Committee members ask Jennison about cabins

Acting Secretary of Wildlife and Parks Robin Jennison was bragging to the House Appropriations Committee last week about the agency’s successful partnership with a nonprofit group to build cabins in several state parks near lakes. But several conservative members on the committee asked why the state was competing with private businesses for lodging.

Jennison said the cabins weren’t competing with private motels but were providing a different experience. “It’s important for people to have an opportunity to be close to the lake,” he said.

Quotes of the week

“When this bill passes, Kansas will be to voter fraud what Arizona is to illegal immigration.”

— Secretary of State Kris Kobach when introducing his proposal to require photo ID to vote and increase the authority of his office to prosecute allegations of voter fraud.

“It would eliminate all the necessary checks and balances, make Secretary Kobach the final arbiter on who would not be allowed to vote, and it would force all of us — the taxpayers — to subsidize the effort.”

— Kevin Myles, president of the Kansas State Conference of the NAACP, in stating his organization’s opposition.

Flint Hills soon to be Sturgis for horses?

Gov. Sam Brownback told several hundred people at the Topeka Chamber of Commerce’s luncheon on Friday that he thinks the Flint Hills are “getting ready to pop” tourism-wise.

Brownback said someone suggested to him that the area could host a gathering of horseback riders, like Sturgis, S.D., has the annual motorcycle rally. “Long-haired horses and tattoos,” he quipped.

Fair campaign pledge empty

If the Office of Repealer is looking for laws to erase from the books, here’s one from Carol Williams, executive director of the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission.

She told a Senate committee last week that there is a statute that requires the Ethics Commission to prepare a statement of fair campaign practices for candidates “to assist candidates in the proper conduct of election campaigns” and mail it to each candidate. Nothing wrong with that, but the law contains no enforcement. And when one candidate perceives his or her opponent has violated the fair campaign statement, they often call the Ethics Commission wanting to file a complaint and start an investigation. But the commission can do nothing about it.

What’s next

1:30 p.m. Tuesday, briefing by Matt Ladner, of the Goldwater Institute, and author of “Report Card on American Education,” to Senate Education Committee, Room 152-South, Capitol.

1:30 p.m. Tuesday, hearing on HB 2013, repealing statutes relating to the sale and purchase of certain firearms, before House Federal and State Affairs Committee, Room 346-South.

1:45 p.m. Tuesday, public hearing on ethics complaint against former Kansas University athletic director Lew Perkins, at Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission, 109 SW Ninth St. in the Board of Agriculture conference room on fourth floor.

1:30 p.m. Wednesday, hearing on HB 2035, restrictions on abortion, before House Federal and State Affairs Committee, Room 346-South, Capitol.

1:30 p.m. Thursday, Kansas Supreme Court will cross the street and convene its docket in the Old Supreme Courtroom, third floor of the Capitol, as part of commemoration of the state’s sesquicentennial.