Ethics board to hear case against group responsible for postcard

[atommom]

Topeka — Fire from the Lawrence City Commission campaign continues to burn.

Supporters of David Schauner say they will ask the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission today to make a secret group called Teachers for a Better Lawrence divulge who they are and who is bankrolling them.

Teachers for a Better Lawrence was the name of the group on a postcard mailer that gave Schauner an "F" and put check marks and praiseworthy comments by the names of three other commission candidates.

Under state law, groups that provide information about candidates or issues, but don't expressly advocate for a candidate's election or defeat, are not required to report their backers and campaign finances. These are called issue-advocacy groups.

But the check marks next to candidate names on the Teachers for a Better Lawrence postcard crossed the line into outright advocacy, according to members of the Progressive Lawrence Campaign, a political action committee.

http://ljworld.com/section/citynews/story/202546

[ComerPerro]

1. One good thing to find out: Are any of them teachers

I wouldn't be suprised if it was just a bunch of nuts.

[atommom]

2. Honestly, I'd be surprised if any of them ARE teachers!

If they are ... they're still a bunch of nuts...

[Mabus]

3. Update: Teachers for a Better Lawrence is a PAC!

In a unanimous ruling today, the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission ruled that the Teachers for a Better Lawrence postcard qualified as candidate advocacy and the group was acting as a political action committee expressly advocating the election of Mike Amyx, Tom Bracciano and Sue Hack. Because of this ruling Teachers for a Better Lawrence (known locally as TFaBLe) is now subject to the campaign finance act and rules and regulations. Including, but not limited to, all of the financial disclosure that goes along with being a PAC.

This baby is ready to bust open! Let's hope it happens!