KANSAS GOVERNOR BROWNBACK & CLAN BELLY UP TO THE TROUGH

Brownback Family Reunion

The Governor has been making a lot of news recently.  He wants to deny essentially equal access to Kansas school children who do not happen to live in a wealthy county.  Of course if you live in Johnson County, Kansas (the nation's 68th richest county according to city-data. com @ http://www.city-data.com/forum/maryland/1189037-2009-acs-census-data-100-wealthiest.html) then Brownback wants you to be able to tax yourselves for the schools that only money can buy.  If you cross the Kansas River to the North then you're up a creek without a paddle, but in the company of most Kansas counties, because your county doesn't have enough value in its tax base to compete with Johnson County.

Then the Governor wants to lower taxes.  Gee, it is a tax break for everyone, ain't that great.  Well Sam wants to do to Kansas what President George W. Bush did to America.  It is real simple, the largest share of the tax cuts will accrue to the wealthiest Kansans, while the rest of us will be asked to do with less and pay more for it.  The Lawrence Journal World published an excellent report @ http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/jan/12/details-brownbacks-tax-plan-revealed/?kansas_legislature.  So sure, Sam is going to be a hit with the country club set in Johnson County.  The folks who work for a living up there probably aren't as excited about either Sam's School Financing Folly or his Tax Cut Madness. 

It seems to have escaped the attention of the Governor that the state's ledger has two side, both debit and credit.  You'd think by now Sam would realize that the responsible thing is to have Kansas pay its way.  You don't get there by cutting revenue.  But it seems as though Sam comes by this naturally, maybe even genetically.  You see the Brownback Family has been sucking heavily from the Treasury Department.  Here is a little eye opener on the largesse the Brownback Family has enjoyed, courtesy of the taxpayer.  I got this heads up from Cheryl Hudspeth, thanks Lady!  The report is online @ http://farm.ewg.org/addrsearch.php?s=yup&stab=KS&zip&last=brownback&first&i=Search+Recipients&fullname&stab2=AL.

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Rank	Name	Location	Subsidy Total 1995-2010
1	Glen R Brownback	Parker, KS 66072	$ 385,187.74
2	James R Brownback	Parker, KS 66072	$ 339,690.58
3	Loyd A Brownback	Mound City, KS 66056	$ 231,237.15
4	Mary K Dare Brownback	Mound City, KS 66056	$ 73,545.18
5	Sam Brownback	Topeka, KS 66610	$ 48,852.00
6	John Brownback	Mound City, KS 66056	$ 38,608.04
7	Leo Brownback	Mound City, KS 66056	$ 25,350.01
8	Carlene L Brownback	Centerville, KS 66014	$ 23,007.40
9	Marion Brownback	Centerville, KS 66014	$ 19,760.06
10	Alan L Brownback	Lyndon, KS 66451	$ 5,684.00
11	Keith Brownback	Centerville, KS 66014	$ 3,687.00
12	Herbert Brownback	Lacygne, KS 66040	$ 2,831.00
13	Nancy E Brownback	Lyndon, KS 66451	$ 2,631.00
14	Mary L Brownback	La Cygne, KS 66040	$ 1,611.00
15	Clyde Brownback	Parker, KS 66072	$ 1,337.00
16	Leona L Brownback	Caldwell, KS 67022	$ 1,199.00
17	B T Brownback	Blue Mound, KS 66010	$ 1,064.00
18	Leora Brownback	Parker, KS 66072	$ 594.00

Sam and his clan are getting theirs, but he sure as heck doesn't want you and yours getting a fair shake. 

MAKING LOVE OUT OF NOTHING AT ALL

Air Supply's famous tune Making Love Out of Nothing at All springs to mind when I think of the campaign Cheryl Hudspeth waged against Lynn Jenkins.

I know just how to whisper
And I know just how to cry
I know just where to find the answers
And I know just how to lie
I know just how to fake it
And I know just how to scheme
I know just when to face the truth
And then I know just when to dream

Hudspeth's Dream was to bring a voice of moderation and sanity to politics. She hit the campaign trail and carried the message. 65,434 voters, or 32%, saw it the way Hudspeth saw it.

The noble experiment of running a congressional campaign on the cheap remains as counterintuitive today as when Miguel de Cervantes penned his quixotic opus Man De La Mancha.

As of October 13th Cheryl Hudspeth raised $12,075, spent $11,755, and had a whopping $730 for the last two weeks of the race. Cheryl Hudspeth put her money where her mouth is self financing 75% of what her campaign raised. Lynn Jenkins raised $1,371,315, spent $874,838, leaving a balance of $532,979. Jenkins didn't donate a dime to herself. Those figures courtesy of the Center for Responsive Politics, OpenSecrets.Org at: http://www.blogger.com/goog_613940415

Two years from now there will be another election. Kansas Democrats in the Second Congressional District will have to acknowledge that to be competitive they will have to raise and spend more money than did Cheryl Hudspeth. The change that ends the corrupting influence of special interest money in American politics will have to come from steel willed politicians from both parties.

Jesse Unruh, the 54th Speaker of the California State Assembly

Jesse Unruh, a Newton, Kansas native, made a career in California politics. Unruh, were he speaking from the grave would remind us that "Money is the Mother's Milk of Politics." Then he'd speak to the resolve it takes to do the right thing for the people and tell us" If you can't eat their food, drink their booze, screw their women and then vote against them, you have no business being up here."

 

Don Quixote

Those who change the system and kick corporate money out of politics will have to eat their food, drink their booze, screw their women, and vote against them. Don Quixote will not prevail against their windmills.

I can make the runner stumble

I can make the final block
And I can make every tackle at the sound of the whistle
I can make all the stadiums rock
I can make tonight forever
Or I can make it disappear by the dawn
I can make you every promise that has ever been made
I can make all your demons be gone

But I'm never gonna make it without you
Do you really want to see me crawl
And I'm never gonna make it like you do
Making love out of nothing at all

HOW DID LYNN JENKINS MANAGE TO SPEND $7,011 MORE THAN STEPHENE MOORE?

Kansas District 02
Candidates

Lynn Jenkins (R) Raised $1,371,315 Spent $874,838


Cheryl Hudspeth (D) Raised $12,075 Spent $11,755


Ty Colin Reynolds (I) Raised $2,976 Spent $2,975


Robert Garrard (L) Raised $0 Spent $0


http://www.opencongress.org/wiki/KS-02#2010_election

The Center for Responsive Politics is reporting that Lynn Jenkins raised $1,371,315 in this year's race for Congress. Jenkins is reported to have spent $847,838. On what did she spend all that money? I live in Kansas' Second Congressional District and I can't see where it went.

Meanwhile Jenkins' Democratic opponent Cheryl Hudspeth raised all of $12,075 and spent $11,756.

Over in the Third Congressional District Stephene Ann Moore has been locked in a real battle with Kevin W. Yoder. Yoder raised $1,677,029 and spent $1,465,910 compared to Moore raising $851,044 and spending $840,377.

I can see where Mrs. Moore spent her money. She has gone toe to toe with Mr. Yoder in a mega media battle. In the waning days of this year's race Ms. Jenkins began to sprinkle a few television ads here and there. In no way, shape, manner, or form has she penetrated the media markets in a fashion similar to Stephene Moore. Yet she outspent Moore by $7,011.

Am I looking forward to the full accounting? You betcha!

THE CASE AGAINST LYNN JENKINS CHAPTER 41 - SHE'S AGAINST WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION FOR OIL RIGS, TAKES CONTRIBUTIONS FROM EPA EMPLOYEE, AND WALLOWS IN OIL & GAS CASH

This is Lynn Jenkins, she does not represent us

Anyone remember when we were captivated by the un-natural disaster of British Petroleum's Deepwater Horizon? That was once the oil rig, with safety features disengaged, that blew apart, killing workers, and spewing millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Do you remember it now?

That's good, because apparently Lynn Jenkins has forgotten. Lynn Jenkins who likes to claim that she's for "all of the above" in energy policy includes corporate malfeasance in that list of answers to our energy needs.

H.R. 5851, the Offshore Oil and Gas Worker Whistleblower Protection Act of 2010 passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 315 to 93, roll call vote 506 on July 30th. Lynn Jenkins was among those stalwarts of Big Oil voting against this measure.

H.R. 5851 prohibits employers from discharging, discriminating against, or engaging in retaliatory actions against specified employees reporting any violation or unsafe condition under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to the government. The oil companies can't attack their employees for testifying about such conditions. Nor can they take punitive measures if the employee reports an illness, injury, or unsafe condition related to the employer's activities to the employer or a state or federal government official. The same whistleblower protections apply if the employee refuses to perform duties, or exercises stop work authority, based upon a good faith belief that performing such duties could result in injury to or impairment of the health of the covered employee or other employees, or cause an oil spill to the environment; or objects to, or refuses to participate in any activity, policy, practice, or assigned task that the employee reasonably believed to be in violation of such the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.

It is clear that a majority of the House understood what happened in the Gulf of Mexico. So why did Lynn Jenkins vote with Big Oil? Maybe it has something to do with that revolving door from public sector work to the lucrative private sector. It seems that someone or some folk over at the United States Environmental Protection Agency gave Lynn Jenkins $4,700 according to OpenSecrets.org at the Center for Responsive Politics, http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cid=N00029077&cycle=2010&type=I&newMem=N&recs=100.

While it is not common for employees of the EPA to donate to political campaigns, neither is it an unheard practice. Employees of the EPA have donated $2,400 to Republican candidate Sean R. Bielat in this year's race for Massachusetts' Fourth Congressional District. Deforest (Buster) Sories the 2002 Republican candidate for New Jerseys' Twelfth Congressional District took $5,700 from folks at the EPA.

Michigan's Democratic Representative Sander Levin took $2,000 from someone at the EPA in his 2004 race. That was long before he held the gavel at Ways and Means. Georgia's Republican Representative Charles R. Norwood also took money with an EPA connection in 2004. He got $2,000. The Center for Responsive Politics also lists the U.S. Government as giving his campaign $3,000! What's that all about? See, http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cid=N00002630&cycle=2004&type=I&newMem=N&recs=100.

In 2006 it was Wisconsin Democrat Ron Kind who received $2,000 from a person working at the EPA. That year Colorado, then Republican Representative, now American Constitution Party candidate for Colorado Governor, Tom Tancredo took $1,500.

In 2008 the honor went to Virginia's Democratic Senator Jim Webb, who received $5,000.

Civil Servants do not lose their First Amendment Rights when they become public sector employees. It would be wrong to impugn illicit motive to those at the EPA who gave money to politicians. It would be stupid not to follow the track from public sector donor to Big Oil's high paid executive status. If there is a connection it should be provable and prosecutable.

In the meantime, Lynn Jenkins' vote on H.R. 5861 has to be viewed in light of the Oil & Gas Industry's payments to her campaign of $46,800. See OpenSecrets.org, http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?cycle=2010&cid=N00029077&type=I. That's for this year's race. Lynn Jenkins is at the end of her first term and the Oil & Gas cumulative total is $109,550.

Cheryl Hudspeth refuses to take a cent of corporate cash. Lynn Jenkins is wallowing in the stuff, and she votes like it too!

Either it is Lynn Jenkins short memory, or the massive infusion of special interest money that drives her vote on H.R. 3534, the Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources Act of 2009. Always remember and never forget the cozy relationship between the Minerals Management Services (MMS) and the Oil and Gas Management program both of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).


According to The Hill's Ben Geman, Acting Inspector General (IG) Mary Kendall's office is conducting an investigation into the actions of MMS officials focused on their inspection and approval of the Deepwater Horizon . In May, Kendall released a report that found that MMS regulators in Louisiana were receiving gifts from oil and gas companies prior to 2007. A 2008 IG report uncovered a culture of substance abuse and promiscuity at MMS' Denver office.

H.R. 3534 takes these suspect agencies out of BLM and transfers them to a newly established Interior Department Office of Federal Energy and Minerals Leasing. Given the history of MMS under the BLM this is reasonable.

Big Oil was content to keep things the way they were. Lynn Jenkins is raking in a little more than $25,000 a year, so far, from the FAT CATS from BIG OIL & GAS. Lynn Jenkins was more than willing to forget the catastrophic results of the Deepwater Horizon. SPILL BABY SPILL! The vote was 209 to 193, on roll call vote 513 July 30th. Lynn Jenkins is against fixing that which is broken , she voted "no" on H.R. 3534. "no" on H.R. 3554. See, http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/99929-interior-ig-is-probing-federal-approval-deepwater-horizon-rig-operations.

Lynn Jenkins voted "no" on H.R. 3554 on roll call vote 513, July 30th.

THE CASE AGAINST LYNN JENKINS CHAPTER 39 - SHE SHOWS ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF AN UNRECOVERED ADDICT

This is Lynn Jenkins she does not represent us.

According to Webster's Dictionary addiction is "being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming." Addiction experts tell us addicts are powerless over the source of their addictions. That powerlessness is what prevents the addictive personality from knowing when to say when or that enough is enough.

Lynn Jenkins, as of July 14th, hauled in over a million dollars from Fat Cats, Corporations, and their PACs. Her opponent has pledged not to take a single cent of corporate cash. There is zero probability that Lynn Jenkins needs more money to battle Cheryl Hudspeth. Absolute zero probability. So is that when to say when? Is that knowing that enough is enough?

Either having a million dollar to nothing edge isn't enough or Lynn Jenkins is addicted to the lifestyle in D.C.'s cash rich fast lanes. Having benefited from at least 18 prior fundraisers Jenkins left Kansas and like a junkie needing a hit had another party. This time the venue was Washington's posh Acadian Restaurant.

The Acadian Restaurant in Washington

Neither you or I received an invitation to this, or any of the other Jenkins' cash craving carousals. Those who benefit from her legislative votes are the ones on the guest list. Lynn Jenkins won't ask working women to her parties because Jenkins voted against Lilly Ledbetter, the new law that mandates equal pay for women doing equal work. Jenkins also voted against kids getting health coverage under SCHIP. So the parents of America's neediest kids, those who are at or up to 300% of the poverty line, they didn't get invited either.

Then she had another party, this time at the townhouse of  D.C. lobbying firm Williams and Jensen.  That one was sponsored by the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers PAC. 

This firm now represents Lynn Jenkins.  Who represents us?

No doubt the Wall Street Fat Cats, Yuppie Scum Predatory Lenders, and the Big Wheels from the Health Insurance Companies, Banks, and Accounting Firms came with another load of loot for Lynn. That's because Lynn Jenkins votes for these folks.

Lynn Jenkins voted several times to do nothing about those Golden Parachutes being paid out of taxpayer money. She voted against letting shareholders have a mandatory binding vote on exorbitant executive pay practices, H.R. 3269.  She voted against a bill allowing the Treasury Secretary  prohibit financial institutions from paying excessive executive pay from taxpayer money, H.R. 384 and H.R. 1664. She consistently voted against restraints on executive pay for Big Bankers while the Big Banks are being Bailed Out! H.R. 3269 contained one weak provision permitting non-binding shareholder votes on Golden Parachutes, which Lynn Jenkins voted against.

Then Lynn Jenkins had another party, I guess that's more than 20 since she's became a regular on the D.C. party circuit.  This one was hosted by an enabler, Illinois Republican Representative Judy Biggert.  When is enough enough?

Illinois Republican Representative Judy Biggert. 

She was one of only 19 Members of the House voting to continue the anticompetitive trade practices of Health Insurance Companies. Jenkins voted to continue the antitrust exemption for the Health Insurance Industry.

Now Lynn Jenkins is laden with corporate cash. But she wants more. Each dollar she gets makes her more and more beholden to those who pay her way.

Cheryl Hudspeth is not taking a cent of corporate cash.  Cheryl Hudspeth is only beholden to the people of Kansas' Second Congressional District. Elect Cheryl Hudspeth to Congress.  You'll be glad you did.



RALPH HIPP WANTS TO KNOW WHAT'S UP WITH KANSAS DEMOCRATS

WIBW's long time television anchor Ralph Hipp blogs an insightful question "What's up with Kansas Democrats?" Well, Ralph, perhaps the most active Democratic candidates are Raj Goyle out of Wichita and Stephene Moore hailing from Johnson County.

Raj Goyle, as of July 14th, has $1,255,403, while spending $515,531, leaving a cool $739, 873 for the home stretch according to the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.Org.

Stephene Moore, wife of retiring Representative Dennis Moore, as of July 14th, had raised $839,578, spent $389,638, and has $509,937 left for the final surge according to the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.Org.

Former Salina Mayor Alan Jilka is the Democratic candidate in the big First Congressional District. As of July 14th his campaign raised $744,107, spent $592,190, and held on to $251,233 according to the Center for Responsive Politics'OpenSecrets.Org.

Girard native Cheryl Hudspeth has pledged to take no corporate cash in her quest for Congress. It shows. According to the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.Org. she is not on the radar as having raised even a single cent. Her opponent, one of the worst Representatives in history, has taken in more than a million dollars. Maybe we don't need a Constitutional Amendment to overturn Citizens United and free us from the undue influence of corporate cash. Maybe we need voters who figure out that the candidate on the corporate gravy train is working for the corporate interest and not we the people.

Senate Candidate Lisa Johnston, as of June 30th, had raised $10,627, she spent $4,530, and had $6,096 on hand according to the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.Org. The same source says her opponent, Jerry Moran, raised, as of July 14th, $2,749,244 while having spent $4,497,168, and he claims to have $795,015 left over.  Now that's some creative accounting.  I don't think a self-proclaimed fiscal conservative with that kind of cash mismanagement is what Kansas is looking for in a United States Senator.

Chris Biggs has pledged to be a fulltime Secretary of State for Kansas. The Republican nominee, Kris Kobach, intends to teach law at UMKC and travel the country pushing his odd legal theories threatening Latinos. Recently Kobach claimed he could draft legislation undermining the Fourteenth Amendment that would pass the strict scrutiny of the Courts. That's nonsense. He should not be allowed to teach law. We help can end intellectual fraud by voting for Chris Biggs.

Attorney General Steve Six hit a homerun with his campaign by being an effective Attorney General dedicated to fighting sexual predators with a special task force. He is using new technology scouring the internet to track the monsters who lure children for perverse purposes.

Our candidate for State Treasurer is State Treasurer Dennis McKinney. He has responsibly taken care of his duties overseeing more than $20.6 billion this year. He administers the Learning Quest program that lets Kansans invest for the college expenses of their children. He has overseen the return of more than $11.3 million to their rightful owners; money in old bank accounts, insurance policies, and stocks.

Tom Holland is going to the debate. Sorry Ralph.  And why isn't Ralph Hipp digging into Sam Brownback's membership in a power grabbing cult called "the Family" where he and others got sweetheart deals on rent.  Brownback lived at the Family's C-Street complex with other notorious politicians.  Apparently in their cult the creeds and comandments of mainstream religion do not apply to members.  A number of sexual and legal scandals sprung from the C-Street facility.  And what of Brownback's lackluster performance in the Senate.  The most recent debacle is Senate Republicans blocking the Small Business tax break.

Ralph Hipp's question remains insightful because there are structural problems with both parties in Kansas. In most other states if a person wants to know who their committeeman or committeewoman is that information is readily available. Many states include that information in reports from their Secretary of State. Kansas does not. Some states, and some counties, rely on the party organization to let folk know who is who in their party and how to contact them. Some Kansas county party organizations do this on their own.

It is not enough. Kansas Democrats need to be more transparent. We fail to get the vote out because we are not doing enough in each and every Kansas precinct to know our neighbors, listen to their concerns, and tell them about our candidates. We can do better.

CHERYL HUDSPETH FOR CONGRESS - DREAMS CAN COME TRUE!

Democratic Standard-Bearer Cheryl Hudspeth

Cheryl Hudspeth is the Democratic nominee for Congress from Kansas' Second Congressional District. She defeated Sean Tevis and Tom Koch. Koch and Hudspeth were keeping it close until Tevis made a last minute surge to secure second place. Hudspeth received 9,945 votes, to Tevis' 8,022 votes, and Koch ended up with 4.536 votes with 98% of the precincts reporting.

Lynn Jenkins has a war chest full of corporate cash with which to wage the general election campaign. Cheryl Hudspeth has a hope chest full of the things from which dreams are made. The Democrats move into this campaign badly underfunded.

In a general election campaign that can best be described as David v. Goliath, Cheryl Hudspeth is showing savvy by transforming a conventional negative into an unconventional positive. At the bottom of her candidacy's home page, http://hudspeth2010.com/, she runs the following tag setting the money difference between she and Lynn Jenkins: "The Hudspeth 2010 Campaign is proud to be 100% corporate sponsor free."

Lynn Jenkins has done an incredibly poor job representing real people in Kansas' Second Congressional District. She voted against equal pay for women. She's voted numerous times against any control or restraint on Golden Parachutes. She voted against SCHIP, the children's health insurance program. She was one of only 19 shills for the Insurance Industry to vote against stripping the antitrust exemption from Health Insurance Companies. She claims to be for all of the above on an energy plan and consistently votes against green measures. She takes money from and supports Predatory Lenders. Lynn Jenkins' campaign has lined her pockets with special interest money.

Cheryl Hudspeth can win, dreams can come true. If Sean Tevis and Tom Koch remain committed to seeing Corporate Representative to Congress Lynn Jenkins replaced by a Compassionate Caring Democrat they will continue to fight with Cheryl Hudspeth.

Sean Tevis offers technical wizardry, panache, and youthful enthusiasm which will invigorate Hudspeth's candidacy. Tom Koch provides well reasoned ideas, and the willingness to travel those concepts, which speak to the interests of regular people in Kansas' Second Congressional District. The simple fact is that Democrats need all three of these former rivals to become a team.

For her part Cheryl Hudspeth needs to hit the campaign trail early and often. Her campaign must provide regular and frequent press releases highlighting her daily message, rebutting Lynn Jenkins, and persuading voters why she is the better choice. Lynn Jenkins' record is clear. I say carry Lynn Jenkins' record to the people and make her defend her representation of corporate wealth.

College Democrats and Kansas' Young Democrats can make the difference in Cheryl Hudspeth's candidacy. Although the Republican opponent can outspend Hudspeth in radio and television, College Democrats and Kansas' Young Democrats can provide the needed muscle to register voters, go door to door, and, as Sarah Silverman hs taught us, schlep their grandparents to the polls. College Democrats and Kansas' Young Democratsare vital to defeating Lynn Jenkins.

Sarah Silverman

CHERYL HUDSPETH FOR CONGRESS - DREAMS CAN COME TRUE!