Kansas Meadowlark

The editorial in today’s Kansas City Star, “Wanted: Fiscal responsibility in candidate plans,” compared proposals by Senators Obama and McCain:

Experts say both candidates’ economic proposals would increase the federal deficit. That’s unacceptable. The country is ready for a president who will model fiscal responsibility.

The topic of this editorial is welcome, but why is the Star writing an editorial about fiscal responsibility when they support most tax increases, and do such little investigative reporting about waste of tax dollars? Why does the Star do so little to promote accountability in government? (more…)

Ken Marrero from The Sam Adams Alliance greeted right-center bloggers from Kansas at SamSphere Kansas held yesterday in Topeka. The SamSphere “About” page describes the Samsphere meetings held in Chicago in March, and in Denver in April and yesterday in Topeka:

SamSphere is a new media forum, hosted by the Sam Adams Alliance, where bloggers and e-activists … can gather together to network and share ideas. SamSphere is specifically geared toward bloggers and e-activists who focus on local and state-level politics, and who are dedicated to the principles of individual freedom and limited government.

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First-term, Democratic State Rep Gene Rardin continues the use of tax-payer funded mailings for his re-election campaign. In the last seven weeks, FOUR franked mailings have been used to put Rardin’s picture in front of potential voters. While Rardin was directly responsible for Mailing 3 (see below), which is common for all state legislators, the House Minority leader mailed the other three on Rardin’s behalf. All four mailings have been at taxpayer expense, and none of the mailings have a “paid for” notice. (more…)

Like Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, you’re against that dirty coal power plant in Western Kansas polluting our air with carbon dioxide? But being “green” is something for others especially when you can fly with the Governor on the State’s plane to a sports event?

Let’s start this story with a trip to New Orleans to watch KU in the NCAA Basketball Final Four in 2003. Wouldn’t you want to join Gov. Sebelius in this wonderful plane paid for by Kansas taxpayers:

The Governor’s Executive Airplane: N350KS

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A recent Meadowlark article gave preliminary information about franking abuse by both Democratic House Minority Leader, Dennis McKinney, and Kansas Senate Minority Leader, Anthony Hensley. Additional information about McKinney’s mailings is not yet available, but details from the Legislative Administrative Services show how much was spent by Senator Hensley on joint mailings on behalf of other Senators. The joint mailings consisted of a postcard and newsletter. (more…)

Recently both the Kansas House Minority Leader, Dennis McKinney, and Kansas Senate Minority Leader, Anthony Hensley, abused their generous budget to mail items to Kansas voters. These mailings had less to do with helping inform constituents about what is going on in the Kansas legislature, and more to do with getting certain Democrats re-elected this year.

A reliable source tells the Meadowlark that House Minority Leader Mckinney will reimburse the State for postage for his recent mailings.

Update (Apr 27) : At least TWO senate districts and two house districts are known to be involved in this franking abuse. Why is the media ignoring this waste of tax dollars? Read the rest of this entry…

Why did the Kansas press give this new information resource such little coverage? No article about KanView can be found by the Kansas City Star. Read the rest of this entry …