TOPEKA – More than 40 Kansas residents traveled to the nation’s capital to rally in support of fiscal responsibility and meet with their lawmakers as part of the Americans for Prosperity (AFP) Foundation’s Defending the American Dream Summit on Oct. 4-5.  

Kansans joined more than 1,600 grassroots activists from across the country to take part in a rally supporting accountability by Congress and opposing earmarks. They met with members of the Kansas Congressional delegation to discuss a discharge petition to bring House Resolution 479 to the House floor for an up-or-down vote. H.R. 479 would change House rules to require all taxpayer-funded earmarks – in appropriations, authorizing, and tax bills – to be publicly disclosed and subject to challenge and debate on the House floor.  

“I was shocked what I learned at the Summit,” said Coffeyville Community College student Kendall Roper. “I had no idea about all the earmark spending, which means it is safe to say that a large amount of the rural population doesn’t either! I will definitely be passing this information on to my fellow students and area voters.” 

Speaking to the group throughout the summit were Presidential candidates John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Sam Brownback and Ron Paul. Summit attendees also received top-notch training on how to become more involved in the public policy process, and heard from lawmakers and leaders in the free-market movement.  

“What a tremendous experience for the citizen activists of Kansas to network with other activists in support of lower taxes, more limited government and free-market policies that deliver the American Dream,” said AFPF State Director Alan Cobb. “They learned skills to effectively communicate with lawmakers, which they will be able to put to use once the Kansas Legislature returns in January.”

Hundreds of AFP members attend a rally outside the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill, to call for fiscal responsibility in Congress. 

Rep. Todd Tiahrt meets with Kansans following the national rally on Capitol Hill.

AFP-Kansas State Director Alan Cobb briefs the 1,600 member conference on what the Kansas chapter has accomplished.