Kansas

U.S. Senate candidate Todd Tiahrt said today it's time to halt TARP, otherwise known as the Wall Street bailout program.

All unobligated TARP funds remaining after Dec. 31 would be applied toward reducing the national debt, Tiahrt, a Republican, said. It is estimated that $200 billion in unspent TARP funds could be returned to the U.S. Treasury.‪‪

“All too often Washington is viewed as a national ATM for bailing out failed companies,” said Tiahrt. “We must end this unnecessary spending of taxpayer dollars on bailouts and failed so-called stimulus programs.

"In the past year, we have seen the federal government bailout Wall Street, the auto industry and insurance companies among others. And Democrats are now marching toward a federal takeover of the health care industry.‪

TOPEKA | Kansas unemployment rate went DOWN in October to 6.4 percent. Down?

Yes, but don’t get too excited. The state’s Department of Labor says the dip (September’s jobless number was 6.8 percent) is mostly due to seasonal factors.

The monthly job data was released this morning by the Department of Labor.

Kansas businesses have lost 57,700 jobs so far this year. Last year at this time the unemployment rate was 4.3 percent.

“Kansas continued to experience a weak labor market in October,” said Inayat Noormohmad of the Labor Department. “We have seen limited over-the-month growth, however, over-the-year job losses remain significant. While we’re seeing improvements in some economic indicators, we know recovery in the job markets remains uncertain for the near future.”

Barry GrissomCongressman Dennis Moore's office has confirmed that it will submit the name of Overland Park attorney Barry Grissom to be the next U.S. attorney for Kansas.

Lawrence lawyer Dan Watkins had been in the running for the state's highest law enforcement position, but withdrew from consideration last month.

Grissom, 55, has his own practice and specializes in civil litigation with a focus on employment discrimination.

The next step: Official nomination by President Obama, then Senate confirmation.

"It would be an honor to have a job like this," Grissom told Prime Buzz. "It'd be an opportunity to serve and serving under this administration would be a double honor."

TOPEKA | Former Kansas State University President Jon Wefald gave too much power to deputies who operated with too little oversight, according to a final review of financial irregularities identified in a recent audit.

“It was clear there was an awful lot of power invested in too few people,” current President Kirk Schulz told the Kansas Board of Regents today. 

Schulz briefed the Regents on what actions have been taken in response to the June audit, which revealed undisclosed payments, conflicts of interest and accounting irregularities and potential tax problems at KSU and its Athletics Department.

KMBC's Mike Mahoney reports that the Johnson County field coordinator for U.S. Senate hopeful Todd Tiahrt has resigned after he was confronted with a set of sex charges he's facing.

Jase D. Stanton was accused of the sex charges this summer for an incident that allegedly took place in July 2008.

More here.

TOPEKA | Where has Kansas’ money gone?

That was the question posed by Kansas Secretary of Revenue Joan Wagnon Wednesday night at a provocative – for state tax policy anyway – meeting at Washburn University.

Wagnon says the state has given too much away in the form of tax breaks and incentives, and urges lawmakers to enact a moratorium on any new sales tax exemptions until the state rights its fiscal ship.

“What happened to the money and where did it go?” Wagnon asked. “We’ve given it away. That’s the short answer.”

By DION LEFLER

The Wichita Eagle

The Jerry Moran campaign is seething over an e-mail from Senate rival Todd Tiahrt’s campaign that implies Moran is a fellow traveler of the Communist Party.

The e-mail subject line asserts — falsely — that Moran has been endorsed by the Communist Party USA.

“The assertion that Jerry Moran would be affiliated with communists is so outlandish, only a desperate campaign like Todd Tiahrt’s would make such an assertion,” said Moran campaign spokesman Aaron Trost. “It’s a desperate public statement by a campaign that’s still trying to find a message.”

Tiahrt spokeswoman Michelle Schroeder said the e-mail was sent to select supporters to remind them of “the good conservatives who support Todd and Todd’s campaign.”

Here's what Kansas GOP Chairwoman Amanda Adkins had to say today about the Democrat's new candidate for governor, Tom Wiggans:

"It is hard to imagine Kansas Democrats would actually nominate for Governor someone who has never voted in a Kansas election."

True? Yes. Wiggans left Kansas after he graduated from KU, enjoyed a successful career in the drug industry at established companies and start-ups, and then moved back to Kansas in January. He's never voted in Kansas.

A look at Wiggans' campaign contributions over the years shows that he's split his money between the parties. He contributed to Obama and U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, and to Democrats in California.

But he also gave generously to Republicans, including George W. Bush, Rudy Giuliani and the RNC.

It's officially a race.

Democrat Tom Wiggans filed paperwork with the state today to begin a campaign for Kansas Governor.

The political newcomer faces U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, a Republican, in next year's election.

Wiggans still hasn't spoken publicly about his interest in running for governor, or why he thinks he should lead Kansas. He's also not returning phone calls. His spokeswoman said he'll be unavailable all week. But she did email this statement:

"Now more than ever as our state and our families deal with this difficult economic climate, we need a successful business leader in the Governor's office.

...

"I have never run for political office before, but what I have done is started and managed businesses, balanced budgets and created jobs.  This experience makes me the best candidate to lead our state through this financial storm, create economic growth and good-paying jobs and keep our young people in Kansas. 

TOPEKA | Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson will announce a new round of budget cuts next week, he told reporters today.

He wouldn’t offer any hints about where he’s going to cut, but said his budget-balancing plan won’t include any tax increases.

Because of declines in revenue the state is now about a quarter of a billion dollars in the red. And that’s after earlier rounds of budget cuts from the Republican-led Legislature and Parkinson, a Democrat.

Parkinson could have waited for lawmakers to make the cuts when they return to the Statehouse in January. But Parkinson said he’ll do the dirty work and allow lawmakers to focus on next year’s budget.

TOPEKA | Gov. Mark Parkinson today unveiled a new program that gives low-interest loans to help make homes and businesses more energy efficient.

Kansans regardless of income can participate in the program, which grants loans of up to $20,000 for homeowners and $30,000 for small business owners for eligible projects. The interest is capped at 4 percent. 

The money could go toward a more energy efficient furnace or air conditioner, insulation or better doors and windows. The state is using $34 million in federal stimulus dollars to fund the initiative.

No Democrats filed to run for Kansas governor today.

Word on Friday was that Tom Wiggans would file paperwork with the Secretary of State to make a run at the governor's mansion. Wiggans is a bioscience executive who now lives in Olathe. If the political newcomer does enter the race for governor he'll face a heavyweight opponent in Republican U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback.

No one answered the phone today at the address we have for Wiggans, and the Democratic Party had no comment. We'll check the filings again tomorrow.

It’s out with the old paper notices and on with new digital notifications at the Johnson County and Olathe library systems.

In an effort to reduce costs and save taxpayers money, library patrons will receive notices by e-mail and telephone for overdue materials, materials on hold and bills. The end of printed mail notices will become effective Dec. 31.

Who knew the Kerry campaign was such a hotbed of romance? (Aside from John Edwards, that is.) 

Edward Sebelius married Lisa Anderson Rockefeller Saturday in Boca Grande, Florida, according to The NYT.

She's a Princeton alum who earned an MBA at Dartmouth, and a descendent of the Standard Oil Rockefellers.

He's the son of former KS Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, now the head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He's about to join the Boston law firm Ropes & Gray as an associate. He has a law degree from Georgetown and a Master's from Harvard.

According to The Times, the couple met while working for John Kerry's presidential campaign in 2003.

TOPEKA | The Kansas Democrats have a candidate for governor who plans to file preliminary campaign paperwork Monday.

Speculation in the Statehouse is that the candidate is Tom Wiggans, a Kansas native and bioscience entrepreneur who recently returned to Kansas after living in California. An Olathe resident, Wiggans serves on the Board of Trustees at the University of Kansas Endowment.

The situation at Mission Valley Middle School in Prairie Village is getting tense between the principal, Susie Ostmeyer, and students supporting fired science teacher Ryan Haraughty.

Students are placing sticky-notes with the letter “H” on walls and in classrooms around the school and plan to keep it up for the rest of the year, according to students.

It’s their way of continuing a protest without picketing outside the school. Ostmeyer has instructed the staff to remove them immediately.

Many students continue to wear homemade “H” badges on their clothes and carry their homemade signs of support into classrooms.

Somebody, somewhere in Kansas won last night's big Powerball drawing.

The state plans to unveil its newest millionaire tomorrow - Friday the 13th - at a news conference here in Topeka.

The lucky (for now) Kansan won $96.6 million, the largest Powerball jackpot in state history. He/She can either accept 30 annual payments or a lump payment of $48.3 million.

If the state lucks out, the winner may decide to donate some of the money to cash-poor Kansas, a budget-strapped state that might want to consider buying a lottery ticket or two itself.

Kansas Lt. Gov. Troy Findley went to Emporia today to mark Veterans Day in Kansas (Gov. Mark Parkinson is on a trade mission to China).

Why Emporia, you ask? Well, the Kansas town played a key role in creating the federal holiday that honors the sacrifices and service of our veterans.

Originally, of course, Nov. 11 was Armistice Day, marking the anniversary of the end of WWI. The day was applied to veterans of all wars only after an Emporia shopkeeper suggested the idea back in 1953.

Here's what Findley had to say today: 

“We meet here today, at the 11th hour, of the 11th day in the 11th month to honor our Veterans. The origins of this day trace back to the official end of the First World War, Armistice Day; but it was in 1953 that the townspeople of Emporia suggested that it be a day to honor all of our heroes, both past and present.

A new report out this week looks at the state of childhood in Kansas and finds more kids are growing up in poverty, qualifying for free school meals and going without proper medical care.

The report's author, Kansas Action for Children, says the stats are likely to get worse in next year's report, when the full impact of the recession is represented.

Here are the highlights (or lowlights):

By JOHN MILBURN

Associated Press Writer

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Estimates for Kansas tax collections for the remainder of the state’s fiscal year are cut by $235 million as forecasters see continued weakness in the economy.

The reductions Thursday mean Kansas government will have 4.2 percent fewer tax dollars to finance services than previously estimated in April. Kansas began its fiscal year July 1.

Gov. Mark Parkinson says the news is a challenge, but manageable. He renewed his promise to legislators that he will balance the state budget by the time the 2010 session begins in January.