The Kansas Meadowlark

March 21, 2007
[Updated Nov 4, 2007]

Weak Kansas Laws Allow "Heavy" Missouri Group 
to Hide Their Political Involvement in Kansas Politics.

How can a Missouri PAC, which is possibly the #2 Kansas PAC over the last two years,
 hide their political money spent on Kansas Politics? 
How can a PAC spend more money than they raise?

Summary:   The PAC for the Heavy Constructors Association of Kansas City, MO files "Verified Statements" in Kansas detailing their political money spent on Kansas political races, while this group files "normal" PAC reports in Missouri.  These "Verified Statements" filed in Kansas are NOT online, and can only be purchased for $0.50/page at the Secretary of State's Office -- well out of easy public view.  This PAC spent a HUGE amount of political money in 2005 and 2006, and likely was the #2 PAC in Kansas over this period, yet their political money reports were hidden from the public. 

A careful review of reports filed in Kansas and Missouri shows the Heavy Constructors tell the State of Missouri one set of facts and the State of Kansas a different set of facts.  At no time are all the facts about this PAC available in one place.  

Heavy Constructor PAC math for 2005-2006:

  • Reported $167,283 money raised and $151,840 spent to the Missouri Ethics Commission.

  • Reported spending $67,978 on Missouri contests to the Missouri Ethics Commission.

  • Reported $34,838 money raised from Kansas sources, and spending $198,300 on Kansas contests to the Kansas Ethics Commission on "Verified Statements."

  • Summary:  Reported spending $266,278 ($198,300+$67,978) in Kansas and Missouri.

How can the $114,438 discrepancy between $151,840 and $266,278 be explained? 

There appears to be no controlling legal authority to investigate this matter.  Some new Kansas laws are needed to close this loophole in campaign finance reporting.

  Kansas Reports Missouri Reports
  Raised Spent Raised Spent
Partial Total     $167,283 $151,840
Kansas Only $34,838 $198,300   $83,862
Missouri Only       $67,978

The name of one Political Action Committee appears over and over again when reviewing Kansas political contribution reports during the last few years:  The Heavy Constructors from Kansas City, MO. 

Why is the Heavy Constructors Association so involved in Kansas and Missouri politics?  They explain on their web site:

We are an  active association in the Kansas City metropolitan area and in the states of Kansas and Missouri.  The HCA is a recognized leader in the campaign for higher investments in public works.

We are active politically, providing support to candidates for public office at the federal, state, county and city levels in both Kansas and Missouri.  Additionally, and most importantly, we maintain close contact with public officials.

Oddly, the Heavy Constructors PAC is not even listed as a PAC in Kansas on the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission page.  With the numerous contributions by the Heavy Constructors to Kansas political candidates, one might suspect they would be in the list of the "Top 20 PAC Contributors" in 2006 in Kansas, but their name is missing from this list, which was published in late Feb. 2007:

Top 20 PAC Contributors in Kansas in 2006

Kansas National Education Association PAC 

$228,300.00

Kansas Contractors Association PAC 

$113,300.00

Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce PAC 

$97,650.00

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers - COPE 

$85,250.00

Bluestem Fund - Kathleen Sebelius 

$83,350.00

Kansas Realtors PAC 

$79,550.00

Kansans For Lifesaving Cures 

$72,837.55

Kansas Bankers Association (BankPAC) 

$66,567.82

Kansas Optometric PAC 

$59,700.00

Kansas Chamber of Commerce PAC 

$59,350.00

Kansas Hospital Association PAC 

$52,950.00

Kansas Medical Society PAC 

$51,000.00

Kansas Farm Bureau Vote FBF Fund 

$46,600.00

Kansas Cable TV PAC 

$45,950.00

Kansas Dental PAC 

$43,250.00

AT&T Kansas PAC 

$40,950.00

Kansas AFL-CIO COPE Fund 

$39,750.00

Kansas Trial Lawyers Consumer/Civil Justice PAC 

$38,650.00

HCA KS Good Government Fund (Wesley Medical Center PAC) 

$36,700.00

Kansas Agri Business Council 

$31,650.00

 

Is it possible that the Heavy Constructors should have been in the top 5 of this list, possibly #2, but that information is being hidden from the public due to weak Kansas Laws?

A recent Meadowlark article gave details of a complicated money scheme to funnel funds from various groups to the Kansas Democratic Party and candidates during the last election cycle in 2005 and 2006.  One of the key players in this scheme was the Heavy Constructors, who gave $66,000 according to the chart in that article:

Based on this earlier report, a PAC giving $66,000 in 2006 would have been enough to be listed in a "Top 10" list of PACs in Kansas.  This PAC's name appeared in numerous contribution reports, yet no information about it is online?   

Last August, the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission was asked where information could be found about the Heavy Constructors.  The Ethics Commission Executive Director, Carol Williams, explained in an E-mail response:

The Heavy Constructors Association PAC is an out-of-state PAC. Under K.S.A. 25-4172, out-of-state PACs can either register as a Kansas PAC or submit a "Verified Statement"in lieu of registering as a Kansas PAC. The Heavy Constructors Assoc. PAC has always submitted verified statements. You can obtain copies of those statements from the Secretary of State's office.

Of course, these reports in Kansas cost $0.50/page at the Secretary of State's Office. The last eight Verified Statements filed by the Heavy Constructors were obtained from the Kansas Secretary of State for analysis.  

Campaign finance information is free and online in Missouri from the Missouri Ethics Commission.  A search of their page for a committee call "Heavy Constructors" gives this:

 

The following tables compare the contribution reports filed by the Heavy Constructors with the Missouri Ethics Commission to the reports filed with the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission.  

Table 1 explains the correspondence between reports filed in Missouri with those filed in Kansas.

Table 2 summarizes information from the Missouri reports, including money raised and money spent.

Table 3 summarizes information from the Kansas reports about known expenditures in Kansas.  (All contributions reported on the Kansas forms were found on the Missouri forms.)

Tables 4a through 4e give details for the Table 3 summary.

Items in green are possible contribution reporting problems.  Items in red could not be found in any of the Missouri reports, but were reported only on the Kansas reports.  Money from Missouri entering Kansas politics can be hidden this way.

Am I wrong to assume that ALL contributions and expenditures should be reported to Missouri, with only the subset of items related to Kansas being reported in Kansas?

There are several problem areas that should be investigated by both the Missouri and Kansas Ethics Commissions, including:

  • In their 10/26/2006 Missouri Report, the Heavy Constructors' beginning balance does not match the ending balance from their 10/13/2006 report.  What was the source of the $9,260 difference?  [See Table 1]
  • Is a January 2007 Missouri Report missing?  There is no information for contributions/expenditures from 12/3/2006 - 12/31/2006.  [See Tables 1 and 2]
  • The Missouri reports for 2005/2006 show $167,283 money raised and $151,840 spent in Kansas and Missouri. [see Table 2].  However, the Kansas reports show $198,300 spent only in Kansas [see Table 3].  How can this be reconciled?  What is the source of the additional money?  [The $198,300 figure DOES NOT include any of the expenditures that were also made in Missouri.]  
  • How can a $25,000 contribution made on  Dec 28, 2005 to the Kansas Traditional Republican Majority NEVER be reported in Missouri, and only be reported in July 2006 in Kansas?  [However, KTRM correctly reported the contribution in their Jan. 2006 report.]
  • Why were NONE of the Heavy Constructors contributions involved in the complicated money scheme (see diagram above) ever reported in Missouri?  Why can contributions by this PAC only be reported in Kansas?
  • Is there a legal justification for expenditures in Kansas that were not reported in Missouri?  Is there a legal justification for not reporting sources of income anywhere that apparently were spent in Kansas?
  • The Heavy Constructors were sloppy on several of the Kansas reports by reporting the same contributions twice (see notes below Table 4e). 

 

Table 1.  Summary of Political Contribution Reports 
Filed by the Heavy Constructors in Kansas and Missouri,
2002-present

Year Kansas Missouri
Verified Statements
"hidden" at 
Secretary of State's Office		 Electronic
 Reports		 Money 
Raised		 Money 
Spent		 In the 
Bank
2002

Not Requested

 10/11/2002 $26,554 $2,558 $48,668
10/24/2002 $4,952 $45,650 $7,971
12/02/2002 $8,925 $2,000 $14,896
2003 01/01/03 – 12/31/03U 01/13/2003 $3,783 $1,175 $17,505
04/11/2003 $6,807 $21,308 $3,004
07/11/2003 $12,740 $4,600 $11,145
10/14/2003 $19,347 $1,000 $29,493
2004 01/01/04 – 07/22/04U 01/12/2004 $30,759 $17,950 $42,302
04/12/2004 $4,310 $7 $46,605
07/23/04 – 10/21/04U 07/15/2004 $12,674 $35,675 $23,605
10/14/2004 $20,232 $43,317 $520
2005 01/01/05 – 03/24/05U 01/12/2005 $40,902 $5 $41,418
03/25/05 – 12/31/05 04/12/2005 $5,602 $15,522 $31,499
07/12/2005 $14,929 $2,950 $43,479
10/11/2005 $31,874 $1,450 $73,903
2006 01/01/06 – 07/20/06U 01/23/2006 $16,560 $1,500 $88,963
04/17/2006 $8,281 $3,500 $93,745
07/10/2006 $15,982 $0 $109,728
07/21/06 – 10/26/06U 10/13/2006 $20,262 $46,470 $83,520*
10/26/2006 $6,871 $80,443 $19,569
11/20/2006

"limited activity"  (< $500)
10/27/06 - 12/31/06U 12/05/2006** $6,020 $0 $25,590*
2007

N/A

 01/2007?

missing report for period
12/03/2006 - 12/31/2006?
02/19/2007 $2,806 $19,675 $24,295
Notes:

Key:  Possible Contribution Reporting Problem

UThis "Verified Statement" does not give any amount on line 7 but only specifies "unknown" for the total:  "The aggregate amount of all contributions made to this fund to be used in Kansas within the preceding twelve months was unknown."  Why is "unknown" acceptable in such verified statements?  The whole purpose of the report is to identify money raised or spent, but these reports try to obfuscate this information by not giving this total, or any total.  The one report without "unknown" left this field blank.

While the line 7 total amount was not listed, the contributions from Kansas sources were given:

Year Report Kansas Contributions
2005 01/01/05 – 03/24/05 $2,168.05
03/25/05 – 12/31/05 $14,332.63
2006 01/01/06 – 07/20/06 $9,041.40
07/21/06 – 10/26/06 $4,697.30
10/27/06 - 12/31/06 $4,598.97
TOTAL 2005-2006 $34,838.35

* Inconsistency in next reporting period:   $83,520 is the ending balance in the 10/13/2006 Missouri  report but the 10/26/2006 Missouri report shows a starting balance of $93,140.  Where did the extra $9,620 come from?

In 12/05/2006 report, $25,590 was reported as the ending balance, but $41,163 was reported as starting balance in 2/19/2007 report.  Where did the extra $15,573 come from?  Is there a missing report covering the period 12/3/2006 - 12/31/2006?

** Amended version of 11/20/2006 report

 

Table 2.  Summary of Heavy Constructors' Political Money Raised and Money Spent
Reported to the Missouri Ethics Commission in 2005-2007

Year Information Derived from Reports 
Filed with Missouri Ethics Commission
Electronic
 Reports		 Reporting Period Money 
Raised		 Money 
Spent
2005
01/12/2005 10/01/2004 - 12/31/2004 $40,902 $5
04/12/2005 01/01/2005 - 03/31/2005 $5,602 $15,522
07/12/2005 04/01/2005 - 06/30/2005 $14,929 $2,950
10/11/2005 07/01/2005 - 09/30/2005 $31,874 $1,450
TOTAL $93,307 $19,927
2006 01/23/2006 10/1/2005 - 12/31/2005 $16,560 $1,500
04/17/2006 01/01/2006 - 03/31/2006 $8,281 $3,500
07/10/2006 04/01/2006 - 06/30/2006 $15,982 $0
10/13/2006 07/01/2006 - 09/30/2006 $20,262 $46,470
10/26/2006 10/01/2006 - 10/26/2006 $6,871 $80,443
12/05/2006 10/27/2006 - 12/02/2006 $6,020 $0
TOTAL $73,976 $131,913
2005-2006
Election Cycle		 GRAND TOTAL $167,283 $151,840
2007 1/2007? 12/03/2006 - 01/13/2007

Missing Report?
02/19/2007 01/14/2007 - 02/14/2007 $2,806 $19,675

$67,978 of the $151,840 was spent in Missouri
leaving $83,862 to be spent in Kansas.

 

Table 3.  Summary of Money Spent by the Heavy Constructors in Kansas 
During the 2005-2006 Election Cycle Derived from "Verified Statements"
Filed With the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission
(see details below for each category in Tables 4a - 4d)

Category Democrats Republicans Non-Partisan TOTAL
State Political Parties $72,500 $35,500   $108,000
State Elected Offices $7,500 $3,500 - $11,000
House of Representatives $15,400 $17,600 - $33,000
State Senate $250 $1,750 - $2,000
County Government:
JO and WY Counties		 - - $36,200 $36,200
JoCo Cities     $8,100 $8,100
GRAND TOTAL $95,650 $58,350 $44,300 $198,300

How did the Heavy Constructors spend $198,300 in Kansas
 if they only reported contributions covering $83,872 
for Kansas expenditures?

Table 4a.  Summary of Contributions by Heavy Constructors
to Kansas Political Parties

  Recipient Democrats Republicans
Amount Date Amount Date
Democratic Party Kansas Democratic Party $15,000
$15,000		 10/24/2005
02/28/2006		    
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee $1000
 $1000
$3500		 03/31/2005
07/27/2006
03/31/2006		    
Kansas Legislative Victory Fund $1000
 $1000
$5000		 03/31/2005
07/27/2006
10/24/2005		    
Legislative Victory Fund 1 $5000
$5000		 10/24/2005
02/28/2006		    
Legislative Victory Fund 2 $5000 10/24/2005    
Kansas Tallgrass Committee $5000
$5000		 10/24/2005
02/28/2006		    
Kansas House Democrats
(reported twice in KS, 
bottom of p. 2 and top of p. 3?)		 $1000 03/30/2005    
House Democrat Campaign Committee $2000 10/11/2006    
The Senate Democrats $1000 12/07/2007    
Kansans for a Democratic House $1000 12/07/2006    
Republican Party Kansas Republican Senatorial Committee     $1000 03/30/2005
Kansas Senate Republicans     $2000 07/27/2006
House Republican Campaign Committee     $2000
$1000		 10/11/2006
12/07/2006
Kansas Republican (?)     $1000 12/7/2006
PACs Kansas Traditional Republican Majority     $25,000
$3,500		 12/28/2005A
10/11/2006
TOTAL   $72,500   $35,500   
Notes:

Reported in Kansas "Verified Statement" but NOT Found in Missouri Report.

A Heavy Constructors reported this on their Verified Statement filed on July 24, 2006, while KTRM reported receiving this $25,000 in their January 10, 2006 report.  Is there a penalty for being six months late in reporting a $25,000 contribution?

Verified statements have no date line (why?), but are stamped by the Secretary of State when received and filed. Verified statements have no total amount for money raised, money spent, or money in the bank.  It's not possible to "verify" anything from a verified statement.  There are often page totals, but no aggregate totals for receipts or expenditures.  

The current verified statements are a bit like having a checking account with a list of checks and deposits and NEVER checking the balances with the bank.  Without balances, can you tell if you made a mistake in your check book?  How can the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission verify ANYTHING with the current system of reporting by PACs from outside Kansas?  Why are PACs outside Kansas given preferential treatment over those in Kansas?

Shown below is the cover page for the July 2006 report filed with the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission.

The reporting of a $25,000 contribution to the Kansas Traditional Republican Majority (see first line below from p. 1 of 5 in the July 2006 Verified Statement) SHOULD have been made in their January 2006 report instead of July 2006.  There's no penalty for "forgetting" such a large contribution for over six months?  Why does Kansas allow this without penalty?  

Why did this Missouri PAC NEVER report this contribution to the Missouri Ethics Commission?  Is there ANY controlling legal authority for all the money raised and spent by a PAC outside Kansas who chooses to file Verified Statements in Kansas?

 

Table 4b.  Summary of Contributions by Heavy Constructors
to Kansas Statewide Elected Officials

  Recipient Democrats Republicans
Amount Date Amount Date
Governor Kathleen Sebelius (D, Topeka) $2000 08/21/2006 - -
Inaugural Committee $2000 12/07/2006 - -
Attorney General Paul Morrison (D, Lenexa) $1000
 $1000
$1000		 07/06/2006
10/11/2006
12/07/2006		 - -
Secretary of State Kay O'Connor (R, Olathe) - - $500 07/06/2006
Ron Thornburg (R, Topeka) - - $1000
 $1000		 07/06/2006
10/11/2006
Treasurer Lynn Jenkins (R, Topeka) - - $500 10/11/2006
Insurance Commissioner

 

 Sandy Praeger (R, Lawrence) - - $500 07/06/2006
Bonnie Sharp (D, Kansas City) $500 07/06/2006 - -
TOTAL    $7,500   $3,500 -

 

Table 4c.  Summary of Contributions by Heavy Constructors
to Kansas Legislature

House of Representatives

District  Recipient Democrats Republicans
Amount Date Amount Date
2 Bob Grant (D, Cherokee) $200
 $200		 09/16/2005
10/11/2006		    
3 Julie Menghini (D, Pittsburg) $200 10/11/2006    
4 Shirely Palmer (D, Fort Scott) $300 10/11/2006    
6 Jene Vickrey (R, Lousiburg)     $500
 $500		 07/06/2006
10/11/2006
7 Richard Proehl (R, Parsons)     $500 07/06/2006
9 William Shirley (D, Iola) $500 10/11/2006    
10 Tom Holland (D, Baldwin City) $300 10/11/2006    
12 Jeff King (R, Independence)     $500
 $500		 07/06/2006
10/11/2006
16 Gene Rardin (D, Overland Park) $500 10/11/2006    
16 Jim Yonally  (R, Overland Park)     $500 07/06/2006
17 Stephanie Sharp (R, Lenexa)     $500 10/11/2006
18 Cindy Neighbor (D, Shawnee) $500 10/11/2006    
19 Tim Owens (R, Overland Park)     $500 10/11/2006
20 Kevin Yoder (R, Overland Park)     $500 10/11/2006
22 Sue Storm (D, Overland Park) $250 10/11/2006    
24 Edward O'Malley (R, Roeland Park)     $250

 $500		 09/16/2005
(returned)
10/11/2006
25 Terrie Huntington (R, Mission Hills)     $500 10/11/2006
27 Ray Merrick (R, Stilwell)
[majority leader]		     $500
$500
 $300		 06/09/2005
07/06/2006
10/11/2006
28 Pat Colloton (R, Leawood)     $500 10/11/2006
29 Sheryl Spalding (R, Overland Park)     $500
 $300		 07/06/2006
10/11/2006
30 Ron Worley (R, Lenexa)     $500
 $500		 07/06/2006
10/11/2006
31 Stan Frownfelter (D, Kansas City) $500 10/11/2006    
32 Louis Ruiz (D, Kansas City) $250
$200		 11/30/2005
10/11/2006		    
33 Tom Burroughs (D, Kansas City) $200 10/11/2006    
34 Valdenia Winn (D, Kansas City) $500
$200		 07/06/2006
10/11/2006		    
35 Broderick Henderson (D, Kansas City) $200 10/11/2006    
36 Margaret Long (D, Kansas City) $500
$500

 $500		 11/30/2005
07/06/2006
(returned)
10/11/2006		    
37 Mike Peterson (D, Kansas City) $200 10/11/2006    
39 Corey Mohn (D, Shawnee) $500 10/11/2006    
39 Quentin Brewer (R, Shawnee)     $500 07/06/2006
40 L. Candy Ruff (D, Leavenworth) $200 10/11/2006    
41 Marti Crow (D, Leavenworth) $200 10/11/2006    
42 Kenny Wilk (R, Lansing)     $200 10/11/2006
44 Barbara Ballad (D, Lawrence) $250
 $200		 11/30/2005
10/11/2006		    
45 Tom Sloan (R, Lawrence)     $200 10/11/2006
47 Lee Tafanelli (R, Ozawkie)     $200 10/11/2006
48 Sherrelyn Smith (R, Overland Park)     $500 07/06/2006
49 Bond Faulwell (D, Overland Park) $500
 $500		 07/06/2006
10/11/2006		    
50 Trent LeDoux (R, Holton)     $500 07/06/2006
53 Ann Mah (D, Topeka) $250 10/11/2006    
54 Tanya Dorf (D, Topeka) $500 10/11/2006    
54 Dave Heinemann (R, Topeka)     $500 07/06/2006
55 Annie Kuether (D, Topeka) $200 10/11/2006    
57 Vaughn Flora (D, Topeka) $200 10/11/2006    
58 Harold Lane (D, Topeka) $200 10/11/2006    
59 Joe Humerickhouse (R, Osage City)     $200 10/11/2006
60 Don Hill (R, Emporia)     $500 07/06/2006
62 Bruce Larkin (D, Baileyville) $250 11/30/2005    
62 Steve Lukert (D, Sabetha) $200 10/11/2006    
63 Jerry Henry (D, Cummings) $200 10/11/2006    
64 Carolyn Gaston (R, Milford)     $250 07/06/2006
65 Barbara Craft (R, Junction City)     $250
 $250		 07/06/2006
10/11/2006
66 Sydney Carlin (D, Manhattan) $500 10/11/2006    
68 Tom Moxley (R, Council Grove)     $250
 $200		 07/06/2006
10/11/2006
69 Deena Horst (R, Salina)     $250 10/11/2006
72 Tom Thull (D, North Newton) $250 10/11/2006    
74 Carol Birch (R, Hesston)     $150 07/06/2006
74 Don Schroeder (R, Inman)     $150 07/06/2006
78 Ed Trimmer (D, Winfield) $250 10/11/2006    
81 Ted Powers (R, Mulvane)     $100 10/11/2006
82 Charles Mosqueda (R, Derby)     $150 07/06/2006
83 Jo Ann Pottorff (R, Wichita)     $250 10/11/2006
86 Judith Loganbill (D, Wichita) $150
 $250		 07/06/2006
10/11/2006		    
103 Delia Garcia (D, Wichita) $150 07/06/2006    
109 Clay Aurand (R, Courtland)     $250 11/30/2005
110 Dan Johnson (R, Hays)     $400 07/06/2006
112 Marty Keenan (D, Great Bend) $500
 $500		 07/06/2006
10/11/2006		    
114 Kent Goyen (D, Pratt) $500 10/11/2006    
116 Dennis McKinney (D, Greensburg)
[minority leader]		 $500
 $500
 $300		 06/09/2005
07/06/2006
10/11/2006		    
122 Gary Hayzlett (R, Lakin)     $500
 $500

 $300		 11/30/2005
07/06/2006
(returned)
10/11/2006
123 Jeff Whitham (R, Garden City)     $150 07/06/2006
124 Bill Light (R, Rolla)     $400
 $200		 07/06/2006
10/11/2006
TOTAL $15,400   $17,600  

State Senate

District  Recipient Democrats Republicans
Amount Date Amount Date
9 Julia Lynn (R, Olathe)     $500 12/08/2006
11 John Vratil (R, Leawood)     $1000 10/23/2006
12 Pat Apple (R, Louisburg)     $250 11/30/2005
13 Jim Barone (D, Frontenac) $250 11/30/2005    
37 Dennis Wilson (R, Overland Park)     $250 11/30/2005
TOTAL $250   $1750  
Notes:

Bold items (except for totals) were reported on Missouri reports about Kansas money, but were not found on Kansas Verified States.  

Reported in Kansas "Verified Statement" but NOT Found in Missouri Report

 

Table 4d.  Summary of Contributions by Heavy Constructors
to Kansas County Governments

County Position Recipient Amount Date
Johnson County Board Chair Annabeth Surbaugh (R) $500
 $500
$500		 09/16/2005
07/05/2006
10/11/2006
Commissioner Ed Eilert (R) $500
 $500		 07/06/2006
10/11/2006
Dolores Furtado (R) $500
 $500		 07/06/2006
10/11/2006
Kathy Huttmann (R) $500
 $500		 07/06/2006
10/11/2006
Ed Peterson (D) $500
 $500		 07/06/2006
10/11/2006
Water District Bob Reese (R) $300 03/30/2005
James Vader (R) $300 03/30/2005
Dick Weisser (R) $300 03/30/2005
Local Political Committee Yes On Soccer $25,000 10/20/2006A
KCK / Wy
Unified Gov		 Mayor/CEO Joe Reardon (D) $500
$500
$500		 02/22/2005
03/30/2005
01/23/2007
Rick Rehorn (D) $500 03/30/2005
Commission Nathan Barnes (D) $350
$350		 02/22/2005
03/30/2005
Donald Deseure (D) $350
$350		 02/22/2005
03/30/2005
Butch Ellison (D) $350
$350		 02/22/2005
03/30/2005
Michael Kane (D) $350
$350		 02/22/2005
03/30/2005
TOTAL   $36,200  
A Reported twice?  This item was reported on p. 2 and p. 8 of their Verified Statement dated Nov. 6, 2006.  One $25,000 contribution or two?  The Yes On Soccer report filed with the JoCo Election Office only shows one $25,000 contribution.  See notes following Table 4e.

 

Table 4e.  Summary of Contributions by Heavy Constructors
to Kansas City Governments

City Position Recipient Amount Date
Gardner Local Committee Citizens Supporting Gardner
(c/o Tom Mertz)		 $1,500 09/11/2006A
Olathe Council Bob Montgomery (R) $500
$500		 02/22/2005
03/30/2005
Overland Park Mayor Carl Gerlach (R) $500
$500		 02/22/2005
03/30/2005
Neil Sader (D) $500
$500		 02/22/2005
03/30/2005
Overland Park Council Terry Goodman (R) $300
$300		 02/22/2005
03/30/2005
Jim Hix (R) $300
$300		 02/22/2005
03/30/2005
Dave Janson (R) $300
$300		 02/22/2005
03/30/2005
(returned)
Donna Owens (R) $300
$300		 02/22/2005
03/30/2005
Curt Skoog (R) $300
$300		 02/22/2005
03/30/2005
Dan Stock (R) $300
$300		 02/22/2005
03/30/2005
(returned)
TOTAL $8,100  
A Heavy Constructors reported this item to Missouri with a date of 7/11/2006 and to Kansas with a date 9/11/2006. This apparently was reported twice on the Kansas Verified Statements.  This item was reported on p. 1 and p. 8 of the Kansas Verified Statement dated Nov. 6, 2006.  This figure could be verified by inspecting the Committee report that should be filed with the JoCo Election Office. 

At present the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission claims there were NO DUPLICATES in this report.  Consider these facts:

In January the Kansas Meadowlark reviewed the report for Citizens Support Gardner at the JoCo Election Office and does not remember multiple contributions by the Heavy Constructors --  documentation for this is not available at this time but will be provided when time permits. 

The Yes on Soccer report filed with the Johnson County Election Office shows only a single contribution from the Heavy Constructors:

If the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission is correct and there really are not any duplicates, contrary to the two cases shown above, there is another $26,500 of contributions from the Missouri Heavy Constructors from unknown sources, which are not made public on any document filed with either the Kansas or Missouri Ethics Commission.  Are the expenditures by the Heavy Constructors even more than $266,278 already documented?

If there really are DUPLICATE entries in the Verified Statements, this is even more proof of how flawed this system is to report political money in Kansas from a PAC registered in another state.

Kansas Heavy Constructors

Who were the Kansas Heavy Constructors involved with this PAC?  Here's a sample page from the July 2006 Verified Statement filed in Kansas:

Oddly, many of the contributions by the Kansas Heavy Constructors are made on a near monthly basis, and are odd values, down to the penny.  

Here's a list of Kansas Heavy Constructors making contributions in 2005 and 2006 as reported on the Verified Statements filed in Kansas:

  • Comanche Construction Co, Olathe
  • Julius Kaaz Construction Co, Leavenworth  
  • Leavenworth Excavating, Leavenworth
  • List & Clark Construction Co., Overland Park
  • O'Donnell & Sons Construction, Overland Park
  • Pyramid Excavation, Shawnee
  • Pyramid Contractors, Olathe

Other Heavy Constructors with Missouri addresses make most of the contributions in 2005 and 2006:

  • Clarkson Construction Company, KCMO
  • J. M. Fahey Construction Company, Grandview, MO
  • GC Construction Company, Blue Springs, MO
  • Seal-O-Matic Paving Company, Riverside, MO
  • Superior Bowen Asphalt Company LLC, KCMO

In the Sept. 2005 a few additional contributors were noted:(10/10/2005 Missouri report):

  • Allied Oil & Supply, KCMO
  • Cretex Concrete Products Midwest, Shawnee
  • Holliday Sand & Grave, Lenexa, KS
  • Dean Machinery Co, KCMO
  • Lafarge North America, Lee's Summit, MO
  • Dean Beattie, KCMO
  • Dick Jungck, KCMO
  • Radmacher Brothers Excavating Company, Pleasant Hill, MO
  • Transystems Corporation, Lenexa, KS
  • Heathwood Oil Company, KCMO
  • Lafarge Construction Materials, Sugar Creek, MO
  • Roadbuilders Machinery & Supply, KCK
  • Carter-Waters Corp, KCMO
  • Carter Energy, Overland Park, KS
  • Murphy Tractor & Equipment Co, KCMO
  • Cretcher-Lynch & Co., KCMO
  • United Rentals Trench Safety, KCMO
  • Victor L Phillips Co., KCMO
  • Precision Tractor & Equipment, Overland Park, KS

In October 2004 over $40,000 was raised by the above groups in concert with a number of groups that did not make other other contributions in 2005 or 2006 (see the 1/12/2005 Missouri report):

  • Gold Bank, Leawood, KS
  • Volvo Construction Equipment, Skyland, NC
  • UMB Bank, KCMO
  • Winger & Company, KCMO
  • Universal Lubricants, Wichita, KS
  • Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Inc, Lincoln, NE
  • Thomas McGee, LC, KCMO
  • Legler Equipment, Grandview, MO
  • Allied Oil and Supply, Omaha, NE
  • Norma Arnold, Blue Springs, MO
  • Midway Ford Truck Center, Inc., KCMO
  • Heathwood Oil Company, KCK
  • George J. Siebers & Company, Inc., Merriam
  • Miller Law Firm, KCMO
  • Hunt Midwest Mining, Inc., KCMO
  • Shawnee Rock, Shawnee, KS
  • Cretex, West Des Moines, IA
  • CIT Group, Olathe, KS
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