Kansas Dems Call for Full School Funding Bill This Year January 14, 2016

The Kansas Senate’s top Democrat says lawmakers should pass a new education funding law this year.

Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley said Thursday that legislators should work with school superintendents on a new formula for distributing more than $4 billion in state aid to the state’s 286 school districts.

Republicans who control the Legislature last year junked the state’s old, per-pupil formula in favor of “block grants” for districts. They meant the new law to be temporary and set it to expire in July 2017.

Democrats had a Statehouse news conference to discuss their vision for this year’s legislative session, stressing their support for public schools and retaining teachers without offering specifics.

Republicans are divided over whether lawmakers should try to pass a new school funding law this year.

Jason Perky Leaving Kansas Dems February 27, 2015

(AP) — Former U.S. Rep. Todd Akin is putting an end to the rumors: He will not make another run for the U.S. Senate in 2016.

Akin’s 2012 Senate bid was undermined when he remarked in a TV interview that women’s bodies have ways of avoiding pregnancy from what he called “legitimate rape.” The St. Louis County Republican, who served six terms in the House, was soundly defeated by Democratic incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill in the general election.

Akin recently made comments to a Washington, D.C., publication perceived by some as hints that he would challenge Republican Sen. Roy Blunt in the August 2016 primary, but Akin released a one-sentence statement Thursday that left no room for interpretation.

“In response to various questions: I will not be running for the U.S. Senate in 2016,” Akin said in the statement. Messages seeking further comment were not returned.

Akin, 67, told The Hill, a Washington newspaper, on Wednesday that “there is a high level of dissatisfaction among conservatives, that they have been pushed out of the Republican Party.” He said the Tea Party “is skeptical and wants some fresh blood, not just the same establishment guys.”

Blunt said during a conference call this week that he would not answer questions about the Senate race. He is expected to run for re-election but has not indicated when a formal announcement will be made.

Secretary of State Jason Kander, a 33-year-old Democrat, announced last week that he will run for Blunt’s Senate seat.

Ks Dem Spokx Fired After Calling Some Small Kansas Towns “Crapholes” October 16, 2014

The spokesman for the Kansas Democratic Party, Dakota Loomis, was fired Thursday fire calling some small Kansas towns “Crapholes”.
“Dakota’s remarks were reprehensible, and nothing short of termination is in order here ” said Jason Perkey, The Executive Director of the Kansas Democrats.
The Wichita Eagle reported Loomis was fired after his remarks were reporting in a Pittsburg, Kansas newspaper.
“Republican state Sens. Jeff King of Independence and Jake LaTurner of Pittsburg said Loomis should be fired over his posting about Cherryvale, Columbus and Galena. The since-deleted comment called them leading contenders for “most craphole small towns in Kansas.”’ The Eagle wrote.
The Pittsburg newspaper reported Loomis posted the remarks on a website dealing with Kansas basketball.
The move comes as Kansas Democrats find Thur candidate for Governor, Paul Davis in a close battle with incumbent Sam Brownback.
Brownback is seeking a second term.
Kansas Republicans are also fighting g off a challenge to Republican incumbent Senator Pat Roberts. .
He is being challenged by Independent candidate Greg Orman.

Kansas Overseas Ballots Going Out With a Warning September 21, 2014

(AP)– Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach says about 500 voters living overseas will be told they may have to re-vote in the U.S. Senate race after ballots were mailed to them Saturday.

The Kansas election official on Friday directed counties to begin mailing overseas ballots under a federal deadline.

The ballots will have no Democratic candidate in the U.S. Senate race after the Kansas Supreme Court ordered Kobach to honor nominee Chad Taylor’s request to remove his name. Some Democrats pushed Taylor out to help independent candidate Greg Orman’s chances of defeating Republican Sen. Pat Roberts.

Kobach said Democrats are still obligated to pick a new nominee.

Democrats in Kansas Join Retirees for COLA Rally February 19, 2014

(AP) – Democratic lawmakers in Kansas have joined dozens of retired teachers and government employees in calling for a cost-of-living increase in their pensions.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that about 200 retirees rallied Tuesday at the Statehouse. Many wore green stickers bearing the word “COLA,” for cost-of-living adjustment.

Retirees haven’t seen such an increase in 17 years because of long-term funding issues facing the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System.

The projected gap between the pension system’s anticipated revenues and its commitments to retirees is $10.3 billion through 2033. However, the state has enacted changes in recent years that are projected to close the gap.

Speakers at the rally included Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley of Topeka and House Democratic Leader Paul Davis of Lawrence.