Kan. gov. declares new smoking bill a 'fraud'

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Gov. Mark Parkinson said Friday that a new bill before Kansas legislators on smoking in public places is a "fraud," angering a key legislator.

Parkinson said he would veto the measure, introduced this week by the House Health and Human Services Committee. He considers its restrictions on smoking too weak, and it would repeal ordinances enacted by three counties and 36 cities, many of which are tougher.

The governor supports a Senate-passed proposal to ban smoking in many public places, including restaurants and bars. The House bill would allow smoking in restaurants and bars if they have a "physically separate" area for it or if they banned anyone under 18 from the premises.

"Not only is it not a public smoking ban, it takes us back by repealing the ordinances of cities that have in fact actually passed public smoking bans," Parkinson said during a Statehouse news conference.

After calling the measure a fraud, Parkinson said: "It is an attempt to trick Kansans into thinking that we've done something on public smoking when in fact we would have made the situation worse."

But House committee chairwoman Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican, said the measure is an attempt at compromise with the Senate proposal's backers. She opposes statewide rules.

She said the Senate proposal is a fraud because it would force private businesses to ban smoking while allowing it in state-owned casinos.

"It just makes me mad that the state is that pompous and arrogant," she said.

Parkinson said he'd prefer to have a ban apply in casinos, too, but, "I understand that legislation is an art of compromise."

------

CAMPAIGN FINANCE: State Sen. Tim Huelskamp outpaced other candidates in Kansas' 1st Congressional District in fundraising in the last quarter of 2009.

Campaign finance records show that the Fowler Republican reported receiving $136,823 in contributions during the period. He ended last year with $480,059 in cash.

He is one of six Republicans seeking the GOP nomination for the seat held by Rep. Jerry Moran, a Republican who is running for the Senate. The sprawling district covers 69 counties in western and central Kansas.

Sen. Jim Barnett, of Emporia, received $126,350 in contributions during the quarter and ended the year with $374,690 in cash.

Tracey Mann, a commercial real estate seller from Salina, had $240,808 in cash after $71,975 in contributions.

Rob Wasinger, of Hays, former chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, had $202,793 in cash at the end of the year after reporting $100,025 in contributions.

Former Salina Mayor Monte Shadwick had $15,145 in contributions and ended the year with $19,235 in cash. Hays educator Sue Boldra raised $1,100 in contributions, loaned her campaign $10,000 and finished the year with about $11,081 in cash.

The only Democrat in the race is Alan Jilka, another former Salina mayor. He raised $45,993 in contributions and ended the year with $36,196 in cash.

------

STAFF CHANGES: Gov. Mark Parkinson will be getting a new chief spokesman at the end of next week.

Parkinson announced Friday that Communications Director Beth Martino is leaving to take a job with the federal Food and Drug Administration in the Washington area. Martino will become associate commissioner for external affairs.

Replacing Martino will be Seth Bundy, who has been deputy communications director. He's worked for the governor's office since November 2006.

Martino has been the governor's communications director since January 2009. Her husband, Steve, is executive director of the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission, and a commission spokesman said he will stay in that job.

------

EMPIRE RATES: State regulators are having a hearing next week on a proposal to raise some southeast Kansas residents' electric rates by 40 percent.

The proposal is from Joplin, Mo.-based Empire District Electric Co., which serves about 10,000 customers in southeast Kansas.

The Kansas Corporation Commission has scheduled its hearing for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Baxter Springs Community Center.

The utility wants to raise an additional $5.2 million a year. The new revenues would cover rising operating expenses and costs associated with three new power plants and upgrades to pollution controls at existing plants.

The KCC said Friday that residential customers would see an average increase of $25 in their monthly electric bills.

------

COUGH, COUGH, JAYHAWK: As of July 1, the University of Kansas will no longer allow the sales of cigarettes or other tobacco products on its campuses.

Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little said Friday in a news release that selling tobacco products is inconsistent with university values and the health research conducted there.

While she acknowledged students and employees can buy cigarettes elsewhere in Lawrence, she said the university does not encourage the use of tobacco.

The university's Medical Center, in Kansas City, Kan., already prohibits the sale of tobacco on its campuses, and smoking is not allowed in any University of Kansas buildings, including dorms.

------

UNDER THE DOME: Friday was the 26th day of the Legislature's annual session, out of 90 scheduled.

------

On the Net:

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

Kansas governor: http://www.governor.ks.gov

Empire District Electric Co.: https://www.empiredistrict.com/

University of Kansas: http://www.ku.edu