Topeka — The Kansas Chamber of Commerce, fueled by a six-figure contribution from Koch Industries, has funneled more than $280,000 into the Republican Party primary, much of which has been spent to try to knock off moderate Republicans on Aug. 7.
The spending is detailed in the Chamber's political action committee campaign finance report that was released Monday and covers the period from Jan. 1 through Thursday.
During those seven months, the Chamber PAC collected $228,475 in contributions to add to the $111,692 it already had on hand. Of the $340,157 in available funds, the PAC spent $281,600.
According to the report, almost all of that money was spent between June 21 and July 24.
On July 19, Wichita-based Koch Industries dropped $125,000 into the PAC.
The finance report reveals a full-speed-ahead strategy by the Chamber, endorsed by Gov. Sam Brownback, to defeat moderate Republicans in order get control of the state Senate.
From July 18-24, the Chamber PAC paid $130,000 to Victory Enterprises of Davenport, Iowa for radio and cable production.
Among those receiving assistance, according to the report, $21,628 was spent on Michael O'Donnell, who is challenging state Sen. Jean Schodorf, R-Wichita, and $18,470 on Joe Patton, who is challenging state Sen. Vicki Schmidt, R-Topeka.
During July 18-19, the Chamber PAC paid approximately $100,000 to Singularis Group, based in Shawnee Mission, for printing and postage of campaign material for a number of conservative GOP candidates.
For example, $8,942 in printing and postage was spent on Patton, and $8,272 was spent on Tom Arpke, a conservative Republican from Salina, in his fight against moderate Republican state Sen. Pete Brungardt.
Meanwhile, moderates Republicans received significant funding from what is called the Kansas Job PAC, which raised $181,000 and spent $156,035.
Of that money raised, $100,000 came from the Senate Republican Leadership Committee.
And $50,000 came from the Kansas National Education Association PAC.
Another $30,000 came from union PACs, including International Brotherhood of Teamsters and Carpenters District Council.
The PAC is helping state Sens. Tim Owens of Overland Park, Roger Reitz of Manhattan, and others who are facing conservative challengers. It is also helping moderate challengers to conservative senators, such as Miranda Allen of Kiowa, who is trying to unseat Sen. Steve Abrams of Arkansas City.
Comments
rtwngr 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Another hit piece, eh Scott? Just in case you hadn't figured it out before now, it was moderate republicans and demagogueacrats that got us into the mess we are now, ala Parkinson and Graves. I hope every moderate gets the boot and then all of the libs and mods can read it to find out what's in it, after we pass it. Hahahahahahahahahahaha!
parrothead8 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Only a right-winger would believe that billionaires buying elections have his best interests in mind.
jerice43 9 months, 2 weeks ago
I agree parrot
thekansascitian 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Curious how Scott doesn't mention this billionaire who supporting the so-called moderates and is outspending the Kochs.
http://thekansascitian.blogspot.com/2012/08/new-kansas-wins-pac-entirely-funded-by.html
Koch industries contributed $125k to the Kansas Chamber. By contrast, the KNEA has spent over $600,000 supporting moderates and democrats. But yeah, keep worrying about the Kochs influence. lol
bad_dog 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Good to see the truth still hurts.
Alyosha 9 months, 2 weeks ago
You keep saying "hit piece." That phrase doesn't mean what you think it means.
rtwngr 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Another hit piece, eh Scott? Just in case you hadn't figured it out before now, it was moderate republicans and demagogueacrats that got us into the mess we are now, ala Parkinson and Graves. I hope every moderate gets the boot and then all of the libs and mods can read it to find out what's in it, after we pass it. Hahahahahahahahahahaha!
Agnostick 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Really? And you love it so much that you had to comment twice??
That'll show 'em who's boss!
CM 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Good reporting. This citizen wants to know when unelected, unethical billionaires are trying to rig elections.
bradh 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Just watch Soros if you want to know when unelected, unethical billionaires buy elections.
WWWW 9 months, 2 weeks ago
I doubt that Soros has any plans to frack on the Capitol grounds.
verity 9 months, 2 weeks ago
But that's obviously all they have.
thekansascitian 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Here you go, take a look at Phil Ruffin who is drastically outspending the Kochs trying to influence the election in favor of the moderates:
http://thekansascitian.blogspot.com/2012/08/new-kansas-wins-pac-entirely-funded-by.html
Get the facts!
grimpeur 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Wow. Why have a Chamber of Commerce, then? After all, if it's just lies about how awful it is to do business in Kansas and fronting for right-wing liberals, why not state your true intentions?
Paul R. Getto 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Good luck moderates. Hope you survive the onslaught.
verity 9 months, 2 weeks ago
I hope you are going to vote.
Paul R. Getto 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Haven't missed an election in 40 some years.
verity 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Glad to hear that.
newmedia 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Referred to as RINO'S for a reason....
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 9 months, 2 weeks ago
It'd be ironic if these conservatives knock off the moderates, only to lose to the Democrat in November.
cait48 9 months, 2 weeks ago
There are some "Democrats" it would be worse to elect. See my post below.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 9 months, 2 weeks ago
That's quite an obsession you have over Detroit.
jhawkinsf 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Actually, San Francisco would be the crown jewel of liberalism. Along with it's neighbor across the bay, Berkeley.
statesman 9 months, 2 weeks ago
SageonPage, you are truly a scary person! I am proud to be a liberal, and will fight for equal rights for all, a clean environment, and fair wages and health care for everyone. Unlike you conservatives, who want to allow only Christian while heterosexual males to live in the USA.
msezdsit 9 months, 2 weeks ago
he's back
Agnostick 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Yes, he certainly is... probably to stay, too.
cait48 9 months, 2 weeks ago
How'd you sneak back on? Get another e-mail addy?
BigDog 9 months, 2 weeks ago
REMINDER .... Those who are not registered as Republican or Democrat can still vote in the primaries.
You must declare at the voting place which Party you are declaring for in the primary. So those who are not registered with a Party ... you can help out Republicans in the primary.
BigDog 9 months, 2 weeks ago
You mean the same "Real Republicans" who invoke the name of Ronald Reagan all the time ..... But follow little of his principles. Those Republicans?
Those same ones who change their stripes for money and to get elected .... Lynn Jenkins was a moderate in the Kansas legislature .... Kevin Yoder was head of Democrats in college, a moderate Republican House member when elected to Kansas House from Johnson County and is now a Real Republican. The same real Republicans who were lead by Doug Mays who opposed school funding until retiring then became a lobbyist for USD 501.
Seems like strong, deep principles to me (sarcasm intended)
BigDog 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Study your history. Here are just a few.
Reagan believed in not attacking fellow Republicans. Reagan believed if you agreed on 8 of 10 issues, your were a friend not an opponent. Reagan believed that the Republican Party should welcome those with diverse views.
BigDog 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Sage .... you have shown once again your true lack of knowledge of Reagan. Has you not heard of Reagan democrats .... they were key in Reagan winning election. Reagan worked closely with Democratic Congress to accomplish what he did.
Your type want only like thinking individuals in the Republican Party ... kind of like surrounding yourself with yes men.
Agnostick 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Fair profile here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/17/AR2011011703299.html
Crazy_Larry 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Working with your peers, a.k.a. monkeys? Becoming a shill for big business and switching your political party in the process in order to satisfy your pay master's demands? Selling drugs to Americans in order to finance illegal wars in South America? Selling weapons to Iran to further finance those illegal wars?
verity 9 months, 2 weeks ago
I read this in a newspaper, so it must be true.
A Kansas woman, wanting to vote in the Republican primary against a certain extreme right candidate who carpet-bagged into the district to run against the moderate incumbent, registered as no affiliation and will declare at the primary because, if she died before the election, she didn't want to die a Republican.
Acey 9 months, 2 weeks ago
If you declare a party prior to the primaries, that will stay as your PERMANENT affiliation, unless you go in and change your affiliation OR ask that you not be a member of any party.
Agnostick 9 months, 2 weeks ago
TrollonRoll is right(eous)! If libs think they can keep libbing their libs even libber, the people of Lib won't lib for it! Lib, the crown lib of libs, is another reason the libbing just keeps getting libber. They lib and they lib and they lib... but they never lib the depth of their libravity. Lib lib lib lib lib, Fluffy, lib lib lib libber lib lib libbest!
Katara 9 months, 2 weeks ago
by Katara
Agnostick 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Doesn't matter... the joke is still funny, and the joke is still on you!
Your costume and mask are slipping, again... they usually do after a few posts. Many of us have seen your sad, tired act many times before.
LOL!!
Agnostick 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Yeah, you're just a concerned citizen, right?
somedude20 9 months, 2 weeks ago
by somedude20
Crazy_Larry 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Idiot alert!
Ali G - Art by Buck Rogers
yourworstnightmare 9 months, 2 weeks ago
It is time for moderate republicans to team with democrats to defeat these warmed-over right wing liberal populists that call themselves republicans.
These folks were once southern democrats, and now they have found a home in the GOP after the democrats "turned" on them and embraced civil rights.
Being conservative is one thing, but being an embarrassing, uninformed, right wing populist fool is quite another.
It is an embarrassment for the GOP.
bad_dog 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Speaking of schizophrenics, have you considered Sybil as your next user name?
remember_username 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Must be the heat getting all those Kansas Republicans worked up into a frenzy. Well anyway it explains all the foam on the Kaw these days.
merrill 9 months, 2 weeks ago
The radical right wing Republicans In Name Only aka RINO's which include Brownback,Koch Boys,Wal-Mart family,Karl Rove,Grover Norquist, lions share of the DC GOP simply have no use for republicans or democrats.
They believe in a one party system ....... Republicans In Name Only aka RINO's party.
Once they took over the beltway GOP state governments are next. Vote them out!
True republicans have been getting duped for 30 years.
cait48 9 months, 2 weeks ago
I'd take a moderate Republican over some Dems any day. Take for instance, this woman. She's as big of a DINO as Brownback is a RINO.
Heads up, Dems! There's some 'friends" that are far worse than "enemies" any day.
http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2012/07/25/black-genocide-candidate-running-as-democrat-in-kansas-house-race
cait48 9 months, 2 weeks ago
She's definitely the proof that you have to vote the candidate and not the party.
verity 9 months, 2 weeks ago
I'd call her an opportunist, plain and simple.
Agnostick 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Borrowed a page from the Phelps playbook, she did.
BrainCase 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Maybe the LJW should write an editorial piece on why the Koch brothers are good for Kansas, and why it's better to eliminate representation by moderate Republicans. It's a good thing that a small group of men can control an entire state government, and mold the state's economy to align with their needs. The State of Kansas is for sale folks, and the Koch brothers are buying.
verity 9 months, 2 weeks ago
They already bought it. Now we have to get it back.
thekansascitian 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Well, they are doing to well, then. They are being out spent by the KNEA 6 to 1, and single-handedly by Phil Ruffkin:
http://thekansascitian.blogspot.com/2012/08/new-kansas-wins-pac-entirely-funded-by.html
verity 9 months, 2 weeks ago
I was always taught that many of the early Christians were communists, having everything in common.
a : a theory advocating elimination of private property
b : a system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed
Of course, Communism (note the capital C) has a different definition, but it still doesn't coincide with yours.
mikekt 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Do you work for Kook Industries or have you just been played by the brothers kook ?
Which is less tolerable ? A group of Industrial Fascists, who are totally self serving,..... or people who disagree with them ?
Maybe you should get a time machine & travel back too Pre World War Two Germany, Italy or Japan. You'd probably like it there !
Crazy_Larry 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Learn some history!
by Crazy_Larry
cait48 9 months, 2 weeks ago
They're too busy covering it up like a cat in a litter pan.
Crazy_Larry 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Sweet Brown - Ain't Nobody Got Time for That (Autotune Remix) by theparodyfactory1
Kathy Getto 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Search KC Star files.
Joe Hyde 9 months, 2 weeks ago
I never thought I'd see the day when the Kansas Chamber of Commerce issued a "hit list" on Republican candidates.
Agnostick 9 months, 2 weeks ago
As well as the haters in the Party of Self-Righteousness. You follow Mr. Rothschild around like a fat kid chasing an ice cream truck.
mikekt 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Brought to you by "Kook Industries" and the "Us Chamber Of Economic Horrors" !
We need Harry or Harriet Potter to solve this one !
The forces of darkness, are about their business....es !
cait48 9 months, 2 weeks ago
"We may congratulate ourselves that this cruel war is nearing its end. It has cost a vast amount of treasure and blood. It has indeed been a trying hour for the Republic; but I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. As a result of the war, corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed. I feel at this moment more anxiety for the safety of my country than ever before, even in the midst of war. God grant that my suspicions may prove groundless."
Abraham Lincoln
The passage appears in a letter from Lincoln to (Col.) William F. Elkins, Nov. 21, 1864.
(Sourced for validity at Snopes.com at http://message.snopes.com/showthread.php?t=2128&page=3)
Lincoln, that icon of the (current) Republican (in name only) Party, has been just as sanitized over the years as the "Founding Fathers".
cait48 9 months, 2 weeks ago
It amazes me to think that, if I lived in 150 years ago, I would, in all likelihood, be a Republican.
jhawkinsf 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Why would you be a Republican? Women did not have the right to vote.
cait48 9 months, 2 weeks ago
No they didn't. It's a shameful piece of American history that women were serving in the Irish Dail when women in this country didn't even have the right to vote. It's still shameful that, to date, the US hasn't ever had a female President. Does that mean I shouldn't be involved in politics, then OR now? If you think women weren't involved in the politics of the time let me introduce you to a few names.
verity 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Throughout written history (and probably before as near as we can tell) even when woman had few legal rights, there were powerful and influential women. How did women get the vote in the U.S.? Wasn't by sitting at home and waiting for it to be given to them. Maybe Cait couldn't have officially been a member of a political party, but she certainly could/would have identified with one.
verity 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Isn't that the real reason we keep fighting wars? Who benefits financially?
Now that we don't have a draft, it is often people who see no other way out of poverty/debt and no other way to get an education without piling up huge debts who join the military. They're given a good line by the recruiters about benefits and don't realize that they are just cannon fodder for those who would increase their fortunes at small risk to themselves.
UltimateGrownup 9 months, 2 weeks ago
This article is bizarre and pointless, an endless regurgitation of publicly available political contributions, all of which are legal and part of the political process. The only question here is why the LJ World is openly doing opposition research for the Democrats.
Alyosha 9 months, 2 weeks ago
A more simple explanation is that what you take to be "opposition research" is, in the real world, no such thing. You're seeing things which are not there, and then wondering why you're seeing it. The problem is in your own eye.
Try emailing the publisher and ask him your question. I doubt he'd see that his paper is doing "opposition reasearch."
thekansascitian 9 months, 2 weeks ago
What a bunch of BS. The truth is liberal PACs are trying to buy the election. The KNEA has spent more than $600,000. They've funneled money to countless other PACs including the Senate Republican Leadership Committee and the Kansas Jobs PAC, who have also outspent the Kansas Chamber.
Phil Ruffin, by himself, has outspent Koch Industries and the Koch brothers through his Kansas Wins PAC, all of which went to moderates.
http://thekansascitian.blogspot.com/2012/08/kansas-politics-follow-money.html
http://thekansascitian.blogspot.com/2012/08/in-kansas-battle-boils-down-to-one.html
http://thekansascitian.blogspot.com/2012/08/new-kansas-wins-pac-entirely-funded-by.html
Keep the lies flowing, Scott.
Agnostick 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Shill, much?
Agnostick 9 months, 2 weeks ago
BTW, stopped by your online propaganda stand. That whole "producers vs. parasites" screed? Complete, laughable nonsense. If you're only definition of a parasite is, "someone who makes money off the government," then you have a lot to learn, junior. That would make many of our biggest aerospace, munitions, and construction companies "parasites," wouldn't it?
I guess the Kokes would be parasites, too!
http://politicalcorrection.org/factcheck/201008200004
Thanks for the laugh!
JackMcKee 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Freightquote jumping the metro border from Lenexa to KC, bringing 1,225 jobs BY KEVIN COLLISON
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/08/03/3741009/freightquote-jumping-the-metro.html#storylink=cpy
JackMcKee 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Thanks for all the new jobs Sam, Kansas Chamber, Tea Party, Koch Brothers, AFP, Art Laffer.
JackMcKee 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Let's also note for the record that Freightquote just moved 1225 jobs from a State with no income tax and a city with no income tax to a state with an income tax and a city with a 1% income tax. Let's add this to Boeing leaving Wichita clearly stating that Brownback's tax proposal did not change their minds. Kansas has been sold down the river by these clowns.
JackMcKee 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Great "experiment" Brownback. At this rate we won't have to wait until 2015 to be bankrupt.
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