In Washington DC, 'public servants' frequently use the revolving door between lobbying and the Government for personal gain. It appears the Governor stepped in something and tracked it back to Kansas when he returned from the Senate. Reports of an FBI investigation all have one thing in common- Sam Brownback's personal staff. One thing is undeniable, many of Brownback's inner circle have recently moved into the lobbying industry and have profited immensely.
The Governor wants you to ignore that his staff resigned and started a lobbying firm, and that that firm was then hired by companies bidding on State contracts. He wants you to forget the same insurance companies got those same State contracts. And never-mind that this all happened in two month period. Move along, nothing to see here.
These guns for hire include Governor Brownback's long time friend and right hand man, David Kensinger.
Kensinger’s ties to Brownback go back two decades, to when Brownback won a seat in the U.S. Senate. Kensinger managed Brownback’s successful Senate re-election campaign in 1998 and later served has the chief of staff in his Senate office. Kensinger managed Brownback’s 2010 campaign for governor and served as chief of staff in the governor’s office until April 2012.... is now serving as president of Road Map Solutions, a nonprofit group supporting Brownback that in recent months has spent tens of thousands of dollars on television ads touting Brownback...LJWorld
You can't get any closer than that to the Governor. And who did Sam's right hand man take with him? How about the Governor's advisors who had been with him since his days in DC. From their personal bios....
"George Stafford- The seeds of George’s political and legislative journey that led him to Kansas are rooted in Washington, D.C. In 1996, coming off Phil Gramm’s presidential primary campaign, he joined the staff of then-Congressman Brownback as a legislative assistant, before moving to Kansas to manage fundraising and help run the campaign for Brownback’s U.S. senatorial race. Prior to the Governor’s inauguration in early 2010, he finished his tenure as a member of the transition team to help support the Governor’s newly formed administration. He worked directly with the transition team to help implement Brownback’s “Roadmap to Kansas” into effective legislative policy.
Riley Scott- Working as a legislative staffer, Riley handled several issues for Senator Brownback, including agriculture, energy, banking, and appropriations. At the time of Senator Brownback’s retirement from the Senate, Riley was his Deputy Chief of Staff and served as a senior policy and political advisor, including fundraising and advising Senator Brownback on his successful gubernatorial run in 2010."
Riley is also the son of Kansas Senate President, Susan Wagle, R-Wichita. But then again, that's how these things work, isn't it.
These three amigos worked in the Governor's office during the development of KanCare, the Governor's privatized Medicaid scheme. Did they influence Kancare from within the Government? Yes, unless they weren't doing their job. Did they influence Kancare as lobbyists? Isn't that the point of lobbying? Did they break the law by doing both? That remains to be seen, but frankly doesn't matter. This is a clear abuse of power and influence to force bad policy on a public that is opposed to KanCare. The Governor needs to be held accountable for the company he keeps.
"Records available online through the secretary of state’s office show it (Parallel Strategies) was established in September 2013, with Scott listed as the resident agent. The group’s website lists Brownback, Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as among its clients."LJWorld
If this is how fast and loose Brownback's people use lobbying, then it is reasonable to look at what else is out there. What other companies and organizations have hired Parallel Strategies? And did Sam Brownback have anything to do with the hiring. Another example has already surfaced...
"Parallel Strategies is now lobbying for the Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty – after the Governor’s Office helped direct the coalition in choosing a firm, according to Sen. Carolyn McGinn, R-Sedgwick, who said she “questioned the pool of people and the logic of hiring the firm they did.” The FBI probe reportedly has extended to legislators and lobbyists unaffiliated with Parallel Strategies." Wichita Eagle
Why is the Governor suggesting lobbying firms to anyone? What's in it for him?
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