Kansas Conservative Politics and Beyond
Take a moment today and read the new Meadowlark article, “First Amendment Defense Thorny Issue for Ethics Commission.” This is an important case, not only for free speech but for a more open state government.
While here, also feel free to participate in our poll to the right. Feel free to vote as many times as you like by hitting the refresh button.
On Monday, Republican and Democrat legislators will meet to decide who leads their respective caucuses. The Senate President and Speaker of the House have a considerable amount of power in deciding what legislation is considered, which committee a bill is sent to and whether or not a vote will even occur.
The most important of these positions is by far that of the Senate President. Current Senate President Steve Morris has been more than a disappointment to all Kansans. Morris’ past four years have seen an average increase in state spending of more than 5% every year. Is it any wonder Kansas government is staring at a 2010 deficit of over $1 billion?
But Morris is more than a black eye to Kansas, he is a disappointment to all Republicans. During his time we’ve seen one of our Republican leaders quoted in the New York Times as having no other difference with Democrat Kathleen Sebelius than the blocked coal power plants.
Republicans deserve a leader who supports Republicans and not just the next meal ticket they think will bring more power to themselves.
He and Vice President John Vratil used their Senate Leadership PAC to further their quest for power, not for the benefit of Republicans fighting Democrats for Senate seats.
In fact, when Republican Senate candidates needed non-monetary help in defeating Democrats, they were met with praise for the Democrat.
Could the picture be more clear?
If re-elected, Morris promises more of the same. Experience seems to be the hot word of this election season, but is experience with higher taxes and more spending what Kansans really need during these tough budget times?
Of course not. What is needed is strong, conservative leadership offered by Senator Susan Wagle. Wagle has a record of being true to the taxpayers and not to those who put her in power.
Wagle was endorsed by the KRA for her re-election bid this past November and also earned our endorsement as a Lt. Governor candidate with Jim Barnett.
Susan Wagle is the clear choice for a new direction in Kansas.
I, for one, have no interest in a governor who’s nothing more than a surrogate of Obama looking for a ticket out of Kansas. And I definitely have no interest in a Republican leader who sells out his party for a ticket on the Sebelius express.
The race for Speaker of the House showcases two familiar candidates. Current Speaker Melvin Neufeld is seeking re-election but has been hounded by his inability to pass legislation authorizing the Holcomb power plants. He’s also getting significant heat for the passage of legislation in 2007 authorizing state-owned casinos in Kansas.
Rep. Mike O’Neal was endorsed by the KRA in his recent re-election bid to the House. Rep. O’Neal has a good record of being true to the taxpayer and as chairman of the Judiciary Committee has considerable experience with judicial appointments and the power of our courts. He also lead the charge against capitulation to the Supreme Court in their mandate to increase education funding.
With over 50% of the state budget going to K-12 education, it’s virtually impossible to cut state spending by $1 billion without a tax increase or education spending cuts. It’s not yet clear that the Supreme Court would intervene again, but with its past history, another mandate is likely. A strong Speaker is needed, and Rep. O’Neal fits the bill.
And the Democrat races? Well, not that we really care, but the Senate Minority Leader race is interesting for a couple of reasons.
First, we’re told all the time about the split in the Republican Party, but not much is said about the split within the Democrat Party. It was highlighted this past election season with the recruitment of Kelley Kultala against incumbent Democrat Mark Gilstrap. The media likes to talk about the recruitment of conservative candidates against ‘moderate’ Republicans, but for some reason didn’t see much interest in the recruitment of a liberal against a true moderate Democrat.
The race between current Minority Leader Hensley and Sen. Chris Steineger is also interesting because of Hensley’s relationship with Gov. Sebelius. Together, they decided to take out one of their own and spend thousands of party dollars to do it, while loosing a Senate seat. It will be interesting to see if other Democrat Senators agree with their strategy.
Related:
Kansas Liberty: O’Neal confident of unseating Neufeld
Kansas Liberty: How careful with your money are candidates for House, Senate leadership positions?
Kansas Liberty: Legislative leadership contests are ‘intimate and intense’
Kansas Liberty: Battle develops for top Democratic leadership post in Kansas Senate
Kansas Liberty: School spending cuts could set collision course with the Supreme Court
Wichita Liberty: Susan Wagle for Kansas Senate President
Topeka Capital Journal: Lawmakers to vote on key House, Senate jobs
Salina Journal: Who will be state’s leaders?
Come January, Kansas may be in a very unique situation for the next two years. With the defeat of Nancy Boyda by State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins, we are guaranteed that two of six statewide offices (Governor, Lt. Gov., AG, Insurance Commissioner, Sec. of State, and Treasurer) will be filled with non-elected appointments.
And if Gov. Sebelius jumps ship for greener Washington pastures (which she’s sure to do if given the opportunity, because let’s face it, Kansas is just a stepping stone to her), three of the six seats will be held by unelected Democrats.
What an astounding scenario.
It’s rather mind boggling that half of our statewide offices can be filled with unelected politicos, without even so much as a Senate hearing or vote, and virtually no recourse for voters if they don’t approve of the appointments.
When Paul Morrison was caught in his sex scandal, Democrat Stephen Six was appointed to fill his term, which had three years left. That appointment highlighted a significant problem in Kansas…the unlimited power of the Governor to appoint anyone (qualified or not) to fill a vacant office, whether it’s for one month or four years.
Immediately after Morrison’s resignation, many thought there would be a competitive AG race in the ’08 general election, but because of our current laws, we’ll now have an un-elected partisan serving as our chief law enforcement officer until 2010.
Furthermore, Sebelius was free to pick whomever she wanted, regardless of party, regardless of qualifications, and regardless of political ties to unsavory political figures. Six’s appointment highlighted the need for Senate confirmation hearings.
Unfortunately, if Sebelius is given the opportunity to jump the sinking Kansas budget ship for Washington big spending, Lt. Gov. Parkinson will have the opportunity to appoint anyone he sees fit to the Lt. Governor’s office.
So then what happens if he resigns? That’s not outside the realm of possibility…did anyone see the Morrison melt down coming? A Parkinson appointment would create a situation where just one resignation could allow an unelected, unconfirmed political appointment to run the state, without so much as a glance from our elected Senators, and with no recourse for voters if they don’t approve.
Our forefathers fought against taxation without representation. Why do we now accept this as normal and regard it with nothing more than curious apathy?
It’s time the House and Senate seriously look at how statewide offices are filled when left vacant before a term expires. With virtual year round campaigning in our future (Can you say Jerry Moran and Todd Tiahrt???) there will undoubtedly be more vacancies to fill in the future. It’s time we ensure those vacancies are filled with the people’s choice and not an unelected political appointment.
The Pat Roberts for Senate campaign set the record straight recently regarding voter registration in Kansas and the real reasons why Republicans will be victorious Tuesday.
All Republicans own a debt of gratitude to the Roberts campaign for all of their hard work and dedication to winning offices for Republicans in Kansas. Because of Senator Robert’s hard work, all Republicans down the ballot will benefit.
TOPEKA, KS, — Senator Pat Roberts today said the Roberts for Senate campaign’s comprehensive grassroots registration and advance voting program has increased numbers for Republicans in all areas.
“Our campaign has run a technologically advanced grassroots operation across the state working with our local candidates to produce a large increase in Republican advance voting,” Senator Roberts said. “I am proud of my team and despite Democratic momentum on the national level, we have been able to build a sophisticated advance ballot program that has already achieved results in Kansas .”
Roberts’ comments come today as the Secretary of State released new voter registration data.
As of today, over 106,000 Republicans have requested advance ballots and over sixty-seven percent of those ballots have already been turned in. Republicans requested 30,000 more ballots than Democrats. Republicans maintain a large advantage in voter registration with 287,000 more registered Republicans than Democrats. Due to the Roberts for Senate field operation efforts, Republicans gained 32,000 registrants from June to October of this year.
“As I said when I announced my run back in January of 2007, I am the top of the ticket in Kansas and I intend to help all Republicans up and down the ballot. I am proud to say we have done just that. I look forward to Election Day as our turn out operation will provide positive results for Republicans in Kansas .”
Senator Roberts has set in-state fundraising records for a federal election since announcing his intention to run for re-election in 2008. Senator Roberts is running for his third term in the U.S. Senate.
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