Kansas Law Requires Campaign Finance Disclosure
By RICHARD PAXSON
BY RICHARD FAXSON
Kenyon Staff Reporter
Editor's note: This is the first in a series of stories about campain finance reform in Kansas.
The Kansas Legislature joined lawmakers in 17 states this year in passing campaign finance and governmental ethics legislation. Local legislators have called for scandals as reasons for the legislature's action.
The conference committee version of Senate Act 658 deals with campaign finance. It provides for full disclosure of all campaign contributions and expenditures in elections for state office by all candidates, political parties and political committees. The law has six major provisions.
—All contributions and expenditures made by or on behalf of a candidate must go through a treasurer appointed by the candidate or his campaign committee.
Candidates, political parties and political committees must file a report of all contributions made by the candidates.
election, 30 days after each primary election, seven days before each general election and on Dec. 3 of each year. Political committees are groups such as the Democratic Action and the John Birch Society.
- No individual, organization or committee may contribute more than $2,500 each election to a candidate for statewide office or $500 to a candidate for local political parties are exempt from these restrictions.
—The amount that may be spent from all sources for the campaign of candidates for governor and lieutenant governor running as a team is limited to $1,000,000; for the state senate, $8,000 for campaigns to the state Senate; $5,000 for campaigns to the state House of Representatives; and $10,000 for campaigns for district judge, district attorney.
—An 11-member Commission on Governmental Elections was created to administer this act, including investigation of complaints. The members are appointed by the governor, the leaders of the state
- Intentional violation of the act is a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum of one year in jail or a $2,500 fee or both. Violation by an intentional subject, subjects him to possible removal from office.
House and Senate and the Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court.
The second piece of legislation, Senate Act 689,
requires all elected state officials, candidates for
government, and faculty members $15,000 a year, excluding faculty members in the state colleges and universities, to file a statement listing all firms in which they have substantial
influence that might have business transactions with
the state.
The law provides that no state officer or candidate "shall solicit economic opportunity or anything of value" from a person or group with special interest in state purchasing contracts.
Any person representing a group that spends more than $100 a year for laboring purposes must be a licensed laborer.
Sen. Arden Booth, R-Lawrence, who was chairman of the interim committee on elections that began work on the campaign finance bill last summer, said last week that the measure wasn't passed in response to excessive contributions or expenditures in the state.
"There was some concern about how much was being spent in the governor's races," he said, "but most people would be surprised at how little is spent."
Booth said he had sensed no widespread public dissatisfaction with the conduct of polities in the
"Most people just wanted spending limitations and disclosure. This bill was passed as a reassurance to the public rather than in response to the demands of a great mass of people." he said.
The indictment of the brother of Gov. Robert Docking in connection with kickbacks in the awarding of state architectural contracts wasn't the reason for a new contract-of-interest legislation, Booth said.
"There was just a general feeling that we needed to assure the public that we were conducting their business correctly. It's the public's right to know," he said.
Rep. Lloyd Buzzi, RLawrence, said that the legislature began studying campaign reform long ago.
"We started years before Watagear," he said. With "this a direct result of the situation with Diana's brother, either. We passed this legislation, but people weProgressive." This wasn't hastily one,"
Buzii said Kansans weren't particularly concerned about campaign reform.
"I didn't get one letter on the subject. None of us got many letters," he said.
Spending limits were set relatively high because a large amount of money is needed to campaign in urban areas such as Wichita, Kansas City and Topeka, Buzz said.
Rep. Mike Glover, D-Lawrence, was less en-see KANSAK Back Page
Forecast: Clear to partly cloudy. High in mid
90s, low in mid 05s.
84th Year. No. 156
The University of Kansas—Lawrence, Kansas
Monday, July 8, 1974
Local ACLU Hopes to Develop Strong Chapter
Five-year-old Mark Maxey, son of Lawrence Maxey, assistant professor of wind and percussion, gets a cool drink and a cool shower while playing in his plastic pool yesterday. Local swimming pools and the resorts have been well-handled with people like Mark who were trying to escape the summer heat.
Kansan Staff Photo by DERRIE GUMP
see Story Back Page
Cooling Off
Supreme Court to Hear Final Tape Arguments
WASHINGTON (AP)—The Supreme Court hires the final chapter today in the long and weighty argument over President Obama's decision to tape demands by the special prosecutor.
Special Prosecutor Leon Jaworski and Nixon's chief attorney, James D. St. Clair, will rise in turn to argue a case affecting the Watergate cover-up trial, the impachment proceedings against Nixon and the future among the three branches of government.
About two hours later, the decision will rest with three conservatives Nixon appointed to the court, Chief Justice Warren E. Burger and Justices Harry A. Blackmun and Lewis F. Powell Jr.; three who consistently form a liberal bloc against Nixon administration positions, Justices William Douglas, Thurgood Marshall and Douglas Moore. Both votes are less predictable, Justices Potter Stewart and Byron R. White.
The ninth justice, Nixon appointee William H. Rehmann, has taken no part in the Watergate tapes case, presumably because he held a policy-making job in the
Kissinger's Talk With Chancellor Called 'Friendly'
MUNICH (AP)—Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger and Chancellor Helmut Schmidt of West Germany agreed yesterday that the European security conference could be completed before the end of the year, a spokesman for Schmidt said.
If the security talks under way in Geneva are successful, a summit conference is likely to follow, added the spokesman, Klaus Boelling.
Boelling told newsmen the consultations between Kissinger and Schmidt, which lasted more than 90 minutes, were "very open and friendly" and covered international issues, including energy, currency and U.S.-European relations.
He said they also talked about the U.S. domestic situation. He said "it would be quite natural" for them to have discussed Waterate.
Kissinger's spokesman, Robert Anderson, gave no details of the secretary's comments.
Nixon Checks Government Estate
He said only that they "achieved a complete unity of views" on U.S.-European relations, East-West relations, the security conference and nuclear weapons.
KEY BISCAYNE (AP)—President Nixon made an announced trip by helicopter yesterday morning to Pelm Beach to look over the plush Mar-A-Lago estate, willed to the government for possible use by presidents or visiting foreign dignitaries.
The estate covers 17 acres and includes a nine-hole golf course.
A White House spokesman explained the secrecy by saying the President "wanted to avoid any disruption."
The property includes citrus groves and tropical plantings and is located between Lake Worth and the Atlantic Ocean in Palm Beach.
Mar-A-Lago was left to the government by cereal fortune heir Mrs Mar, Marjorie de Castellana and Mrs Pia Franco.
The estate was officially turned over to the federal government last Jan. 1.
sonally wanted to visit the property to determine its potential."
room mansion that cost $8 million to build in 1927, but was assessed at only $4.2 million in 1972 because that's all that officials thought anyone would pay for it.
Nixon took along his close friend Bebe kebozo on the 60-mile trip from his Key West
the mansion's use as an official residence only if it would be a temporary home for presidents and heads of state, and if two members of the council sat on a governing board.
A press aide said "the President per-
The Mar-A-Lago estate has a 115-
Czech Wins Baldwin Moto-Cross
The Palm Beach Town Council agreed to
The foremost Moto-Cross riders from all over the United States and Europe race over bumps, jumps and hairpin curves at the International Moto-Cross 250c and the National 125c Inter-AMA Moto-Cross 125c yesterday at Baldwin Moto-Cross Park.
Jaroslav Falta, Czechoslovakia, in the world's foremost M-Cross riders won the International 250cc competition by winning the second in the two 40-minute races (races).
Falla defeated the American favorite, Pierre Karsmakers, from Holland, winner last year's 250c international competitor. He and Pierre Karsmakers rides under American license.
Karmankins finished sixth is this year's competition because he has engine trouble in the race.
The Baldwin Moto-Cross Park has been highly praised by riders from all over the world, and is considered one of the top tracks in the United States.
Falta was first in the 250cc class riding a Czechoslovakian built CZ motorcycle. Kent Howerton, Texas, was second riding a BMW with an engine also from Texas, was third, riding a Macie
The national 125cc competition was won by James Ellis, Connecticut, who was riding a Can-Am motorcycle, Marty Smith, California, finished second on a Honda, and Chuck Bower, also from California and also on a Honda, was third.
Justice Department during Nixon's first term.
Jaworski said the tapes were essential evidence for the cover-up trial of Nixon's closest aides, H. R. Haldeman and John D. Erlhman, and four others.
Today also promises to be a busy Watergate day on at least two other fronts: the plumbers' trial of Ehrlichman and three others to resume, with Ehrlichman expected to take the stand, and the House impeachment panel heads into what Chairman Peter Rodino, D-N.J., hopes will be its last week of inquire.
The committee will hear again today from former Nixon campaign official Frederick LaRue, the man who delivered a speech at Watergate conspirator E. Howard Hunt.
Next in line, possibly tomorrow, will be former White House counsel John Dean. W
One of the most explosive questions in the Supreme Court case is whether the President would obey should the ruling run against him.
St. Clair has said that the President should be freed from judicial orders because he was the embodiment of the coequal executive branch. Another of Nikon's former members as "ide speculation" whether the President would comply with the high court.
Vice President Gerald R. Ford told newsmen in Dallas Saturday, "I think it is assumed any citizen, the President-in-chief, hide by a decision of the Supreme Court."
U. S. District Judge John J. Sirica ordered Nixon to turn over the disputed material for his private inspection to determine what should be given to Jaworski.
After Nixon resisted, the question went straight to the Supreme Court, the first time
the justices have grappled with a Watergate case.
He bases the argument on the doctrine of executive privilege, the theory that a president has the right to withhold records of confidential dealings with his advisers.
The principle must be upheld, Nikon's lawyer says, if future presidents are to benefit from a candid exchange within the White House inner circle.
Jaworski argues that the Watergate tapes dispute must be viewed more narrowly.
"The privilege must give way where, as here, it has been abused.
"The qualified executive privilege for confidential intra-governmental deliberations exists only to protect the functioning of government," the prosecutor wrote.
"The unusual circumstances of this case—where high government officials are under indictment for conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruct justice—at once make it imperative that the trial be conducted on the basis of all relevant evidence, and at the same time, make it more difficult for lawyers to pursue a similar occasion to intrude on the confidentiality of the executive branch," Jaworski said.
Nixon's lawyers seek a Supreme Court rulder approving withholding to withhold
They also have asked the court to declare that the Watergate grand jury had no right to name Nixon as an unindicted co-conspirator in the cover-up.
St. Clair made Jaworski engineered the grand jury decision as a play to strengthen his reputation.
Discipline Would Curb Inflation, Adviser Says
Herbert Stein, chairman of President Nikon's Council of Economic Advisers, said yesterday the American people were at fault for the present inflation, which he predicted would last for years. Speaking on the CBIS television face-off, Stein said that only individual self-discipline, not government control, would allow the rate to be lower, and he would not approve such actions as a tax cut or a reduction in interest rates.
Midterm Canadian Election Results Uncertain
Midterm Canadian Election Results Uncertain
Leaders of both the Liberal and Conservative parties are predicting victory in the midterm Canadian elections today. Prime Minister Ellott Trudeau's liberal party has come out on top of every poll, including the latest Gallup poll that shows a slight increase in support and has been close behind in each poll and traditionally picks up additional support at the last minute. Political analysts say the race could go to either party.
Liberal Democrats Have Early Lead in Japan
Prime Minister Kazuki Kaneka's ruling Liberal Democratic party held an early lead today in elections for the upper house of Parliament. With one-third of the returns counted, 37 Liberal Democrats had been elected, compared to 11 Republicans. The majority of Liberal Democrats were expected to maintain or slightly increase their eight-seat margin, despite Japan's economic problems. Japan's rate of inflation is 24 per cent.
Rioting in Bangkok's Chinese Area Ceases Bangkok's riot-torn Chinese district was quiet after last week's rioting that left 24 persons dead. Commercial activity in the district's narrow streets and always was near normal for a Sunday. The violence, snipping and arson began because of the police's use of a taxi driver for illegal parking. Premier Sanya Thammasak said the rioting was not political but it was caused mainly by Chinese motorcycle gangs.