Jenkins in Bed with Sebelius/ Morrison Backers?

When seeking endorsements in a party primary, it's good to go for the salt of the Earth party regulars- the kind of people the rank & file know and respect as leaders of whichever political party we're talking about.

That appeared to be exactly what Lynn Jenkins was going for yesterday when she released a list of 11 former chairperson of the Kansas Republican Party who have endorsed her candidacy in the Republican primary race against Jim Ryun for the opportunity to grapple with Congresswoman Nancy Boyda in November.

We say that's what it appears she was trying....because she might have hit a sour note.

According to research conducted by the writer of the blog Kansas Meadowlark, 7 of those 11 former Republican chairs have either donated directly to Democratic Governor Kathleen Sebelius or former Democratic Attorney General Paul Morrison, or they have been involved with groups "friendly to the Kansas Democratic Party."

While we might quibble with what constitutes an organization that is "friendly" to the Kansas Democratic Party (not so sure the Kansas Traditional Republican Majority counts...), but this list does more to underline the on-going fracture of the Kansas Republican Party than it does to boost Jenkins' flagging campaign.

Does this help her or does this hurt her? Primary voters tend to be the most ideologically extreme (in both parties), so we've always operated under the assumption Jenkins' liberalness on social issues would be a drag for her- and we can only assume being supported by so many liberal Republicans won't be an asset when she tries to convince primary voters she's a Republican they can trust.

Our Thoughts And Prayers

After last night's tornadoes, which claimed two lives in Kansas (including one in the 2nd Congressional District) and did tens of millions of dollars worth of damage to the city of Manhattan, the campus of Kansas State University, and the 1st District community of Chapman, our thoughts and prayers are with all of the residents of each of those Kansas towns- and with all of the parents of students who might still be in Manhattan.

From the Topeka Capitol-Journal:

A tornado also hit the Kansas State University campus in Manhattan, damaging several campus buildings and tossing cars around in parking lots. Several local businesses also received extensive damage, according to the National Weather Service.

"We have reports that the northern part of Kansas State University took a pretty good hit," said Weather Service meteorologist Ken Harding. "Cars were tossed and there is a lot of damage up there."

The university said in a statement that no injuries had been reported.

From the Manhattan Mercury:

A tornado between two and four blocks wide touched down near the Manhattan Regional airport late night Wednesday and bounced across Manhattan, the Kansas State University campus, and then went back up into the clouds near Moore Hall on the campus. It inflicted tens of millions of dollars of damage -- at least $20 million on the campus alone, authorities said.

[...]

No confirmed totals are available, but an estimated 30 homes in the Miller Ranch area -- in the southwest portion of the city -- have been flattened, with only foundations remaining. Many more are severely damaged. The University Heights area near E.J. Frick Drive was also hard-hit.

Congresswoman Nancy Boyda, along with both United States Senators and Governor Kathleen Sebelius will be in Manhattan this evening to survey the damager

From RedState: Jenkins Violates Spirit of Election Law

How on Earth we missed this, we cannot say, but here is a broadside against Lynn Jenkins from a conservative blogger over at RedState:

There is a particular tenet in Kansas election law that has, in the past, caught up a number of state elected officials: It's against state law to solicit or accept contributions from registered state lobbyists during the legislative session.

In the 2006 election cycle the law caught three people running statewide- two Republicans and one Democrat. That Democrat, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, recently did it again- though all three said it was an error, and I'm inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Now, it appears yet another statewide elected official in Kansas is rubbing dangerously close to breaking the same law- except she knows exactly what she's doing.

Since announcing her candidacy for Congress, Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins has accepted 17 contributions from 14 registered state lobbyists, with 7 of those donations coming while the state legislature was in session.

How is it, then, that Jenkins isn't violating the same law Sebelius is being raked over the coals for breaking?

It's a game a CPA like Jenkins is particularly good at playing, because it all has to do with where the money gets funneled. If even a single cent of those donations had ended up in her state-level account, Jenkins would be a cooked goose, but since they shoved the contributions over to her federal campaign, she's clean.

Is this why we need an accountant in Congress? Just to make sure we have someone who knows the loopholes inside and out?

So, no, Jenkins isn't breaking the law, but she's violating its spirit. The people of Kansas, through their elected officials, decided long ago it was wrong for sitting state elected officials to take money from state lobbyists, and made it illegal for officials to solicit or receive such funds. It's even illegal for the lobbyists themselves to even try to give state candidates contributions while the legislature is in session. It is all out of an effort to make sure our elected officials were working for us and not for the lobbyists who were lining their pockets.

Jenkins has cunningly squeaked passed the prohibition by funneling the money into a different account, but an important question has to be asked: As she's filling her coffers trying to get a new job representing us in Congress, who has she been working for at her current job as State Treasurer- the people of Kansas who elected her, or the lobbyists stuffing her pockets with cash?

(Research from Open Secrets and the Kansas Secretary of State)

Oh, Lynn!

Boyda Praised for Support of the Armed Services

Bringing you today just a little evidence there isn't any reason to listen to the radical right's message about Nancy Boyda and how much she refuses to support the military...because that's certainly not what the military is saying:

From Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, commander of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth:

This year the great state of Kansas introduced three programs that directly improve the lives of military families and veterans. The first program was offered as an amendment to the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007 by Congresswoman Nancy Boyda. This important program will allow service members and their dependents to automatically receive in-state college tuition costs where they are stationed across the nation. The second program, the Army Wounded Warrior Education Program, is a joint effort between the University of Kansas and the Army. This program offers select soldiers assigned to the Army Wounded Warrior Program the opportunity to return to college to complete their basic degree or pursue a graduate degree. Upon completing the degree program, the soldier can remain or return to active duty and use these new skills to contribute to their nation and the Department of the Army. Third, the most recent program, the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children will help thousands of new students actively participate and contribute in their new schools.

Thank you to Congresswoman Nancy Boyda & Governor Kathleen Sebelius for your dedication to supporting our men and women in uniform.

Nancy at Washington Days

If the Shawnee County Bean Feed is any indication this year's Washington Days should be one of the best yet!

Kansas is well known for producing some of the greatest patriots in our country. One of them is current Virginia Governor Tim Kaine. Governor Kaine was elected in 2005 and has proven time and again his Heartland values are the right way to lead.

Governor Sebelius, Rep. Moore, Attorney General Six, and our own Rep. Boyda will be joining in festivities this weekend as we put the "Party" back in politics.

We can't wait to see you there!

Boyda, rest of Kansas delegation, urge President to approve FEMA aid

In another one of those "it doesn't matter what party you're in to know what correct," the entire Kansas delegation banded together to ask President Bush to approve FEMA aid for Kansans effected by this week's terrible ice storms.

The text of the letter, courtesy of WIBW-TV in Topeka, is as follows:

"We write today to once again ask that your attention be directed to the spate of disasters that have struck the state of Kansas this year.

"As you know, multiple large winter storms spread thick ice throughout Kansas this week. This event was made worse by consecutive days of precipitation and dropping temperatures, which quickly solidified ice on power lines and trees. The damage to date includes wide scale power outages and a great deal of damage to homes andbusinesses. Over 100,000 people are without power, a great deal more cannot leave their homes, and at least 4 people have died due to icy conditions. Currently, in many parts of the state, Kansans are making due without power and without access to supplies.

"As you might imagine, yet another disaster striking our state this year comes as disheartening news for Kansans who have already endured a blizzard that destroyed infrastructure and endangered livestock, a tornado that wiped an entire town off the map, and floods that compounded with an oil spill to destroy grave amounts of property and businesses.

"In the immediate wake of this most recent storm, the Governor of Kansas declared a state emergency. Today, she also requested that you authorize FEMA to provide public assistance to aid in the recovery. We wholeheartedly support this request and thank you for your support to date. The federal government, including FEMA and the National Guard, deserve endless amounts of credit for their rapid and effective responses in Kansas this year. This, combined with the can-do attitude and spirit of giving inherent in Kansans have mitigated the long term effects of the disasters we've faced this year to an incredible degree.

"Thank you in advance for your consideration."

Our hopes and prayers to out to everyone who is struggling through this storm, and we thank Governor Kathleen Sebelius, Congresswoman Nancy Boyda and the rest of the Kansas delegation for acting so quickly to secure federal aid.