Beechcraft bailout

[ISASO]

What would be so wrong with making HBC go through bankruptcy restructuring if that was really the situation? Why do we reward/bailout with taxpayer money instead of changing the underlying financial foundation of the company? Wouldn't a lot of $25 per hour floor sweepers take a 30% paycut instead of being unemployed for a year before they land a $9 per hour floor sweeping job at Food-4-Less?

As for IBA, there isn't one reason for or against the arena. It's a combination of everything people mentioned previously. There's something positive in it for everyone. If it can routinely make a profit, adds some cool factor to town and provides a few jobs, how can you really complain? You can't so get over it.

[ABC]

ISASO, you make the best points about IBA.

I think IBA is a good thing for Wichita and I believe it is appropriate to spend government money on facilities that are used by citizens, like a park or museum.

However, it simply has little to nothing to do with brain drain or Wichita's economy.

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

Loved watching the news this moring and being "Edumatacted" in Poly Sci by some douche bag about how at the debate on Channel 12, Raj Goyle was the only one to say that "Government intervention" was a good thing, and that it was the only thing that (possibly, he assumes the labor contract is a done deal... yeah right) kept HBC here.

He doesn't mention at all that Government money was the only thing that enabled Louisiana to try to recruit HBC in the first place.

[SubGod22]

Raj Goyle is a smart and dangerous man.

Gov't intervention is what is killing this country.

[Aargh]

This is about exactly what I was expecting.

First, Federal money goes to LA, who tries to use it to bribe a nearly bankrupt business to relocate. Then, the nearly bankrupt business goes to the state of KS and begs enough money from us to stay here.

We have to pay to keep a business here because public money was available to bribe them to relocate. Now, we've paid once at the Federal level and once at the State level, just to maintain the status quo.

The union better take some deep cuts in this deal. Otherwise, it's tax dollars being used to prop up already bloated payroll figures in private industry.

What a bizarre form of socialism if I have to pay taxes in order to maintain the payroll levels of people who make more money than I do, when it's demonstrated that the market can't support their payroll figures.

LA still has the Federal money, so it's only a matter of time until they repeat the process and attempt to bribe another company to relocate, and then that company goes to sate and local governments and blackmails them into shelling out enough money to stay.

That $400 mill of Federal money is going to have an enormous multiplier effect on raising taxes in other areas. This is a great example of "government intervention" and spending accomplishing nothing other than raising taxes for a lot of people.

LA may as well use the $400 mill to hire illegal immigrants to plant and harvest rice. Maybe we can find a product we can export to China.

[AMaizNShocks]

Gov't intervention is what is killing this country.

The Gov't is constantly sticking its nose where is doesn't belong. Regulations created to regulate their regulations. Tax dollars used to reward business mismanagement, while the Gov't makes it more and more difficult for anyone to do business.

I'd hate to see HBC leave Kansas, but I don't want to see Uncle Sam continue to use public coffers to bailout failing companies. The private sector is very resilient and will do well in creating jobs if the Gov't will just wise up and butt out.

[DUShock]

HBC's problem starts at the top and permeates downward at an exponential pace. HBC is using 1960 manufacturing principles and technology. The adage "unimpeded by progress" is perhaps the best description for the strategic and operation functions of the corporation.

Go Shocks!

[SubGod22]

Gov't intervention is what is killing this country.

The Gov't is constantly sticking its nose where is doesn't belong. Regulations created to regulate their regulations. Tax dollars used to reward business mismanagement, while the Gov't makes it more and more difficult for anyone to do business.

I'd hate to see HBC leave Kansas, but I don't want to see Uncle Sam continue to use public coffers to bailout failing companies. The private sector is very resilient and will do well in creating jobs if the Gov't will just wise up and butt out.

:good:

[Maggie]

I am not familiar with HBC’s situation in Wichita but I think you are all bringing up very valid concerns.

The collusion between government and private enterprise is disquieting. The bailouts of poorly run companies by the government tend to discredit free enterprise and also create moral hazards. If you believe in a free market system you should be looking for leaders who would not only seek to protect private enterprise from unduly burdensome regulation, but also protect us (the citizens) from the improper combination of government and free enterprise.

Given what little I know about this Raj Goyle fellow (running for Congress, right?), it doesn’t surprise me that he would champion government intervention into the “free” market. I suspect that his “solution” to nearly any problem is another government program.

[Capitol Shock]

I don't see anything wrong with any of this...it's perfectly legal. I've got to go and get another bottle before my break is over but I'll finish my post later.

[SFL]

I don't see anything wrong with any of this...it's perfectly legal. I've got to go and get another bottle before my break is over but I'll finish my post later.

[1979Shocker]

Rep. Todd Tiahrt announced Thursday that he has asked for an audit of federal money given to Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to determine if any of the money is being used to try and lure jobs away from Kansas.

Tiarht points to federal statutes that make the money ineligible for “job pirating” practices.

Read more: Tiahrt calls for audit of Louisiana money - Wichita Business Journal

[wu_shizzle]

Rep. Todd Tiahrt announced Thursday that he has asked for an audit of federal money given to Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to determine if any of the money is being used to try and lure jobs away from Kansas.

Tiarht points to federal statutes that make the money ineligible for “job pirating” practices.

Read more: Tiahrt calls for audit of Louisiana money - Wichita Business Journal

Good for him.

[ShockTalk]

Rep. Todd Tiahrt announced Thursday that he has asked for an audit of federal money given to Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to determine if any of the money is being used to try and lure jobs away from Kansas.

Tiarht points to federal statutes that make the money ineligible for “job pirating” practices.

Read more: Tiahrt calls for audit of Louisiana money - Wichita Business Journal

This is probably something very hard to track and/or prove. LA can show that they are using all the fed funds properly, but by not having to use as much of their own funds for those proper items as other states without federal aid funds, that leaves them some dollars of their own to play around with.

[AMaizNShocks]

Rep. Todd Tiahrt announced Thursday that he has asked for an audit of federal money given to Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to determine if any of the money is being used to try and lure jobs away from Kansas.

Tiarht points to federal statutes that make the money ineligible for “job pirating” practices.

Read more: Tiahrt calls for audit of Louisiana money - Wichita Business Journal

This is probably something very hard to track and/or prove. LA can show that they are using all the fed funds properly, but by not having to use as much of their own funds for those proper items as other states without federal aid funds, that leaves them some dollars of their own to play around with.

Good point. But doesn't that mean they were over paid for recovery efforts after Katrina? If they didn't have that kind of surplus cash lying around before the Hurricane, they shouldn't have had it after.

I liken it to someone's million dollar house burning down. The insurance company doesn't rebuild the house, and then give them an extra million to play around with. After all damages are settled, they should be no worse or better off than they were before.