Repeated offense from 2006? This morning the Kathleen Sebelius Committee sent out an email with the subject “Our Energy Future.” The email addressed Sebelius’ view of the debate over the coal plants in Western Kansas during this year’s legislative session. Gov. Sebelius did not ask for contributions in words in her letter, but there was a “Contribute” button at the bottom of the email. But, elected officials may not solicit contributions from lobbyists until the legislature adjourns, which is likely next week.
By late afternoon a follow-up email was sent by her Political Director:
-—– Forwarded Message
From: Joe Scranton <Jscranton@ksgovernor.com>
Reply-To: <info@ksgovernor.com>
Date: Tue, 20 May 2008
Subject: Correction: Our Energy Future
Kathleen Sebelius Committee
May 20, 2008
Dear Supporter:
I need to acknowledge an unfortunate mistake I made in the email letter you were sent earlier today from Governor Kathleen Sebelius.
In this email, there was a “Contribute” button at the bottom of the page. Since the Kansas Legislature has not officially completed its work, and our email list includes registered lobbyists, a contribution request is not appropriate. For that reason, the button should not have been there. The button has been electronically removed now from most emails, so most recipients should no longer see it if they open their email.
I want to make one thing clear. While the email letter was signed and approved by the Governor, what was NOT approved by her and what was done without her knowledge was adding the “Contribute” button before it was sent. It should not have happened, and the mistake was mine.
If you have opened the email previously, I apologize for any misunderstanding I may have created.
Sincerely,
Joseph C. Scranton
Political Director
Kathleen Sebelius Committee
The email letter sent out early today was a message about “Our Energy Future”:
Dear Supporter:
I am hopeful that the contentious debate over coal plants that has taken so much of the legislature’s time this year is almost over. …
We are lucky in Kansas that we are rich in one of the greatest sources of renewable energy… wind. There is enough wind in Kansas to produce literally thousands of megawatts of energy in our state. I have set a goal for our state to produce 10% of our energy from wind by the year 2010 and 20% by 2020. I have talked with executives in the utility industry, and I am pleased that many of them have agreed to join me in achieving these voluntary goals. In fact, there is clear evidence that we are already moving in that direction. This year the number of wind farms in Kansas is expected to double. When all plants planned or under construction come on line, we will be more than 80% of our way toward achieving my wind energy goal for 2010. …
Sincerely,
Kathleen Sebelius
Governor of Kansas
Sebelius’ statement that “I am pleased that many of them have agreed to join me in achieving these voluntary goals” is a bit disingenuous since she has used her appointee, Rod Bremby, to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to make up new regulations independently of the Kansas legislature to block the construction of new coal power plants in Western Kansas. In effect, Gov. Sebelius is using strong-arm tactics to force her policy on the utility industry and the people of Kansas, instead of allowing the free-market to address the issue.
In January the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission decided not to fine two legislators over ethics issues because they had apologized and reported the problem themselves. The Kathleen Sebelius Committee should follow the legislators’ example, but this is the Sebelius’ campaign’s second offense (see below).
The second email claims “the button has been electronically removed now from most emails, so most recipients should no longer see it if they open their email.” In the copy I received, the bitmap had been removed and appeared as a red “X”, but clicking on the “removed” button took one to Sebelius’ contribution page:
Gov. Sebelius is term-limited by the state constitution. In Jan 2008 Sebelius’ committee had over $90,000 in the bank. Why does the Sebelius Committee need more political money?
In 2006 Sebelius was fined for violating campaign finance laws, but that story was not widely reported. The Topeka Capital-Journal, April 28, 2006, explains in Sebelius fined $1500:
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on Thursday was fined $1,500 by the state ethics commission for violating campaign finance law.
The Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission said the governor’s campaign committee erred in sending an e-mail to at least 16 registered lobbyists on April 12. State law prohibits fund-raising solicitations from lobbyists during the legislative session.
The e-mail offered two links to readers to donate money to the Sebelius campaign. The ethics commission issued the fine on a 7-0 ruling.
Sebelius didn’t object.
“As a former member of the ethics commission and a strong supporter of campaign finance laws, I respect this ruling and will take immediate action to make sure nothing like this mistake occurs again,” the governor said in a statement.
A campaign staffer immediately paid the fine using funds from the Sebelius committee. The governor didn’t attend the hearing.
It was the first time a candidate was fined under the lobbyist solicitation law while using e-mail. The ethics commission this summer is expected to lay down firmer guidelines about how to use e-mail and not violate the law.
Sebelius said that would be helpful.
“This technology is becoming more widely used to communicate with voters,” she said.
The fine was identical to one levied against Attorney General Phill Kline last month when an invitation to a fund-raising event reached lobbyists. Kline self-reported his violation.
Surely the fine for a second offense by the Sebelius Committee will be more than $1500?
Thanks to a responsible citizen for forwarding these emails to me today.
If you receive a political mailing or email and have questions about it, consider sending it to editor@KansasMeadowlark.com.
Related
- E-mail will be test of ethics loophole, Salina Journal, May 21, 2008.
- Sebelius’ committee admits e-mail error, Lawrence Journal-World, May 21, 2008.
Tags: Kathleen Sebelius
