Kansas
How much has the NRA spent on Missouri and Kansas members of Congress?
![How much has the NRA spent on Missouri and Kansas members of Congress? How much has the NRA spent on Missouri and Kansas members of Congress?](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/be5b3c0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4180x2195%200%200/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=http://npr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com/4e/89/b64102864228a6a1dd8bc964f416/roy-blunt-nra.jpeg)
After a mass taking pictures resulted within the deaths of 19 kids and a pair of academics at a faculty in Uvalde, Texas, the political position and affect of gun-rights lobbying teams just like the Nationwide Rifle Affiliation are as soon as once more coming beneath scrutiny.
Whereas Republican lawmakers printed statements and social media posts addressing the taking pictures, critics have been fast to level out the tight relationships these lawmakers have held with the NRA.
The NRA has contributed lavishly to Senators in each Kansas and Missouri, however particularly to the 2 Republicans from Missouri. Sen. Roy Blunt is the fourth-largest NRA benefactor in Congress, with greater than $4.5 million in assist since 1996, and Sen. Josh Hawley is the twelfth, approaching $1.4 million in contributions in simply 4 years.
However, as College of Kansas political science professor Don Haider-Markel explains, largess isn’t the one factor driving Republicans’ strict adherence to NRA-backed gun insurance policies.
Haider-Markel says that an expansive view of the Second Modification has turn out to be bedrock Republican orthodoxy, and deeply ingrained within the political identities of the social gathering’s most adamant activists.
“This has turn out to be one of many prime three points within the Republican social gathering. And if you wish to be a Republican in Kansas or Missouri or just about anyplace else, you need to toe the road on this difficulty,” mentioned Haider-Markel. “And it’s not simply because the NRA won’t make it easier to out within the subsequent marketing campaign, it’s as a result of it’s what your constituents need.”
And people constituents will be very adamant. In line with the Pew Analysis Heart, greater than half of Republicans and individuals who lean Republican stay in houses with weapons.
Haider-Markel says gun homeowners are extra politically energetic than non-gun homeowners, so their pursuits are extra repeatedly represented amongst elected officers.
“They’re extra more likely to vote, they’re extra more likely to contact public officers, and extra seemingly to participate in politics by way of social media, attending protests and issues like that,” he says. “Since gun possession is a part of their social identification, any assault on that’s basically an assault on themselves.”
Haider-Markel says Republicans who stray from gun rights orthodoxy can count on savage assaults from grassroots teams, so self-discipline in opposing gun rules is imposed from a number of ranges.
Right here’s a breakdown of how Missouri and Kansas senators, plus representatives from the Kansas Metropolis space, reacted to the Texas college taking pictures, and the place they stand with the NRA. KCUR reached out to all members of Congress whose districts embrace the Kansas Metropolis metropolitan space. Kansas Rep. Jake LaTurner and Missouri Reps. Sam Graves and Vicky Hartzler didn’t reply to KCUR with a remark.
Notice: KCUR sourced its data on NRA expenditures from the nonprofit OpenSecrets, which tracked profession totals going again to 1989. The NRA’s assist consists of not simply direct contributions from the NRA political motion committee and its workers, but in addition impartial expenditures supporting or opposing candidates, and spending for or in opposition to a candidate’s opponent.
Missouri
Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Missouri)
Longtime Sen. Roy Blunt, who’s retiring this 12 months, says he’s open to the adoption of purple flag legal guidelines. Such measures preserve weapons out of the palms of individuals deemed a hazard to themselves or others.
“No household ought to ever need to undergo the loss of a kid to a horrific act of violence,” Blunt mentioned. “As we be taught extra in regards to the info on this case, I’m open to taking a look at what we will do, in a bipartisan manner, to forestall one other tragedy like this from occurring.”
Blunt additionally famous his assist of laws to strengthen the Nationwide Immediate Prison Background Test System and enlargement of the Excellence in Psychological Well being Program.
“We have to proceed working to make sure anybody who has a psychological or behavioral well being difficulty can get the remedy they want, once they want it,” Blunt mentioned.
Blunt is likely one of the prime recipients within the Senate of cash from the Nationwide Rifle Affiliation. In line with OpenSecrets, Blunt has accepted $4,555,722 in donations from the NRA since his profession started in 1996.
Blunt says he won’t be attending the NRA’s conference this weekend in Texas.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri)
Missouri’s junior senator, Josh Hawley, known as the lack of life in Texas “heartbreaking,” and provided his prayers.
“As a public official, I imagine the time has come to extend penalties for violent crimes and crimes dedicated with firearms,” Hawley mentioned in an emailed assertion. “We should additionally totally fund our police and native legislation enforcement and provides them the assets they should preserve our children protected.”
A lawsuit filed final 12 months by the gun management group led by former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords alleges the NRA illegally funneled practically one million {dollars} to Hawley’s marketing campaign.
The NRA has contributed $1,391,548 to Hawley since his first race in 2018, in accordance with Open Secrets and techniques.
Hawley says he won’t be attending the NRA conference this weekend.
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas Metropolis)
Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver, a Kansas Metropolis Democrat who grew up in Texas, informed KCUR’s As much as Date on Wednesday that the taking pictures felt private.
Except extra lawmakers stand as much as the NRA, Cleaver mentioned extra mass shootings will happen.
“I believe the folks of this nation ought to only come to the conclusion that when it comes to the politics of our nation, we hate one another greater than we love our kids,” Cleaver mentioned.
Home Democrats handed a invoice that will require background checks on all gun gross sales and transfers, however Cleaver mentioned the invoice will seemingly die within the Senate.
Cleaver, who took his present workplace in 2005, has not acquired any cash from the NRA in accordance with OpenSecrets. Nonetheless, the group has funded some opposition in opposition to him. He won’t be attending the NRA conference.
Kansas
Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas)
Stephan Bisaha
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Kansas Information Service
Sen. Roger Marshall, a Republican, mentioned in an emailed assertion that legislation enforcement in Texas had his full assist as they investigated the assault.
“What occurred in Uvalde is a horrific tragedy, and I condemn all violence,” Marshall mentioned. “I’m personally devastated to listen to of the younger lives misplaced and I’ll mourn for the lack of these treasured lives and mourn with all of the households going by way of this extremely troublesome time.”
A spokesperson for Marshall famous the senator’s assist for the STOP College Violence Act, which invested in class coaching and safety infrastructure. However Marshall mentioned he would really like extra funding to assist “harden extra faculties” in Kansas.
He additionally famous his assist of the Repair NICS invoice, a invoice geared toward strengthening the FBI’s Nationwide Immediate Prison Background Test System.
Since his first Senate marketing campaign in 2016, Marshall has acquired a complete of $184,585 from the NRA. He isn’t going to the NRA Conference.
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas)
U.S. Division of Veterans Affairs
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Sen. Jerry Moran addressed the taking pictures in remarks to FBI Director Christopher Wray throughout a Senate committee listening to, calling it a “mindless act of violence.”
“In a small city, tight-knit neighborhood like Uvalde. That is the dimensions of a city I grew up in. I do know there won’t be a single member of the neighborhood who’s not touched by this tragedy,” Moran mentioned.
Moran mentioned that nobody doubts that violent crime is a rising downside within the nation. He known as on the FBI to find out the motives and warnings behind the Texas assault, and requested for his or her perception on the best methods to forestall and reply to those incidents.
Moran has acquired a complete of $37,218 from the NRA since 1996. He isn’t going to the NRA Conference.
Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kansas Metropolis, Kansas)
Carlos Moreno
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KCUR 89.3
Rep. Sharice Davids mentioned in a press release that she was heartbroken for the households who misplaced a beloved one within the taking pictures.
“Kansans are bored with politicians doing nothing to cease these mindless killings, they usually’re bored with the gun foyer having extra of a say in our nation than they do,” Davids mentioned. “It’s time Washington lastly comes collectively to cease these tragedies. We want frequent sense, bipartisan, and widespread measures like requiring background checks for gun homeowners, and we have to get massive cash out of politics.”
A spokesperson for Davids mentioned she has additionally known as for extra rules on “ghost weapons” — weapons manufactured by a 3D printer or that don’t possess a serial quantity — just like the firearm allegedly used within the March taking pictures at Olathe East Excessive College.
Davids additionally helps a set of voting rights measures generally known as HR. 1 or the “For the Individuals Act,” which a spokesperson mentioned would “take away the affect of darkish cash from politics, together with that of the NRA and gun foyer.”
Davids has not acquired any donations from the NRA; fairly, the group has spent a complete of $21,774 in opposition, by way of impartial expenditures in opposition to Davids and on behalf of her opponent. She won’t be going to the NRA conference.
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Kansas
Kansas State players of the game vs UT-Martin
![Kansas State players of the game vs UT-Martin Kansas State players of the game vs UT-Martin](https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/08/31201911/Tobi-UTM-1-1.jpeg)
Kansas State offensive MVP: DJ Giddens
It was another nice and easy day at the office for Kansas State running back DJ Giddens.
The Junction City running back went over 100 yards for the fifth consecutive game. His five game streak of going over the century mark is tied for fourth in K-State school history. Giddens finished the game with 124 rushing yards and added six receiving yards.
Dylan Edwards provided a nice spark for the Wildcat offense in his first game after transferring from Colorado. Edwards scored multiple times in the contest Saturday night with one on the ground and a receiving touchdown.
In the first home start for Avery Johnson, there were some ups and downs.
However, Johnson still finished with two touchdowns through the air and added some nice runs as well. Jayce Brown was a major bright spot receiving as well with 71 receiving yards. The true sophomore led Kansas State in receiving and had the most receptions with five.
Defensive MVP: Tobi Osunsanmi
For defense there was a few different options for MVP. I really wrestled back and forth between two.
Ultimately, I decided on Tobi Osunsanmi. The Wichita native was a man possessed in his snaps. He showed his elite burst and was able to get to the quarterback at a very high clip. Osunsanmi finished the game with 1.5 sacks (2.5 if he completes one instead of letting the quarterback escape).
He also added another quarterback hit to go along with the sacks.
Desmond Purnell was also flying around the field Saturday evening. He led K-State in tackles with seven and was tied for first in tackles for a loss with 1.5.
K-State special teams MVP: Ty Bowman
Anytime you can create a touchdown on special teams, it is an easy choice for special teams MVP. Ty Bowman blocked his second career punt in the season opener versus UT-Martin. The beneficiary of Bowman blocking the punt was Colby McCalister who returned the ball one yard for a touchdown.
Chris Tennant was also perfect on all of his kicks. Tennant knocked in a 45 and 43-yard field goal and was perfect on all of his extra points.
Kansas
Tulane Football’s Path to Victory Must Exploit Inexperienced Kansas State
![Tulane Football’s Path to Victory Must Exploit Inexperienced Kansas State Tulane Football’s Path to Victory Must Exploit Inexperienced Kansas State](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4096,h_2304,x_0,y_268/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/voltaxMediaLibrary/mmsport/tulane_green_wave_on_si/01j6mvw0vcfqn9xhqdjr.jpg)
The stage is set for Tulane football’s highly anticipated Week 2 matchup against the Kansas State Wildcats as they seek to become contenders on a national stage.
Intriguingly, the Green Wave and the Wildcats have some parallels on offense. Kansas State kicks off the season Saturday against FCS opponent UT-Martin, much like Tulane opened against Southeastern Louisiana.
Sophomore quarterback Avery Johnson will make his first regular season start, much like redshirt freshman Darian Mensah led Tulane to their 52-0 victory Thursday night. Johnson did appear in eight games as a true freshman and started for the team in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, beating North Carolina State.
However, he did so behind an offensive line that looks nothing like the one that will take the field next Saturday at Yulman Stadium. The Wildcats must replace four of five starters, including third-round draft pick Cooper Beebe. Just as Tulane had to find Vincent Murphy to take over for Sincere Haynesworth.
Though the group of returners isn’t exactly inexperienced, they don’t have any time playing together in concert. The lone starter remaining is right guard Hadley Panzer, who likely is starting this season at left guard. Presumed starting left tackle Easton Kilty is making his first FBS start.
It helps that Kansas State’s offensive line coach, Conor Riley, was promoted to coordinator. He has pieces to work with that have credible game snaps. The challenge is whether they can come together as a unit.
While Avery Johnson has more experience than Darian Mensah, Mensah benefits from a much more stable offensive line. Tulane returned both starting guards and right tackle and brought in key transfers to fill the remaining holes. In their season debut, they gave Mensah time in the pocket, but the run blocking left much to be desired.
Tulane brought in transfers on the defensive line to bolster their pass rush. They got to the quarterback twice with two sacks last Thursday, but the Bandit role was a point of concern. Their three-man front is spaced to spread out their top playmakers, Adin Huntington at defensive end and Patrick Jenkins at tackle.
With Huntington to the field and Jenkins to the boundary, it forces defenses to either focus attention on one side of the line or just shut down the best two players. That awards a lot of one-on-one opportunities for the rusher at Bandit. The players who rotated in the first game didn’t make much of a case.
Terrell Allen didn’t make any standout plays, nor did Matthew Fobbs-White, though the latter showed some disruptive abilities off the line of scrimmage. Frankly, Shi’Keem Laister was the most productive in a packaged role. Laister had a hurry and forced Southeastern to throw quickly, leading to incompletions on the drive.
Tulane doesn’t need the Bandit to be the hero, but they need a player to step up and credibly command attention to open up lanes for Huntington, who only recorded one hurry in his debut for the team.
Importantly, the team likely didn’t show their cards on the ways they might get to the quarterback. It might come from the second level. Linebacker Sam Howard had more pressure snaps than Fobbs-White and Allen, and he recorded a hurry and beat his blocker on another.
Could Tulane rely on blitzing and utilizing defensive backs and linebackers as rushers? Not all season. But creativity and confusion might just be enough to rattle the Wildcats as both teams race to figure out what the other is made of with merely one game of film.
The secondary came together as Tulane’s season opener went on, and should be a point of strength, but the best coverage is a pass rush. Especially with an opponent that has similar turnover and areas to exploit. For the Green Wave to pull off a victory on Sept. 7, the key lies in the lane to the quarterback.
Kansas
Lawmakers plan brazen power grab, pushing aside Kansas voters and Gov. Laura Kelly • Kansas Reflector
![Lawmakers plan brazen power grab, pushing aside Kansas voters and Gov. Laura Kelly • Kansas Reflector Lawmakers plan brazen power grab, pushing aside Kansas voters and Gov. Laura Kelly • Kansas Reflector](https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/P6170288.jpg)
Let’s be clear about what Kansas Republican legislative leaders are doing with their planned overhaul of budgeting: They are launching a personal and political power grab against Gov. Laura Kelly.
They have never accepted or respected her mandate. Despite Kelly winning a second term and having two years left to go, they have continually attempted to usurp the executive branch’s authority. They have tried a constitutional amendment and prohibiting her ability to negotiate Medicaid contracts. Now they’re going after her yearly state budget proposal.
Usually, the Legislature begins its yearly budget process with a proposal from the governor. Her office submits it when lawmakers arrive for the annual session, in January. Now an interim committee wants to start the process earlier, as soon as October of the previous year.
In this new process, the governor’s budget would be a suggestion, not a starting point.
And never mind that it’s a direct attack on Kelly. House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, assured the audience that these changes had nothing to do with the governor.
“This process has nothing to do with the governor,” he said at the meeting earlier this month, according to Kansas Reflector reporter Tim Carpenter. “If you’re going to focus on the governor, probably not the wisest thing to do, because this process has happened over time with many, many different governors.”
He was contradicted by Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, who let the proverbial cat out of the figurative bag.
“You’ll have a Republican governor, for example, or somebody you trust, and you trust the administration to build the budgets, and then you kind of rubber stamp stuff,” Masterson said. “And, then, you switch, and you have (the) opposition party and then there’s all that same power.”
Oh. So it’s like that, then.
All of this might seem like so much partisan mud wrestling, except for the fact that the leaders have also decided to do an end run around Kansas voters.
Did you notice that the proposed new process could start as early as October? While details at the hearing were scarce, leaders appeared to suggest that they would start working on budget without knowing whether they would be elected. What happens if all the folks on the budget committee are voted out of office? Who takes the lead then?
Once again, we see Kansas legislative leaders trying to concentrate power. They don’t want the governor to even have the first say in the budgeting process, and they apparently don’t trust the rest of their colleagues. You know, all the people who drive to Topeka in January to actually make laws.
Sen. Carolyn McGinn, a Sedgwick Republican, raised concerns that these changes would also limit the ability of constituents to speak about budget priorities.
McGinn might have decided to retire, but she has a point. Leaders apparently don’t even trust their constituents when it comes to spending.
In there interest of fairness, I should note that the reform committee considered several worthwhile proposals. Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, discussed ending lawmakers’ de facto three-day work week. Yes, they usually take Mondays and Fridays off, at times slowing progress to a crawl. The panel also targeted budget earmarks for favored programs that don’t go through a regular committee process.
In the interest of perspective, however, I’m not falling over myself with gratitude. It’s obvious that legislators should work throughout the week, and it’s obvious they shouldn’t be larding up the budget with unvetted spending.
It’s like going through life without running over someone with your car. I mean, I’m glad that you didn’t, but surely you don’t deserve a plaque.
Lawmakers might still be able to make worthwhile changes to the budgeting process. They could start with increasing transparency, which Carpenter noted wasn’t discussed by members of either party. But until they stop jostling for partisan advantage and making themselves look foolish, don’t expect much.
Clay Wirestone is Kansas Reflector opinion editor. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
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