Topeka — Dr. George Tiller looms large in Kansas politics as Attorney General Paul Morrison finishes a criminal investigation of the Wichita doctor, nationally known for performing late-term abortions.
Tiller didn't contribute to Morrison, but some abortion opponents give a political action committee founded by the doctor credit for the result in the attorney general's race last year. Morrison, an abortion rights Democrat, unseated Phill Kline, an anti-abortion Republican.
The PAC, ProKanDo, raised more than $650,000 in 2005 and 2006, and Tiller contributed $121,000, according to campaign finance records. Its efforts spawned a sister group and a postcard campaign against Kline, nicknaming him "Snoop Dog" for seeking records of patients at Tiller's clinic and another in Overland Park.
Before Kline left office in January, he attempted unsuccessfully to prosecute Tiller, alleging the doctor performed illegal late-term abortions. Morrison has promised to announce this month whether he'll file charges.
Abortion foes don't believe Morrison will pursue Tiller, and they often cite Tiller's and ProKanDo's activities as the reason. They also believe Tiller's case illustrates how abortion providers gain political - and regulatory - protection.
"He is the ultimate, worst example in many ways," said Wanda Franz, president of the Washington-based National Right to Life Committee.
Morrison has said he's evaluating evidence as an experienced prosecutor, and politics won't influence his decision.
Limited by notoriety
Bob Beatty, a Washburn University political scientist, said while Tiller's ability to make big donations gives him power in Kansas politics, his notoriety also limits his influence. If Tiller becomes too visible in supporting a candidate, an opponent is likely to make it an issue, Beatty said.
"Information checks power, and most people in Kansas know who he is," Beatty said. "Probably more powerful will be out-of-state groups that can pop in, spend $500,000 and disappear."
Also, ProKanDo wasn't alone in trying to influence the attorney general's race. Kansans for Lifesaving Cures, a Lawrence group backing embryonic stem cell research, spent almost $264,000 on direct mail, including postcards criticizing Kline. Almost all of the $454,000 it raised came from the couple who founded the Stowers Institute for bioscience research in Kansas City, Mo.
On Kline's side was the Republican State Leadership Committee, affiliated with GOP attorneys general. It set aside $1.56 million in October for television ads attacking Morrison; it actually spent $834,000.
And the candidates had plenty of money themselves. Kline's spending, $1.43 million, would have been a record for an attorney general's race - but Morrison spent $2.36 million.
"Paul worked very hard and spent a lot of time visiting with people all across the state about his priorities," said Morrison spokeswoman Ashley Anstaett.
PAC's influence
Still, ProKanDo has been hard to miss.
The PAC formed in July 2002, affiliated with Tiller's clinic and with Tiller employee Julie Burkhart as its chairwoman. The clinic has covered the salaries of four of its employees, including Burkhart, as they've worked for the PAC. For 2005 and 2006, that cost the PAC $163,000.
ProKanDo was the most generous PAC in state races in 2002, giving more than $271,000 to candidates, party committees and other PACs - more than double the second-ranked Kansas Contractors Association, according to the state Governmental Ethics Commission.
In 2003 and 2004, ProKanDo doled out nearly $90,000, ranking fifth behind PACs for contractors, teachers, real estate agents and optometrists but ahead of PACs for bankers, doctors and trial lawyers.
However, for 2005 and 2006, ProKanDo's giving to candidates, party committees and other PACs dropped to less than $15,000. The abortion rights PAC spent most of its money elsewhere, including almost $82,000 on polling and another $118,000 on phone banks.
Nonprofit's mailings
In August 2006, a Lawrence attorney, Jeffrey Stowell, incorporated a new nonprofit group, Kansans for Consumer Privacy Protection. Its directors were Burkhart and Linda Joslin, who'd later be named as ProKanDo's treasurer in an October 2006 statement filed with the secretary of state's office. The nonprofit's address in its articles of incorporation was the same as ProKanDo's.
Over six days in October, ProKanDo paid nearly $96,000 in membership fees to the new nonprofit, though at the end of the month more than a third of it was sent back. The nonprofit released the "Snoop Dog" mailings.
Under state law, groups that don't "expressly advocate" for a candidate's election or defeat don't have to publicly disclose their contributors or spending. The mailings didn't trigger the reporting requirement because they didn't use a "magic" phrase, such as "vote for" or "oppose."
Burkhart estimated that Kansans for Consumer Privacy Protection raised about $400,000. She declined to discuss other contributors, citing their privacy.
She said the nonprofit group handled the "Snoop Dog" mailings so that voters would focus on the message.
"We live in a state and we live in a time where, unfortunately, it is not OK to be so out front if you're pro-choice and for women's rights," Burkhart said.
Some abortion opponents think the mailings were crucial because they bolstered Morrison's campaign messages about Kline.
"I think they are the reason Phill Kline isn't attorney general," said Mary Kay Culp, executive director of Kansans for Life, the state's largest anti-abortion group. "It continues to be really relevant."
Comments
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SettingTheRecordStraight (anonymous) says…
It's tragic that Kansas is known nationwide for tolerating George Tiller and his post-viability abortions.
Centrist (anonymous) says…
Oh puhleeeease! What is it with the sore-loser mentality of the "new" Republicans??
First Jim Ryun and now they're still screaming about Tiller and calling foul because they think HE tried to influence politics? Wow ... pot calling the kettle black.
Can we please get past this and focus on ways to keep our elected officials honest?
Agnostick (anonymous) says…
I don't think the 2006 Kansas AG race was so much "won" by Paul Morrison, as much as it was "lost" by Phill Kline.
Some voters questioned Kline's qualifications and legal skills in 2002; Kline spent the next four years proving those people right. Kline's legal maneuvers and strategies had all the stealth and cunning of a bull in a china shop. Any first-year law student knows that you ask for redacted medical records on your *first request*.
As to abortions, we know how to drastically reduce their numbers--but the egos of certain extremists take too much enjoyment from the blood-soaked pageantry of their "shock-&-awe" activism.
Agnostick
agnostick@excite.com
http://www.uscentrist.org
purplesage (anonymous) says…
Fore drawn conclusions from the republocrat victories:
George Tiller will continue to kill babies and Morrison will not prosecute abortions done on minors.
Nancy Boyda will vote with the Democrat majority in Washington.
The Governor will make gambling more widespread and taxes will rise as the state budget is handled in shell game accounting.
None of this is any surprise and all of it is why people need to vote for true Republicans.
Godot (anonymous) says…
Why is Missourian Stowers spending so much time and energy trying to influence Kansas politics?
Uhlrick_Hetfield_III (anonymous) says…
Neither Fred Phelps nor Phill Kline had anything to do with the evolution debate. That pot has been boiling with its own cast of characters quite independently of the abortion debate.
The issue here isn't the money. Both sides spend money in the hope that they can put someone in office that agrees with their beliefs. Kline's people did it and so did Morrison's. There are no surprises there. Nor is it a surprise that Morrison received more money than Kline. Money in a sense is usually, but not always, correlated with the popularity of the candidate, and Morrison beat Kline.
The only real issue here is whether or not Tiller is above the law. No one should be able to buy their way out of our legal system, regardless their beliefs or ideology. If you support that behavior, you're an idiot, because the pendulum always swings back and paybacks are a .......
Agnostick (anonymous) says…
"None of this is any surprise and all of it is why people need to vote for true Republicans."
__________________________________________________________
Pray tell, O Enlightened One: How shall we, the unwashed masses, differentiate between a "true Republican"... and a "false Republican?"
My mind is open to the greatness of your wisdom, O Wise One...
--Ag
P.S. " May a sick yak leave a gift in your sock drawer." --His Eminence, Carnac The Magnificent ;)
Uhlrick_Hetfield_III (anonymous) says…
Missouri business interests are spending a lot of money in Kansas because there is much of value over here that they want. The looting of our health care resources is one major issue that this paper has addressed, and you can bet that the Stowers' campaign contributions played a major role in Governor Roundheels' pro-Missouri behavior.
Incidentally, that money came over here with those Johnson County Republicrats that Roundheels has drawn to her sluttish bosom, giving us a reason to elect real Democrats. The only allegations of corruption involve this "formerly" Republican AG and the health care issue that the "formerly" Republican Mark Parkinson brought with him. No such allegations ever attached to Chris Biggs when he ran. Had he run again, he also would have won, and we would have had an honest AG.
Uhlrick_Hetfield_III (anonymous) says…
Also, why is it a stunner that Nancy Boyda would vote with the Democratic majority in congress, or that Democrats would try and expand gaming, an issue they've supported for years?
The real question isn't why someone who believes in something supports a particular program. What needs explaining is why 3 former Republican speakers of the House, all of whom said they opposed gaming, came out in favor of it. Did they suddenly have a revelation, or was it the money?
Roadkill_Rob (anonymous) says…
"And as usual, I'm said to be full of BS and nothing I have to say is credible or relevant."
Whaaa!!!! Oh, woe is me :(
Uhlrick_Hetfield_III (anonymous) says…
Oh, and the issue of taxes? Here's a piece written by Karl Peterjohn the Ed of the Kansas Taxpayers Network entitled "GOP and ex-GOP Legislators Promoting Higher Kansas Taxes"
http://wichitaliberty.org/node/63
If you're the party of lower taxes, and you advocate higher taxes, what does that say about your honesty and integrity?
fletch (anonymous) says…
Maybe Morrison won because Phil Kline spent more time going after personal vendettas than exercising his duties as AG, and the fine people of Kansas had enough.
deec (anonymous) says…
"Morrison will not prosecute abortions done on minors"
Still wondering why the righties are not up in arms about all the live births to minors. Seems like the state already has those records at the Bureau of Vital Statistics. If they wanted to end the abuse of minors, maybe they should start there.
Teen
(10-19)
Year Pregnancies 10-14 15-17
1996 6,498 133 2,276
1997 6,469 123 2,260
1998 6,444 108 2,087
1999 6,402 103 1,979
2000 6,090 94 1,819
2001 5,818 79 1,819
2002 5,586 86 1,684
2003 5,174 73 1,559
2004 5,026 71 1,492
2005 5,044 69 1,483
http://www.kdheks.gov/hci/as/2005/as0...
Uhlrick_Hetfield_III (anonymous) says…
Good point, but there appear to be 4 columns instead of 3 and the third one doesn't make sense. I tried to check the link, but got an error message. How about a clarification on this one, Deec?
Baille (anonymous) says…
Research it, Hetfield.
http://www.kdheks.gov/hci/
And the answer to why nobody gives a flying...burrito brother...about live births to minors is because this is not about child abuse - it is about abortion. Abortion is easy. You either believe the fetus is a person or you don't. Child abuse is hard. It raises uncomfortable questions. It points the finger at poor and rich alike. It requires more of people than just hyperbole and vitriol.
packrat (anonymous) says…
When a girl under 16 gets pregnant, a crime has been committed. If the father is more than 2 years older than her, he should go to jail. ( I think that is the current Romeo and Juliet law).
If people hide this information from legal authorities, they should go to jail.
Agnostick (anonymous) says…
No arguments there, packrat.
Do you think Phill Kline handled things as best as he possibly could have, re Tiller?
--Ag
packrat (anonymous) says…
He should have subpeonaed redacted records from Tiller's office. If a Grand Jury found evidence of a crime ( in this scenario child < 16 pregnant and Kansas resident), then appropriate charges filed. If a statute requiring reporting of sexual abuse of minors exists and Tiller is shown to have violated it, he should face charges as well.
TheOriginalCA (anonymous) says…
Kline lost the election due to a very well orchestrated late campaign smear campaign/trap that he fell right into. I do not have anything to prove this "hunch" but I feel as though there was no coincidence to the obvious collaborative effort to tweak the voters the last 2 weeks of the campaign with all of the investigations alled for. This is all part of the "Get the red out" propaganda of the libs.
Uhlrick_Hetfield_III (anonymous) says…
Baille:
Not being critical. I tried to research it and got an error message from the original link. That's why I asked for the clarification. The point itself was well made and understood. I'll try again on the link.
Uhlrick_Hetfield_III (anonymous) says…
Ah, finally got the site to respond. What's interesting is that the number and rate of teenage pregnancies is dropping. That, it seems to me, is an encouraging sign and worthy of more research. No pregnancies, no abortions, and hence, no debate.
Uhlrick_Hetfield_III (anonymous) says…
I don't believe that anyone has suggested that incidences of child rape have gone uninvestigated, on either side if the Tiller charges. I believe that question was asked and answered prior to the filing of the original 30 charges.
Uhlrick_Hetfield_III (anonymous) says…
Parkay:
Actually, I as pointed out above, plenty of them already are corrupt and being tolerated just fine, thank you. And isn't the issue here that we apparently do tolerate abortionist quacks with the full blessings and permission of the electorate.
After all, Paul Morrison publicly declared that he would not prosecute Tiller (although he has since said he would examine the evidence, nod, nod, wink, win, say no more) and was handily elected to office over someone who felt exactly what you describe. Any other theories?
feeble (anonymous) says…
I think Kline's loss had far less to do with ProKanDo contributions to the Morrison campaign and far more to do with the following:
1. Kline bringing up the Morrison Sexual Harrasment case. I think this seriously hurt Kline's image, and while it was somewhat damaging to Morrison, the event backfired horribly on Kline.
2. Morrison secured former AG Stovall's recommedation.
3. Bob Stephan's "distancing" and public rebuke of Kline.
Those three events were all rather prominent in the media, and occured just before the election. I think the combination of these three events did far more to sway the voter than any amount of PAC money (You can't buy bad publicity.)
Unfortunately for Kline, I think Kline's actions since taking on Morrison's old job have done little, if anything to engender him to the Johnson County voter.
Agnostick (anonymous) says…
"He should have subpeonaed redacted records from Tiller's office. If a Grand Jury found evidence of a crime ( in this scenario child < 16 pregnant and Kansas resident), then appropriate charges filed."
_____________________________________________________________
So then, you agree that Kline bungled and botched his case against Tiller?
Who, then, would you put in the AG's chair? Surely not someone as inept as Kline?
Who?
--Ag
jimincountry (anonymous) says…
Kline's downfall was "separation of church and state" issues exposed by his campaign message on fund raising! Too bad because he was a better AG than Morrison is. Liberals seeking to gain or keep political office from the governor on down, republicans and democrats alike, don't have the courage to go against the "can't we all just get along" crowd and abortion.........even late-term killing of babies coming from the womb!
Uhlrick_Hetfield_III (anonymous) says…
Two things. Nothing wrong with making the contributions. cynical is correct. Matters not, your cash is an expression, and extension, of your speech and should not be impaired. And I have no problem with spending it in the hope that I elect someone of like mind and values. Where the problem comes is if the money obtains a result that otherwise would not have occurred, or, in the case of Tiller, if Morrison alters the enforcement of the law in an attempt to encourage Tiller's continued support. That's wrong, no matter who does it, and brings me to the second point.
When it comes to the enforcement of the law, it should not matter who the AG is. If Tiller is violating the law, Morrison should prosecute him to the full extent of the law. By the same token, if Tiller is engaging in a perfectly legal business, no matter how despicable some may consider it, Kline should not be able to use the power of his office to persecute, or harass a businessman engaging in a legal business activity. If you don't like the business, change the law.