KC Buzz Blog

Kline wins partial victory in federal court

   Federal judge Kathryn Vratil has overruled a request for a restraining order from eight employees fired by Johnson County district attorney Phill Kline.

    In her ruling (read the whole thing here) Vratil declined to order Kline to participate in a Johnson County grievance hearing the workers have asked for.

   However -- the judge said the hearing could go forward, with or without Kline.  Once the hearing is held, she said, Kline can decide if he wants to abide by the decision; before that, she said, the request for a restraining order is "premature." (Kline has argued that his job is a state position and that county rules don't apply.)

   She also overruled a Kline request that more than two dozen affidavits supporting the workers be thrown out.

   Kline's lawyers have also filed a motion to dismiss the case.

Posted by Dave Helling

Kline goes before ethics

    Phill Kline will be the topic of a meeting today of the Kansas Ethics Commission. Kline, if you recall, was under scrutiny for using state computers to send campaign emails during his unsuccessful bid to keep his job as AG.

   Some Kansans who signed up with the attorney general's office to learn more about the new concealed weapons law reported receiving campaign emails from Kline's campaign.

   Kline's attorney argues that there's no proof Kline's staff used state computers, and that any use of the email list for campaign purposes was cleared by state ethics folks.

   We'll find out more later today, when the commission holds a hearing on the matter and decides if a fine is warranted. Kline could face up to a $5,000 fine.

   Gov. Kathleen Sebelius was also fined y the commission for a similar offense.

   No word on whether Kline, who's now JoCo DA, will make an appearance today.

Posted by David Klepper

Kline: Let a special prosecutor do it

   Outgoing Attorney General Phill Kline plans to appoint a special prosecutor to handle criminal charges against Dr. George Tiller, the Wichita abortion provider. Kline made that announcement Wednesday, about two hours before a hearing in Sedgwick County District Court on whether 30 misdemeanor charges against Tiller should be reinstated.

UPDATE: From The Star's David Klepper:  Naming a special prosecutor means the investigation can go forward without Kline, who lost a re-election bid in November but was later selected by Republican precinct leaders to become Johnson County district attorney. The special prosecutor, Don McKinney, a Wichita attorney and a Democrat, will be directed to investigate and prosecute only Tiller and not an Overland Park abortion clinic, which was also part of Kline’s three-year investigation into alleged violations of state abortion laws.

UPDATE:  Sedgwick County judge today rejected a request from Kline to reinstate criminal charges against Tiller. The judge agreed with Sedgwick County District Attorney Nola Foulston that Kline could not file criminal charges in her jurisdiction without her consent. The judge's decision has no effect on Kline's appointment of a special prosecutor to continue the investigation of Tiller.

Posted by Keith Chrostowski

Off the mark?

   Kansas Democratic Lt. Gov.-elect Mark Parkinson called on author Thomas Frank to consider an update on his book What's the Matter With Kansas, after the Democrats scored key election victories. 
    Parkinson to the Hutchinson News: "I think it's time for Thomas Frank to fire up his laptop and start a new book, because tonight there's nothing the matter with Kansas."
   But Frank has kept a low profile in the aftermath.
   KC Buzz Blog guesses Parkinson was speaking before Phill Kline won the JoCo prosecutor's job.

Posted by Keith Chrostowski

Just in: It's Kline!

   JoCo Republicans tonight picked Phill Kline as county prosecutor. He will take the post of the man who turned back his re-election bid for Kansas AG.

  The vote: 316 to 291 for Steve Howe.

  Kline needed 306 votes to win.

  He left without speaking to reporters.

Posted by Dave Helling

Could OR stand for Overwrought?

    Here's a different take on Paul Morrison's landslide victory over Phill Kline in the race for Kansas AG.

   Operation Rescue, the anti-abortion group known for organizing blockades of abortion clinics across the nation, filed its version of the race on the Christian Newswire. The headline: "Morrison Slithers into Kansas AG's Office on Backs of Dead Babies"

    Perhaps they can be forgiven a bit of hyperbole. It's been a bad week at Operation Rescue.

   First, they lost Kline. Then they lost a referendum in South Dakota, where voters rejected a ban on virtually all abortions.

Posted by Kit Wagar

Kline concedes

Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline concedes defeat to Democrat-come-lately Paul Morrison. The Republican pledges to help with a smooth transition so Kansans may "continue to have the government that they deserve."

Minutes later, Morrison tells supporters: "I'm honored by this trust you have put in me, and I will not disappoint."

Posted by Rick Montgomery

Root canal slows Kline down

   Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline began his day today in typical candidate fashion:
   From 7 to 8 a.m. he joined supporters for last-minute campaigning at a Topeka corner.
   At 8:15 a.m. he voted.
   But then at 9:15 a.m. he did something not so typical for a candidate on election day: he went to the dentist. Had to. After a tooth ache that lasted about a week, Kline had a root canal.
   When asked how he felt tonight at the Republican watch party at the Capital Plaza Hotel, he said, “I’m speaking slower than I typically do.”
   Holding both hands up in the air, he added, “It’s all prescriptive.”

Posted by Dawn Bormann

Kline, Morrison await results at election parties

    Kansas Republicans will be watching election results tonight at the Capital Plaza Hotel in Topeka. State Democrats will be across town at the Ramada Inn.

   Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline will be at the Capital Plaza while his Democratic opponent, Paul Morrison, will attend a watch party at the Ritz Charles conference center in Overland Park before heading to Topeka around 8 p.m.

    U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, a Lenexa Democrat, is hosting the Ritz Charles watch party.

   Voters who describe themselves as "pro-life" were enthusiastic about Kline after casting their votes today.

    "I vote for life," said Carolyn Seifert after voting at a Lenexa polling place. "Therefore, I voted for Phill Kline. There was no debate in my mind."

   Morrison had his voters, too.

   "I'm a person of faith, a practicing Christian, and I think he's (Kline) taken his agenda a little too far and imposed it on the rest of the population," said Jim Kelly, who voted in Johnson County for Morrison.

Posted by Jim Sullinger

Abortion clinics want Kansas court to take control of records

  Here's the latest on the request by Kansas abortion clinics into statements by Fox News' Bill O'Reilly that he had obtained information about abortion records.  The clinics want the Kansas Supreme Court to seize the records from Kansas AG Phill Kline. He calls a request for a special prosecutor "frivolous."

Posted by Keith Chrostowski

Abortion doc to seek probe of Kline, O'Reilly

   AP reports that an abortion doctor will ask the Kansas Supreme Court to investigate Attorney General Phill Kline and Bill O'Reilly over the Fox television host's comments that he obtained information from Kansas abortion records, the doctor's attorneys said today.

   The attorneys said Dr. George Tiller wants the court to appoint a special prosecutor to handle the investigation and take possession of the records of 90 patients from two clinics, including Tiller's. They said he will make his requests Monday.

   Here's the complete AP story.

Posted by Keith Chrostowski

Topeka Capital-Journal endorses Kline

     The Capital-Journal ed board comes out for Phill Kline in the Kansas AG race but explains:

   "Kline, who wears his Republican conservatism on his sleeve, has ruffled feathers by pursuing records from abortion clinics and holding private meetings with conservative members of the Kansas State Board of Education. This endorsement acknowledges those concerns. We urge the attorney general to stick to his responsibilities as the state's chief law enforcement officer and avoid a political agenda he seems to pursue, at times openly and combatively. We don't believe that agenda serves well either law enforcement or the state of Kansas."

Posted by Keith Chrostowski

They forgot one...

   A bunch of Kansas GOP notables took the podium today at a Republican Rally at the capitol today. Ostensibly the rally was to drum up support for U.S. Rep. Jim Ryun, but of course other candidates were there to put in a word or two about their campaigns.

    There was state Sen. Susan Wagle, Lt. Gov. pick of GOP Gov. nominee Jim Barnett, who had this to say about Gov. Kathleen Sebelius: "She is a liberal Democrat and wants to increase your taxes."

   Treasurer Lynn Jenkins and Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger were there. And just in case your forgot about legislators, outgoing House Speaker Doug Mays put in a word for them, too. U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback was there to introduce Ryun.

   But nobody mentioned the AG's race. Simple mistake? We hear Phill Kline was on the road attending the funeral of a slain western Kansas sheriff, but come on, couldn't SOMEBODY in the GOP remember to at least give him a mention?

Posted by David Klepper

Standing by her allegation

   Kelly Summerlin, the woman who accused Kansas attorney general candidate Paul Morrison of sexual harassment in 1991, issued a statement Friday about the incident. In it, she stands by her account of the alleged harassment and accuses Morrison of releasing "misleading and false information." Here's the release.

Posted by Kirk Weber

UPDATE: Here's Jim Sullinger's story in The Star Saturday.

Breaking news: Phil Kline endorses Morrison

   It may seem incredible, but it's true:

   Just days before the Nov. 7 election, Republican Phil Kline today endorsed Democrat Paul Morrison for Kansas attorney general.

   Please note: That's single "L" Phil, not "double L" Phill Kline, the incumbent attorney general seeking a second term.

   Phil Kline (single "L") is a former long-time state lawmaker from Leawood who once served as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. He served in the Legislature with his "double L" namesake. To distinguish the two, lawmakers referred to Single L Kline, who is older, as "Classic Kline" or "One L."

   Classic Phil said in a statement this morning that he was encouraged to step forward and back Morrison by other Republicans, including former Attorney General Carla Stovall and former state GOP chairman Dennis Jones, who recently endorsed Morrison.

   "By supporting the best candidate for the office, I have done what I hope all Kansans will do on Nov. 7th -- vote for the best person for each office," Phil Kline said.

   "In this case, I think Paul Morrison's character and proven legal experience in the largest county in the state makes him the superior choice."

Posted by Steve Kraske

New Kline ad cites old harassment charge

   In a move Democrat Paul Morrison calls "desperate and sleazy," Republican Phill Kline's latest television ad in the attorney general's race highlights unproven, 15-year-old sexual harassment allegations against Morrison.

   The AP reports that the ad has an actor reading statements attributed to Morrison by a former employee who sued him twice in federal court. Kline, who is seeking a second term, has made her allegations a campaign issue even though both cases were dismissed and Morrison, the Johnson County district attorney, paid no monetary damages to the woman.

   Kline began broadcasting the 30-second spot across the state this weekend, less than a week after holding a news conference to publicize the cases.

Posted by Keith Chrostowski

Collection plate politics

  Former Kansas Attorney General Bob Stephan said he distanced himself from the state's current top prosecutor, Phill Kline, because of concerns about the GOP candidate's use of churches to raise campaign funds. Stephan told the Lawrence Journal-World on Tuesday that he was particularly upset about an instance in which a church made donations to a business owned by Kline's wife, Deborah. Here's the complete AP story.

Posted by Keith Chrostowski

Phill Kline wants to educate YOU and YOU and YOU

    AG contender Phill Kline has launched a new website aimed at telling you the inside skinny on his Democratic opponent, Paul Morrison.

   The site: www.paulspolicy.com.

   Let us know what you think.

Posted by Steve Kraske

Morrison, Kline trade barbs in Sunday debate

   A couple of highlights from Sunday's debate in Overland Park between Democrat Paul Morrison and Republican Phill Kline, candidates for Kansas attorney general:

    Morrison, who says repeatedly that no prison sentences were reduced by SB 323 six years ago, agreed that some prison time might have been shortened by a few months under the legislation.

    These were inmates who had committed low-level crimes, completed the prison portion of their sentences and were serving the "post release supervision" phase in the community. They were returned to prison because they had violated some provision of that post release. That prison time was cut short by a few months under provisions of SB 323, according the the Kansas Sentencing Commission.

   "First of all, I think it's important that you look at the big picture with SB 323," Morrison said. (The bill) did not affect anybody but the lowest of the low-grade offenders."

   A member of the sentencing commission, Morrison said the state needed to make more room in the state's prison system for violent offenders and sexual predators.

    He reinterated that no prison sentences were reduced under the bill. That is correct if you only look at the prison portion of a judge's sentence and not the post release phase.

    He did admit that some "conditional violators" (those on post release and returned to prison) were let out of jail a little early because of SB 323.

    In another part of the debate, Kline was asked about two meeting he had last year with conservative members of the Kansas Board of Education. At the time, he was accused but later cleared of conducting "serial meetings," a violation of the Kansas open meeting law.

    He was asked during those meetings if it would violate the constitution to place stickers in science text books stating, "Evolution is a theory, not a fact."

   Kline was asked during the debate if he believed evolution was a theory and not a fact.

   "Evolution is a scientific theory and I recognize that as a theory it holds more water than a hypothesis," he said.

   Morrison said that even if Kline did not technically break the open meetings law, he violated its spirit, an example of "scandal that has followed Mr. Kline during his short three and half years as attorney general."

   For those who missed Sunday's debate, it will be televised at 7:30 p.m. Friday on KCPT public television, channel 19. It also will be rebroadcast on Time Warner's cable channel 17 in Johnson County and Comcast's channel 22 in Olathe. The times and dates of each showing: 8 p.m. Oct. 10; 7 p.m. Oct. 22; 7 p.m. Nov. 1, and 8 p.m. Nov. 5.

Posted by Jim Sullinger 

Kline: Stop covering the Phelpses

   Phill Kline says the news media may be aiding Rev. Fred Phelps, whose followers, as you may know, picket funerals, claiming soliders die so God can punish the United States for its alleged tolerance of homosexuality.

   In a debate earlier this month, Kline and opponent Paul Morrison endorsed state legislation to push Phelps and followers farther away from funerals.

Posted by Dave Helling

Hot Rod Phill

    Check out The Wichita Eagle's take on Phill Kline:

    For a bigger image, click on it.

Posted by Steve Kraske

IRS to keep eye on religious groups

   Add this to the Phill Kline leaked-memo file:

   The New York Times says today that the IRS is going to mount a renewed effort to make sure that non-profits don't go too far in their partisan activities.

   Go here to see the article.

Posted by Steve Kraske

"Shame on Phill Kline"

   A group of ministers and citizens connected to the MAINstream Coalition are criticizing Phill Kline in the wake of his leaked campaign memo last week.

   "Shame on Phill Kline for exploiting communities of faith for political gains," says the letter, signed by the Rev. Robert Meneilly, the politically moderate coalition's former chairman, and 14 other ministers.

   In the statement, which can be seen here, group members said they were incensed by the Kline memo, which outlined his plans for winning votes through the state's conservative churches. Kline is running for re-election in November against Democrat Paul Morrison.

   "Kline has asked churches to walk dangerously close to the line drawn by the Internal Revenue Service that prohibits nonprofit organizations from supporting political candidates," the statement said.

   In fact, the group says Kline has asked the churches "to cross that line."

   Specifically, the group says that Kline's request of pastors to identify members of their congregations with the deepest pockets and gather congregation members to be campaign workers constitutes a "blatant" violation of the law.

   "The attorney general of the state of Kansas, of all people, should know better," the memo says. Later, the memo says, "When the Gospel is co-opted for political means, it subverts the grace it bequeaths."

  Kline spokeswoman Sherriene Jones shoots back this afternoon that, "There's nothing illegal or unethical in that memo. It's a strategy memo" aimed at a group of Kline's biggest supporters.

Posted by Steve Kraske

Phill Kline sends an invite

It may be a little too early in the a.m. for this blog, but Attorney General Phill Kline extended a gracious invitation to reporters today to see his preaching in action Saturday morning before the Topeka Bible Church's men's breakfast. No doubt he'll skip the pancakes and settle for a Slimfast.

Kline said he's got nothing to hide, and that his message will be all about his personal faith and not his re-election bid. He'll save the politics for anyone who wants to stick around after breakfast.

To prove he's, he's inviting reporters to tag along.

Posted by David Klepper

Kline: "Get me in their pulpits"

   It was early in the morning of Aug. 8, and Phill Kline was typing instructions to his campaign staff at warp speed.

   The topic: Beefing up Kline's efforts in conservative Kansas churches.

   Some excerpts from the memo, leaked to The Star this week and confirmed as authentic by Kline's campaign:

• "Get the pastor to invite five `money people' whom he knows can help."
• "Must rework Joe Wright and Terry Fox (Wichita pastors). Must get in their pulpit and have them personally host a reception to match (abortion provider George) Tiller's blood money."
• "Am able to preach at several different churches where services times are different."
• "Feed me Slimfast. Do not need a sit-down meal. Takes too much time."

   It is a rare peek at the thinking and strategy of a statewide candidate. Kline, of course, is in the midst of a hotly competitive re-election campaign for attorney general against Democrat Paul Morrison.

   To see the full memo, go here. Or read more complete coverage in tomorrow's Star.

Posted by Steve Kraske

Schwab joins Kline re-elect campaign

Scott Schwab, a state lawmaker from Olathe, may have lost his Republican primary bid for Congress but he isn't sitting around the house moaning about it.

Schwab has signed on with Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline's re-election campaign as a paid staff member.

"I was planning on campaigning in November anyway," Schwab said.

He lost to Republican Chuck Ahner, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, a Democrat, for Kansas 3rd Congressional District seat in the U.S. House.

Posted by Jim Sullinger

Kline says law enforcement backs his re-election

   Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline said today he has the backing of the state's law enforcement community in his re-election bid against Johnson County DA Paul Morrison.

   Kline held a press conference in Topeka to receive the endorsement of the state's Fraternal Order of Police. Earlier this week, he got the endorsement of the Kansas State Troopers Association.

    Earlier this year, he boasted that 89 of the state's sheriffs backed his re-election. That claim prompted a suggestion by Morrison that Kline didn't have the support of rank-and-file law enforcement officers.

   Kline said that this week's endorsements make it clear that Morrison was wrong and that he does enjoy rank-and-file support.

   Morrison's campaign manager, Mark Simpson, said endorsements are political and they usually go to incumbents and "that's what we see here."

   "Paul Morrison has been on the front lines fighting crime for the past 26 years," he said. "Contrast that with Phill Kline who has shown that his judgment and priorities are way off -- spending his time doing things like searching medical records and hiring a nephew."

   The two candidates are scheduled to debate at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow in Lawrence at the Dole Institute on the KU campus. The debate is sponsored by the Associated Press. 

Posted by Jim Sullinger

Brownback asks why records are an issue

   U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback doesn't understand what all the fuss is about.

   In endorsing Phill Kline for attorney general, Brownback told the Wichita Eagle that he doesn't understand why the fight over abortion clinic medical records is that big a deal.

   Kline's attempts to obtain the records has become a hot issue in his campaign against Democrat Paul Morrison.

   Said Brownback: "Phill and his opponent both subpoena medical records regularly. It seems really strange this would be an issue."

   Kline has said he's after the records because he's entitled to investigate illegal abortions and sexual abuse of minors. Opponents say Kline is violating privacy and common sense.

   Morrison campaign manager Mark Simpson told the Eagle that Morrison does subpoena medical records in criminal cases. But he said Kline's efforts go beyond legitimate law enforcement needs.

Posted by Steve Kraske

Kline, Morrison in tiff over Fred Phelps

    Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline spoke Saturday to the Patriot Guard and denounced Fred Phelps Sr. and his family for picketing at the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq or Afghanistan.

    Guard members use their motorcycles to shield family members from Phelps picketers, who contend that the deaths are God's punishment of the U.S. for tolerating homosexuals.

   After the speech, Kline's Democratic opponent -- Johnson County District Attorney Paul Morrison -- criticized Kline for taking a $500 donation in 2002 from Benjamin C. Phelps, the son of Fred Phelps Sr.

    Sherriene Jones, communications director for Kline's campaign, said the contribution was one of thousands received that year and the attorney general was unaware that the contribution came from a member of the Phelps family.

  So, Kline is sending the Patriot Guard a donation of $500 to help in their efforts to combat the picketing.

   "There are a lot of legitimate issues to talk about in this campaign," Jones said. "Morrison chooses to throw mud instead."

Posted by Jim Sullinger

Kline's spokesman is out

   Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline announced this week that his spokesman Whitney Watson, always a loyal defender of his boss, is being replaced.

   Watson, who is on a hooneymoon this week, will stay with Kline's office, however, as "director of special projects." Not sure what that means.

   Sherriene Jones, a former TV journalist, will be Kline's new communications director. More recently, she's worked as an Internet Safety Director for the Kansas Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, helping train children about safe internet use.

   Jones is married to Derrick Sontag, who has held a variety of posts with state GOP leaders.

Posted by David Klepper

  P.S. Here's Klepper's story from this morning's Star on whether the U.S. Supreme Court's upholding of the Kansas death penalty will help Kline in his re-election bid. -- Keith

Kline fights to control image

    Per AP: Phill Kline wants voters to know he's done a bang-up job as Kansas attorney general and, more importantly, that others think so, too.

    Kline adorns his campaign biography with plenty of positive blurbs, like the ones publishers use to entice people to read a new book. There are usual suspects, fellow conservative Republicans such as Sen. Sam Brownback, and not-so-usual ones, such as Sedgwick County District Attorney Nola Foulston, a Democrat.

   Kline is trying to control his image in a tough race against Johnson County District Attorney Paul Morrison, the Democratic nominee.

   "It's a sign of someone who thinks he has a career," said Bob Beatty, a Washburn University political scientist. "You want to make sure you get credit for what you're doing."

    Here's the complete AP story.

Posted by Keith Chrostowski 3 p.m.