Kan. senators draft plans on judicial elections

By JOHN HANNA

Associated Press

TOPEKA -- Two Kansas Senate committees introduced proposals Wednesday to regulate campaigns to remove or retain members of the state's appellate courts.

Senators are considering the bills because the state ethics commission ruled last month that Supreme Court justices and Court of Appeals judges aren't covered by Kansas campaign finance laws. Their campaign committees -- and groups opposing or supporting them -- don't face reporting requirements or contribution limits.

The anti-abortion group Kansans for Life has launched a "Fire Beier" campaign to oust Supreme Court Justice Carol Beier.

Appellate court members are appointed by the governor but must stand for retention. Beier and three other justices are on the ballot in the November general election.

One bill is before the Senate Ethics and Election Committee, which plans to discuss it next week. A similar one is before the Federal and State Affairs Committee, which agreed Wednesday to sponsor it at the request of the Kansas Equality Coalition, which advocates gay rights.

Coalition lobbyist Tom Witt noted that many issues of interest to his group are dealt with by the courts.

"We want to make sure justice can't be bought by the highest bidder and that it's fair and open," he said.

No one spoke against either proposal during the committees' meetings Wednesday.

Both proposals would limit contributions to appellate court members' campaigns to $2,000 and require those campaigns to file finance reports with the secretary of state's office.

Also, groups advocating appellate judges' retention or ouster would have to register with the state as political action committees and publicly disclose information about their activities.

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SUMNER COUNTY CASINO: A Kansas board plans to gather additional information about a proposed state-owned casino south of Wichita.

The Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board had a teleconference Wednesday to review the plan.

Spokesman Mike Deines said the board will examine local zoning issues surrounding the casino and obtain revised revenue projections from consultants. The board hopes to meet again by early April.

The board must decide whether the Chisholm Creek partnership can go ahead with its $225 million project near Mulvane, about 20 miles south of Wichita.

The partnership asked the board in December for time to revise an earlier plan, citing potential competition from the Wyandotte Nation of northeast Oklahoma. The tribe is trying to get federal permission to build a casino north of Wichita.

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DEBATING GRASS: An effort to honor little bluestem as the state grass of Kansas has taken root among legislators.

On a voice vote, the Kansas House gave first-round approval Wednesday to a bill bestowing the honor. Approval on a final vote, expected Thursday, would send the measure to the Senate.

Students from Shawnee Mission South High School in Overland Park have pushed the idea.

The House rejected amendments to confer the honor on big bluestem, dominant in the eastern part of the state, and buffalo grass, dominant in western Kansas.

Supporters of little bluestem noted that it grows in every county in Kansas.

"We need to have an icon that represents the prairie," said Republican Rep. Sharon Schwartz, of Washington. "Little bluestem is a compromise species."

Some lawmakers wanted the House to take less time with the measure. Rep. Bill Otto, a Leroy Republican, said members needed to finish the debate quickly "so nobody thinks we're on any grass."

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UNDER THE DOME: Wednesday was the 59th day of the Legislature's annual session, out of 90 scheduled.

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On the Net:

Kansas Legislature: http://www.kslegislature.org