Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, is term-limited from running for another term as governor in Kansas, but huge amounts of out-of-state money funneled through her Bluestem Fund PAC may impact Kansas government for years. Why should a governor be allowed to use out-of-state money to buy a state’s government through her personal PAC?
Additional huge amounts of out-of-state money from the Greater Kansas City Chamber PAC appear to be successfully drowning out the messages of conservative and even “moderate” Republican candidates. When will Kansans realize their state is being bought by out-of-state interests and money as Sebelius attempts to replace many Republicans with Democrats?
The latest political action committee (PAC) reports were due on Monday, and many were scanned and put online as of 7:59 PM Monday night. But, some PAC reports, which may show significant money or may reflect significant influence, are not online yet, including:
- Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce PAC
- Higher Education Fund of the Greater KC Chamber of Commerce
- Life Sciences Fund of the Greater KC Chamber of Commerce
- Kansas National Education Assoc (KNEA) PAC
- Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus PAC
- MAINstream PAC
- Kansans for Life PAC
The reports will likely be online later today, but there are still “missing” PAC reports for out-of-state PACs filing verified statements, which are not yet put online anywhere.
The following is a quick review of selected significant PAC reports filed so far.
BlueStem PAC
Raised: $415,000 [ONLY $30,000 from Kansas addresses]
$30,000 DRIVE Committee
$100,000 American Federation of Teachers
$50,000 AFSCME
$5,000 Barr Laboratories
$15,000 Int’l Assoc. of Fire Fighters
$25,000 UA Political Action Fund
$5,000 Volunteer Political Fund
$50,000 AFSCME + $6279 in-kind
$100,000 Service Employees International Union’s (SEIU) PAC
$5,000 YRC Worldwide [KS address]
$5,000 International Brotherhood of Boilermakers [KS address]
$10,000 AT&T [KS address]
$10,000 Payless Shoes [KS address]
Spent: $485,996
$37,700 Cooper and Secrest (Polling and travel)
$5,000 Kansas Democratic Party
$3,750 Hamilton Campaigns (Research)
$14,500 Melanie Meier (Research)
$292,800 MHSC Partners ($40,000 Pete Roman/Mary Pilcher Cook; $30,000 Shala Perez/Mike Peterson; $10,000 Tom Holland/Roger Pine; $10,000 Greta Goodwin/Steve Abrams; $10,000 Ron Wimmer/Julia Lynn)
$19,990 Frye Allen Advertising (Taylor and Eric Rucker)
$18,552 Frye Allen Advertising (Patty Hogan)
$6,438 Econ O Print (Mike Slattery/Ronnie Metsker)
$120,071 Mammen Group (many state rep/state senate races)
The Cooper &Secrest polling connection is almost expected with Gov. Sebelius and Kansas Democrats political activities:
- Cooper and Secrest was involved in a “study” showing Kansans “rejected” coal-fired plants earlier this year. [$25,000+ to Cooper & Secrest].
- Kansas Democrats Use Congressional District Party “Committees” as Political $uperfund [$125,300 to Cooper & Secrest].
- The ProKanDo PAC raised and spent more political money than any other Kansas PAC [$15,066 to Cooper & Secrest].
Gov. Sebelius is taking a stand in almost all legislative races through her Bluestem Fund PAC. Why is the chief executive of Kansas stacking the legislature with her picks, especially after she’s done much the same thing to the Kansas Supreme Court?
Sebelius may control all three branches of Kansas government soon and there will be no checks and balances.
Sebelius is targeting conservative Republicans, such as State Senator Mike Petersen and State Rep Marc Rhoades, with these “big oil” hit pieces:
BlueStem Fund PAC “Big Oil” Hit on Senator Mike Petersen (R-Wichita)
BlueStem Fund PAC “Big Oil” Hit on State Rep Marc Rhoades (R-Newton)
Rhoades was also attacked about health care:
BlueStem Fund PAC “Health Care” Hit on State Rep Marc Rhoades (R-Newton)
Other conservatives were attacked on other issues, such as the “Voter Guide” used for Pete Roman and against Mary Pilcher Cook in the the Senate 10 race.
BlueStem Fund PAC “Follow the Leader” Hit on Senate candidate Mary Pilcher Cook (R-Shawnee)
Sebelius and her Bluestem Fund PAC are even attempting to “take out” moderate Republicans. The mailing below is intended to harm Pine, but Sebelius is being hypocritical on sexual predators and children. Sebelius chooses to look the other way instead of helping to expose the abuse of children hidden by the actions of her political contributor, Dr. George Tiller.
BlueStem Fund PAC “Safety” Hit on Senator Roger Pine (R-Lawrence)
ProKanDo
Raised: $150,732 ($101,000 Dr George Tiller)
Spent: $130,658
- $20,000 Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC)
- $15,000 Senate Democrats Committee
- $38,850 MSHC Partners
Unlike almost all previous ProKanDo reports, no in-kind salaries were reported. The reason is not known.
Note MSHC connection to Blue Stem PAC. Is it just a coincidence that ProKanDo spent $38,850 at the same DC firm as the $292,800 spent by Sebelius’ Bluestem PAC during this reporting period?
Dr. Tiller continues “buying” members of the Kansas Senate using DSCC and the Senate Democrats Committee as his “contractors.” In 2004 Dr. Tiller’s focus through ProKanDo was also on the Senate races.
Kansans for Lifesaving Cures PAC
Raised: $151,500 [$150,000 Life Sciences Fund of the Greater Kansas City (MO) Chamber]
Spent: $143,032
$20,000 Fieldworks: Voter ID and GOTV for Pete Roman, Joe Novak, Stephanie Kelton, Cindy Neighbor, Milack Talia
$20,700 Cooper & Secrest for tracking polls
$18,000 Kansas Traditional Republican Majority
$15,000 Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures (educational activities)
$17,000 zata3 (tracking polls)
Is it just a coincidence that in the same reporting period that Bluestem Fund PAC, ProKanDo, and Kansans for Lifesaving Cures all contracted with Cooper & Secrest from the DC area for polling?
The $150,000 paid to Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures possibly connects this PAC, Gov. Sebelius, and the Greater Kansas City Chamber PAC. The 2007 IRS 990 filed by this group shows that Gov. Sebelius former chief of staff and campaign manager (and wife of former Supreme Court justice), Joyce Allegrucci seemed to be running this non-profit, and indirectly its political activities:
Note the huge gross receipts above of over $1million, which was also spent during that year.
Money usually reflects political power, so Joyce Allegrucci as a VP and paid $108,000 likely has more say in this organization than Brad Kemp, who was only paid $75,634 to be President and Treasurer.
Could Allegrucci have coordinated or influenced political funds for this PAC, Gov. Sebelius’ Bluestem PAC, and the Greater Kansas City Chamber’s spending through their Life Sciences Fund?
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC)
Raised: $158,400
$50,000 Phill Ruffin
$25,000 Carpenter’s District Council of KC
$20,000 Kansas NEA
$10,000 Heavy Constructors
$20,000 ProKanDo
Spent: $219,466
$70,000 to Kansas Democratic Party for Voter Contact Services)
$21,903 Fieldworks (for Kultala for Senate)
$8,000 Kansas Democratic Party for Staffing Services
$22,000 Kansas Democratic Party for Voter Contact Services
$36,000 Next Big Thing, Internal Voter Contact Services
Other Kansas PACs lack the money and power of Kansas Democrats:
Senate Republican Leadership Committee
Raised: $23,000 ($7,500 Kansas City Power & Light; $5000 Kansas Contractors Assn)
Spent: $145,904 ($6,000 FLS Connect for polling; $80,077 for postage; $17,379 for printing)
Kansas Traditional Republican Majority PAC
Raised: $42,175 ($10,000 Greater KC Chamber PAC; $18,000 Kansans for Lifesaving Cures; $5000 Mid-Kansas Electric Company)
Spent: $88,813 [BUT most expenditures were for Aug 2008 primary]
Kansas Cable TV PAC
Raised: $19,750 (all contributions from KS Cable Telecomm. Assn.)
Spent: $39,351
Kansas Agri Business Council
Raised: $21,291
Spent: $14,929
Kansas Insurance Agents PAC
Raised: $25,120
Spent: $38,276 (Why $1000 to Kathleen Sebelius Committee?)
Kansas Optometric PAC
Raised: $8,840
Spent: $39,800
HCA Kansas Good Government Fund
Raised: $8,750 (Menorah Medical Center)
Spent: $25,750
Kansas Trial Lawyers (Kansas Assn for Justice-Consumer/Civil Justice PAC)
Raised: $6,906
Spent: $32,636
AT&T Kansas PAC
Raised: $9,570
Spent: $24,450
Sebelius’ Bluestem PAC and the Greater Kansas City Chamber PACs continue to be a dominant force in Kansas politics, yet most citizens don’t understand the money trail.
Related:
- Sebelius’ PAC under fire for mailer against Sloan, Lawrence Journal-World, Oct 30, 2008.
- PAC controlled by Sebelius spends $300,000 for Democratic candidates in Kansas, Kansas City Star, Oct 30, 2008.
- PAC chaired by Sebelius pouring money into Democratic campaigns, Topeka Capital-Journal, Oct 29, 2008.
- David Allen’s “Politics 101″ blog gives information about Kansas political money
- Gov. Sebelius’ Bluestem Fund “Leadership” PAC attacks conservatives, Kansas Meadowlark, Oct 17, 2008.
- Gov. Sebelius’ Bluestem Fund PAC awash with cash for November elections, Kansas Meadowlark, Aug 4, 2008.
- “Missing” PAC reports? Why are out-of-state PACs allowed to hide their reports?, Kansas Meadowlark, July 5, 2008.
- Greater Kansas City Chamber PAC, Awash With Cash, Forms New PACs to “Buy” Kansas Elections, Kansas Meadowlark, May 8, 2008.
Tags: Bluestem Fund PAC, Cooper & Secrest, Greater Kansas City Chamber PAC, Kansans for Lifesaving Cures PAC, Kathleen Sebelius, Life Sciences Fund of the Greater Kansas City Chamber, ProKanDo PAC
