Kansas Meadowlark

Today I drove by the Jeffrey Energy Center in Pottawatomie County north of St. Marys. I noticed the plumes from the coal plants showed the wind was almost still (see below). The two windmills at the Jeffrey Energy Center (left) were not moving at all so they were not generating any of the 1.5 megawatts they might.

What good is wind energy as a major solution to our energy policy, when the wind doesn’t blow some days like today?

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A recent Meadowlark article asked whether Congressman Dennis Moore would exploit a one-day window to send mail on Aug. 6 to constituents in the 3rd Congressional District paid for by taxpayers. Apparently, that franking window was a bit too narrow in 2008, and Congressman Moore did not send such a mailing. But, what about Moore’s franked pieces in 2006, 2004, and 2002 sent out just over 90 days before elections?

In Aug 2006 after the August 2006 primary, Congressman Moore sent at least TWO mailings that were “prepared, published and mailed at taxpayer expense” just days before the Aug 9, 2006 deadline for free mail before the November general election. These TWO mailings were sent at taxpayer expense even though Congressman Moore had nearly $1 million in his campaign account at the end of June 2006! Moore had sent similar franked pieces paid for by taxpayers before the August Primary in 2004 and 2002.

The Meadowlark intended to investigate how all Kansas House members in Congress used franking over the last three election cycles, but the Clerk of the U.S. House wants an average citizen to go to Washington, DC to see such information!

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The Hays Daily News is reporting that Don Hineman, one of the organizers and the first chair of the Kansas Alliance for Education (KAE) group, won the primary election in State Rep District 118 in Western Kansas after the official canvassing of votes.

Most don’t know much about the KAE group and the number of connections this group has with left-leaning political groups in Kansas.

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A new law in Kansas required “last minute” reports of late contributions and independent expenditures in excess of $300 for both candidates and political action committees (PACs) in last week’s August primary election.

The following table is a summary of these “last minute” PAC reports that total $42,552 in contributions and $134,158 in expenditures:

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Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh (left) was quoted in the Kansas City Star yesterday that “we threw a party, and nobody came” about no voters showing up to vote at Fort Riley precincts in Tuesday’s primary election.

Geary County Clerk Rebecca Bossemeyer was quoted in the Topeka Capital-Journal that this “isn’t unusual in a primary election.”

“Out of 569 registered voters living at Fort Riley, none - zero - cast a ballot on the post Tuesday in Geary County, either by going to a polling place or by advance or absentee ballot.”

But there’s a bigger story here, about problems in Kansas’ voter registration records. (more…)

Congressman Dennis Moore from the 3rd District in Kansas has a history of exploiting free franked mailings prior to elections. For some reason, Congressman Moore likes to communicate with constitutes about 90 days before an election but not so much at other times.

Why should Congressman Moore use a campaign account to pay for mailings to constituents in an election year, when the taxpayers can be stuck with the bill?

Tomorrow seems to be the only day before the Nov 4 general election that Congressman Moore can use his free Congressional franking privilege to mail a slick, campaign-looking flier to his constituents. Will Congressman Moore send that free mailing tomorrow? (more…)

On Saturday the Harris News Service published an article, Fundraising gap grows between parties, in which Chris Green commented about recent contribution reports filed by Kansas Democrats and Republicans:

“The Democrats’ state party reported raising and spending about 15 times more than the state’s GOP apparatus in reports submitted to the state this past week. It also led the state GOP in cash leftover, $120,335 to $2,340.”

While the Kansas Democratic Party itself has more cash than Republicans, another significant source of funds for Kansas Democrats is Gov. Sebelius’ Blue Stem Fund Political Action Committee (PAC). In her July report, Gov. Sebelius reported raising $246,450, spending $73,862, with $207,271 in the bank for use in the November elections: (more…)

Gail Finney (left) will be facing an uphill battle against her opponent, Inga Taylor (below), to represent Kansans in State Rep District 84 in Wichita/Sedgwick County, which is currently represented by Oletha Faust-Goudeau.

On Tuesday a DC group called Kansans for a Diverse Voice at the Table formed a new PAC with a Washington, D.C. address. According to their Statement of Organization the group is affiliated with the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund in Washington, D.C.

Yesterday, in one of the new “last minute” reports of Kansas campaign money, Kansans for a Diverse Voice at the Table, reports independent expenditures of $12,180 to help Inga Taylor in defeating Gail Finney.

Saturday Update (8/2): Kansans for a Diverse Voice at the Table spends another $6,610 in helping Inga against Gail.

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New this year in Kansas elections are the pre-primary late contributions and independent expenditure reports. Yesterday, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee reported a $25,000 contribution from the KCMO Carpenter’s District Council, possibly to cover the expense they reported a few days earlier to spend another $22,000 for “Kultala/Gilstrap Primary Democratic Voter ID and GOTV Program.” Kansas Democrats really, really, really, don’t like incumbent Democrat Senator Mark Gilstrap and really, really, really, want to elect Kelly Kultala. Or, are the Democrats now just giving the seat to Republican Steve Fitzgerald? (more…)

Campaign finance reports from candidates and political action committees (PACs) were due in the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission Office on Monday.

A number of candidate and PAC reports are missing and “failure to file” letters have been sent to them.

But, enforcement of Kansas ethics laws seems fairly lax, and it’s not clear there’s much of a consequence for a late report or “errors and omissions” on the reports. (more…)