When public service announcements self-serve

lynn jenkinsWhen Kansans see a current or potential holder of political office appearing in a public service announcement, they may wonder: “Was that really a taxpayer-funded campaign ad?” It’s a timely question: Kansas Securities Commissioner Chris Biggs (a possible replacement for Attorney General Paul Morrison), Treasurer Lynn Jenkins (in photo, now running for Congress) and Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh (considering a run for governor in 2010) can be seen in current ads, respectively, warning of investment scams, touting the state’s Learning Quest education savings plan and urging parents to read to their kids. The ads with Jenkins and Biggs were not funded by tax dollars, reported the Topeka Capital-Journal. State party leaders say such ads are OK when they support some program. Kansans must decide for themselves whether such ads are too self-serving.

4 Comments

  1. CapnAmerica
    Posted January 7, 2008 at 9:50 am | Permalink

    The ads with Jenkins and Biggs were not funded by tax dollars, reported the Topeka Capital-Journal.

    That’s RhondaCON speech for the ad with Arch-RepubliCON Ron Thornburg was taxpayer funded.

    She just couldn’t bring herself to say it . . .

    RepubliCONs rail against frivolous use of taxes . . . even as they do it themselves.

  2. Ben
    Posted January 7, 2008 at 10:00 am | Permalink

    The Biggs ad would seem to be the only one that SHOULD be taxpayer funded. It seems that scam aletrs are within the purview of the Department.

  3. Voter
    Posted January 7, 2008 at 2:21 pm | Permalink

    Interesting, the liberal democrats jumping on this issue and turning it against republicans.

    This is not all republicans.

    This is a slick Treasurer Lynn Jenkins, using her sly ways to get her name and photo out there before you campaign kicks off.

    This is totally wrong and should stop. We never heard from this woman BEFORE she decided to run for Congress.

    She should NOT be allowed to use her present state office for her own political gain.

    Her tactics may not be very obvious, as some of you are victims of public education in Kansas. The state where we spend the money by judicial judgement, but none of the money has increased Kansas K-12 test scores.

    Stop the deceitful campaigning Lynn.

  4. Tom
    Posted January 7, 2008 at 4:29 pm | Permalink

    Those Biggs ads have been running for a year. He wasn’t running for office then, and he’s not running for office now. Any speculation about the Governor appointing him AG is just that: Speculation. The REPUBLICANS mentioned, however, ARE running for public office.

    Tell me, Rhonda, why are Democrats getting attacked for what the Republicans are doing?

    Hmm?

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