Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, was among the freshmen congressmen who held a news conference at the Capitol Wednesday to label it the “Day Religious Freedom Died.” That was when the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ birth-control coverage mandate went into effect, requiring most employers to cover contraception in their health-insurance plans without co-pays. Huelskamp called the policy “anti-Catholic bigotry” and said, “We thought we were past that, but the mandate from this administration represents the rearing of its head again.” Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., likened it to Pearl Harbor and the 2001 terrorist attacks. “I want you to remember Aug. 1, 2012 – the attack on our religious freedom. That is a date that will live in infamy, along with those other dates,” Kelly said. The policy change is being challenged by 24 lawsuits.
The American Legislative Exchange Council and its corporate funders have been under fire for drafting “model legislation” for states on voter-ID and “stand your ground” gun laws. As a result, more than a dozen major companies have pulled out of the organization, including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, McDonald’s and Walmart. But at least eight state lawmakers, including Rep. Gene Suellentrop, R-Wichita, registered to attend ALEC’s July 25-28 annual meeting in Salt Lake City, the Lawrence Journal World reported. Kansas taxpayers paid the $475 registration fee for each lawmaker ($575 for Suellentrop and a state senator, who registered late). Other state lawmakers may have attended the meeting but did not register through Kansas Legislative Administrative Services.
The latest SurveyUSA poll of 458 GOP primary voters in Sedgwick County found the sheriff’s race to be neck and neck and Deputy District Attorney Marc Bennett still likely to succeed the retiring District Attorney Nola Foulston. In the poll, conducted for KWCH, Channel 12, Sheriff Bob Hinshaw had 45 percent support, compared with challenger Jeff Easter’s 47 percent. SurveyUSA noted that “wealthy and educated voters back Hinshaw. Less-affluent and less-educated voters back Easter.” Fifty percent of those surveyed early this week favored Bennett over former Deputy District Attorney Kevin O’Connor, who garnered 40 percent support. “Bennett runs strongly among males, older voters, those with a four-year college degree, pro-choice voters and those who do not own a gun,” SurveyUSA noted. “O’Connor is strong among younger voters and tea party members.” In its mid-July poll, SurveyUSA had Bennett ahead by 18 percentage points and Easter ahead by 11 points.
