The Kansas Meadowlark

Sept 8, 2007

Paul Morrison's Political Lifesaving Cure:  
$284,000 in supportive political mailings and phone calls

Summary:  The Kansans for Lifesaving Cures Political Action Committee (PAC) targeted many voters with at least three mailings in support of Paul Morrison for Attorney General and Kathleen Sebelius for Governor, and against Phill Kline for Attorney General.  While some voters received THREE  mailings (see below)  from Kansans for Lifesaving Cures, and SIX "Snoop Dog" mailings from the ProKanDo-related "non-profit", Kansans for Consumer Privacy Protection, the groups do not appear to be connected.  The "Lifesaving Cures" group and ProKanDo groups seemed to have acted independently, but shared a goal in the defeat of Phill Kline.  The groups also shared some distortions in their ads about Phill Kline and medical records. 

Apparently, the ProKanDo PAC raised $814,460 and the related non-profit, Kansans for Consumer Privacy Protection,  raised at least $400,000 to defeat Kline.  Combined with the "Lifesaving Cures" group, Paul Morrison benefited greatly from the nearly $1.5  million spent by these groups on his behalf.  In addition, Morrison's campaign benefited directly from over $193,000 funneled to him through a complicated money scheme by the Kansas Democratic Party.  And Paul Morrison's campaign was well-funded, too.  

Details:  The Baughman Company from San Francisco received $259,348 from Kansans for Lifesaving Cures and sent at least three mailings to many Kansas voters to defeat Phill Kline in the November 2006 general election.  The Baughman Company is so proud of these mailings they can still be seen on their web site today (mailing 1, mailing 2, or mailing 3), even though the actual mailings received by voters were slightly different (mailing A, mailing B, mailing C).  

Since these mailings are "independent" the candidate who benefits is not responsible for their content.  A Hutchinson News article questioned the completeness of the claims in these mailings, but in general, the Kansas press did little to explain the issues in these mailings.   

Initially, there was some circumstantial evidence of a connection to the Snoop Dog mailings, since both were mailed by S & M in Chicago (see postage information below and the postage information from the Snoop Dog mailings).  However, I cannot find any evidence of political leanings by SM & M.  The fact that both groups used the same mailing house appears to be only a coincidence and there were no other similarities between the mailings.  The Lifesaving Cures groups appears to have targeted most voters, so it's not clear there was any coordinated planning. 

Table 1 shows the summary of contributions and expenditures by reporting period.  Table 2 shows a summary of the expenditures, including the two main expenditures of $259,348 for the mailings by Baughman Company, and $24,859 for get-out-the-vote phone calls by the Next Big Thing.  I have never heard about these phone calls. 

A third expenditure of  $13,700 to Jim Yonally's Jayhawk Consulting is a bit curious since Yonally also provided a modest $1800 in polling services to the ProKanDo PAC before the November general election.  

The Kansans for Lifesaving Cures PAC gave money only to Democrats and "moderate" Republicans -- see Table 3 for a summary by party, and Table 4 for a summary by candidate group and party.  The contributions to statewide candidates were a bit odd.  In addition to Republican Phill Kline, the group obviously did not like Dr. Jim Barnett for governor, or even Ron Thornburgh for Secretary of State.  Oddly, the group gave money to both candidates for Insurance Commissioner. Other summary tables show the PAC liked many Democrats and most moderate Republicans for the House and Senate.  

Finally, background information about the PAC chair and treasurer show they have supported various liberal Democratic Party causes in Kansas. 

Detail Outline

Baughman Company's Political Mailings (on their web site)

Actual mailings received by voters in Kansas:

Summary of Return Addresses in Political Mailings

Summary of Postage Information

Table 1.  Contribution/Expenditure Summary

Table 2.  Partial Expenditure Summary

Table 3.  Political Contributions Summary By Party

Table 4.  Contribution to Candidates

Table 4a.  Candidate Contribution Summary

Table 4b.  Statewide Offices

Table 4c.  Kansas House Democrats Summary

Table 4d.  Kansas House Republicans Summary

Table 4e.  Kansas Senate Summary

Selected Items on Kansas Governmental Ethics Reports for Kansans for Lifesaving Cures

Political Background of PAC Chair/Treasurer

 

 

Baughman Company's Political Mailings

Mailing 1
See actual mailing A  below, which was identical.

 

Mailing 2

The actual mailing (see below) shows an older female doctor/nurse with a stethoscope.  There are several wording  and color changes.  The outside of the mailing was completely changed to a single panel.


Mailing 3

There was no known actual mailing like the one shown on the web page.  The third actual mailing was a "positive" piece strictly about Paul Morrison with only a button saying "endorsed by Governor Kathleen Sebelius". 

 

Actual Mailing A

 

Actual Mailing B

Actual Mailing C

 

Summary of Return Addresses

Summary of Postage Information

Table 1.
Contribution/Expenditure Summary
 During 2005-2006 Election Cycle  
For Kansans for Lifesaving Cures  
Source:  Receipts and Expenditure Reports filed with Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission

Report Date

Monetary 
Contributions

Expenditures

In the Bank

Jan 10, 2006

$101,000

$11,080

$89,919

July 24, 2006

$2,396

$41,842

$50,473

Oct 30, 2006

$350,678

$191,753

$209,398

Jan 10, 2007

$175

$173,868

$35,705

TOTAL

$454,249

$418,543

-

 

Table 2.  Partial Expenditure Summary

Category

Total
Statewide Candidates $12,750
State House $41,150
State Senate $12,000
Party Committees $14,188
Political Action Committee $2,000
Baughman Company*
San Francisco		 $259,348
Randy L. Steinman, Consulting
Independence, MO		 $25,000
Next Big Thing, 
Get out the vote phone services,
Leesburg, VA		 $24,859
Jayhawk Consulting, Polling
Jim Yonally, Overland Park		 $13,700
Winner and Mandabach
Encino, CA		 $2,885
Artcraft Printing, KCMO $5,873
Postage $2,480
Partial Total $416,233
*Not to be confused with a civil engineering company in Wichita with the same name. 

The Kansas Democratic Party spent $299,885 with The Baughman Company in 2003-2004 election cycle.  The Baughman Company gave $1000 to Sebelius' Kansas Inaugural 2007 committee.

 

 

Table 3.  Political Contributions Summary By Party

Category Democrat Republican Total
Political Candidates $38,300 $27,600 $65,900
Party Committees $7,500 $6,688 $14,188
Political Action Committee   $2,000
Subtotal $44,500 $34,288 $82,088

 

Table 4.  Contributions to Candidates

Table 4a.  Candidate Contribution Summary
Category Number of Contributions Amount of Contributions
Democrat Republican Democrat Republican TOTAL
Statewide Office 7 1 $10,750 $2,000 $12,750
State Representatives / Candidates 57 36 $24,050 $17,100 $41,150
State Senators 6 12 $3,500 $8,500 $12,000
TOTAL 70 49 $38,300 $27,600 $65,900

Table 4b . Statewide Offices
Contest Recipient Party Result Report Date Total
Jan 10, 2006 July 24, 2006   Oct 30, 2006   Jan 10, 2007  
Governor Sebelius, Kathleen Democrat Won $2,000   $2,000   $4,000
Sebelius Inaugural Committee       $2,000 $2,000
Attorney General Morrison, Paul Democrat Won   $2,000 $2,000   $4,000
Secretary of State Haley, David Democrat Lost     $250   $250
Insurance Commissioner Sharp, Bonnie Democrat Lost     $500   $500
Insurance Commissioner Praeger, Sandy Republican Won     $2,000   $2,000
GRAND TOTAL $12,750

Table 4c.  Kansas House Democrats Summary
Primary General Report Date Total
Jan 10, 2006 July 24, 2006   Oct 30, 2006   Jan 10, 2007  
uncontested Lost   $500 $6,500 $500 $7,500
uncontested Won   $500 $13,650   $14,150
Won Lost     $1,000   $1,000
Won Won   $1,000 $400   $1,400
TOTAL -  $2,000 $21,550 $500 $24,050

 

Table 4d.  Kansas House Republicans Summary

Primary General Report Date Total
Jan 10, 2006 July 24, 2006   Oct 30, 2006   Jan 10, 2007  
uncontested Lost     $500   $500
uncontested Won   $500 $7,400   $7,900
Lost     $2,000     $2,000
Won Won   $2,500 $3,700 $500  $6,700
TOTAL - $5,000 $11,600 $500 $17,100

Table 4e. Kansas Senate Summary
 [no elections in 2006; contributions for 2008 contests]

Party Report Date Total
Jan 10, 2006 July 24, 2006 Oct 30, 2006 Jan 10, 2007
Democrat                $3,500 $3,500
Republican          $2,000   $6,500 $8,500
GRAND TOTAL $12,000

 

Selected Items on KS Gov Ethics Reports
for Kansans for Lifesaving Cures

$259,348 on "Direct Mail Services and Postage"

 

Political Background of PAC Chair/Treasurer 

Lori (Majure) Hutfles

  • Democrat

  • David Adkin's for Attorney General Steering Committee in Douglas County (2002)

  • Mark Buhler for State Senate Supporter (2005)

  • Dole Institute of Politics development director at the KU Endowment Association (2004)

  • Former State Rep Lori Majure (D) from Merriam in 1993-1994 defeated by Cliff Franklin (R).

  • "Against the sexual predator act, saying it will put innocent people at risk.", 23rd District Democrats, Kansas City Star, July 14, 1994

  •  "The Speak Out for Stephanie Foundation isn't just advocating stricter penalties for sex offenders. It has entered the arena of electoral politics.  The foundation, named for murder victim Stephanie Schmidt of Leawood, has endorsed Democratic Candidate John Dehan and attacked his opponent, state Rep. Lori Majure, a Merriam Democrat.", Dehan's stand on sex offenders wins group's support, Kansas City Star, July 21, 1994

  • Two in county delegation opposed Sex Predator Act, Kansas City Star, Apr 30, 1994:  "The party-line split came in reaction to the votes cast Wednesday against the Sex Predator Act by Johnson County Democrats Carol Sader and Lori Majure.  The two state representatives were the only members of the county's 24-member legislative delegation to vote against the bill, which received final approval from the Legislature.  The bill was a reaction to the highly publicized kidnapping and murder last year of Stephanie Schmidt of Leawood by convicted rapist Donald Gideon, who had been released from prison a few months earlier."

Bradley Kemp

Stem cell group targets Kline for defeat 
Hutchinson News, Oct 17, 2006

TOPEKA - A group opposing state limits on stem cell research wants voters to oust incumbent Attorney General Phill Kline over his pursuit of patient medical records.

In a recent statewide mailing, a political action committee called Kansans for Lifesaving Cures endorsed the campaigns of incumbent Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Kline's Democratic challenger, Paul Morrison

The glossy, full-color flyer says to vote for Sebelius and Morrison because they protect patient privacy.

The committee, the political campaigning arm of the Lawrence-based Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, also asks citizens to vote against Kline because he "has made it his mission to allow governments to seize private medical records."

The leaflet doesn't mention that Kline's request for records has involved two Kansas abortion clinics or his claims that medical records are essential for investigating child rape and potentially illegal late-term abortions.
...

Lori Hutfles, the committee's chairwoman and executive director of the coalition, said stem cell research advocates fear that Kline's investigation involving 90 abortion records could branch into other areas.

"Seizing medical records is an unethical way to criminalize stem cell research." Hutfles said. "It might be another tool to try and intimidate people who are seeking stem cell therapies and the researchers who would look for those cures."

Kline spokeswoman Sherriene Jones said such concerns were unfounded and voters should examine the group's motivations behind putting out the leaflet.

She said that a judge must issue a subpoena for a prosecutor to obtain medical records. In the case of Kline's investigation involving the clinics, a judge found "probable cause" to believe that evidence of a crime might be in the records.

"For someone to have that kind of fear, there's no reason for it," Jones said of the arbitrary seizure of medical records. "The judicial system is set up in such a way to protect medical records." ...

Jones criticized Morrison for not acknowledging the importance that medical records play in proving criminal cases.

"It's very misleading and very troubling," Jones said.  ...

The cost and scope of the committee's "limited statewide mailing" weren't provided Monday. Hutfles said details about the committee's campaign donations and expenditures would be available in the group's next campaign finance report, which is due Oct. 30.

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