Kansas Meadowlark

The Wichita Voters for Truth PAC sent out this hit piece against State Rep candidate Jan Beemer in the Nov 2006 election, but never filed its Jan 2007 PAC report with the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission explaining how much money was raised and spent on that mailing. Bruce McKinney from Wichita was the Chair and Treasurer of this PAC.

According to the June 24, 2005 Wichita Eagle, “Gay Pride Parade, Festival Sunday”, Bruce McKinney organized the first Wichita gay pride events in 1990 and was quoted by the Eagle June 22, 2007, “Parade and Festival Part of Gay Pride Event,” about last year’s event. Bruce will likely be at the 2008 Pride Parade and Pride Festival this Sunday in Wichita, so if anyone sees Bruce at these events will you remind him the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission would like to talk to him about his missing PAC report from 2007? (more…)

[Updated] Gov. Sebelius’ reception for Dr. George Tiller at the Governor’s mansion while Tiller was under criminal investigation has been in the news for the past several days. News reports today focused on a late reimbursement to the State of Kansas for the event. Gov. Sebelius did not report auction items she donated to the Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus, like the reception, as expenditures by her campaign committee or PAC, so the donations must have been made by her personally. (more…)

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:

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Gov. Kathleen Sebelius withdraws her appointment of John Carmichael to the Kansas Human Rights Commission. The Journal of the Kansas Senate for May 1 shows this message from Gov. Sebelius to the Kansas Senate: (more…)

In its Jan 10, 2008 report, the #1 Kansas PAC (from Missouri) raised over $1 million, spent almost half-a-million, and has over three-quarter million in the bank. The top 15 PACs account for nearly 60% of contributions received by PACs, about half of the expenditures, and over 55% of the PAC money in the bank for the 2008 elections. See the rankings of all 228 Kansas PACs. See the rest of this entry …

In their Jan 10, 2008 reports filed with the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission, 228 Kansas Political Action Committees (PACs) reported receiving a total of $4,394,938, spending $2,806,104, and collectively have $3,718,387 in the bank for the 2008 elections. Which PACs have “Errors and Omissions” in their reports that should be fixed? Read the rest of this entry …

The Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission failed to take action against a PAC Carmichael was involved with that failed to report its political mailings in Nov 2006. See the rest of this entry …

Why is the “non-partisan” Ethics Commission enforcing a state law only on the Kansas Speaker of the House? Why have the current and former Speakers not been more assertive in getting their appointment onto the Ethics Commission?

Recommendations are given to improve the transparency and accountability of the Ethics Commission.

Feb 13 Update: Speaker Neufeld appoints John Reimer to Ethics Commission.

Read the rest of this entry …