At the candidate forum, why was Ralstin not asked about policy questions related to teachers having drugs at school? Unbelievably, in 2005 Ralstin supported a teacher dismissed for having drugs in a high school parking lot.

From Channel 9 on Nov 22, 2004:

KMBC’s Peggy Breit reported that Albert Spungen, 52, a social studies teacher, was pulled over for a routine traffic violation in the school’s parking lot.

The officer smelled marijuana and a search of the car allegedly turned up a small amount of pot and a pipe

Later Mary Ca Ralstin appeared on Fox 4 talking about Mr. Spungen:

“There are some teachers that are not good role models, and there are some that are. He is a good role model and I think the school needs to keep him.”

Who might be an example of a “bad” role model in Mary Ca Ralstin’s mind? The Ralstin family took the Shawnee Mission Northwest “Safe Home Pledge” that under age drinking or illegal drugs would not be allowed in their home, but then supported a teacher busted with illegal drugs in the school parking lot?

For the last three elections cycles (six years) Ralstin has supported Democratic Congressman Dennis Moore over various Republican opponents through a “Republicans for Moore” group of Democrats masquerading as Republicans. The following gives a chronology of Ralstin’s political activities as a “Republican for Moore”:

Chronology of Mary Ca Ralstin’s Political Activities

An enlarged version of the above Republicans for Moore 2002 political ad:

Note in 2002 the Republicans for Moore were endorsed by the Mainstream Coalition’s MAIN*PAC and Kansas Families United for Public Education (now called Kansas Families for Education).

In a March 2002 Letter to the KC Star, Ralstin mocked Culture of Life leaders using some rather twisted logic:

“school funding [was] a moral issue” more important than the unborn.

“The legislators who have the courage to stand up and do the right thing by the majority of children who are here now are the real heroes of life.”

In Feb 2004, Ralstin wrote a letter to the Hutchinson News, “Education must cross party lines.”

In early 2004 Ralstin served on two different groups supporting Democratic candidate, General Wesley Clark, for President.

In addition to being part of the Republicans for Moore 2004 ad, Ralstin wrote an anti-Kobach letter to the Kansas City Star in Oct 2004 in support of Democrat Dennis Moore.

Ralstin was “randomly” picked to ask a question at the Moore-Kobach debate in 2004 that she intended to be embarrassing to Kobach.

Note that Republican for Moore Sue Gamble also supported Democrat Dennis Moore along with a long list of Johnson County cultural elite.

This picture was taken of Ralstin’s front yard in Shawnee in Oct 2004 since she was a Republican for Moore:

Ralstin was a registered Republican voter, but she seemed to support only liberal Republicans, like Stephanie Sharp, or Democrats, like Dennis Moore for Congress, Peter Roman for State Senate, and the liberal group, Kansas Families United for Public Education.

According to Kansas Governmental Ethics reports, Mary Ca Ralstin in 2004 contributed $50 to Democrat Pete Roman for State Senate District 10 (against Republican Senator Nick Jordan), and $100 to Democrat Nate Hogan for State Senate 8 (against Republican Senator Barbara Allen). What’s a bit curious here is many Republicans consider Barbara Allen as being “moderate” if not “liberal”, yet “Republican” Ralstin gives money to the Democrat candidate instead of a moderate Republican?

[Kansas contribution data from the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission.]

Recipient	Contributor	Date	Dollars	Contest	District	Report	Page
ROMAN, PETE	RALSTIN, MARY CA	3/27/2004	$50.00	Senate	10	200407	2
HOGAN, NATE	RALSTIN, MARY CAY	10/20/2004	$100.00	Senate	8	200410	4

Ralstin opposed the Kansas Marriage Amendment in Spring 2005. From a Kansans for Fairness press release on April 1, 2005:

Ralstin said many parishioners are e-mailing each other about the need to defeat the amendment. She said she didn’t think the amendment was either moral or necessary. “I feel like this amendment isn’t going to do anything to protect my marriage or any one else’s marriage,” Ralstin said. “I don’t think it’s very moral to make somebody else a second-class citizen.”

Ralstin wrote an anti-Doug Mays (Republican, Speaker of the House) to the Hutchinson News, July 2005.

Ralstin wrote an anti-Nick Jordan (Republican, State Senator) letter to the Shawnee Dispatch, Sept. 2005.

Ralstin appeared on KC Fox 4 in Sept 2005 to oppose the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR). How Ralstin support accountability and fiscal responsibility in government?

Ralstin was elected a Republican precinct committee woman with 22 write-in ballots in her Shawnee 4-5 precinct. Shortly after being elected, Ralstin gave $250 to Democrat Dennis Moore for Congress. Did Ralstin tell her Republican neighbors she was a “Republican for Moore” when she ran as a Republican precinct committeewoman and asked for their write in votes?

[FEC contribution information from Open Secrets]

Ralstin serve as a Kansas Families United for Public Education volunteer at the State Fair in Hutchinson in Sept.

[Kansas contribution data from the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission.]

Ralstin wrote an anti-Phill Kline (Republican, former Attorney General and newly elected JoCo District Attorney) letter to the Kansas City Star on Dec 24, 2006.

Ralstin is endorsed by these liberal groups in her bid for State Board of Education:

• Kansas Families for Education PAC
• KNEA PAC
• MAIN*PAC

Suprisingly, Ralstin did NOT receive the endorsement of the Greater Kansa City Women’s Political Caucus who is only endorsing Democrat Sue Storm.

• “Using the moderate-conservative continuum … characterize your political views…” (the Ralstin-Kenig candidate forum), Kansas Meadowlark, July 22, 2008.
• “Republican for Moore” Running for Kansas Senate as a Republican (Sue Gamble), Kansas Meadowlark, June 11, 2008.
• Republicans For Moore — the last five election cycles, Kansas Meadowlark, Feb 28, 2007.
• Republican-for-Moore Daughter Supports Teacher Busted for Marijuana But Wanted Random Drug Testing of Fellow Students?, Kansas Meadowlark, Nov 27, 2004.

Yesterday the Kansas Taxpayers Network (KTN) released their 2008 legislative vote rating scoring the fiscal votes of the 165 members of the Kansas legislature July 22. This is the 13th legislative session that has measured legislators’ fiscal votes on taxes, spending, regulation, protecting the rule of law, and promoting a free market economy in Kansas. KTN scored legislators on both their 2008 votes as well as their lifetime votes in the Kansas legislature since 1996. The 2008 scores are posted on KTN’s Kansastaxpayers.com web site. [Here is the direct link to the State Senate scores, and here is the direct link to the State Rep scores. ]

“There are eight senators and sixty-three house members who scored 75 percent or higher in KTN’s 2008 scorecard,” said Karl Peterjohn, Executive Director of KTN. A 75 percent or higher scorecard is ranking these legislators as taxpayer friendly on KTN’s rankings. Three house members and two senators scored 100% on KTN’s 2008 scorecard. They are: Rep. Clay Aurand, R-Courtland; Rep. Jeff Colyer, R-Overland Park; Rep. Sharon Schwartz, R-Washington; Sen. Tim Huelskamp, R-Meade; and Sen. Dennis Pyle, R-Hiawatha.

“The 2008 rankings were influenced by the dominant issue of this year’s legislature, the proposed expansion of the western Kansas power plant at Holcomb,” said Peterjohn. “KTN used a number of the legislative votes from both houses on this scorecard. Energy and the government restrictions on generating electricity that produce carbon dioxide are likely to be the top issue in the 2008 Kansas legislative elections.”

What were the new 2008 KTN scores for my friend’s favorite legislators? State Senator John Vratil scored 40.0% in 2008, which shows improvement from his lifetime score of 18.2%. State Rep Cindy Neighbor scored 16.7% in 2008, which was worse than her lifetime score of 21.3%. I rest my case that neither Vratil nor Neighbor are fiscal conservatives. Neither Vratil nor Neighbor are “taxpayer friendly.”

Why are such low “taxpayer friendly” scores from KTN typical for “Traditional Republicans” in the Kansas Legislature?

In Kansas, the furthest left you can be politically is a “moderate.” The world “Liberal” in Kansas only refers to a city in southwest Kansas, and has nothing to do with political philosophy.

Dr. Sanders is a very smart woman and has served as the Olathe North High School principal, and currently is the director of continuing education at Baker University. But, the word “liberal” simply is not in her vocabulary. The political range in her mind is NOT from conservative to liberal, but rather only only conservative to “moderate.”

Local Kansas City author Jack Cashill explained in his writings: “there are no liberals in Kansas,” e.g., see Jack’s recent WorldNetDaily article about Kathleen Sebelius, “Why Obama’s would-be VP won’t be” for more explanation of this Kansas phenomenon. Kansas only has conservatives and “moderates”. There are no liberals.

In his recent book, “Superior, Nebraska: the common sense values of America’s Heartland” National Review Online author Denis Boyles explains Kansas “is filled with ‘moderate’ Republicans who would be liberal Democrats anyplace else…”

The stage was set for the LWV-JCCC Candidate Forum between Brandon Kenig and Mary Ca Ralstin. See this video online or see the entire TV schedule of forums here.

The League of Women Voters usually chooses someone that is politically “neutral” to be the moderator. In Kansas someone that is politically “neutral” is often a Democratic Party activist.

Diane Kuhn is the LWV President of Kansas and has been the JoCO LWV Co-President and Secretary, and has been a long-time board member.

In 2002 Diane Kuhn, a registered Republican, and her husband, Dale, a registered Democrat used the corporation at their home address, Tillin, Inc., to give $500 to Democrat Kathleen Sebelius for Governor. In 2006 Diane gave $50 to Democratic candidate Paul Morrison for Attorney General, and her husband gave $250 to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. As a registered Republican, Kuhn has no known political contributions to Republicans.

As a LWV leader, Kuhn wrote letters to the Kansas City Star, which were published about her views supporting non-partisan elections and being against TABOR (Taxpayer Bill of Rights).

Kuhn is a perfectly “neutral” person to serve as moderator in a LWV Candidate Forum.

The candidates for State Board of Education in District 2 were Brandon Kenig (left) and Mary Ca Ralstin (right). A future Meadowlark article will feature “Republican for Moore” Ralstin.

The panelists asking questions, from left-to-right above, were:

• Renee Dinsmore, JoCo LWV, Democrat
• Ann Sanders, JoCo LWV, Democrat
• Jerry Magliano, JCCC Faculty, Republican

With a Democrat moderator, having two Democrats and one Republican to interview Republican candidates is what one might expect for fairness from the LWV. The ratio of two Democrats to one Republican is about right in Johnson County that is about 50% Republican and 21% Democratic.

Little is known about the political background of Renee Dinsmore, except she’s been voting in Johnson County for about five years.

Ann Sanders was introduced as a member of the LWV, but her extensive background in education should have been highlighted in her introduction. She served on the Board of Directors of the Unified School Administrators of Kansas, and also was part of an executive committee of the Kansas Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development.

Oddly, Dr. Sanders let taxpayers pay for her E-mail account when she was president of the LWV:

Why should a taxpayer-funded E-mail account, e.g., sandersa@olatheschools.com, be used with a political organization? Why is any use of a government-funded E-mail account allowed for non-government purposes?

Jerry Magliano is a JCCC Professor, Personal Computer & Web Applications, and advisor to College Republicans but “currently, the College Republicans on campus have no members.”

Here’s an outline of the questions asked and the topics discussed:

See the online video for the candidates’ responses.

• Why did Richard Voss represent the League of Women Voters at Candidate Forum For Senate 37?, Kansas Meadowlark, July 20, 2008.
• JoCo League of Women Voters doesn’t believe in transparency in their candidate forums?, Kansas Meadowlark, July 19, 2008.

The inclusion of Richard Voss on the panel to ask questions of candidates Steve Baru and Jeff Colyer in State Senate District 37 is a good example of the bias introduced by the LWV in this process. Remember: the JoCo LWV declined a request to provide transparency in how these forums were run.

The stage was set for the LWV-JCCC Candidate Forum between Steve Baru and Jeff Colyer.

The moderator for the forum was Missy Taylor. Isn’t she a politically neutral figure?

Not exactly. Taylor is an Barack Obama supporter:

Obama has the strength of character, the intellect, and charisma we so desperately need to unite this country around positive goals and restore our damaged image throughout the world. Missy Taylor, Roeland Park

Taylor is a Board Member of the JoCo Democratic Party representing District 7. Missy Taylor is a member of a Democratic Party Precinct Committee, and ran as a Democrat for State Rep 25 in 2004 and 2006. She received the endorsement of the Kansas Democratic LGBT Caucus in 2006. Taylor is the VP of the liberal group, Kansas Families for Education (formerly KFUPE) and serves as their lobbyist. In 2005 Taylor served on the board of the Johnson County Democratic Women’s group. Also in 2005, Taylor attended the “Torch Dinner” for the liberal Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus. Taylor attended the DNC convention in 2004 as a delegate. In 2004 Taylor contributed $50 to Democrat Pete Roman for State Senate. Open Secrets says Mary Taylor (Missy’s name is Mary) of Roeland Park (where Missy lives) contributed $300 to the Democratic Party of Iowa.

Aren’t Taylor’s qualifications what you would expect for a neutral moderator at a political forum?

Baru sat at the left (physically and politically), while Jeff Colyer sat at the right (physically and politically).

The panel for the forum consisted of (from left-to-right):

• Richard Voss, the JoCo League of Women Voters,
• Jerry Magliano, JCCC, Professor, Personal Computer & Web Applications, and advisor to College Republicans but “currently, the College Republicans on campus have no members.”
• Jim Sullinger, the Kansas City Star.

Both Sullinger and Magliano are fairly well-known public figures, but what about Voss? As a member of the non-partisan League of Women Voter’s he represents “non political” interests, and isn’t pursing an agenda?

Not exactly.

Both candidate Baru and panelist Baru are officers in the Kanza Group (Kansas City) of the Kansas Chapter of the Sierra Club:

Richard Voss’ wife, C. Elaine Giessel, are both members of the Kansas Chapter statewide Executive Committee:

Both Voss and Giessel are members of the JoCo LWV, and are registered Republicans. Their adult children at their home address are registered Democrats, however.

Was the League of Women Voters being fair to have Richard Voss on the panel at the candidate forum without disclosing the Sierra Club relationship between Voss (and Giessel) and Baru? Was this fair to Colyer? Quite predictably, Voss’ first question was a “soft ball” about global warming intended to help Baru.

Why is transparency and full public disclosure by panelists of political activities and conflicts of interest with the candidates they are questioning too much to ask for?

See the entire Colyer-Baru political forum for State Senate District 37 online. Here’s an outline of the topics discussed:

• Steve Baru seeks public trust in State Senate race but forged customer signatures!, Kansas Meadowlark, July 20, 2008.
• JoCo League of Women Voters doesn’t believe in transparency in their candidate forums?, Kansas Meadowlark, July 19, 2008.

The Star’s confusion isn’t surprising since Baru has run for public office as a Republican, Democrat, and an Independent. In the last two elections cycles Baru has been a “Republican for Moore” in support of Democratic Congressman Dennis Moore, and opposed other Republicans for Congress in earlier years. Has “Republican” Baru ever supported a Republican for Congress? What other political skeletons does Baru have in his political past?

What legal actions have been taken against Baru, and what public censures has Baru received as a financial adviser?

Ads in local newspapers in 2006 showed Steve Baru’s name on the list of Republicans for Moore:

[Also note above in 2006: Mary Ca Ralstin, a Republican for Moore, is now running for State Board of Ed District 2.]

After the Aug 1, 2006 primary, “Republican” Baru attended Democrat Congressman Moore’s victory party, and nearly came to blows with some protesting Moore that night. According to the LovinRevolution blog:

Some Moore supporters were seemingly divided over the presence of the protesters. …

Shortly after his arrival, Moore supporter Steven Baru of the Sierra Club began a series of verbal and physical assaults on the peaceful assembly. …

David Quinley, a Johnson County resident who recently won a court battle with city officials over anti-war signs in his yard, was holding a sign peacefully by his car when Steven Baru approached him, ripped the sign out of his hands, and tore it up. A skirmish broke out between the two and Overland Park police officers ran to the site and separated the them. They shoved Quinley up against a car and handcuffed him, but did nothing to Baru. …

After questioning, Steve Baru was not detained or cited even though a number of witnesses fingered him as the instigator. He returned to the Dennis Moore event

2004: Baru, a “Republican for Moore,” didn’t support Republican Kris Kobach for Congress.

[Also note above in 2004: Sue Gamble, a Republican for Moore is now running for State Senate District 10, and Mary Ca Ralstin, a Republican for Moore, is now running for State Board of Ed District 2.]

2000: Baru, as a Democratic activist, actively opposed Republican Phill Kline for Congress.

See information below that Baru was a registered Democrat from June 1998 to May 2001.

As a Democrat, and Sierra Club leader, Baru actively opposed Phill Kline for Congress in 2000:

“Sierra Club Backs Moore,” Lawrence Journal-World, Oct 12, 2000.
With television and radio advertisements and distribution of almost 90,000 fliers, the national environmental organization is championing incumbent U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, D-Kan., against his Republican challenger State Rep. Phill Kline.

The fliers highlight several votes of each candidate and the perception they leave that Moore is more supportive of clean water, clean air and community growth planning than Kline.

Kline’s press secretary, Chad Bettes, said the flier is unfair. …

The Moore-Kline race was chosen, in part, because polls have shown it to be close, said Steve Baru , president of the Kansas chapter of the Sierra Club.

Baru said the ads specifically target Republican women.

“Republican women are very concerned about family health and public health,” Baru said. “We believe we have a big appeal to women.”

Bettes said Moore’s party had more to do with the endorsement than anything.

“I think what you’ll see is that this is a highly partisan organization,” he said. “They are carrying water for the Democratic Party.”

Sierra Club efforts on behalf of Moore constitute what is termed “soft money,” in which campaigning is done by an outside party on behalf of a particular candidate.

1998: Baru, as a Democratic activist, actively opposed Republican Vince Snowbarger for Congress.

See information below that Baru was a registered Democrat from June 1998 to May 2001.

As a Democrat, and Sierra Club leader, Baru actively opposed Vince Snowbarger for Congress in 1998:

“Sierra Club to campaign against Vince Snowbarger Kanza chapter plans to spend at least $65,000 on advertising,” Kansas City Star, October 10, 1998.

Democrat Dennis Moore has the Sierra Club’s “green seal of approval,” but that’s not all. The environmental group is following up with greenbacks.

The Kanza chapter of the Sierra Club plans to spend at least $65,000 this month on an independent campaign to defeat U.S. Rep.

Vince Snowbarger, an Olathe Republican who is Moore’s opponent in the Nov. 3 election.

“When it comes to the environment, Snowbarger stinks,” said Steve Baru of Overland Park, the club’s campaign chairman. …

The environmental group’s campaign will include phone banks, direct mail, literature drops, radio ads and the efforts of a lot of volunteers, said Mary Jacobi, who was paid to manage the effort. Baru said the club also was trying to secure money for television ads.

Baru’s 1994 political skeleton.

As early as 1995 Baru made several unsuccessful bids for public election, but the year before Baru was caught red-handed stealing political signs in Overland Park:

“Gilmore reports theft of her campaign signs,” Kansas City Star, August 3, 1994.
Someone stole Phyllis Gilmore ’s campaign signs, and she doesn’t think the crime was just kid stuff.

The problem began last Thursday morning when Gilmore , who was running for the 27th District Kansas House seat, discovered that more than 500 signs were nabbed. Many others were thrown into ditches or ripped apart, Gilmore said. The damages totaled $2,500.

Gilmore filed a complaint with the Overland Park Police Department Thursday. Later, two witnesses told her they saw a man in his 40s taking the signs. One witness asked the man for the signs he removed, but he refused to hand them over, saying he represented the landowners who didn’t want the signs posted.

But Gilmore said she already had received permission from the landowners to place her signs there.

Overland Park Police Detective Bobbi Hohnholt said the department is investigating Gilmore ’s loss as a misdemeanor theft.

“We probably have lost half of our signage,” Gilmore said. “And I think we’re estimating conservatively. ” … Destroying political signs is playing dirty, she said.

In a phone conversation on Saturday with former State Rep Phyllis Gilmore, she identified Steve Baru as the “man in his 40s” described in the article above, who was helping Matt Grogger. [Baru would have been 41in 1994.] Gilmore says she now regrets not taking legal action against Baru’s misdemeanor theft since he’s never been held accountable for “playing dirty” in 1994.

1995: Baru ran for Board of Water District No. 1 of Johnson County. Lost.

“Three water board incumbents lose,” Kansas City Star, April 5, 1995.
In a stunning upset, three incumbents on the board of Water District No. 1 of Johnson County were defeated Tuesday, leaving the majority of the board to newcomers.

… In position 2, Robert S. Olson defeated board Chairman Terrence D. Frederick, 38 percent to 37 percent. Steven L. Baru received 26 percent.

1996: Baru endorsed by GOP Club for Republican precinct committee. [Need to confirm loss.]

1997: Baru ran as an independent for Overland Park City Council. Lost.

“Baru vying for OP seat,” Kansas City Star, January 22, 1997.

Baru , 43, is a stockbroker and financial planner and is running as an independent, or unaffiliated, candidate. Others vying for a Ward 4 seat are Councilman Greg Musil, Republican, and Joan Rowland, who like Baru , is running as an independent.

Although Baru said he’s been a member of the Republican Party in the past, he is running as an unaffiliated candidate. Baru said city government is more responsive to its constituents without partisan politics.

Results from the Johnson County Election Office:

OVERLAND PARK COUNCIL WARD 4

STEVE BARU Independent Nomination 386 12.1%
GREG L. MUSIL Republican 2162 67.9%
JOAN K. ROWLAND Independent Nomination 633 19.8%

2000: Baru ran unopposed for Democratic Party Precinct Committeeeman in Overland Park Ward 4, Precinct 8. Unopposed Baru received 25 votes. Won (unopposed).

2002: As a Republican, Baru ran for State Rep 49 against Scott Schwab. Lost.

Does anyone find Baru’s explanation of party switching believable?

“Candidate held Democratic post while Republican at heart,” Kansas City Star, July 20, 2002 .
Throughout his campaign in the 49th Kansas House District, candidate Steve Baru has acknowledged leaving the Republican Party several years ago and becoming a Democrat for a year.

But his opponent, Scott Schwab, said Baru ’s Democratic affiliation actually was about three years.

County records show Baru was registered as a Democrat from June 1998 to May 2001. But he said although he did not change his registration until 2001, his loyalty to the Democratic Party ended in 1999, one year after joining the party.

Despite that explanation, Baru still admitted accepting a Democratic position as precinct committeeman for ward 4, precinct 8, in 2000.

“I’m willing to say that, yes, I was a Democrat,” Baru said. “But I am a Republican and I have been a Republican for a lot of years.”

Baru said he became precinct committeeman even after he had switched his loyalty back to the Republican Party because he enjoys participating in the political process and thought it would help bring in money to the local Democratic Party from the party’s national level.

Doug Stone, who was chair of the Johnson County Democratic Party when Baru became a precinct committeeman, said whether Baru was a Democrat or Republican should not distract voters from the issues Baru supports.

“I think of Steve as someone who is interested in the political process and had a desire to see issues promoted,” Stone said. “Steve I think is more of a policy person than a party person.” …

The left-leaning Star in 2002 endorsed Baru.

Results from Johnson County Election Office:

STATE REPRESENTATIVE 49TH DISTRICT - REPUBLICAN R
STEVE BARU R 1160 41.94%
SCOTT SCHWAB R 1606 58.06%

2008: As a Republican, Steve Baru is challenging Jeff Colyer for State Senate 37.

Baru is a stockbroker with Baru Investment Group at his home address. Baru has an MBA and is a financial adviser.

The FINRA BrokerCheck report gives investors the professional background of securities firms and brokers. [BrokerCheck does not allow me to publish the full report about Baru online. The report will be published here when permission is granted.]

Several items in Baru’s report are troubling, including two disclosures for regulatory events, two customer disputes and a termination.

• On 12/8/1989 the Kansas Securities Commissioner censured and suspended Baru’s license for three months. “Baru, in hs own hand, signed two cutomers’ signatures … without the customers’ knowledge or consent.”
• On 12/13/1990 Baru was “Permitted to Resign” for “forging two customer signatures…”
• On 9/29/1992 the National Association of Securities Dealers initiated an action against Baru when he worked at Paine Webber. Baru was censured and fined $1000. “Baru forged the names of public customers”.
• ON 12/11/1996 there was a broker complaint about Baru. “Customer Alleged that RR completed transactions without authorization.” All disputed transactions were returned to the status prior to customer complaint. Paine Webber offered … [$52,000] … to settle these matters.”

Law Suit about Financial Matter

Link to Missouri Court Search

Case moved from Missouri Courts to Kansas Courts for collection of the $10,000 settlement:

Link to Johnson County, Kansas Court Search

• Vice Chair with Jim Borthwick of MAIN*PAC (MAINstream Political Action Committee) 2006
• MAINstream Coalition Board Member according to their 2006 IRS 990.
• Kansas Sierra Club Leaders
• Multiple “hats” with the Sierra Club: Steve Baru - Regional Vice President, Chair Northern Plains Regional, Conservation Committee, Vice Chair Council of Club Leaders, Organizational Effectiveness, Governance Committee, Presidential/ Congressional, Environmental Voter Education, Steering Committee, Sierra Club Mutual Funds, Investment Committee

• Planned Parenthood (PPFA) gave $100 to Baru for State Rep in 2002.

Notes on Senate 37 bid in 2008.

Not only has Baru switch parties, but his Treasuer, Connie Chapman, and her husband, have only been registered to vote in Kansas since July 2006. Since early this year, she and her husband have both re-registered as Republicans.

Baru’s Endorsements by Liberals groups:

• MAINstream Coalition MAIN*PAC endorsement
• Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus
• Kansas National Education Association
• Kansas Families for Education PAC

Steve Rose’s Overland Park Sun endorsement should also be included here since the Sun is more a liberal group than a newspaper:

STATE SENATE 37th DISTRICT: Steve Baru, a longtime Sierra Club activist, doesn’t stand a snowball’s chance, even in global warming, of beating his Republican opponent, Jeff Colyer, a current state representative and darling of the right. But we have to give Baru credit for his guts. More than that, we give him our endorsement for one main reason. He would continue the fight against the proposed polluting coal-fired plants of western Kansas that promise to make our planet just a bit less habitable.

When will Steve Baru quit pretending he’s a Republican and register as a Democrat?

See the League of Women Voters-JCCC Candidate Forum with Baru and Colyer.

• “Republican for Moore” Running for Kansas Senate as a Republican, Kansas Meadowlark, June 11, 2008.
• Republicans For Moore — the last five election cycles, Kansas Meadowlark, Feb 28, 2007.

The League is a completely political organization, supposedly interested in government transparency, but they declined requests to provide transparency about participation of their members in these recent forums.

The League should be commended for their public service in organizing these forums, but should be challenged about their use of JCCC government resources if they are not providing a level playing field to all candidates. This will be the first of several articles about the tilt in the JoCo LWV-JCCC candidate forums.

Somehow the LWV thinks it’s fair that one of the moderators is the president of a local left-leaning political organization? Somehow the LWV thinks it’s fair that one of the panel members asking questions, and his wife, serve with one of the candidates in another political group? Somehow the LWV thinks it’s fair they personally give to only left leaning candidates, and can still be fair and balanced with their questions to candidates? (And not all of the online forums have been studied yet.)

If the LWV members have nothing to hide, why did they refuse to reply to TWO requests for information to make the candidate forums transparent and fair to all candidates?

The following letter was sent on June 22 and June 28 by E-mail:

June 22, 2008

Ms. Paula Schwach (serenity_01@prodigy.net)
Voter Service Committee
League of Women Voters of Johnson County
1901 W. 48th Terrace
Westwood Hills, KS 66205

Dear Ms. Schwach:

In the interest of full public transparency for the upcoming Primary Election Candidates Forum, and to avoid any potential conflicts of interest in the choice of questions to candidates, would the members of the JoCo League of Women Voters (LWV) and Johnson County Community College (JCCC) involved in this Forum be willing to disclose the following information over the past five years to both candidates and the public before their participation in the Candidates Forum?

• Political party affiliation, including changes in affiliation
• Money contributions to political candidates, PACs, and political causes
• Volunteer activities in support of political candidates, PACs, and political causes.
• Letters to editors endorsing candidates or causes
• Party offices sought; party offices held (e.g., precinct committees, district committees, state committees, national committees)
• Public offices sought; public offices held (city, county, state, national); appointments to government offices and committees
• Involvement with political issues and political positions held by the League of Women Voters
• Participation in the League’s observer corps, and issues of interest in those public meetings.
• Participation in, or development of, the League’s political position statements such as those online in the JoCo LWV newsletters http://www.lwvjoco.org/Voter.htm, your online position statement http://www.lwvjoco.org/lwvjoco_principles_outline.pdf, or your Local Position Handbook.

Shouldn’t the public be fully informed about the personal, political backgrounds of those asking questions at the Candidates Forum? While the League may be non-partisan, the League is quite politically active and that political involvement could bias the questions asked at the Candidates Forums. Disclosure of the above information will provide full transparency to the public.

Thank you for helping make the Candidates Forum to be non-partisan, non-political and fully transparent to the public.

Sincerely,

efg
Editor, Kansas Meadowlark
http://kansasmeadowlark.com/

Copies:
• Barbara Stillman bjstill@swbell.net (JoCo LWV president)
• Dr. Terry A Calaway tcalaway@jccc.edu (JCCC President)
• Jodie Dietze herbivore@kc.rr (LWV)
• Paula Corte paulak@jccc.edu (JCCC)

A Meadowlark PAC Ranking, which includes factors for money raised rank, money spent rank, and money in the bank rank, shows 10 Kansas PACs having more political clout than those published by the Ethics Commission. The Ethics Commission declines to change the way it computes its “Top 20″ PAC list even when their list doesn’t accurately reflect political strength.

The Ethics Commission publishes its list of “Top 20″ Kansas PACs based only on contributions given by PACs to political candidates, which ignores money given to other other PACs, and independent expenditures made by the PAC. The Ethics Commission also refuses to include out-of-state PACs that file “Verified Statements” in their computations. Why do out-of-state PACs get better treatment than in-state PACs?

Here is the Commission’s “Top 20″ list for 2007:

PAC contribution and expenditure reports show a summary of money raised, money spent, and money in the bank. Each of these factors is individually ranked, and an overall ranking is computed by ranking the rank products.

The Ethics Commission and the Meadowlark agree on 10 of the top 20 PACs.  The following table compares the two ranking systems: ($ Raised Rank, $ Spent Rank, $ In the Bank Rank, and Meadowlark Rank from Political Money Rankings of 228 Kansas PACs)

Several of the PACs above have Meadowlark ranks greater than 20. The Meadowlark PAC ranking system would replace those PACs with the following, which raise more money, spend more money, or have more money in the bank:

Perhaps someday the Ethics Commission will consider a report that better reflects the overall political power of a PAC based on their money.

• “Missing” PAC reports? Why are out-of-state PACs allowed to hide their reports?, Kansas Meadowlark, July 5, 2008.
• Kansas Ethics Commission can’t find political activist, who didn’t file PAC report, but newspapers can?, Kansas Meadowlark, July 3, 2008.
• Kansas Ethics Commission ignores missing $25,000 payment by PAC?, Kansas Meadowlark, July 2, 2008.
• Political Money Rankings of 228 Kansas PACs, Kansas Meadowlark, March 16, 2008.
• Summary of Contributions and Expenditures of Kansas Political Action Committees (PACs), Kansas Meadowlark, March 15, 2008. [Note: The Ethics Commission has STILL not acted on the Errors and Omissions outlined in that March report.]

A section 501(c)(5) labor or agricultural organization may engage in some political activities, however, so long as that is not its primary activity.

I am not yet sure whether Kansas Laws may apply to KNEA’s political endorsements made as an IRS 501(c)5 instead of its PAC.  I have requested feedback from the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission about this matter, but have not received a reply.

The KNEA IRS 990 for the year ending June 30, 2007 showed KNEA had $8.2 million in gross receipts, It’s almost surprising KNEA isn’t more involved in political activities without using their PAC, since its political activities are “not its primary activity” from the viewpoint of the IRS.

Yesterday’s Meadowlark article, Half Million in Unitemized Contributions to KNEA PAC, revealed the huge amount of money the KNEA PAC has, mostly from unitemized contributions from teachers. The following shows the complete list of KNEA affiliated PAC’s, which allows the KNEA PAC to act like a “super PAC” in Kansas to channel multiple money streams to their selected candidates:

• Ark Valley Educational Employees PAC
• Blue Valley NEA PAC
• DeSoto Teachers Assn PAC
• Dodge City NEA PAC
• Emporia Education Assn PAC
• Hutchinson Teachers PAC
• Junction City Teachers PAC
• Konza Teachers’ PAC
• Lawrence Teachers PAC
• Leavenworth NEA Teachers PAC
• Manhattan-Ogden Teachers PAC
• McPherson Education Assn PAC
• Olathe Teachers PAC
• Salina NEA PAC
• Shawnee Mission NEA PAC
• South Central Kansas NEA Educator PAC
• Southwest UniServ Teachers PAC
• Teachers of Sunflower PAC
• Topeka Teachers NEA PAC
• UniServ Dist 114 Teachers PAC
• UniServ Southeast Teachers PAC
• United Teachers of Wichita Committee on Political Education
• Walnut Valley Teachers UniPAC
• Winfield NEA Teacher’s PAC

Sadly, the KNEA PAC isn’t about education in Kansas, but rather the power and control of the money related to education. Few of the KNEA-endorsed candidates will act in a fiscally responsible way, especially in tough economic times.

Teacher Union Facts suggests:

“The NEA has been the single biggest obstacle to education reform in this country. We know because we worked for the NEA.” Billy Boyton and John Lloyd, former executive directors of the Nebraska and Kansas NEA affiliates, respectively

• NEA PushesLiberal Agenta at Convention, PoliPundit, July 7, 2008.
• At the Feminists Majority Foundation’s annual Women’s Leadership Conference held at NEA’s national headquarters in March 2008:
  Dr. Tiller declares infants born alive as “just sloppy medicine” yet Gov. Sebelius vetoes late term abortion restrictions in Kansas?, Kansas Meadowlark April 22, 2008.
• Teachers Union Facts: Kansas
• UnionFacts: National Education Association (NEA)
• U.S. Department of Labor Union or Trust Search

On Monday the segment, ‘The Factor’ confronts four negligent governors, aired:

On another note, we were curious what Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius thought of recent criminal charges against Dr. George Tiller, so-called named “Tiller the Baby Killer.” As “The Factor” has been reporting, this man will terminate fetuses at any time for $5,000.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WATTERS: Hey, governor, how are you? It’s Jesse Watters with “The O’Reilly Factor” from FOX News.

GOV. KATHLEEN SEBELIUS, D-KAN.: Hi. How are you?

WATTERS: How are you? Hey what are you…

SEBELIUS: We’re going here?

WATTERS: What do you think about Dr. George Tiller?

SEBELIUS: I don’t think anything about Dr. George Tiller.

WATTERS: You know, the late-term abortion doctor in your state?

SEBELIUS: Yes.

WATTERS: You don’t have an opinion of him?

SEBELIUS: He’s a health care provider in Kansas.

WATTERS: You know, he was largely not indicted because of a technicality in Kansas law.

SEBELIUS: There was a grand jury who found no charges to bring against him.

WATTERS: You know, there was a lot of evidence there that he was performing illegal late-term abortions and covering up instances of child rape.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O’REILLY: He’s a health care provider according to Governor Sebelius. Well, Tiller himself donated money to her campaign. She doesn’t seem to be real upset about this guy operating a death mill, which is exactly what it is in her state, does she?

On Tuesday night these letters were read on the O’Reilly Factor, including one from Troy Millon from Wichita:

On July 7, O’Reilly aired a short “Reality Check” segment:

“… the jury did not indict [Tiller] saying the law should be clarified.”

“Tiller aborts thousands of babies for virtually any reason, charging $5000 for each termination. That a man like that can operate in the USA is troubling to say the least.”

From the