Good morning everyone:
Just 37 days and counting before the Aug. 7 primary and time is flying. Lots of interesting news and events that you may have missed but need to know.
Farm Bureau passes on Marshall
While the Kansas Farm Bureau was getting headlines for endorsing Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer in the governor’s race on Friday, a more interesting development was unfolding elsewhere.
The Hutchinson News took note that the Farm Bureau had withheld an endorsement of Republican Congressman Roger Marshall. It was the only congressional district where the Farm Bureau didn’t endorse a candidate.
It is backing Republican incumbent Kevin Yoder in the 3rd District, Republican state Sen. Caryn Tyson in the 2nd District and Republican incumbent Ron Estes in the 4th.
It seems the Farm Bureau is worried that Marshall might lose his seat on the Agriculture Committee because of interest he’s expressed in wanting to serve on the Ways and Means Committee.
Marshall received the Farm Bureau’s endorsement in 2016 when he upset former Congressman Tim Huelskamp, who had been kicked off the Agriculture Committee.
Marshall faces Republican Nick Reinecker in the primary and, possibly, Democrat Alan LaPolice in the general election.
Supreme Court rules on Louisburg woman’s right to pray
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday cleared the way for a Louisburg woman to bring a civil rights complaint against police officers who told her she couldn’t drop to her knees and pray when they responded to a complaint she was playing her radio too loud.
After entering her apartment, the police were accused of engaging “in a course of strange and abusive conduct, before citing her for disorderly conduct and interfering with law enforcement,” according to court records.
When she went to pray, the officers told her she could not.
She lost her case in the District Court and at the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals before the Supreme Court reversed the decision and sent it back to the lower court for further consideration. Here’s the opinion from the Supreme Court as well as coverage from KCUR, NBC News and Fox News.
Western Kansas train service in jeopardy?
Lots of news developing about Amtrak’s Southwest Chief, which runs from Chicago to Los Angeles through Kansas. Reports are surfacing that Amtrak may end service on a segment from Dodge City to Albuquerque, N.M. Train service would be replaced with bus service.
The story has been bubbling up for about a month now when it was revealed that Amtrak was offering only conditional financial support for a federal grant needed to keep the service operating.
The Denver Post had this story, which includes a copy of a letter that was signed by U.S. Sens. Pat Robert and Jerry Moran urging Amtrak to fund the service. Other stories include this one from the Hutchinson News and another from High Plains Public Radio. One interesting story from KOB Channel 4 in Albuquerque details Amtrak’s issues.
Paul Davis versus Steve Fitzgerald?
Democratic congressional candidate Paul Davis’ campaign circulated a poll last week showing his strength in the 2nd Congressional District.
The polling memo showed how Davis might match up against Republican state Sen. Steve Fitzgerald of Leavenworth, who the campaign considered one of the better-known candidates. (Fair to point out however, that Republican state Sen. Caryn Tyson just received an endorsement from the Kansas Farm Bureau.)
The Davis poll showed him running 5 points ahead of Fitzgerald, 39 percent to 34 percent. In terms of overall favorability, the poll placed Davis at 32 percent with an 11 percent unfavorable ranking. The campaign only polled on Fitzgerald.
The campaign’s polling memo also looked at how well Davis stacked up in terms of favorability. The memo reported that every Republican running in the 2nd District had low favorable and unfavorable scores, implying they’re just not well known.
Take the memo for what you think it’s worth. We just put most everything we receive out there for your perusal.
Also, here’s what University of Kansas political science professor Patrick Miller had to say about the polling memo on Twitter.
Not surprising that in KS2 Davis has higher name ID and higher favorables (he did win KS2 in 2014) than other candidates who haven’t run statewide. In the memo he leads Fitzgerald (only R polled) 39%-34%. Will any R release a poll showing their primary or general election #s? https://t.co/KGKI2xH1ZW
— Patrick Miller (@pmiller1693) June 29, 2018
Olathe straw poll controversy
Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer’s top communications strategist called out Secretary of State Kris Kobach on Twitter following a straw poll won by the governor on Saturday.
Colyer had just won the gubernatorial straw poll at the Olathe Republican Party’s Faith & Freedom Picnic at Cedar Lake Park Saturday afternoon.
Colyer received 151 of the 283 votes cast. Kobach trailed Colyer with just 90 votes. Another major Republican candidate Ken Selzer finished with 19. Former state Sen. Jim Barnett received none. It’s worth noting that each vote in the straw poll costs $1.
The Colyer camp raced to get results of the poll out on Twitter, hoping it’s an indicator of where the Republican gubernatorial primary is headed. Kobach, never one to give up ground to anyone, hurriedly denounced the results on Twitter.
And we ended up with this juxtaposition of tweets on Saturday afternoon with Kobach criticizing the poll and Kendall Marr, Colyer’s top communications staffer, responding.
Wow, this is embarrassing, Kris. We mobilized our supporters and you mobilized yours. We just happened to have more support. Election day will be much the same way. Kansans are excited about Gov. Colyers conservative leadership and that shows up in our grassroots support! #ksleg
— Kendall Marr (@kendallmarr) June 30, 2018
Marr also took a couple swipes at the secretary of state in a news release that went out to reporters shortly after the vote was tallied. The news release accused Kobach of “whining” about the results of the straw poll.
“Kris Kobach has never taken responsibility for any of his failures,” Marr said in the release. “It will be interesting to see who he blames when he loses on Aug. 7.”
Olathe straw poll – Part II
It certainly was not as controversial as the gubernatorial straw poll but interesting enough to give you the results for the secretary of state’s race.
Republican Secretary of State candidate Scott Schwab won the straw poin his race with 108 votes out of 221 cast. He was followed by Keith Esau with 50, Craig McCullah with 46, Randy Duncan with 14 and Dennis Taylor with three.
Farm bill passes the Senate
Here’s a roundup of all the coverage you want (or need) about the U.S. Senate passing a new Farm Bill last week and its differences with the House version, which includes tighter restrictions on food stamps.
There’s this overall story from the Washington Post and Roll Call as well as some local coverage around the state, including stories from The Topeka Capital-Journal and KVOE radio in Emporia.
Also, here are some remarks from U.S. Sen Jerry Moran on the Farm Bill and a video from C-Span with Sen. Pat Roberts talking about the legislation on the Senate floor.
Governor’s race
Other than Colyer and Kobach going at it, this was a relatively quiet week for the governor’s race. There are some stories or podcasts we think are worth a look or a listen. Let’s start with state Sen. Laura Kelly’s podcast at KCUR and then there’s Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer’s podcast with the Topeka Capital-Journal.
Kelly tells KCUR’s Steve Kraske that being governor wasn’t really on her bucket list. She said she didn’t decide to run until December. She said former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has been an asset to her campaign. She says the state is in a “world of hurt” and explains why she believes she’s the best candidate to lead the state.
Selzer, meanwhile, met with the C-J’s Tim Carpenter to explain why he should be governor. He emphasizes his business experience and reducing costs in the Insurance Department. He stresses the need to treat taxpayers like customers.
He also discusses why he chose to run for governor instead of running for re-election for insurance commissioner. And yes, he wants to “lean in on costs.”
Some other news. The Salina Journal has this interview with former state Rep. Josh Svaty’s running mate, Katrina Lewison. And the Wichita Eagle takes a look at how all of the gubernatorial candidates view marijuana.
And we don’t want to leave this out. Donald Trump Jr. will be returning to Kansas on July 17 to campaign for Secretary of State Kris Kobach in Wichita.
Farm Bureau endorsements
We’ve promised to give you other endorsements as they roll in. Here’s a link to the Farm Bureau’s endorsement of all the state legislative races.
Electricity rates
This is one of the most underrated stories in Kansas politics. We started examining the issue early last legislative session and it’s now starting to grab headlines with Westar Energy looking for a $17 million rate increase.
A bipartisan group of Kansas lawmakers last week called for an audit of Westar’s operations before the Kansas Corporation Commission agrees to a rate increase. Critics already complain Kansas has the highest electric rates in the Midwest
Their demands came just after the Kansas Board of Regents asked to intervene in the rate case because of the high electric bills state universities are paying. It was the first time the board has tried to intervene in an power rate case.
Also, here’s a podcast that the Topeka Capital-Journal recently did on the topic. The C-J also did this related podcast on the merger of KCP&L and Westar. Representatives from both companies said the merger will keep rates stable. Lots to read or listen to here. Stay tuned.
Tyson Foods politics
Kansas News Service has this interesting piece about the political fallout of Tyson Foods’ unsuccessful effort to bring a chicken processing plant to Tonganoxie.
The story focuses on state Republican Rep. Willie Dove’s re-election bid against Democrat Stuart Sweeney, who believes Dove should have done more to fight the Tyson plant.
It also notes how state Sen. Caryn Tyson, who is running for Congress in the 2nd District, has to go out of her way to make it clear she’s not affiliated with the chicken company – something she did at a Republican congressional forum in Leavenworth last week.
Republican forum in 2nd Congressional District
The seven Republican candidates running in Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District discussed veterans issues last week at a forum in Leavenworth sponsored by Americans for Prosperity and Concerned Veterans for America.
The candidates sounded very familiar without anyone particularly distinguishing themselves from the rest of the field. Here’s some coverage from the KC Star and the Cap-Journal.
New voting system
The Legislative Coordinating Council last week authorized work on a new voting system for the Kansas House.
The system was installed in 2007 and the platform for the software was released in 1998. Product support is no longer available. 
The LCC approved moving forward with an $118,000 software upgrade. The goal is to have the new software in place by the start of the 2019 legislative session.
“We do need to do this,” said House Majority Leader Don Hineman.
Later this year, legislative staff will start work on a plan for upgrading the display boards in the chamber, the remote monitors in the rotunda and leadership offices as well as the voting buttons on the desks of House members.
Planning for the second phase of the improvements is expected to be completed by this November.
