Once upon a time, Dorothy wanted nothing more that to be returned to her home and family in Kansas. But that was before Sam Brownback and his sidekick Kris Kobach, aka KoBIATCH made Kansas a Republican Reich. Now Dorothy says, “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore”, and even Toto wants out!
On Thursday, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback signed a bill that threatens the entire state’s judiciary with destruction if it rules against a law he favors. Brownback has spent much of his tenure attempting to curb the state supreme court and consolidate power in the executive branch. Thursday’s startling maneuver suggests the deeply conservative governor has no compunction about simply obliterating separation of powers when another branch of government gets in his way.
The Kansas trouble started in 2014, when the state supreme court ruled that the disparity between school funding in rich and poor districts violated the state constitution. The justices ordered the legislature to fix the problem. Soon after, the legislature passed an administrative law that stripped the supreme court of its authority to appoint local chief judges and set district court budgets. (Instead, district court judges—who are often quite conservative—were allowed to elect their own chief judge.)
Arriving shortly after the school funding ruling, this law was widely seen as a retaliation against the court—and a warning. In their first ruling, the justices stopped short of declaring that the school system as a whole was constitutionally underfunded. But the court acknowledged that it would one day answer that question. And if the justices mandate more school funding, the legislature will have to raise taxes, a step few legislators are eager to take.
The administrative law, then, was likely an effort to scare the court out of issuing a dramatic ruling in favor of greater school funding…
Inserted from <Slate>
Rachel Maddow has this story and discusses the new powers he gave to Kris KoBIATCH with Dave Helling.
Although Toto is just a dawg, I don’t blame him one bit. This cat would want out too!
25 Responses to “Even Toto Wants Out!”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
So appropo given that Baum wrote a political allegory about hidden power in politics.
Baum wrote "The Wizard of Oz." One of my college professors did a senior history seminar on the book.
Cool!
I'm absolutely dumbstruck. Are America, and some of its Red states in particular, and the rest of the world even on the same planet? How far does the power of a governor of a state and his crony legislators go? First they bring a state to the brink of bankruptcy (if Kansas were a company, it would have been declared bankrupt a long time ago and dismantled), then they pass a law that tells their supreme court to goose step to their wishes or get defunded completely, literally sending it home, and now they bring in their own "judge" to persecute some poor sods whose IDs have a typo or who had a haircut since the photo was taken, because that's voter fraud? When did the aliens take over Kansas and where are the troopers to drive them out?
"Very conservative" has just become the worst thing you can call someone, swearing so bad it could get you a jail sentence. But the dirtiest word of all must now be: Kan$a$. Sorry, no longer allowed to type it in full. And their governor will no only be referred to as "the unspeakable", to prevent being stuck by lightening.
A quirk of the bankruptcy laws precludes states from declaring bankruptcy, thankfully–otherwise we'd see pension impacts on public employees in all the states in conservative hands like happened in Stockton, CA (cities can declare bankruptcy).
The dirtiest word is Republican.
If I could join Toto right now, I would! Oklahoma is no different than Kansas on making their own rules!
I agree–however in many areas, OK has savvy people who file quickly in federal court to block the most heinous efforts–moreso than I've seen with KS
Not sure what you mean by "even Toto." I always suspected he was the most level headed character in "The Wizard of Oz." JL, back in his day, hidden power stayed hidden. Now it is out in plain sight and not enough people care. Nancy, I was scared of the movie too, mostly of the poppy field scene. I am not sure which came first, but when I had a tonsillectomy at age 5, when they put me under, the last thing I saw was imaginary poppy fields. Maybe I had seen the flick before that though I don't remember, but the two things combined to make me fearful of going to sleep and not waking up.
Hillary's picking up on the universal registration idea, also mentioned by Rachel, is almost certainly a response to Evenwel v Abbott and the Republicans' plan to gerrymander based on voter registration (and I am sure to make it more difficult to register, as they are already making it more difficult to vote.) I am all for it. As you so often and rightly say, TC, Oregon leads the way.
Brownbackistan and its Fuhrer and its Goebbels are also way too close to Colorado for comfort. I suspect it is too close for comfort for anyone on the same planet.
I agree Joanne that power was less widely known in Baum's day, which preceded the Information Age. Also, that information tends to be distributed faster these days (along with misinformation and disinformation). I would argue though that the evidence of who benefits was evident to most all politicians considering laws and policies and thus priorities and values were readily apparent and "double-speak" would be called out by respected voices like Orwell and Huxley.
Generally I would advise anyone to obey "The First Rule of Holes":
"When you find yourself in one, STOP DIGGING!"
But living right next door to the Kansas Disaster courtesy of Sam "I-Luvs-Me-Some-Trickle-Up-Economy-Tax-Cuts" Brownback, I would gladly hand him a shovel and tell him to keep on digging!
The man is Evil Incarnate! But he's going to help prove the utter fallacy of Repubican "Economics" that was originally taught by St. Ronnie Ray-Gun.
Evil incarnate – Scott Peck would have agreed. Ever read his "People of the Lie"?
I have read his entire trilogy and loved them all.
Does Brownback think he is really a dictator instead of a state governor? I hope his term will end soon for the sake of any sane person left in Kansas. Wow, they are making Kentucky look liberal.
Edie, if I am not mistaken, Brownback was just re-elected in 2014 so Kansas is stuck with him for another 3.5 years unless the populace can grow some balls and recall him, assuming he can be recalled under the Kansas constitution.
That he actually won blew me away. I predicted that one wrong.
Sam Brownback — always one of the liberal comedian’s favorite foils several times in the past. Jon is most likely to go after Brownback once again very soon.
Maximum term limits for Governor in Kansas is two full terms or eight years.
In 2010, Brownback won the election in a very red, red state with 63%.
Results in Kansas, 2014 were very close. The population in Kansas has been less and less with each passing year.
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Brownback/Jeff Colyer (Incumbent)———433,196……….49.82
Democratic Paul Davis/Jill Docking——————————-401,100……….46.13
Libertarian Keen Umbehr/Josh Umbehr————————–35,206…………4.05
Total votes 869,502 100
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas_gubernatorial_election,_2014
The Fuhrer and his Goebbels are very much alive in the State of Kansas.
The cartoon is very appropriate. lol.
The first paragraph should read:
Jon Stewart has gone after Brownback on several occasions during his Comedy Central Shows especially saying that Kansas is America's welfare queen. Jon has gone after Brownback, pillorying the state and Gov. Sam Brownback — always one of the liberal comedian’s favorite foils several times in the past. Jon is most likely to go after Brownback once again very soon.
From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extortion
It would seem that Brownback is guilty of extortion, and of codifying it into a law. It would also seem that Brownback's resulting actions from his temper tantrum would fly in the face of the state's constitution, but I have not read the constitution, the Wyandotte Constitution.
It seems that the people of Kansas should be having a recall assuming a recall is permitted.
I'd love to see it. I bit KoBIATCH would charge everyoue who voted for recall with treason.
TY TC
When will Brownback announce that he wants Kansas to secede from the Union?
"Fruity" Brownback is already working on a flag for his new "Republic":
http://thenewsdoctors.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/aa-American-Empire-banana-republic-flag.bmp
I like the flag, Nameless! Apropos.
Thanks all. May both Brownback and KoBIATCH get a Saguaro suppository.