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Kline faces ethics probe
February 20, 2006
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TOPEKA — The Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission is investigating a fund-raising solicitation by Atty. Gen. Phill Kline, it was confirmed today.
Kline spokesman Whitney Watson said Kline's office found out something was questioned about the solicitation, and immediately reported itself to the Ethics Commission.
"As soon as we found out, we self-reported to the Ethics Commission and are cooperating with them," Watson said.
The question is over solicitations for contributions related to a Kline fund-raiser scheduled for later this month in Wichita and featuring former U.S. Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft.
Apparently some of the solicitations were mailed to lobbyists. State officeholders are prohibited from asking lobbyists for campaign contributions from Jan. 1 until the legislative session officially ends, which is usually in late May.
The solicitation letters were sent by a political consulting business that made an "honest mistake," Watson said.
Carol Williams, executive director of the Ethics Commission, declined to comment.
Ethics investigations are handled privately. If the Ethics Commission decides a violation took place, it will hold a public hearing on the allegation.
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20 February 2006
at 10:45 a.m.
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prospector (Anonymous) says…
What ethics?
20 February 2006
at 10:52 a.m.
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prospector (Anonymous) says…
You can't probe what is not there.
20 February 2006
at 10:57 a.m.
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frwent (Anonymous) says…
Kline? Ethics? Whaddya mean? This political wonk has none! His bald-face attacks on the legality of abortion laws, his political grandstanding on easy and simple issues to polish his failed-politician image (remember, this creep ran for and failed to get elected to congress) and other headline-producing antics nominate him for the poster boy of first rate jerks. Ethics my foot, he has no idea of that that means.
20 February 2006
at 11:04 a.m.
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Beavis (Anonymous) says…
All that stuff about Kline having no ethics may be the case, but this is a non-issue. This stuff happens. If they self-reported, and didn't take any money, then there probably wasn't harmful intent.
Half of the time, the lobbyists don't even know the rules and try to contribute while the legislature is in session.
20 February 2006
at 11:10 a.m.
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srj (Anonymous) says…
Giving him the benifit, this does not help re-election against a tough challenger.
20 February 2006
at 11:26 a.m.
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Centrist (Anonymous) says…
Maybe we'll find out that Fabulous Phill has a relative who went to one of those clinics …
20 February 2006
at 11:51 a.m.
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lunacydetector (Anonymous) says…
sounds like much ado about nothing.
20 February 2006
at 12:25 p.m.
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glockenspiel (Anonymous) says…
Here comes the witch hunt…
20 February 2006
at 12:39 p.m.
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rhd99 (Anonymous) says…
Kline+ethics=WOW, a shocker. Kline NEVER showed the people of Kansas that he has ethical standards. You want to know who has suffered witch hunts in Kansas? The people of Kansas who side with pro-choice Americans. In my heart of hearts, killing an unborn baby is wrong. That is up to the families, doctors, & not government or insurance companies. But, in this democratic pluralistic society in which we all live, telling a soon-to be mother what she can & cannot do is NO one's business but the mothers', their families, & their doctors. That is why Kline's tenure as Attorney General of Kansas is a falsehood & it offends me that the whole electorate of Kansas does not wake up to realize this scum bag does NOT represent what's best for our state or this country.
20 February 2006
at 12:45 p.m.
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Baille (Anonymous) says…
Phill is quite possibly the worst AG we could have. His smarmy, glad-handing, his incessant grandstanding, his flirting with ethical violations during his latest witch-hunt, his indefensible position on Limon, and his poorly thought out position on mandated reporters is enough to ensure his downfall come the next election. And I am sure there will be more.
But this story is a non-issue. There is little point in castigating the AG over a clerical error someone else made when he has done and said plenty of boneheaded things over which he deserves a dressing-down.
Let it go.
20 February 2006
at 1:03 p.m.
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rhd99 (Anonymous) says…
Baille, thanks for helping ME at least develop a cool head about this guy. You're right, let the election this November decide, but I do wonder about the Kansas electorate that SO wanted him in that office. I have one word for those who wanted him in office during his re-election bid this November: THINK!
20 February 2006
at 1:46 p.m.
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justthefacts (Anonymous) says…
Hey Holy Grail: Want more information on open meetings?
http://www.ksag.org/open/koma.htm has an over-view of what the open meeting laws do and don't say….
It's legally impossible for a single person to ever violate the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA); that law applies only to public BODIES (as in groups of people). It does not apply to single individuals. If it applied to a single person (like an AG or the Governor), they'd be violating the KOMA any time they talked to themselves in private ….. So, the KOMA issue is a red herring. Lots to pick on about Kline, but the KOMA issue was settled by the DA who investigated and found that there had been no violation, by the AG or the school board. No one in the know disagreed…The only people still beating that paticular drum or partisans and politico's….
20 February 2006
at 2:02 p.m.
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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…
From the wizard of oz…
Oh please let it be true,
Oh please let it be true,
Oh please oh please
Oh please oh please
Oh please let it be true!
(or something like that)
20 February 2006
at 2:20 p.m.
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Baille (Anonymous) says…
I stand by my statement.
Although, Ann Coulter and Charles Manson definitely made me reconsider. :)
20 February 2006
at 2:44 p.m.
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justthefacts (Anonymous) says…
Guess facts that do not jive with wishes are just too much for some people to digest…
20 February 2006
at 4:21 p.m.
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rhd99 (Anonymous) says…
What else has Phil Kline LIED about? I bet he doesn't have a law license as he claimed to have during his first go around in 2002 during that election cycle. I have the perfect name for freeky phil: klueless kline!
20 February 2006
at 4:57 p.m.
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justthefacts (Anonymous) says…
You'd lose money rhd99. Facts people …. get them straight if you want to be believed about anything…… It is easy to check if someone has/had a law license in Kansas. Contact the Kansas Supreme Court. They keep a list and their records are open. www.kscourts.org. If a lawyer was not licensed, they'd know it (and you can bet the information would be made pretty public if the person is/was/were running for AG)!!
20 February 2006
at 5:11 p.m.
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Baille (Anonymous) says…
Good point, jtf.
Of course, with some of Kline's barely-legal arguments rhd99's wager is completely understandable.
20 February 2006
at 7:09 p.m.
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yourworstnightmare (Anonymous) says…
This is a non-issue. There are bigger fish to fry with Phhillll.
20 February 2006
at 8:41 p.m.
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b_asinbeer (Anonymous) says…
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
20 February 2006
at 10:01 p.m.
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SensibleShoes (Anonymous) says…
Ashcroft coming here for Kline…Pretty impressive despite the bickering that will surely follow by the social progressives that seem to have all the time in the world to post their rants on here.
21 February 2006
at 12:07 a.m.
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memoirs_of_a_sleepwalker (Anonymous) says…
Porkrib,
Hey, why haven't you joined that critical thinking class Silence Do_good suggested yesterday? Are you really that stupid? Yes, probably . . .
21 February 2006
at 12:11 a.m.
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memoirs_of_a_sleepwalker (Anonymous) says…
Porkjob,
And by the way, critical thinking begins with correct English language usage. A trip back to first grade: if we're referring to more than one person, we use plural, not singular. e.g. “liberals',” not “liberal's.”
With you, we start with the basics.
21 February 2006
at 1:07 a.m.
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b_asinbeer (Anonymous) says…
I wish the moderators of these forums would be more consistent. One day they remove you for saying idiot, the next day you get called one, and nothing happens. :o/ Interesting….