Lawmakers cheat children in need

First, I want to thank a true champion of Kansas children, especially western Kansas children,¬ Rep. Pat George.¬ Pat's leadership and consideration has been invaluable to us in western Kansas. I also want to thank Melvin Neufeld for his honesty regarding the funding proposal and the head's up that the¬ majority of the funding for the autism waiver was pre-destined for eastern Kansas.

My appointment to the task force was another avenue to advocate for children, education and early intervention. Like most parents¬ of special needs children, we set a trail for others to follow. We hope their journey is less wearisome. We advocate for our children and each other. We strive to do what's right for our children and all children. We have strong faith in our children and the better good of our fellow human beings. Our children have taught us that much.

The Kansas legislative session will come to a close. Members of the Kansas Senate gutted funding for the autism waiver for children throughout the state.¬ Posturing by some legislators was described by some families as horrifying and a lack of recognizing priorities. At a recent meeting the task force voted to amend proposed legislation not¬ to include the wording morally correct to fund the autism waiver. We weren't bold enough, but overly cautious so as not¬ to offend some legislators.

It's a shame our children don't matter. Our children's lives are at risk. No one asked for a hand out, they asked for a hand up. The task force should not have deleted the word morally. This legislative action is morally wrong.

Tomorrow, we will get up and go to work. We will take on another day of the fight that is ours every day. The reality to this pop quiz is gas will still be $3.50-plus, bread will be $3 a loaf and my taxes will still go up. Those legislators can go home and start running for re-election, boasting about everything they do to save the Kansas way of life, for at least them.¬ The back-slapping, we-saved-your-tax-dollar rhetoric snugged up for the summer.

This is a failure of our state to provide adequate medical treatment to those one in every 150 children that will be diagnosed within the¬ autism spectrum. The state of Kansas has seen a 471-percent increase in children diagnosed within the autism spectrum. Legislators need to stop reading polls and look at research and best practices data.

I have humbled myself before man and God for the sake of my child, she should matter. Your child, your grandchild, niece or nephew should matter. Early intervention isn't an option for her anymore at age 12. Her father and I did the best we could do and will continue to do the best thing for her, our community and our state. We advocate because we want better for the next child and their families.

There's an old saying ... walk a mile in my shoes. I want to say walk a step in my child's ... most wouldn't have the courage or the determination.

JEANIE ZORTMAN,

Dodge City

Zortman is a member of the Autism Task Force.

Too many dangers come with growth

The economic development people are patting themselves on the back. They even placed one of their signs near the soon-to-be Sam's Club. They expect citizens to be proud of them.

Far into the future, or perhaps not as far as we think, Garden City might become 100,000, or even 200,000. Either way, economic developers will have made a major contribution to this "massive" population.

Five o'clock traffic will be a nightmare as it now is in Wichita.Gangs will be real gangs, not just want-to-be gangs. One or two high schools will not be enough and school bond elections will be frequent. There will be a lot more homeless people. Exhaust pollution will be a problem. If you think you do not know neighbors on your block now, you will know hardly any then.

Why does the city (or county) do so much (economic development) to mess up Garden City?

It is OK for Garden City to remain small. This area earns the bulk of its money from agriculture. We do not need to become a big manufacturing center.

The larger the population of a city, the greater the chances of being attacked by terrorists.

CHARLES SKILLING,

Garden City