WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) on Tuesday night spoke on the U.S. Senate Floor to address President Obama’s deeply concerning comments describing the January hostage taking and murder of four Jews in a Kosher supermarket in Paris, France, as “randomly shoot[ing] a bunch of folks in a deli.”

When asked to clarify the President’s comments, the White House stated that the Jewish victims of this attack were “killed not because of who they were, but because of where they randomly happened to be.” Spokespersons for the White House and U.S. Department of State later attempted to clarify their previous clarifications via Twitter.

Reuters has reported that the perpetrator of the attack had called into a French television station to declare his allegiance to Islamic State (ISIL) and stated his intention to target Jews.

Highlights from Sen. Moran’s remarks may be found below, along with links to the video download:

(1:03) “The White House today suggested that because there were non-Jews in the kosher supermarket named ‘Super Kosher,’ the attack did not target Jews specifically. The State Department restated this explanation today, refusing to say that an attack on a Kosher supermarket that killed four Jews could be anti-Jewish.

(1:29) “The absurdity of this logic is apparent – let me give you a hypothetical…(2:02) if somebody who happens to work in the American Embassy who is not an American is killed in an attack, would we reach the conclusion that an attack on our Embassy is not an attack on America?

(2:14) “The Obama Administration’s logic here challenges common sense and is truly difficult to understand what they are trying to convey. It is also contrary to open source media reports about this attack… (2:41) Given this information, the Obama Administration’s now repeated comments that chalked this up to randomness, that’s just amazing to me… It’s dangerous for our government leaders to reach such a conclusion and for us to be operating [under that assertion] as we make a determination on how to proceed next in the ‘war on terror’…

(3:53) “…the Administration is soon to present to Congress for approval an authorization for the use of military force against Islamic State fighters. Authorizing war is a decision that should be made with the fullest information and most complete understanding possible. The Obama Administration should be doing everything it can to clearly describe the threat America faces and the strategy to be employed under a potential AUMF. The stakes are way too high to operate under anything but a clear understanding of the significant challenges that our country faces. It makes no sense to describe something different than

By Amelia Arvesen
KU Statehouse Wire Service

TOPEKA — Law enforcement officers who witness a liquor law violation would be required by a bill to provide written notice on the spot in order for state liquor regulators to prosecute.

House Bill 2088, which passed in the Federal and State Affairs Committee on Tuesday, would prevent licensees from denying an alleged liquor law violation.

In a June 2014 case, Kite’s Bar & Grill v. Kansas Department of Revenue, an officer offered a verbal notice after finding a minor in possession of alcohol at the restaurant. The liquor license was suspended until the court found the citation void because it wasn’t in writing.

The bill states a write up must include details about time and place, in addition to the name of the licensee. Discussion explored whether a signature of the employee who received the notice should be required and whether it would place too much burden upon the liquor license holder.

Dean Reynoldson, director of Alcoholic Beverage Control, said a signature shouldn’t be required because only in rare cases does the citation receiver not give the citation directly to the licensee.

“If an employee refused to sign, it may put the validity of the citation in jeopardy,” Reynoldson said.

As of right now, ABC cannot issue citations based on notices from local law enforcement, Reynoldson said.

In the bill’s hearing on Feb. 3, Jason P. Watkins representing the Kansas Restaurant and Hospitality Association, presented testimony opposing the bill saying it served little purpose beyond tax collecting.

“The KRHA is not opposed at all to ABC being allowed to issue fines and engage in administrative action against a licensee,” Watkins said in written testimony. “We are against such a soft enforcement mechanism which allows an undefined notice to a ‘licensee, a licensee’s agent, or an employee.’”
A copy of the officer’s citation would be sent to the director of ABC, who would then follow up in 30 days, keeping the establishment accountable.

In 2014, ABC issued 558 violations against liquor licensees. The annual average is between 550 and 650. Punishment includes suspending or revoking liquor licenses.

The committee passed several other alcohol-related bills that will be scheduled for a hearing before the full House this session.

• HB 2189 would increase the manufacturing cap of domestic beer from 30,000 to 60,000 barrels during one year. The bill would allow the licensee to sell beer directly to licensed beer distributors, retailers, public venues, clubs, holders of temporary permits, and caterers.
• HB 2089 would prohibit individuals discovered to have fraudulent liquor licenses from obtaining licenses in the future.
• HB 2125 would organize current ABC practices related to issuing liquor licenses to limited liability corporations and taking legal action against licensees for liquor law violations.

Amelia Arvesen is a University of Kansas senior from San Ramon, Calif. majoring in Journalism.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The former Altoona city clerk has admitted that she defrauded the southeast Kansas town of nearly $48,000.

U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said in a news release Wednesday that 30-year-old Chrystal Scherbarth pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. In her plea, she admitted she used her access to the city’s accounts at the First Neodesha Bank in the scheme She fraudulently increased her hourly and overtime pay and credited herself with unearned vacation and sick leave.

The crime cost Altoona more than $47,800.

Sentencing is set for April 29. She faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million.

DAVID ESPO, Associated Press
NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is asking Congress to formally authorize war against Islamic State militants and says the group could threaten the U.S. homeland if left unchecked.

Full text of President Barack Obama’s letter to lawmakers accompanying draft war powers resolution:

To the Congress of the United States:

The so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) poses a threat to the people and stability of Iraq, Syria, and the broader Middle East, and to U.S. national security. It threatens American personnel and facilities located in the region and is responsible for the deaths of U.S. citizens James Foley, Steven Sotloff, Abdul-Rahman Peter Kassig, and Kayla Mueller. If left unchecked, ISIL will pose a threat beyond the Middle East, including to the United States homeland.

I have directed a comprehensive and sustained strategy to degrade and defeat ISIL. As part of this strategy, U.S. military forces are conducting a systematic campaign of airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq and Syria. Although existing statutes provide me with the authority I need to take these actions, I have repeatedly expressed my commitment to working with the Congress to pass a bipartisan authorization for the use of military force (AUMF) against ISIL. Consistent with this commitment, I am submitting a draft AUMF that would authorize the continued use of military force to degrade and defeat ISIL.

My Administration’s draft AUMF would not authorize long-term, large-scale ground combat operations like those our Nation conducted in Iraq and Afghanistan. Local forces, rather than U.S. military forces, should be deployed to conduct such operations. The authorization I propose would provide the flexibility to conduct ground combat operations in other, more limited circumstances, such as rescue operations involving U.S. or coalition personnel or the use of special operations forces to take military action against ISIL leadership. It would also authorize the use of U.S. forces in situations where ground combat operations are not expected or intended, such as intelligence collection and sharing, missions to enable kinetic strikes, or the provision of operational planning and other forms of advice and assistance to partner forces.

Although my proposed AUMF does not address the 2001 AUMF, I remain committed to working with the Congress and the American people to refine, and ultimately repeal, the 2001 AUMF. Enacting an AUMF that is specific to the threat posed by ISIL could serve as a model for how we can work together to tailor the authorities granted by the 2001 AUMF.

I can think of no better way for the Congress to join me in supporting our Nation’s security than by enacting this legislation, which would show the world we are united in our resolve to counter the threat posed by ISIL.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Lawmakers worried that it’s too easy for Kansas couples to divorce have scheduled two days of hearings on marriage.

The House Federal and State Affairs Committee kicks off the informational hearings Wednesday. Rep. Jan Pauls, a Hutchinson Republican who serves on the committee, has said the state will consider mandated counseling or longer waiting periods for people seeking divorce, provided domestic violence was not an issue.

Either person in a marriage can petition for divorce in Kansas and only has to prove the two are “incompatible.”

Kansas does not have a mandatory waiting period for divorce petitioners, nor does it require couples to go through counseling before a divorce. Judges have the discretion to order counseling and do so in some cases when children are involved.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democrats have outlined proposals to increase the state’s minimum wage and set higher wages on public works projects.

Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley of Topeka and House Minority Leader Tom Burroughs of Kansas City had a Statehouse news conference Tuesday to unveil the measures. They said their proposals would help working-class families.

One proposal would boost the state’s $7.25-an-hour minimum wage to $11.32 an hour over five years.

Another would require contractors on public projects to pay what’s known as the prevailing wage in the local area for each job. The figure is set by the federal government, and critics say it typically follows union pay scales.

Republicans who control the Legislature resist such proposals and worry that they’ll raise costs for businesses and for public projects.

LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new report declares chronic fatigue syndrome a real and serious disease and needs a new name to reflect that — along with a straightforward way to diagnose the illness.

The Institute of Medicine sought to redefine this long-controversial ailment Tuesday, after hearing from patients that the “chronic fatigue” moniker belittles their suffering. The panel advised the government that instead, it should be named Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease, or SEID, to reflect that symptoms worsen after exertion.

The panel also set new criteria for diagnosis, saying doctors should focus on five main symptoms. In addition to post-exertion worsening, they include: fatigue that forces a reduction in pre-illness activity levels for six months or more, non-refreshing sleep, cognitive problems, and symptoms that improve when lying down.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has rescinded a former governor’s order barring discrimination against gays and lesbians in hiring and employment throughout much of state government.

The Republican said Tuesday he issued an executive order canceling the August 2007 order by Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

Sebelius ordered departments under the governor’s direct control to bar discrimination in hiring and employment based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Kansas’ anti-discrimination law covers private employers and housing, but it doesn’t extend to gay, lesbian or transgendered residents.

Brownback says legislators should approve any expansion of anti-discrimination laws, and that Sebelius — who later became President Barack Obama’s health secretary — acted unilaterally

But he reaffirmed the state’s commitment to preventing discrimination against state workers based on race, gender, religion or national origin.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Negotiations between teachers and school boards may be drastically narrowed as the Kansas Legislature looks for greater efficiency.

The House Education Committee approved a bill Tuesday that would require the two parties to only negotiate salaries and work hours in yearly talks. Both sides would have to agree beforehand to discuss any other subject, such as sick leave, insurance or safety.

Associations of teachers, administrators and school boards have criticized the bill, preferring instead a compromise they reached last month. Under that agreement, each side could propose five subjects in talks in addition to wages.

A Senate panel conducted a hearing Tuesday on a bill representing the compromise. Cheryl Semmel of United School Administrators of Kansas said she is hopeful the compromise will have a better chance in the Senate.