Friday, May 29, 2020
Welcome to the KDP Weekly Rundown – the Kansas Democratic Party’s update of the biggest things going on in the state party and the state government. What are we focused on this week? Sunflower Showcase update, GOP leadership in the KS Legislature tries to undermine Governor Kelly while putting Kansans at risk, Governor Kelly vetoes bill aimed at curbing her legislative powers and calls for special legislative session next week, Kansas GOP tries to block mail-in ballot applications, Kansas campaign updates, and Trump’s inadequate response to COVID-19 as US reaches grim milestone of 100,000 deaths.
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SUNFLOWER SHOWCASE: THIS WEEK
Join us this Wednesday as we host U.S. Representative Sharice Davids for our weekly virtual meet-and-greet event. We’re offering a limited time deal for the first ten events – if you sign up now, you’ll receive access to every Sunflower Showcase event for a discounted price of $80. You can sign up for the Sunflower Showcase HERE. We hope to see you there!
GOP LEADERSHIP IN KS LEGISLATURE TRIES TO UNDERMINE GOVERNOR KELLY WHILE PUTTING KANSANS AT RISK
What’s happening?
(Topeka Capital-Journal) – Kansas legislators pulled the curtain on the 2020 session after a tedious and combative 24-hour workday that ended last Friday with passage of restrictions on Gov. Laura Kelly’s authority to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and extension of the state’s emergency declaration through the end of the month.
- Where can I learn more?
- Legislative session reaches volatile end, GOP slashes Gov. Laura Kelly’s power in COVID-19 emergency. Topeka Capital-Journal, May 22, 2020.
- All-night session to strip governor’s power was Kansas Legislature’s darkest day. Kansas City Star, May 22, 2020.
- Abortion politics kills Kansas Medicaid expansion for the year. Wichita Eagle, May 21, 2020.
- Racing clock, Kansas Republicans bypass Senate debate to limit Kelly’s emergency powers. Wichita Eagle, May 21, 2020.
- Kansas legislators, governor dive into final day of session mutated by deadly pandemic. Topeka Capital-Journal, May 21, 2020.
- Validity of Kansas governor’s disaster declaration ‘doubtful,’ attorney general says. Kansas City Star, May 21, 2020.
- Kansas Gov. Kelly has broad powers in pandemic. Here’s why Republicans want to curb them. Kansas City Star, May 17, 2020.
GOV. LAURA KELLY ANNOUNCES COUNTIES CAN NOW BEGIN TO SAFELY RE-OPEN; VETOES GOP COVID-19 BILL TRYING TO LIMIT HER AUTHORITY; CALLS FOR SPECIAL SESSION OF LEGISLATURE
What’s happening?
(KSHB) – Gov. Laura Kelly announced Tuesday that she is removing the executive order for the state’s reopening plan. Instead, Gov. Kelly will leave it up to individual county health officials to decide which phase is appropriate in their area, making the the Ad Astra Plan go from mandatory to more of a guideline.
- Where can I learn more?
- KS Gov. Laura Kelly puts reopening plan in counties’ hands. KSHB, May 26, 2020.
- Reopening Kansas: Gov. Kelly returns control to county officials. Koam News Now, May 26, 2020.
(Wichita Eagle) – With harsh criticism of last week’s legislative session, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced Tuesday that she will veto a bill designed to greatly limit her authority to deal with the COVID-19 crisis.
Laura Kelly: House Bill 2054 was debated, voted on and written while most Kansans were asleep and was never intended to address reasonable concerns and bring KEMA (Kansas Emergency Management Act) in line with our present circumstances. Rather, it was designed to trigger a high-stakes game of political chicken, combining provisions that are essential to COVID-19 response with a wide ranging, special interest ‘wish-list’ of unrelated and unnecessary provisions. I call on the Kansas Legislature to send a clean proposal to my desk that will provide clarity and legal certainty for all elements of our emergency response moving forward.
- Where can I learn more?
- Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly vetoes COVID-19 bill, calls special session of Legislature. The Wichita Eagle, May 26, 2020.
- County sets no COVID-19 restrictions. Parsons Sun, May 27, 2020.
- Gov. Laura Kelly vetoes pandemic bill, hands counties more power and calls special legislative session. Topeka-Capital Journal, May 26, 2020.
- Gov. Kelly to veto bill that limited powers, lifts statewide orders, returning control to counties. KMBC News, May 26, 2020.
- Kelly vetoes legislation limiting her emergency powers, calls lawmakers to June 3 special session. Lawrence Jorunal World, May 26, 2020.
- Kansas governor vetoes limits on her power but loosens rules. KCTV News 5, May 27, 2020.
DESPITE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR MAIL-IN BALLOTS BY KANSAN VOTERS, TRUMP AND REPUBLICAN ALLIES AIM TO BLOCK MAIL-IN BALLOT APPLICATIONS
What’s happening?
(Kansas City Star) – Kansas voters embrace mail-in voting, as request for applications for mail ballots soared in Johnson County. The embrace of mail voting in Kansas comes as it faces an increasingly hostile political environment. President Donald Trump and other Republican leaders have denounced efforts to expand it during the pandemic, asserting without evidence that it heightens the potential for fraud.
Ben Meers: The fact that the Kansas GOP is bending over backwards to prevent mail-in voting is an alarming and transparent attempt to suppress voters in the 2020 election cycle. Voting is a right. The GOP knows Democrats are positioned to win in Johnson County and across Kansas – for them to single out a specific county is akin to singling out any specific group of people in politically-engineered voter suppression.
- Where can I learn more?
- Despite Trump’s attacks, Kansas voters request 2020 mail ballots at historic rate. Kansas City Star, May 29, 2020.
KANSAS CAMPAIGN UPDATES
GOP Senatorial Debate – What’s Happenning?
(Shawnee Mission Post) – The Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate got together on Saturday Morning in Manhattan for a debate, where they agreed that they want to do all they can for the president and his policies. They differed mostly on who among them could offer President Donald Trump the strongest ally on Capitol Hill and on who had the best chance to get there.
- Where can I learn more?
- Kansas Senate Republicans debate focuses on who would be best to work with President Trump. Shawnee Mission Post, May 26, 2020.
U.S. Senate – What’s happening?
(Kansas City Star) – Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle has dropped out of the race for U.S. Senate four days ahead of the filing deadline.
The Wichita Republican’s decision to forgo the race to replace retiring Sen. Pat Roberts came hours after Kansas For Life’s PAC announced its decision to endorse Rep. Roger Marshall. It was a huge blow to Wagle’s candidacy, which was framed largely around her efforts to pass an anti-abortion amendment this legislative session.
- Where can I learn more?
- Kansas Republican Wagle drops out of Senate race after conversations with GOP leaders. Kansas City Star, May 28, 2020.
- Susan Wagle drops out of U.S. Senate race. KCTV News 5, May 28, 2020.
- Wagle drops U.S. Senate campaign. WIBW 13, May 28, 2020.
- Wagle drops out of U.S. Senate race in Kansas. Lawrence Journal World, May 29, 2020.
- Susan Wagle drops out of U.S. Senate race. KCMO Talk Radio, May 29, 2020.
- The 10 Senate seats most likely to flip. The Hill, May 26, 2020.
- Republicans are worried they may lose a Senate seat in Kansas. NPR, May 28, 2020.
KS-02 – What’s happening?
(Topeka Capital-Journal) – Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla filled out the obligatory paperwork Wednesday to formally launch a campaign for the Democratic Party’s nomination for the 2nd Congressional District seat held by Republicans for more than a decade.
- Where can I learn more?
- Topeka mayor makes run for 2nd Congressional District seat official. Topeka Capital-Journal, May 27, 2020.
- Pandemic politics dominate Kansas congressional race as Davids faces GOP challengers. Kansas City Star, May 25, 2020.
- Gun control groups rolls out House endorsements. The Hill, May 28, 2020.
- Rep. Watkins must be frank about communications. Hutch News, May 27, 2020.
- U.S. House rivals Watkins, Laturner attack each other on campaign finance issues. Hutch News, May 26, 2020.
TRUMP’S INADEQUATE AND CHAOTIC REPONSE TO COVID-19
What’s happening?
The U.S. surpassed a jarring milestone Wednesday in the coronavirus pandemic: 100,000 deaths. Trump ignored warnings, downplayed the severity of this crisis, and failed to prepare for months, allowing the coronavirus to spread rapidly and undetected. Now we’re paying the price.
- Where can I learn more?
- Trump, downplaying deaths, once claimed US would never see 100,000 milestone. ABC News, May 27, 2020.
- US death toll from coronavirus surges past 100,000 people. AP News, May 27, 2020.
- A deadly ‘checkerboard’: COVID-19’s new surge across rural America. Washington Post, May 24, 2020.
- White House goal on testing nursing homes unmet. AP News, May 24, 2020.
- On weekend dedicated to war dead, Trump tweets insults, promotes baseless claims and plays golf. Washington Post, May 24, 2020.
- Trump, maskless, goes golfing as Coronavirus death toll nears 100,000. Vanity Fair, May 24, 2020.
- ‘This is not the Hunger Games’: National testing strategy draws concerns. New York Times, May 25, 2020.
- Senate GOP has no plan to help millions of Americans losing health insurance during pandemic. Huff Post, May 27, 2020.
- For a numbers-obsessed Trump, there’s one he has tried to ignore: 100,000 dead. Washington Post, May 28, 2020.
- 1 in 4 American workers have filed for unemployment benefits during the pandemic. CNN, May 28, 2020.
- Biden’s testing strategy sets up a clear contrast with Trump on the coronavirus. Seattle Times, May 28, 2020.
In Memoriam: Remembering Lee Kinch, Former Kansas Democratic Party Chairman
The KDP is sending our condolences to the friends and family of Lee Kinch, our former Chair, who passed away Tuesday morning. Lee was a dedicated Democrat and a champion for hardworking families. The KDP is enormously proud to have benefited from his leadership and know that his memory will live on through our organization. For information on Lee’s funeral arrangements, please visit this website.
Onward,
KDP Team
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