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Mike Kiegerl eNews: Summer Update

The Kiegerls had reserved a 70' houseboat on Lake Powell for our annual family vacation but we had to cancel. My attorney daughter was involved in a case concerning a child and she took it to trial for a week rather than accepting a settlement she considered not in the best interest of the child. My airline captain son had locked in his vacation and we decided if we could not all go together we'd stay home. My daughter is as passionate an advocate for children as I am, and I'm proud of her dedication. We still enjoyed time with each other and especially our seven grandchildren. We tried a few new restaurants.

Meanwhile I've been active helping several candidates prepare for their primary. My loyal legislative aide TerriLois Gregory is running for the 10th district House seat, occupied by a far left freshman but she does need to win the primary first. She is a very hard worker, very dedicated and has the right values. I'm doing what I can to help get her elected. I am also assisting Kelly Meigs who is challenging Jill Quigley, the Republican incumbent in the 17th district (more on this below; "See How They Run”). We've held strategy sessions and prepared for debates and how to get the message out. Both ladies will make great legislators.

There are several hot campaigns going on, none more heated than the Tiahrt-Moran race for the Senate seat Sam Brownback is vacating. The battle for Congressman Moore's seat has nine Republicans running, Kris Kobach is competing for the Secretary of State's office, Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt wants to replace Attorney General Six, and Sam Brownback is expecting to be our next Governor. His running mate, Jeff Colyer, MD, is a wonderful man who goes overseas to fix kid’s cleft palates at his own expense and who sacrifices greatly financially by serving in the Kansas Senate. Tim Huelscamp must also be mentioned. He is running to replace Moran in Congress. A Christian who practices what he preaches, he introduced and passed the bill which diverts $400,000 of state funds from abortion provider Planned Parenthood to community clinics. He and his wife adopted 4 children of color.

We have great candidates and should have a good election in the fall. I anticipate a change in the Kansas House with more true Republicans, solid leadership, and a Republican Governor. This will give us a unique opportunity to make the structural changes needed for a strong recovery, economic development and private sector job growth.

ENDORSEMENTS

In contrast, with more than one Republican running I generally do not endorse one candidate over another publicly. This year is different. I would like to see TerriLois Gregory and Kelly Meigs elected. In the Senate race I feel that it is too bad that they both cannot win. Having to make a choice, I favor Todd Tiahrt; I know him better personally and he is a fine man who can be trusted.

Derek Schmidt is a sharp attorney and I have served on a committee with him. He'll do a good job as Attorney General. Kris Kobach is a nationally known and well respected expert on constitutional law. As Secretary of State, he'll make certain that voting in Kansas is reserved to American citizens. For this he will be attacked by the Star, as will my other favorites. They're in good company. The Star has endorsed my opponents in the last three elections and I have no doubt that I'll go zero for four this year, too.

SEE HOW THEY RUN…

...from their own record. After thousands of hours of committee work which started last summer, the House Appropriations Committee aided by five budget subcommittees (I served on the Social Services Budget subcommittee) produced a balanced budget which did not require a tax increase. This budget provided an INCREASE of funds for schools, corrections, public safety, and social services. Every other department was cut substantially. The funding for that budget came from a hiring freeze for government jobs, a 5% pay cut for certain state employees (including the legislature), sale of state property, deferments of some purchases and payments, and some other measures. This budget had some pain in it but it made us lives within our means. No one expected this to be the final product during debate on the floor; amendments are always offered and changes voted on.

We never got to debate the House bill. Senate President Morris never let the Senate act on it. Instead he adopted the Governor's proposal to raise taxes and to spend more. A "gut and go" maneuver by Democrat House members helped by 12 "Republicans" removed the entire text from the House budget and substituted a 648 page bill concocted in secret and without vetting by committee action. This was presented to the House two days before adjournment and adopted after 11 hours of acrimonious debate by a 2 vote margin at 2 am.

The adopted budget contains an 18% increase in the sales tax, which goes into effect July 1st. It will cost the average Kansas family $30 a month. Morris calls this a “moderate" tax increase we “can afford” and to cover his fellow tax and spenders he asserts that there were no alternatives. The consequences of this bill are all bad. It will slow recovery, increase unemployment and it may well deepen the recession. It makes Kansas less competitive as all our surrounding states have lower taxes

It seems that legislators have heard from their constituents and the tax and spenders are running scared. How do you explain an unnecessary increased tax burden on all Kansans? Not unexpectedly, most of the renegade Rinos have primary opponents and will not survive. An informed electorate will know how to deal with those who proclaim one thing but do the other, and who run as Republicans and vote as Democrats. All votes are published; to see them go to www.kansasvotes.org.

Kelly Meigs is challenging one of those House members, she deserves support.

CHILDREN’S ISSUES

I get daily e-mails and phone calls from parents, grandparents, and foster care givers with horror stories about SRS and the private contractors employed by the agency. Most of these people are not constituents but from all over the state who look to me as Chairman of the Children's Issues Committee to help and I do what I can. Major changes in foster care, adoption and family restoration are necessary and will be addressed next session with a new governor and, more importantly a new secretary of SRS. I have five bills which will be pre-filed to get this done.

We did get two bills passed and signed into law for children with special needs. For the first time insurance for autistic conditions is available. Because of a statutory requirement (new mandates must first be tried on state employees), this will not be available to the general public until 2012, however and we reduced the shameful waiting list for disabled children by a third. This is certainly inadequate. I offered 2 amendments to the appropriations bill to completely eliminate this disgrace; I got 55 votes, needed 63. I will try again and meanwhile hold the feet to the fire of the 70 members who voted against. How do you explain raising taxes $300 million a year and fail to take care of the neediest amongst us?

OUR DISTRICT ELECTION

Not unexpectedly, I have a Democrat opponent who filed in the last few minutes before the deadline. I know little about him, but he'll need to make the case that as a freshman member of the minority party he will be better suited to represent our district than a committee chairman with six years experience. I take this race seriously and will not be outspent or outworked. I'm proud of my record and I have kept my promises. I will wage my campaign on the issues, respecting my opponents differing views while explaining my own.

I have decided that this will be my last term. Except for my broken, arthritic ankle which is still kept together with two metal plates and 12 screws, I feel fine. (Those of you with 6 steps up to your front door ought to give me extra credit for knocking on it!) But I'm 71 and need to complete two books and spend more time with my saintly wife and the grandkids. Eight years in the legislature is enough. Besides, the district is likely to be redrawn in 2012 and I might have to compete against one of my friends, which I want to avoid.

I will be hosting several private events with friends and supporters, speak to groups and interested parties, and have lunch and tea with constituents in July. I will also visit with House leadership to plan for the election and beyond.

The hot phase of the campaign will begin after the primary in early August. As per tradition we will have a “Kick off Dinner" when we'll discuss detail of our strategy. Meanwhile I appreciate contacts from those who are willing to help with: locations for yard signs, requests for bumper stickers, offers to volunteer, holding a coffee on my behalf, making phone calls, scheduling me to address your group or fraternal organizations are all most welcome.

MONEY TALKS---OR DOES IT?

I have never asked for campaign contributions from anyone, but I gladly accept unsolicited donations, and I get quite a few. As a consequence I financed my campaigns with my own funds. The web site of the Ethics Commission will show you who has contributed and my web site shows all endorsers and contributors in my last three elections. You will also find that I have spent more than $42,000 of my own in these contests. I can say I'm beholden only to God. A recent survey shows that I am 160 of 165 legislators in getting favors from lobbyists. I pay for my own lunch. You can also see who is supporting my opponent...

MY WEB SITE WWW.MIKEKIEGERL.COM...

…will be redesigned, updated, and ready by early August. All material will be archived and only current information will be readily available without a bit of digging. We expect to do periodic polling, respond to the results, and will inform you of our progress. Feedback is critical and solicited - use "Contact" on my web site for my mike@mikekiegerl.com or my personal e-mail address www.jus4smk@aol.com, rather than the official State House address. While we're not in session messages are not always forwarded. You can also call me at 913-764-3291.

JULY 14 EARLY VOTING BEGINS FOR THE AUGUST 3rd PRIMARY

Early voting is important and simple. You can get an application by clicking on http://jocoelection.org/PDF/advapp.pdf and instructions are at http://jocoelection.org/voters/AdvanceVoting.htm from the election commission or your candidate. I will encourage my supporters to vote in October for the November election.

THE STATE BORROWS $700 MILLION

On June 28th, the State Finance Council approved issuing a $700 million in certificates of indebtedness to create enough cash flow to pay bills in July, the heaviest month of state spending. These certificates must be repaid by the end of the fiscal year June 30, 2011. Should be an incentive to save, or else more tax increases?

MY BEAUTIFUL, TEMPERAMENTAL 1929 WILLIS WHIPPET…

…let me down on the way to the Edgerton Frontier Days parade. It quit on me and I missed demonstrating my regal wave to the crowd. Sorry Edgerton! I’ll use it during my door to door campaign.

THE LAST WORD

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Einstein

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