth, although I fail to see how a liability of trillions of dollars becomes an asset.
All the southern border-jumpers just might slow down or stop altogether if it didn’t sound so appealing to them. Have the Washington wizards even remotely thought of that? No, that would be thinking too far ahead.
On to the Middle East. We’ve already blown billions of dollars on that endeavor, not to mention injuries and the tremendous loss of life. And the song still remains the same over there.
I don’t know what makes this leader of the free world so confident. The U.S. is going to fix a bunch of people who are bent on self-destruction? Walk away.
John Jones
Kansas City, Kan.
Caring KC mayor
Thank you, Mayor Sly James and the Kansas City Police Department, for your presence in the Woodbridge neighborhood east of Blue Hills Country Club so soon after the Sept. 2 tragedy (9-3, A1, “Triple murder sparks manhunt”).
Although I have often criticized Mayor James and the police, when something like that violence takes place but a block or two from one’s own residence, it becomes apparent we have public servants who respond in both a disciplined and caring manner.
The mayor in particular has demonstrated he is a first-rate leader of all citizens in the community.
Thank you again.
Bob Tobia
Kansas City
Domestic violence
The directors of the six area domestic-violence shelters are encouraged by the current national discussion on domestic violence and the NFL. As we know all too well in Kansas City, domestic violence affects people of all races, cultures and income levels, including professional sports players.
Friends of Yates, Hope House, Newhouse, Rose Brooks Center, SafeHome and Synergy Services see the results of domestic abuse every day:
▪ In 2013, metro agencies responded to 36,000 crisis calls.
▪ In 2013, metro shelters provided 130,000 safe bed nights to victims and children.
▪ All 400 area domestic violence shelter beds are full nearly every day.
Our agencies provide a seamless safety net for victims of domestic violence across our community. We stand ready to provide education, services and support to Kansas City sports teams, as well as their fans.
We welcome the opportunity to work with the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals and Sporting KC so that together we can address the issue of domestic violence and bring effective solutions to our community.
The metro area domestic violence hotline (816-468-5463) is available 24 hours a day.
Janeé M. Hanzlick
SafeHome Inc.
Kansas City
Metropolitan
Family Violence
Coalition
Catholic concerns
I am distressed about the latest news about my bishop and his lawyers. The diocese doesn’t think it should have to pay $1.1 million for violating a settlement the bishop signed in 2008 over past cases of sexual abuse.
Why would the diocese think it would not have to pay? This must be the same bunch of advisers who thought it was a good thing to spend $1 million in a lost cause defending the bishop against a misdemeanor charge.
Then the diocese tries to gloss over where the money comes from to pay the claims. In the end, the money comes out of the pockets of the parishioners, and many are not pleased.
Now we have a suit over the firing of Colleen Simon because of her lifestyle. She worked assisting the poor.
I have never heard of a person needing assistance ask someone about his or her sexual orientation or refuse aid because he or she did not agree with a person’s lifestyle.
Pope Francis said, “Who am I to judge?”
He’s not Bishop Robert Finn, that’s for sure.
Ken Hansen
Smithville
Act of kindness
On a recent Thursday, I was on my way home in rush-hour traffic on Missouri 350 when I decided to cut across several lanes of traffic. Within seconds, my plan landed me in a ditch, with one tire suspended in the air and no way for me to back out of the ditch.
Two men in a work van behind me pulled onto the shoulder and came over. Several others from a nearby business also walked over, as did a couple of guys in a pickup truck.
In less than a minute, seven strangers came together, evaluated my situation, made a plan, lifted the front of my car out of the ditch and then melted back into the rush-hour traffic — all without any fanfare.
People who did not know each other reached down and lifted me up. I did not deserve it, and I cannot pay them back.
But I will pass it on, and I hope others will do the same.
In my view, there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness.
Each act creates ripples, and those ripples needn’t have any logical end.
Clyde Waltermate
Raytown
This story was originally published September 16, 2014 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Readers share thoughts on Sen. Claire McCaskill, employer compliance and Mayor Sly James."