An April 7, 2007 Lawrence Journal-World article discussed the Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection filing of Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) secretary, Rod Bremby, and his wife, April.  A page 1 Wichita Eagle article on April 10, "Sebelius Official Mired in Debt"  (still online at the Newton Kansan) mentioned that in the bankruptcy filing their combined income was $204,533 a year with a monthly take-home pay of about $11,000.  The Kansas City Star the next day buried the same story on p. 11. 

[Oddly, except for the original Lawrence Journal-World article, and the Newton Kansan article, the related articles by the Eagle or Star are no longer online.  A newspaper search using keywords "Bremby" and "bankruptcy" shows that this story apparently was not reported by the Emporia Gazette, Hays Daily News, Hutchinson News, The Manhattan Mercury, or the Topeka Capital-Journal.]

The Bremby's had nearly $600,000 in debts and $464,000 in assets.  According to the Eagle's article, the couple's debts included:

• $52,000 in federal income taxes from 2004 and 2005

• $3,800 in state income taxes (but hardworking Kansans pay his salary of $98,372/year)

• $4,600 in Douglas County property taxes

• unsecured debts and credit-cards bills totaling $80,000

The Bremby's own a home in Lawrence valued at $399,000 but owe first, second and third mortgages totaling $453,000.

An April 16, 2007 Letter to the Kansas City Star suggested:  "The secretary’s personal lack of fiscal responsibility does not speak well for his ability to spend $217 million of tax money in an appropriate manner" and challenged Gov. Sebelius:  "Quit supporting this man who has duped you, cut your losses and fire him before a public protest."

But, "Sebelius Supports KDHE Secretary" according to an April 11 Wichita Eagle article:

"I am pleased with the leadership of Secretary Bremby as head of Health and Environment," Sebelius said in an e-mail response to questions from The Eagle.

BUT, with all his money problems, Rod Bremby still paid his political dues last year by donating $500 to Kathleen Sebelius for Governor just before the election (see p. 322 of Sebelius' Oct 2006 campaign contribution report):

Why would Bremby donate $500 to Sebelius when he was obviously having money problems in paying his taxes and medical bills?  

In a Lawrence Journal-World opinion article yesterday about the KUMC-KU Hospital agreement, Dolph C. Simons, Jr. said this about Sebelius:  "She has tried to pack the hospital board with individuals who would vote however the governor wishes."   But, Sebelius has packed almost all of Kansas government with individuals who will follow her wishes.  

Sebelius is only looking for "yes" people in her political appointees, and that is why she is keeping Rod Bremby as the KDHE secretary.  Sebelius can trust Bremby to always say "yes" and give her politically exactly what she wants.  For example, recently KDHE denied the permit for expansion of coal-fired power plants in Western Kansas  because that is what Gov. Sebelius wanted even though there had been no violation of state or federal laws.  

Instead of being fired as a political liability, Bremby on Friday fired a key member of his KDHE staff for no apparent reason.  On Friday the Lawrence Journal-World reported Bremby fired the state's top health official, Dr. Howard Rodenberg.  Why would Bremby fire Rodenberg?  Perhaps we should ask what does Kathleen Sebelius want in all this?

Rodenberg's replacement was announced to be Richard Morrissey, who is not only a multi-year Sebelius' contributor but in the most recent election cycle was active in the Kansas Alliance for Education -- a group that raised $182,104 to control the outcome of the State Board of Education races last year.  Perhaps Sebelius can trust Morrissey to do exactly what she wants politically?