Sebelius a ‘budding national political figure’

Here are today’s headlines from Kansas government:Gov. Kathleen Sebelius(Wichita Eagle) Post raises Sebelius profile: If there is a textbook on how to become a budding national political figure, then Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has read it and might even be prepared to add a chapter. The Democrat, re-elected by nearly 60 percent of the voters in a usually reliably red state, will become the new chairwoman of the Democratic Governors Association next year.(Topeka Capital-Journal) Tax fraud memo implies favoritism: A memorandum written by a Kansas Department of Revenue auditor that surfaced Wednesday suggested the “political implications” of a proposed project to catch wealthy tax cheats should be discussed with Gov. Kathleen Sebelius before implementation.Kansas Legislature(LJW) Lack of diversity on new House GOP team: Privately, some Democrats were snickering at the makeup of the House Republican leadership team. The House Republican caucus earlier this week elected an all-male, all-white, all-conservative and mostly rural senior citizen bunch to lead the chamber and its caucus.Attorney General Paul Morrison(AP) Defeated AG on GOP’s mind as prosecutor appointment looms: The state’s largest anti-abortion group supports recently defeated Attorney General Phill Kline’s appointment as Johnson County district attorney, but some of Kline’s fellow Republicans aren’t certain he is a candidate. Conflicting reports emerged Wednesday about whether Kline is actively pursuing appointment to the job now held by Paul Morrison, the Democrat who unseated him in the Nov. 7 general election. Kline refused to be interviewed about his future or the potential for such an unprecedented job switch by political opponents. Morrison changed parties last year to challenge Kline, and because Morrison won the 2004 district attorney’s race as a Republican, under Kansas law, local GOP officials will name his replacement. Some 650 party activists plan to meet at 7 p.m. Monday at the Westside Family Church in Lenexa.