Illegal fireworks were visible high above many Wichita neighborhoods over the July Fourth period, as hundreds of complaints were called in and an estimated $210,000 in related property damage occurred. Given all that, it was laughable to learn that only one person received a fireworks citation – though surely not laughable for the business owner, who could end up paying a fine and court costs. Wichita fire crews work hard over the holiday, but Wichita’s fireworks ordinance isn’t working.
David Kensinger, Gov. Sam Brownback’s former chief of staff, is helping finance the Kansans for Life political action committee, the Kansas City Star reported. His consulting firm gave $15,000 to the PAC on July 31 – the PAC’s largest donation this year. So is it just a coincidence that the PAC endorsed most of the candidates backed by the Governor’s Office and anti-tax groups? KFL has said there was no connection, even though several of the incumbents targeted for defeat by the Governor’s Office and not endorsed by KFL – such as Sen. Carolyn McGinn, R-Sedgwick – have lengthy pro-life voting and advocacy records.
Kansas’ primary showdown between moderate and conservative Republicans drew more national attention. The New York Times reported how Gov. Sam Brownback (in photo) is openly challenging some moderate lawmakers and how the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and Americans for Prosperity are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on ads attacking moderates and rallying support for conservatives. It noted how Sen. Dick Kelsey, R-Goddard, also is being targeted, even though he has never voted for a tax increase and is pro-life. Kelsey’s sin is that he publicly criticized some of Brownback’s policies. “It’s not going to be healthy for our party,” Kelsey said, “if we force people to lose any element of independence.”
