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.
A task force including faculty, alumni, students and university officials reviewed the audit and submitted four conclusions and recommendations.
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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 out about his interest in running for governor, but today a spokeswoman emailed 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.
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The Kansas Republican Party says last night’s big wins for the GOP show Americans are unconvinced by Democratic health care proposals and the economic stimulus package.
But, in a statement this morning from state GOP Chairwoman Amanda Adkins, the party says more work is necessary before Republicans can count on big gains next year.
“President Obama won New Jersey, Virginia and New York’s 23rd District by at least 5% in 2008. The Democrats’ defeat in Virginia and New Jersey in Tuesday’s elections is an indicator that Americans want more than empty promises of hope,” Adkins wrote.
“Voters believed in Obama’s message but the change they wanted did not include a government takeover of healthcare and a so-called stimulus package that has done nothing to put Americans back to work.
“The close race in New York indicates that we still have work to do. We must educate voters on the pro-growth, pro-business platform that will achieve sweeping victory for Republicans in 2010.”
Kansas State Sen. Laura Kelly, a Topeka Democrat, threw her hat into the ring Friday to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins next year.
Democrats like their chances. It’s a district that’s gone both ways in the past few election cycles, and Jenkins, in her first-term, has had a gaffe or two. (Remember Jenkins’ “great white hope” comment from two months ago?)
Kansas’ 2nd District includes most of eastern Kansas outside Wyandotte and Johnson counties, including Leavenworth, Topeka, Manhattan, Pittsburg and parts of Lawrence. Republican Jim Ryun lost the seat to Nancy Boyda, a Democrat, who then lost it last year to Jenkins.
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State Sen. David Haley thinks so.
The Kansas City, Kan. Democrat said today he’ll keep pushing his idea to charge tolls based on the speed at which drivers fly down the Kansas Turnpike.
If you drive the speed limit, you’d pay the standard fare. If you speed, you’d pay more.
He says this “conduct-based” toll system would encourage drivers to slow down, which would increase fuel efficiency and reduce accidents.
Haley noted that the state increased its tolls as of Oct. 1 for every driver except those using a K-TAG (the little automated toll device). So the state is already saying that some people should pay different tolls, he said. Haley argues the state should extend that philosophy to speeders.
“This new toll system would promote fuel economy, reduce vehicle emissions and save lives by diminishing accident risk,” he said.
Haley’s idea was ignored by other lawmakers in 2007 and again last year. But he’s a determined guy: he worked eight years on an animal-cruelty bill before it passed.
Kansas lawmakers may be cutting millions from public education and social services, but the $285 million restoration of the Kansas Statehouse continues.
Lawmakers got an update on the work Thursday and received some good news: for now at least, the price tag of the work has stopped going up.
Dramatic increases to the cost of the restoration have become an annual tradition in the Statehouse, with the current price tag more than double an initial estimate.
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