Nancy Boyda for Congress -

Thank You!

Nancy — Wed, 5 Nov 2008 07:00:00 -0500

Dear Friend,

It has been a true honor to serve you in Congress for the last two years, and I appreciate all of the help and support you provided to my campaign for re-election.

On Tuesday night, I spoke to a group of supporters in Topeka to concede the race for the Kansas Second Congressional District seat. You'll find the text of my remarks below.

Again, thank you for your tireless support. It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve as your voice in Washington.

Sincerely,

Nancy Boyda

Thank you. It has been an extraordinary privilege to represent you for these last two years and to run for re-election these last few months.

We should go no further without recognizing the many, many people who worked so hard on our campaign.

Thank you to my family. My husband, Steve; my children, Ben and Leah; and my stepson, Andre, are all here tonight. Thank you to my staff, who burned so much midnight oil to keep this campaign alive, to our volunteers and supporters, who have given so generously of their time and money, and to the voters, for keeping our democracy alive. Thank you for sharing your ideas, and thank you for the opportunity to serve you.

And of course, our congratulations are due to Lynn Jenkins for a hard-fought campaign. Let's wish her the very best as the next Congresswoman from the Second District of Kansas.

Two years ago, I stood up here under very different circumstances. I said that I'd won elections and lost elections, and winning was better. Winning is better. And I know this isn't the way you were hoping tonight would turn out, but I didn't run for office just to win.

Those of you who spent so many hours knocking on doors, phonebanking, talking to friends and neighbors about this election - you weren't doing that just to win.

You did it because democracy needs you. America's dialogue needs your voice.

Win or lose, you accomplished something extraordinary, and you should be proud.

And let's remember one more thing. I had hoped to serve in Congress for far more than two years - but the pundits told us even one term was impossible. They said no Democrat could win an election in deep red Kansas, that it wasn't even worth the fight.

They were wrong.

Because of everything you've done, because of your sacrifices and hard work, we've had two years to achieve results for Kansas veterans, for Kansas students, for Kansas workers - for all Kansans.

The last two years were a gift and a joy, and nothing that happens tonight can erase one moment of it. We've achieved the impossible, and that's something we should celebrate tonight.

And then, in just a few hours, tonight will be over. The sun will come up, and we'll have a job to do.

We're going to have a new Congress, a new president, and new challenges to meet. I for one am hoping for a new kind of government: one that sees our biggest challenges as our greatest opportunities.

We cannot afford to be a nation divided any longer.

To the 50 million American who have no health insurance, it doesn't matter whether a Democrat or a Republican represents the Second District of Kansas. What matters is whether they can see a doctor, whether they can fill a prescription, whether they have a fair shot at a healthy life.

To the parents struggling to send their kids to college, to the students struggling to make ends meet, it couldn't matter less which states are red and which states are blue. What matters is whether they can pay their tuition bill, whether they can get a student loan, whether they have a fair chance to graduate and succeed.

To the families falling farther and farther behind as our economy slides farther and farther off course, it doesn't matter whether Washington is liberal or conservative. What matters is whether they can pay the mortgage next month - whether they have the opportunity to work hard and get ahead.

We cannot afford to be a nation divided any longer.

The challenge of bringing America together belongs not only to the senators and the representatives in Washington. It is your challenge, as well.

Congress cannot work for you unless you share your thoughts, express your ideas, stand up for your beliefs.

So to all of you who voted today, I ask you this: Take one step further tomorrow. Write to your Congresswoman-elect. Write to your senators. Write to your new president. Tell them what matters to you and why. Tell them how they can best serve you and your family. Every time you get involved, our democracy grows a little stronger, and America takes a small step toward becoming the nation we want it to be.

Thank you again. Serving you has been the greatest honor of my life, and I look forward to working with all of you for years to come.

Newspapers, Organizations Across Kansas Endorse Nancy Boyda

karlman01 — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:05:51 -0400

TOPEKA, KS - As Election Day nears, endorsements of Congresswoman Nancy Boyda's re-election have begun flooding in from newspapers and organizations across Kansas and the United States.

Further endorsements are expected between now and the election.

Kansas City Star, 10/23/08:

Nancy Boyda pulled off a big political surprise in 2006 by unseating well-known incumbent Jim Ryun in the U.S. House's 2nd District in Kansas. She's earned a second term.

The Topeka Democrat is not shy about identifying problem areas in Washington, and she explains her positions in more detail than do most candidates...

Boyda has pushed for stronger ethics in Washington, writing a law that stripped pensions from members of Congress who commit crimes related to their elected offices.

Seeking greater political accountability, Boyda backs legislation that would require lawmakers to post their "earmark" spending requests online for public scrutiny - as she does already.

She deserves credit for her work against child pornography and to improve veterans programs. She is appropriately concerned about the decline in U.S. military readiness.

She has been a strong critic of wasteful corporate subsidies....

On the economy and other issues, Nancy Boyda seems better equipped to deal with the challenges Congress will face next January.

Pittsburg Morning Sun, 10/18/08

The Nancy Boyda - Lynn Jenkins race is a heated one and our nod goes to Boyda.... We are most impressed with the attention Boyda has shown to southeast Kansas as she was a regular visitor to this part of the state during her first term, and we believe she deserves a second term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Iola Register, 10/06/08:

Iolans have good reasons for trusting Boyda for another two years. She was instrumental in helping the city win a $477,000 Environmental Protection Agency grant to help with bringing the city's wastewater treatment plant up to snuff and also made the difference in a $48,000 grant for the Iola Public Library.

Many will feel that her effective assistance deserves support at the polls. Considering that she is a first-term member of Congress, her success in winning those appropriations demonstrates that she has been working hard for those she represents....

Both Boyda and Jenkins are fiscal conservatives. The difference between them on this set of issues is that Jenkins is toeing the official Republican ideological line, which aligns her with the trickle-down, favor-the-rich philosophy, while Boyda identifies more with the working class....

Those who think it's time for new ideas and a new direction will vote for Nancy Boyda.

National Federation of Independent Business, 09/23/08:

Your re-election is not only critical to the small-business owners in your district, but also to protecting free enterprise across America. On behalf of all NFIB members, thank you for your service and congratulations on earning the endorsement of small business.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Political Action Committee, 09/15/08:

In addition to comments received from VFW leaders in your state, this endorsement is based on your strong support for veterans, national security/defense, and military personnel issues.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Political Action Committee (VFW-PAC) is the nation's only major Veterans Service Organization PAC.... VFW-PAC endorses only those candidates for federal office who support our nation's veterans and stand in support of a strong national defense.

Americans for Legal Immigration PAC, 10/17/08:

We are Americans of every race and ethnic background, including many legal immigrants, who stand together for a nonviolent and non-racist solution to our illegal immigration crisis....

As one of the leading grassroots organizations in America opposing amnesty and illegal immigration, we are endorsing your campaign because we feel you will aggressively oppose any form of Amnesty or path to citizenship for illegal aliens in America. We also feel that you will utilize the full authority of Congress to assure that the next President fully enforces our existing immigration laws.

Other organizations endorsing Congresswoman Boyda's re-election include the National Farmers Union, the National Association of Social Workers, the League of Conservation Voters, the National Community Pharmacists Association, and the Alliance for Retired Americans.

View Endorsement List

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After upset, Boyda worked to fund local projects

karlman01 — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:56:48 -0400

By James Carlson

The Capital-Journal

Published Sunday, October 19, 2008

Nancy Boyda, the unlikely victor in the 2nd Congressional District race in 2006, is seeking a second term after entering office in the Democratic sweep two years ago.

She grew up in Missouri and attended William Jewell College, where she graduated in 1977 with dual degrees in chemistry and education.

Community and public services: Various church duties and church choir including taking responsibility for the Youth Ministry for eight months in 1997-98 when the full-time youth minister had a serious car accident

Education: Bachelor's degrees in chemistry and education, William Jewell College, 1977

Quote: "The National Journal recently featured me in a cover story on 'the New Center' — the handful of representatives with the most centrist voting records, those who have put aside partisan politics to achieve results."

Find video from two-dozen candidates who accepted our invitation to visit our studio and record a message to voters, biographical information, extensive Q&As, headlines from local races, links to news and information about national races and important dates leading up to the Election Day, which is Nov. 4.

For 20 years, she worked in pharmaceutical research and development. Boyda had been a lifelong Republican until 2003, when she became disenchanted with her party and switched to the Democratic side to run for Congress against veteran lawmaker and former Olympian Jim Ryun.

"My views haven't changed, but it feels as though the political landscape has shifted beneath my feet," she said. "Some of my most deeply held Republican beliefs — such as the importance of fiscal discipline and of strong checks and balances in our government — are now best represented in Kansas by our Democratic Party."

She lost soundly in 2004 but returned in 2006 in a year of anti-Republican, anti-war sentiment and won in what was seen nationally as an upset.

In her two years in office, she sponsored legislation to strip the pensions of corrupt federal politicians, crack down on child pornography and bolster community pharmacies. She also supported the Democratic push in the 110th Congress' first 100 hours, which included passage of a measure that increased the federal minimum wage to $7.25 per hour.

A rarity for politicians, she published her earmark requests for the district, even ones she didn't win. She said the process isn't ideal, but having lawmakers who know the needs of a district appeal for federal dollars is the best way for now.

"It simply isn't possible for the average D.C. bureaucrat to know what matters in rural Kansas," she said.

She has positioned herself as a moderate, though critics decry her voting with her party the majority of the time. She also supports more drilling and voted for a bill that modestly expanded the offshore area available for oil exploration.

Jenkins waited 2 months before alerting counties

karlman01 — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:28:21 -0400

By Tim Carpenter
The Capital-Journal
Published Thursday, October 16, 2008

State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins made no effort to inform Kansas counties upon the initial discovery of a state computer blunder that led to misallocation of an undetermined portion of $22.5 million in fuel tax revenue and vehicle registration fees shared with county governments, officials said Wednesday.

The Topeka Republican said a software miscue introduced into the treasurer's computer system nearly a decade ago had gone undetected until April. For nine years, the glitch shortchanged or overpaid counties receiving shares of $2.5 million annually allocated to them, but a full accounting of mistaken payments doesn't exist.

Rep. Nancy Boyda, a Topeka Democrat seeking re-election in the 2nd District, said Jenkins, the GOP nominee for the House seat, should have sorted out the issue long before entering her sixth year as treasurer. And, Boyda said, recipients of revenue sharing had a right to forthright disclosure of the situation.

"Have you contacted the county commissioners to let them know?" Boyda asked Jenkins during a debate Tuesday night at KSNT-TV.

Josh Hersh, spokesman for Jenkins' congressional campaign, said Jenkins "notified all relevant parties" about the computer malfunction by sending letters April 18 to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and leaders of the House and Senate. Another spokeswoman for Jenkins said a two-sentence statement, along with the letter to Sebelius, was simultaneously dropped in mail boxes of Statehouse reporters. It didn't result in any newspaper, radio or television coverage.

"Of course," Jenkins said, "none of the press found it worthy to report on."

It wasn't until June that the state treasurer's office systematically informed county officials about problems made in calculating distribution of payments, said Jeff Wagaman, assistant state treasurer. By that time, a private audit paid for by the treasurer's office had affirmed allocations to counties were wrong.

Wagaman said the 2008 annual payment to counties also was made in June. It was based on the old, faulty calculation scheme rather than a corrected formula. Counties had already received quarterly payments under the existing program, he said, and introduction of a new system at the close of the fiscal year would have been confusing.

The 2009 Legislature is expected to consider balancing financial inequities created by the computer problem, Wagaman said. None of the errors impacted the total distribution of cash, only how it was allocated among counties.

No spreadsheet has been produced by the treasurer's office denoting shortfalls and overpayments since 1999, Wagaman said.

Jenkins, a certified public accountant elected treasurer in 2002, said one of her employees stumbled across anomalies in data April 17.

She faulted external accountants for not previously exposing the problem.

"It had never been caught despite the fact that we had had annual audits conducted by outside auditing firms," Jenkins said during Tuesday night's debate. "It was within their scope of work, and they simply missed the programming error."

During Jenkins' years as treasurer, $15 million in county payments were authorized by her office with calculations derived from the imprecise software.

A fact sheet distributed Wednesday by the Jenkins' campaign assigned blame to her predecessor as treasurer, Tim Shallenburger, nongovernment auditors hired by the state and the Kansas Department of Revenue. Some statistics transferred to the treasurer from the revenue department were wrong, Jenkins said.

Mike Gaughan, executive director of the Kansas Democratic Party, said statements by Jenkins and her campaign staff pointed a finger at everyone but the GOP candidate.

"For an accountant," Gaughan said, "Lynn Jenkins seems to have zero interest in accountability."

Boyda Addresses Military Concerns at Washburn University

karlman01 — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:32:28 -0400

By: ReAnne Utemark
Posted: 10/13/08

Congresswoman Nancy Boyda did not want to talk about presidential politics during her speech, but she did speak about a major issue facing Americans in the election: the overstretching of the military. Boyda, a candidate for the second congressional district of Kansas, spoke to a crowd gathered for a lunch discussion at noon last Wednesday at the International House.

Boyda, a freshman representative and current member of the Armed Services Committee, first told the audience how she became interested in running for the House of Representatives. She said that the attitude toward the Iraq war in 2003 bothered her, including the rhetoric about exporting democracy and Americans being greeted as liberators. She thought something just didn't make sense, she was worried about invading another sovereign country. She went to a protest and spoke out.

"I was doing this because I felt like we needed to stick with the job in front of us," said Boyda, referring to the conflicts before the war in Iraq. "Iraq would be biting off more than we could chew."

She continued her speech after her election to Congress and as she learned more about limited nature of military personnel and resources. She lamented the "corner we've backed ourselves into."

Boyda mentioned the surge and discussed how that factored into her current military policy ideas. "By the grace of God, the surge has done wonderful things in Iraq," said Boyda.

She gave credit to both the surge and the Iraqi forces working with the Americans. However, she felt that it had put even more pressure on an already strained military. According to the information presented by Boyda, if another terrorist attack were to happen, her military source said they would not be interested in a draft, but they would halt troop rotation and keep men and women in the field as long as it took.

"My number one priority is not the safety and security in Iraq," said Boyda. "My number one priority is the safety and security of the United States."

Boyda discussed Pakistan and the possibility of al-Qaida being within Pakistan's borders. She said that if there were actionable intelligence that Osama bin Laden were in Pakistan, that it would be "irresponsible and reckless to not go in there."

"We've got our work cut out for us," said Boyda in regard to al-Qaida.

Boyda said the United States should put its resources in Afghanistan, but that the surge would not work the same as in Iraq. Boyda said to increase the combination of Afghan and United States troops in Afghanistan from 62,000 to 125,000 and to establish a government that uses both the multiple tribal structure and elements of a functional government.

During the question and answer session, Boyda discussed the danger of Iran going nuclear and the competition and outsourcing of military duties to civilian contractors.

"Outsourcing has its place," said Boyda. "The generals on the ground are best to make that decision."

Finally, Boyda addressed the cultural issue surrounding Middle Eastern policies and attitudes. She said American cultural norms would not be dictated to other countries, but that some ideals about justice would be imparted.

"Listening to other cultures is how we keep Americans safe," said Boyda.

Will Chuber, an Army captain and ROTC instructor at the University of Kansas, said Boyda seemed well informed and seemed to have concern for the military's best interests.

"She seems very non-partisan," said Chuber. "Hopefully she can help work out the best solution."

John Steel, history major and eleven-year veteran, also attended the speech and related his experiences to what Boyda talked about.

"When I was deployed overseas, there was contractors doing everything," said Steel. "They even cleaned our bathroom. What we were left with was the mission we were sent there to do. On paper, that seems like a good idea."

Steel suggested that while he was not familiar with the corporate side of the issue, it seemed like a "$200 hammer" situation, referring to the inflation of prices for the military. Boyda supported an amendment to a bill which would change the way A-76's, the competition of military and civilian groups for military contracts, would be handled. President George Bush vetoed it. This did not surprise Steel.

"Of course it got vetoed, [President Bush's] VP is Mr. Halliburton," said Steel. "It just stands to reason."

Boyda a friend to Iola, deserves to be re-elected

karlman01 — Tue, 7 Oct 2008 10:26:26 -0400

Come Nov. 4, Second District voters will be asked to choose between re-electing Rep. Nancy Boyda and giving State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins the job of representing the district in Congress.

Iolans have good reasons for trusting Boyda for another two years. She was instrumental in helping the city win a $477,000 Environmental Protection Agency grant to help with bringing the city's wastewater treatment plant up to snuff and also made the difference in a $48,000 grant for the Iola Public Library.

Many will feel that her effective assistance deserves support at the polls. Considering that she is a first-term member of Congress, her success in winning those appropriations demonstrates that she has been working hard for those she represents.

But wouldn't Jenkins do the same? That's an open question. She is running to be a member of John McCain's team. McCain rarely makes a campaign speech without pledging to do away with congressional earmarks.

Perhaps she has been persuaded.

Those who are aghast at the huge increase in the national debt, can take some comfort in knowing that Boyda will continue to vote against making the Bush tax cuts on the very wealthy permanent, looks forward to ending the war in Iraq, which is costing about $11 billion a month, sees no reason to exempt multi-million-dollar estates from taxation and wants money-saving health care reform.

Both Boyda and Jenkins are fiscal conservatives. The difference between them on this set of issues is that Jenkins is toeing the official Republican ideological line, which aligns her with the trickle-down, favor-the-rich philosophy, while Boyda identifies more with the working class. Jenkins, for example, is philosophically opposed to a federal minimum wage: "I'm a free-market gal," she explained in last week's debate, "let the market decide."

It is illuminating that McCain has consistently voted against increases in the minimum wage.

Jenkins has also pledged to vote against any tax increase; a pledge that would keep her from supporting legislation to make Social Security solvent or deal with any additional federal needs without borrowing the money to do it.

THOSE WHO will vote for Barack Obama for president to bring a new political culture to Washington should vote for Boyda.
He will need a strong majority in Congress to accomplish the reforms he will propose, if elected; reforms which include effective regulation of the financial institutions whose reckless loans have brought Wall Street to its knees and contributed mightily to a downturn in the economy, which will affect every American family.

Jenkins has been an effective state treasurer who deserves credit for boosting economic education in the public schools and has been a champion of a state program to encourage families to set aside funds in a tax-advantaged savings program to pay for college for their children.

But she is running for Congress on what amounts to iron-clad promises to keep right on doing what the Bush administration and the conservative Republicans in Congress have been doing these past eight years.

Those who think it's time for new ideas and a new direction will vote for Nancy Boyda.

Senate passes bill to close child porn loophole

karlman01 — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:56:24 -0400

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON | Responding to a Kansas child pornography case, the U.S. Senate has passed a bill making it clear that images obtained on the Internet do in fact travel across state lines.

The measure closes a loophole that allowed a Kansas City, Kan., man convicted of possessing child pornography to avoid punishment under federal law.

The bill is similar to one passed in the House last year.

Kansas Rep. Nancy Boyda sponsored the House version after a federal appeals court tossed the 2005 conviction of William Schaefer.

Schaefer was found guilty of obtaining illegal images of children on his computer, but the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Internet transmissions are not "interstate commerce" as required by child pornography laws.

Boyda, a Democrat, says the new bill will help make the Internet safer.

Boyda critical of bailout proposal

karlman01 — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:24:15 -0400

U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda, D-Topeka, on Tuesday criticized President Bush’s bailout proposal for Wall Street.

“President Bush is asking Congress for sweeping new power with no judicial review, no effective oversight, and no real limit on the money that can be spent,” Boyda said.

“He’s trying to ram it through with little debate by sowing fear and anxiety. I don’t like those tactics, and I don’t like his proposal,” she said.

Boyda said she will work to develop a plan that minimizes expense and maximizes profits for the taxpayer.

She said she wants to restore the availability of credit, protect responsible banks, enact new regulations and prevent those responsible for the meltdown from profiting in the bailout.

“We can’t pay for every bad decision that anyone ever made in this country,” she said. “Our goal should be the best deal for the taxpayer that gets the markets running again. I think Bush’s plan fails on both counts. It takes from the taxpayer for Wall Street’s benefit, but it doesn’t provide the capital the banks need to get this country moving again.”

Boyda: Bill Gives Rural Kansas Veterans Better Access to Medical Care

karlman01 — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:10:44 -0400

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States House of Representatives has today given thumbs up to H.R. 1527, the Rural Veterans Access to Care Act. This legislation allows veterans enrolled in the health system, who live over 60 miles from a VA hospital, to receive primary care from a non-VA health care facility. The program can also be used by veterans where travel to a VA facility would cause a hardship or other difficulties.

Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (Kansas Second District) issued the following statement after today’s vote:

“I was proud to support this bill to start a pilot program which allows veterans in the most rural parts of Kansas to get health care closer to their homes. The Senate should take this bill up now – so this pilot program can be implemented sooner rather than later.”

H.R. 1527 is a pilot program that includes four Veterans Integrated Service Networks – including VISN 15, which covers almost all of Kansas.

Boyda says more troops needed to fight Taliban

karlman01 — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:44:42 -0400

The Associated Press

Published Wednesday, September 10, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. CDT

Rep. Nancy Boyda said Tuesday that it was clear after visiting with commanders in Afghanistan that more troops are needed to fight the war against a resurgent Taliban.

Boyda, a Kansas Democrat and member of the House Armed Services Committee, said any additional forces would have to be a mix of NATO, Afghan and U.S. units, with the latter likely being an additional two to five brigades.

“For the past two years, we have heard that we need more troops and resources,” Boyda said. “It’s a fine line. We don’t want to look like occupiers. But to do a job, we need to have more troops on the ground.”

Sending more troops would put an additional burden on the Army and Marines, she said.

“Issue comes back to military readiness. We’re asking our military to do so much,” Boyda said.

The delegation met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani about the ongoing war and increasing cooperation. Traveling with Boyda were Democratic Reps. Ellen Tauscher of California and Jim Cooper of Tennessee, and Republican Reps. Thomas Petri of Wisconsin, Jon Porter of Nevada and Dave Reichert of Washington.