Moran shares life, job experiences with students
Staff reporter
When Congressman Jerry Moran visited the Marion High School American government class Thursday, he made it clear that he could not run a four-minute mile.
MHS student Jeremy Vondenkamp knew there was a Congressman who could and he ask Moran if he could run a mile in four minutes.
Moran visited the Marion class and, via the ITV network, Peabody and Centre high school classes. He shared his professional and private experiences with students.
Moran told the classes the most important issues to him are agriculture, health care, and education.
"How do we keep our communities alive for you to come back to," Moran asked. He wants smaller communities like Marion to be able to offer the quality of life young adults want to experience.
"Medicare decisions may affect whether your hospital can stay open," Moran said.
He stressed that these issues are important to Marion County.
Moran related his life as a father to two daughters.
"The only two times my daughter (an 11th grader) thought I was cool," Moran said, "was when she got to shake hands with the President of the United States at a Christmas party and when she met Jeff Boschee."
Boschee was a University of Kansas basketball guard and three-point leader a few years ago.
Moran and his wife have two daughters, Kelsey, a junior at Hays High School, and Alex, an eighth grader at Felten Middle School in Hays.
Raising his family in a smaller community in Kansas was important to Moran. Spending time with his family each weekend ranks up there, too.
Moran shared a typical week with the class.
"I fly to Washington, D.C., from Kansas City each Monday morning," Moran began.
Arriving in Washington by afternoon, Monday schedules are typically "lighter" than other days.
On other days of the week, Moran's mornings start at 6 a.m. with a morning jog. He works out everyday and arrives at his office by 8 a.m., which is located across from the capital.
"I read my e-mail first thing," Moran said.
Moran said all congressional mail sent to him is re-routed to an out-of-state mail room and x-rayed and examined for possible anthrax or other dangerous chemicals or devices.
His day is then divided between meetings and hearings regarding bills.
Moran is a member of four committees: agriculture, transportation, homeland security, and veterans' affairs.
"Throughout the day, my beeper goes off to let me know I have 15 minutes to get to the house floor to vote," Moran said.
Most members are rarely on the house floor at the same time.
"The only time we're all together is when the President speaks," Moran said.
His day sometimes ends by 5 or 6 p.m., if there aren't any meetings or dinners to attend. With evening commitments, it may be 11 p.m. before Moran reaches his D.C. apartment.
"When votes are over (Thursdays or Fridays), I'm back at the airport to fly home," Moran said. He drives from Hays to Kansas City and leaves his car there for the week.
"I try to visit various places to and from home," Moran said.
Marion High School Principal Ken Arnhold asked Moran the difficulty of balancing a family and political career.
"We're accustomed to this," Moran said. "My wife has been a stay-at-home mom which helps tremendously.
"We decided early on we didn't want our daughters to grow up in Washington, D.C.," Moran explained.
He said he wants and needs to be in touch with constituents at the grocery store, church, and within the community.
"I have a different voter record," Moran said, "because I never get away from what is important to my constituents.
"More importantly, I want my daughters to be raised in Hays, Kansas," he said.
Moran said he tries to attend his daughters' events. He was planning to attend his daughter's cross country meet in the afternoon.
USD 408 Superintendent Lee Leiker asked Moran how he deals with the various issues within Kansas.
Moran said there are many similarities in the issues within the state.
"Ag and weather, how farmers are doing or not doing, crop insurance, the core issues are the same," Moran said.
The number one issue today, Moran said, is how to pay for health care.
One difference from one part of the state to the next is wind energy.
"(People in) the Flint Hills are concerned about the view and the appearance of the equipment in the fields," Moran said, "while Montezuma is happy for the economic development and don't mind the structures."
Moran used another example of education and the "No Child Left Behind" legislation.
"The issues are the same here in Marion as it is throughout the state," he said.
Moran was asked about Marion Reservoir and the algae situation.
"I supported the passing of legislation to make more funds available for research of how to control the management of algae," Moran said.
He supports resources for communities to improve systems and help pay for costs of hauling water.
Moran likes the diversity of his job, he said. He makes decisions that may have universal affects as well as local issues.
He related how he assisted a Pakistani doctor and his wife return to Kansas after a visit to Pakistan.
Moran had some advise for students interested in a political career.
He said he didn't come from a political family.
"My father served on the school board and both voted," Moran said, but other than that, he didn't have political ambitions.
He spent a summer as an intern for Congressman Keith Sebelius in Washington.
"I didn't want to do it but my parents encouraged me to go," Moran said.
Watergate had occurred and he watched President Richard Nixon be impeached. That's when he thought he could be a member of Congress someday.
Moran concluded his visit saying he and his family face the same decisions and challenges other families do.
"Kelsey got a car for Christmas," Moran said. "She's now working at Dairy Queen to help pay for it."
Jenna Bloom from Centre asked if Moran would be willing to talk to her dad.
"I've got a job," Bloom said. Moran told her to send him a draft of a letter and he would send it to her dad.
