February 28, 2005

Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission
Hassles Internet News Source to Register as PAC

• Feb 20  NeighborhoodNet Asked To Register As PAC Kansas Refuses To Disclose Complainant
• Feb 20  Boots The Cat Weighs In On PAC Issue Also Endorses Sader
• Feb 25  It's Official: NeighborhoodNet Not A PAC Kansas Commission Agrees
• Feb 27  Sader's Mayoral Campaign Source of Hate Mail: Also Wanted NeighborhoodNet Labeled A PAC

Did the Kansas Governmental Ethics Office hassle all newspapers in Kansas to register as PACs if they print endorsements in elections?

Does Amendment VI to the U.S. Constitution apply in Kansas?  What does "the accused shall enjoy the right to ... to be confronted with the witnesses against him ..." mean to the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission?  Do we have "Kansas Secret Police" that can investigate any political money trail without any oversight, or checks and balances?  Some confidentiality during an investigation makes sense, but with anonymous sources that are never disclosed, harassing complaints are far too easy, and "witch hunts" are even possible.

What's clear from this incident (and at least one other I am aware of) is that the dark practice in Kansas of hiding the accusers in complaints to the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission must STOP.  What about "open records" in Kansas?

The Kansas Governmental Ethics Office needs to work much harder to make campaign disclosure records easier and cheaper to access ($0.50/page is ridiculous), especially since Kansas has "F" in Campaign Disclosure the last two years. 

K a n s a s M e a d o w l a r k @ e f g 2 . c o m