Statehouse Live: Money continues flowing into Republican state Senate races

? Cha-ching. Cha-ching. Money continued to flow into heated Republican state Senate campaigns as conservatives and moderates battled across Kansas in the run up to Tuesday’s primaries.

Wichita-based Koch Industries, which last month contributed $125,000 to the Kansas Chamber of Commerce political action committee, dropped another $20,000 into the Wichita Metro Chamber PAC, according to campaign finance reports posted Friday. Billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch and Gov. Sam Brownback are trying to unseat moderate Republicans in the Senate.

Numerous campaign finance reports for the year were released Monday, but daily reporting since then continues. Candidates had to report contributions of $300 or more through Wednesday, and political parties and PACs must continue reporting through Monday, the eve of the primaries.

Highlights from the daily reports showed:

— Phill Ruffin, the owner of two closed dog racing tracks, has funded the Kansas Wins PAC with $122,700 going to help moderates.

— The Kansas Chamber of Commerce raised a quick $115,000 on Monday and Tuesday. This included $80,000 from David Murfin, president of Murfin Drilling Co. in Wichita, and $30,000 from Crossland Construction, Crossland Heavy Contractors and Crossland Holding Co. Ivan Crossland is president of the Kansas Chamber PAC. The funds are being used to help conservative candidates for Senate.

— Wesley Medical Center in Wichita contributed $21,500 to the HCA Kansas Good Government Fund, which then made numerous contributions to a bi-partisan group of legislators.

— The Kansas Realtors PAC spent $44,302 to help moderates.

— The Kansas Jobs PAC spent $25,440 on mailers to help moderates.

— Kansans for Life PAC, an anti-abortion group, received $22,500, including $15,000 from David Kensinger & Associates. Kensinger is Brownback’s former chief of staff and he and Kansans for Life are working against the moderates.

— The Kansas Values PAC spent $17,627 helping several moderate senators.

— Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach’s PAC raised and spent $4,532 in two days for two conservative Senate candidates.

— The Kansas National Education Association spent $4,186 supporting two moderate state senators.