Phill Kline, a Republican, was first elected as the state’s attorney general in 2006. He faces Democrat Paul Morrison in this year’s election. He takes your questions at 2 p.m. Oct. 9.

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Editor’s note, October 11, 2006: During the chat below, Atty. Gen. Phill Kline claimed to quote Mike Merriam, attorney for the Kansas Press Assn., in support of actions he took during his first term in office. Merriam has disputed the accuracy of the quote, and Kline’s campaign has offered an apology.

OnlyLawrenceRepublican

I’d just like to make a comment. I appreciate Mr. Cline’s pursuit of charges against Kevin Raasch from Trans Master Towing here in Lawrence. Mr. Raasch is ripping off consumers and Mr. Cline is making a stand against this kind of highway robbery. Thank you for you zealous advocacy.

Baille

SB 323 did not let any prisoners out of prison early. It shortened probation for some. Ex-cons often commit crimes on probation. How would keeping them on probation longer keep them from committing crimes? And if it would why not keep ex-cons on probation for the rest of their lives? In fact this was a bill that expanded the number of maximum-security prison beds for violent offenders and sexual predators by appropriating $6,000,000.00 to pay for new facilities. To balance this cost probation programs were shortened for some types of ex-convicts. When do you stop playing politics and start being honest?

justthefacts

General Kline, I have heard people say you aren’t a “real” lawyer or a good one, but rather that you are a professional politician. Can you please tell us what legal work you did or legal experience you had before being elected to the office of Attorney General?

Baille

Justify your position that mandated reporters have to report knowledge of consensual sex between minors to law enforcement and/or SRS.

As a follow-up, what is your response to the federal court decision that gutted your AG Opinion on this issue?

hornband

Why did you accept money from Fred Phelps’ family only to donate it to the Kansas Patriot Guard hours after learning that your accepting Phelps’ donation would become public in an LJWorld story?

westernksgirl

Mr. Morrison seems to make a political point about you “invading people’s medical privacy.” I understood, that these records were sought to expose sex abuse/assault. Which is it?

betruetothyself

Mr. Kline,
It’s obviously mud-slinging time of year again. Do the negative ad campaigns bother you? If you could give a few facts that might surprise Kansans, in regard to abortion clinics,what would they be? Feel free to cite other facts from other areas as well. Thank you.

Eride

You have made several statements in regards to your investigation into abortion clinics stating the focus of your investigation is to find and prosecute clinics not reporting statutory rape. Yet you have subpoenaed records for adult patients at said clinics as well as the records of patients who are under age. My question is what is your justification for violating the privacy of said patients?

Your stated justification of protecting minors makes sense if you were ONLY subpoenaing the records of MINORS. Your actions seem more like a personal vendetta against abortion clinics then a legal obligation to prosecute crimes against children:

Kam_Fong_as_Chin_Ho

Since Jesus wanted to be no part of man’s government, why do so many of today’s “christians” ignore his example and get heavily involved in politics? I just couldn’t imagine Jesus running for office.

logrithmic

Let’s say that a news report indicates that a male Republican state representative has been soliciting 16 year old male high school students over the Internet and that the staff of the Republican Speaker of the House was aware of this for the last five years and yet took no action to expose or discipline the representative. What specific actions would you take to investigate the story and what do you believe should be done if it were true?

TheRealDecider

Are you hoping that the US Supreme Court will overturn Roe v. Wade?

TheRealDecider

Exactly how many human cells, in your opinion, constitutes an embryo’s becoming a living human being. 1? 2? 4? 8?

TheRealDecider

Do you believe that all people who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their lord and savior will go to hell for all eternity? Do you hope to see the 2nd coming of Christ in your lifetime?

CommonSense4All

Phill,

I understand that you received an award from a disability rights group in Kansas recently, what was that about?

johngalt

What in the world are people thinking when they suppoer SB 323 like Morrison and others?

Bill_Madison

Mr. Kline,

Your opponent Paul Morrison recently criticized the judge in your investigation into abortion clinics by accusing the judge of what amounts to an ethical violation. What is your opinion of such an allegation?

TheRealDecider

Would you describe yourself as an evangelical Christian? Do you believe we are nearing the “end times?”

beatcat

Hi, General kline; What is your comments on “October 5, 2006 edition of Topeka Capital Journal it was reported that Paul Morrison made remarks regarding a sitting Judge in Shawnee County . In that article entitled “A.G. says judge OK’d abortion inquiry” written by Chris Moon, Mr. Morrison is quoted to have questioned both the Judge’s integrity and diligence in the discharge of his responsibilities when he found probable cause to believe that evidence of crimes existed within the files that he subpoenaed”?? Thanks.

Baille

It cost us a fortune to teach him how to argue before the Supreme Court. It also sounds liek he is attempting to take credit for stuff he had little if any involvment in.

Baille

Why did he not seek the medical records in Alpha by first having them redacted of all pesonally identifying information then, once probable cause had been extablished as to a specific individual, seeking the identity of that potential victim?

Laura

General Kline: I do not worry about a state-sanctioned religion. I worry about an Attorney General who is so vocal about his Christianity. Why, when this is such a divisive issue, do you wave the conservative Christian flag?

Baille

NOt false.

“SB 323 shortened sentences for 8,505 Kansas offenders.

“In simple terms, the legislation cut in half the period of post-release supervision the offenders were to serve.”

Post-release supervision.

And I read the bill – quickly – on www.accesskansas.com. Which provision actually let people out of prison early?

SettingTheRecordStraight

General Kline,
Can you tell us more about your program Operation PADLOC?

Baille

47 people would have been put back in prision because they violated their parole more than 12 months but less than 24 months after being released from post-release supervision. This is your big issue?

BigDog

General Kline: What do you see as the biggest differences between you and your opponent?

Lethargic_Bureaucrat

You did not answer how many trials you have had in court as lead counsel.

Baille

This is killing me. SB 323 shortened post-release supervison in exchange for freeing up $6,000,000.00 for bed space for violent offenders and sexual predators.

beatcat

Is it true that Morrison has seeked medical records “thousands of times” ? –Medical Records Are Used in Virtually Every Child Rape Investigation and only George Tiller and Planned Parenthood Have Fought the Subpoenas in the Investigation.

ModerateJo

“We already apprehended one person wanted for child rape who was identified through my investigation involving medical records”

Who was it and was it directly related to the 90 abortion files that were subpoenaed?

Baille

Ask him to recite the 9th Commandment.

Baille

Tossing in a softball at the end?

Baille

Hopes to accomplish putting of finding a private-sector job.

Baille

And what is up with this “General Kline” nonsense? It’s not like the guy is Patton.

Lethargic_Bureaucrat

Do you have plans to arrest George Tiller anytime before Nov. 7?

Moderate_Republican

Did the Shawnee County judge who is handling the Alpha/Beta abortion records inquisition (Judge Anderson) ever tell your Asst. or Deputy A.G. (Steve Maxwell) who brought the inquisition, that he (Judge Anderson)is pro-life?

Did Steve Maxwell ever tell you and others in the office this?

Lethargic_Bureaucrat

Does former Attorney General Bob Stephan support your relection?

Lethargic_Bureaucrat

Should unmarried adults be prohibited from purchasing contraception?

Teapot9

Phil,

Do you see Kansas ever moving in the same way South Dakota is on its vote to ban virtually all abortions? Also, who is going to win on saturday???

Moderator

Hi folks! I’m Joel Mathis, managing editor for convergence. Today we have Attorney General Phill Kline with us, to take your questions about his campaign for re-election. He’s here with us, and we’ll get rolling.

Attorney General Phill Kline

Hello, it is my pleasure to be with you today.

justthefacts

What differences, if any, are there between the type(s) of legal work done by an Attorney General and a District Attorney for a major county?

Attorney General Phill Kline

First, we have some similarities. My office has prosecuted over 60 homicide cases since I have been Attorney General and we have oversite of the appeals of Kansas criminal cases. Furthermore, the office is generally involved in more serious criminal prosecutions. Much of the office, however, deals with civil litigation – the water cases against Nebraska and Colorado; defending the state in various lawsuits; representing state agencies; the Health Midwest case against Missouri – these efforts consume a tremendous amount of time.

KatieGirl

What is your response to the Sedgwick County D.A.’s statement that you and your office’s investigation into abortion records had nothing to do with the prosecution of sex offender Robert Estrada? Do you think you have a civic duty to issue a correction for your misrepresentations and cease using the false example in your stump speeches and debates?

Attorney General Phill Kline

The District Attorney was responding to a reporter’s question about “prosecution of the case.” We do not prosecute unless invited in by the local agency and that generally does not happen in our state’s 6 largest counties. The DA did confirm that my office referred evidence involving a child rape to her office in October of 2005. Subsequently, in November of 2005 a man was charged with child rape. He was sentenced this week. The evidence indicates he raped his step-children over a period of years resulting in four pregnancies and more than one abortion. It took far too long to bring this person to justice.

Attorney General Phill Kline

Additionally, the case illustrates why we need these reports. For years the step-father would claim that the girls were impregnanted by a boyfriend when this was false.

ModerateJo

Have you actually seen the subpoenaed medical files in Alpha/Beta?

Attorney General Phill Kline

The District Court has closed this part of the investigation. I can affirmatively state that my office has referred evidence involving child rape to local prosecutors based on abortion records.

youngitized

Why do you continue your crusade against the abortion clinics, when there are more pressing issues such as identity theft, price gouging at the gas pumps, and preserving our right to privacy?

Attorney General Phill Kline

First of all, it is the media that focuses on this issue not I. I have devoted my time to successfully arguing before the United States Surpeme Court, passing Jessica’s law, establishing the Vulnerable Adults Task Force, breaking open the Kaufman case, establishing the Abuse and Neglect Unit to protect our elderly, initiating the lawsuit regarding the towing company here in Lawrence, etc.

Attorney General Phill Kline

But I must mention that my office has been involved in over 700 cases of adults sexually exploiting children since I have been Attorney General. Our Cyber Crimes Task Force has placed over 90 Internet predators of children behind bars and we have pursued several cases of child rape.

In every case of child rape you use the corroborating physical evidence reflected in the medical file to support the child’s testimony. Child witnesses are often terrified to confront their abusers and you need these medical records. Paul knows this and has admitted that he has sought medical records in his cases.

As it relates to my investigation of criminal late-term and partial birth abortion – we never sought the identity of the adult women and you cannot prove the case without reviewing the doctor’s notation regarding the procedure used.

A District Court Judge found probable cause to believe that crimes have occurred and that evidence of the crimes are in the records. The Judge issued a subpoenaed the records. It is my job to enforce the law and I will.

voice

The Attorney General’s Office is charged with enforcing the laws of the land. Currently, the United States Supreme Court provides women the opportunity to choose abortion, without restraint, during the first tri-mester. Will your office vigorously enforce a woman’s right to choose AND defend her right to acquire medical treatment to end pregnancies?

Attorney General Phill Kline

Yes. That is my job.

Laura

General Kline: My question is straight-forward. I am a Jewish woman in an office with 50 people, three of whom know I’m a Jew. It’s simply not relevant. Why do you believe your Christian values have anything to do with your job as Attorney General?

Attorney General Phill Kline

Our values animate us and are important to each of us. I believe, and I don’t mean to assume to much, that your concern is whether I believe government should impose a specific religious belief. I do not believe it should do so. I strongly support the religious freedoms we have in this nation and have great respect for your faith. I also cherish the freedom I have to share my faith to those who desire to know more about it.

Baille

Justify your position that it is desirable for the law to treat consensual sex between minor partners of the same gender more harshly than consensual sex between minors of different genders.

Attorney General Phill Kline

I do not support that position and voted against the law you are referring to. This law was a part of SB 149 that passed the legislature in 1999. I voted against the bill. My opponent in this election stated he would have voted for the bill.

When I became Attorney General I inherited a lawsuit challenging the law. Mr. Limon was convicted for his 3rd offense of molesting a child. He was sentenced under the more harsh provision in SB 149 because his actions were homosexual rather than heterosexual. This occurred prior to my becoming Attorney General. General Stovall defended the law as it is the role of Attorney General to do. The case went to the United States Supreme Court and then was remanded for further consideration. That’s when I came in office and I also defended the law although I disagreed with the policy. I do believe it was the legislature’s perogative and Governor Graves, who signed the law, right to have such a law.

Baille

SB 323 did not cut any prison sentences. No one got out early. It cut post-release supervison. Lots of examples have been given about how ex-cons have committed crimes following their release but no one has showed that these convicts would not have reoffended if still being supervised. It hasn’t been done because it can’t be done. There is no causal relationship. Ex-cons reoffend on parole and off parole. Maybe you disagree. Please explain how being on supervised parole keeps ex-cons from reoffending and cite an example of where that has happened.

Attorney General Phill Kline

False. Read the Capital Journal article this morning. Also, go to www.paulspolicy.com and you can read the original Kansas Department of Corrections source documents that show the impact of SB 323 which Paul Morrison helped write and which I opposed.

The KDOC January 2001 newsletter points out that the bill released early from prison 887 inmates in the first 6 months and that over 50% of those inmates were medium and maximum security inmates.

Furthermore, the bill reduced probation and post-release supervision up to 75% on crimes such as: intentional torture of a child, failure to register as a sex offender, aggravated sexual battery, arson, shooting at a home when no one was hurt, etc.

Since its inception over 1,500 of those inmates with shortened sentences have gone out on our streets, found new victims and committed new crimes and have been caught, tried and convicted and are back in prison. Claims it did not reduce sentences are flat out false.

FormerCentralKansan

Phill—what is the single biggest challenge you see Kansas facing over the next 4 years? Also, what you have done to protect Kansans from possible terrorist attacks?

Attorney General Phill Kline

We must expand our prison bed space and stop using our sentencing guidelines as a budget tool rather than tool for justice. This is the primary difference between my opponent and I. I have consistently sought to expand prison capacity while he has consistently sought to release people early and shorten sentences.

I have the honor of overseeing the KBI and we word directly with the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice regarding those in our nation who may pose a threat to homeland security.

kugrad

Exactly how many cases did you try in court, meaning you were the lead attorney in the courtroom giving oral arguments, prior to becoming attorney general? If you must estimate, use small incremental steps such as 0-5, 5-10, 10-15, etc.

Thank you,
kugrad

Attorney General Phill Kline

My practice primarily consisted of construction mediation and arbitration. Early in my career my caseload was more substantial in number and less substantial in size of the case. I would average about 20 cases at a time. In my specialty of practice, however, I would be primarily responsible for 1 or 2 cases the cases were so mammoth in size. For example, my representation of the State of California consumed more than one year. My representation of Emerson Electric in a terrible accident in Hutchinson involving a salt plant consumed an enormous amount of time. Conversely, I represented the prison doctor at Lansing from inmate lawsuits and I would work 10-15 cases at a time. My experience in the law has been much more broad than Pauls who has had one type of case in one district court and has never entered private practice.

haggisgirl

Your Director of Consumer Protection has been arrested 12 times. You hired your nephew who had a suspended driver’s license for refusing to take a breathalyzer test and was on probation for drug charges. If re-elected will you agree to stop hiring people with criminal records to work in the Attorney General’s office?

Attorney General Phill Kline

Bryan Brown was engaged in peaceful civil disobedience and all charges were misdemeanors. This does not disqualify you from the practice of law and he is a lawyer in good standing doing a great job as the consumer chief.

My nephew made a few mistakes in his youth. He does not deserve a million dollar campaign on his head. He did a good job in constituent service and now has started his own business. Its time to deal with the real issues Kansans are concerned with not this continued mischaracterization and character assasination of those who are not even involved in running for office.

SettingTheRecordStraight

General Kline,
Can you tell us about your program Operation PADLOC? Thanks.

Moderator

We’re going to pose two more questions to the A.G.

Attorney General Phill Kline

I initiated an effort to apprehend those who refused to follow the rules on probation or post-release supervision. These are the folks who committed crimes, and afterwards still flaunted the rules. They are most likely to reoffend. We initiating a Task Force and apprehended over 100 absconders or fugitives from justice who had committed some violent crimes. We are in the process of renewing this effort through PADLOC III. We already apprehended one person wanted for child rape who was identified through my investigation involving medical records – the same one that Mr. Morrison says he would end and of which he has been highly critical. We will continue this effort.

Kropotkin

How can you say you’re for “Open Government” and less secrecy, when you met with the six member “Born Again” majority of the Kansas Board of Education on 2/8/05, in two groups, a moment apart, in an attempt to evade the requirements of the Kansas Open Meetings Act? One member of that Board admitted the day previous that it was your intent to do so. AG Stovall had issued opinions that such “serial meetings” violated the Act. You’ve admitted that the meeting was requested by you to encourage the Board majority to require placement of stickers in textbooks that would have challenged the theory of evolution, though a Federal court in Georgia ruled this illegal only a month earlier.

Attorney General Phill Kline

The attorney for the Kansas Press Association stated of these meetings: “it is remarkable the length the Attorney General will go to to comply with the law.”

I believe that says it all. There was no violation and I am not even subject to the law in this instance.

I can say I support open government based on my record of supporting open government. I helped write the law that opened the books for Schools for Fair Funding. I weighed in on the dispute about whether the books were open relating to the new KU Athlethic Director and it made the difference. I am the only Attorney General in Kansas history to voluntarily release all outside counsel fees (which are significantly less than my predecessor).

moderation

General Kline,

What are your top accomplishments as Kansas Attorney General?

What do you hope to accomplish in your next term?

Thanks,
Mike
Lawrence

Attorney General Phill Kline

1. Kansas laws were among the weakest in the nation regarding predatory activity against children four years ago. Now they are among the toughest. We passed Jessica’s law; increased the statute of limitations, closed the loophole regarding child pornography, increased the penalties for soliciting children for sex and promoting child prostitution.
2. I helped establish the Cyber Crimes Task Force and we have put over 90 Internet predators of children in prison.
3. Meth labs are down 70% with the passage of Matt Samuel’s law and aggressive investigaiton, prosecution and education.
4. I established the Vulnerable Adults Task Force to prevent scams against the developmentally disabled and seniors and was the first AG in the nation to sue for price gouging regarding flu vaccine.
5. I argued and won before the United States Supreme Court.
6. We’ve won key water victories against Nebraska and Colorado.
7. I won the Health Midwest case against Missouri and we now have a $100 million plus foundation to help the poor get health care.
8. We became the first state in the nation to take trainers into our schools and communities in the Netsmartz program to keep our children safe on the Internet.
9. I took the Salons of Hope program statewide to help with the reporting of domestic violence by enlisting the care and compassion of our state’s cosmetologists.

These are a few of the accomplishments.

In the second term I will continue to work for expanded prison capacity; increase penalties; build on our success regarding violence against dependent seniors and work to make protection from abuse orders more effective.

Moderator

We’re thankful that Atty. Gen. Phill Kline joined us today — and thanks to all of you who posed questions; we’re sorry that we couldn’t get to them all. We’re still trying to get Paul Morrison, Mr. Kline’s opponent, in for a chat. In the meantime, join us Wednesday when we have two Democrats running for Congress: U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore and Nancy Boyda. Thanks again, Mr. Kline!

Attorney General Phill Kline

Thank you Mr. Mathis it was my pleasure to join you today.