News - July 2005

Demofest 2005 Date Announced

The fall Demofest 2005 State Committee Meeting and Celebration has been scheduled for Saturday, August 27 in Wichita Kansas.

All events and trainings have been scheduled to take place at the Holiday Inn Select at 549 South Rock Road in Wichita (near Kellogg and Rock Road). A limited number of rooms have been held for the KDP at a special rate until July 26, 2005. For reservations, call 316-686-7171 and ask for the Kansas Democratic Party discount or click here to book a room online using "KDY" as your "Group Booking Code."

We are still working out the details on the schedule of meetings, trainings and speaker for Demofest 2005. Stay tuned to ksdp.org and our weekly email updates for this information as it is developed.

Register Now for Demofest 2005!
Special Guest: Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack

Kansas Democratic Party Chairman Larry Gates and Governor Kathleen Sebelius invite you to attend the 2005 Demofest State Committee Meeting and Celebration with special guest Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack. All events are scheduled for Saturday, August 27 in Wichita Kansas.

Demofest 2005 will be held at the Holiday Inn Select at 549 South Rock Road in Wichita (near Kellogg and Rock Road). A limited number of rooms have been held for the KDP at a special rate until August 1, 2005. For reservations, call 316-686-7131 and ask for the Kansas Democratic Party discount or click here to book a room online using "KDY" as your "Group Booking Code."

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR DEMOFEST 2005 ONLINE

Registration Deadline is August 19!

2005 Demofest Schedule of Events
8:00 am Registration Opens
8:30 am - 9:30 am Caucus Meetings (County Chairs, Disabilities, KFWDC)
8:30 am - 9:30 am Trainings (Precinct Committeeperson, County Party Strategic Planning)
9:30 am - 10:30 am Caucus Meetings (Asian, Kansas Young Democrats, Progressives)
9:30 am - 10:30 am Trainings (Precinct Committeeperson, County Party Strategic Planning)
10:30 am - 11:30 am Caucus Meetings (Hispanic, LGBT, African American)
10:30 am - 11:30 am Trainings (Candidate Basic Training, KDP Voter File Preview)
*11:30 am Box lunch pickup
11:30 am - 12:45 pm Working Lunch (Congressional District Meetings)
12:45 pm - 1:45 pm Caucus Meetings (Labor, Local Elected Officials, Veterans)
12:45 pm - 1:45 pm Trainings (Candidate Basic Training, KDP Voter File Preview)
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm Credentials Open
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm State Committee Meeting
*5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Banquet with Special Guest Governor Tom Vilsack
*7:30 pm - 8:30 pm Kansas Democratic Party Donor Reception

*denotes ticketed event

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR DEMOFEST 2005 ONLINE

Registration Deadline is August 19!

This yearly day of caucus meetings and trainings is open to the public. Tickets will be issued for the box lunch and banquet dinner on a first come, first serve basis. Register online TODAY to reserve your place at this year's banquet featuring Gov. Vilsack!

Demofest 2005 Ticket Prices:
All Day Democrat (Lunch and Dinner) $70 / person
Business Day Democrat (Lunch) $20 / person
Dinner Only $50 / person

Click here for a biography of Iowa Governor and possible 2008 presidential candidate, Tom Vilsack.

Please stay tuned to www.ksdp.org for the most up to date information. We hope you will join us in Wichita for Demofest 2005 on August 27!

DNC Chairman Statement on Rep. Tancredo's
Extremist Remarks

July 19, 2005
CO Congressman Suggests Bombing of Holy Muslim Sites

Washington, DC - Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement regarding U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo's (R-CO) refusal to apologize for comments suggesting that the United States should bomb Muslim holy sites, including Mecca.
"Tancredo's statements go against the very message America is trying to send to the world, that the war against terrorism is not a war on Islam. Remarks threatening the destruction of holy sites akin to the Vatican or Jerusalem do nothing to win the hearts and minds of Muslims in the United States and abroad.
Congressman Tancredo certainly owes Muslims around the globe an immediate apology for his offensive remarks. At the same time, he also owes Americans an apology for projecting a message that goes against our values. With these remarks, Tancredo has been utterly careless with his responsibility for shaping our foreign policy. Tancredo's continued refusal to apologize poses a very real danger to our troops. President Bush should strongly condemn Tancredo's statement."

Can Roberts Abandon Partisan Streak?

July 19, 2005
Statement by DNC Chairman on the Nomination of John Roberts to the Supreme Court

Washington - Faced with a growing scandal surrounding the involvement of Deputy White House chief of Staff Karl Rove and Vice President Cheney's Chief of Staff Lewis Libby in the leaking the identity of a covert CIA operative, President Bush announced his nomination of John Roberts to the Supreme Court late this evening. Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean today issued the following statement on the nomination:
"It is disappointing that when President Bush had the chance to bring the country together, he instead turned to a nominee who may have impressive legal credentials, but also has sharp partisan credentials that cannot be ignored.
"Democrats take very seriously the responsibility to protect the individual rights of all Americans and are committed to ensuring that ideological judicial activists are not appointed to the Supreme Court. The Senate Judiciary Committee will now have the opportunity to see if Judge Roberts can put his partisanship aside, and live up to a Supreme Court Justice's duty to uphold the rights and freedoms of every American and the promise of equal justice for all."

Kansas' Economic S&P Rank Upgraded Under
Leadership of Governor Sebelius

Nationwide Standard & Poor's report upgrades Kansas' Economic Rating and complements state for 'impressive growth' during Governor Sebelius' term of leadership

Reacting to a favorable Standard & Poor’s report on the state’s bond rating, Governor Kathleen Sebelius said today, “This report, coming from a highly respected, neutral source, offers further evidence on the growing strength of the Kansas economy. We have worked very hard to make tough decisions and wise policy choices to help our economy grow and increase our financial strength.”

Standard & Poor’s analyst James Breeding noted that Kansas’ “economic growth and resulting financial gains have been impressive.” Even with increased school costs, Breeding concluded that the state’s financial condition warranted upgrading the S&P outlook to “stable” from “negative” on the state’s AA+ bond rating.

“I am very pleased that S&P has recognized our hard work since 2003,” said Governor Sebelius. “I’m also mindful of the clear emphasis by S&P that we must continue our practice of conservative fiscal management. We simply can’t spend more than we take in, and I look forward to working with the Legislature to meet the challenges of keeping our budget balanced and our economy strong.”

Standard & Poor’s ratings for the fifty states range from A to AAA. Kansas’ current AA+ rating places it within the top third of all states.

Representative Delia Garcia awarded fellowship for Midwestern leadership institute

(Lombard, Ill.) Democratic State Representative Delia Raquel Garcia of Wichita was among 37 select lawmakers chosen today to participate in a training program that annually identifies and assists promising state leaders in the Midwest.

Representative Garcia will meet with fellow lawmakers from Kansas and 10 other Midwestern states and the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan on July 8 -12, in Madison, Wis., for The Council of State Governments’ 11th annual Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development (BILLD).

"I am truly honored to have been selected, and excited to learn more about being a better legislator," said Rep. Delia Garcia.

“In a little more than a decade, BILLD has come to be recognized as one of the premier leadership training programs in the nation,” said Michigan Rep. Jerry O. Kooiman, who serves as co-chair of the institute’s steering committee. “Since 1995, nearly 325 of our region’s lawmakers have graduated from the Bowhay Institute, and many of them now hold key leadership positions in their states.”

State legislators from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin were chosen to participate during the competitive, nonpartisan selection process. Members of the Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan legislative assemblies are selected by their caucuses to take part in the program.

A program of The Council of State Governments’ Midwestern Office, BILLD is held at the University of Wisconsin’s Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs. Courses and seminars are conducted by La Follette faculty, Midwestern legislative leaders and professional development experts. In addition to courses designed to develop leadership skills, the program analyzes a variety of public policy issues, including K-12 education funding, Medicaid and the regional economy.

The program is funded through grants from foundation and corporate sponsors and an in-kind contribution provided by The Council of State Governments’ Midwestern Office. The Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development is named in honor of the late James Bowhay, longtime director of The Council of State Governments’ Midwestern Office. Founded in 1933, The Council of State Governments has national headquarters in Lexington, Ky., and regional offices in Atlanta, Chicago (Lombard, Ill.), New York City and Sacramento.

The goal of the national, nonpartisan organization is to assist and advance state government by providing research assistance, professional development opportunities, interstate consulting services and suggested state legislation.

VICTORY FOR KANSAS KIDS:
Kansas Legislature passes bipartisan coalition bill for Kansas schools

(Topeka, KS) The Special Session of Kansas Legislature adjourned Wednesday night successfully passing a plan for Kansas Schools. This is a victory for Kansas schoolchildren. Working together with the Governor, House and Senate Democrats worked with Senate Republicans and moderate Republicans in the House on a solution that benefits every child in Kansas.

Please consider taking a moment to write a letter to the editor congratulating your Democratic Legislators on working to pass a plan for Kansas schools. Click here for contact information for your local newspapers.

• Together, we passed a plan giving $130 million to schools, providing $30 million in property tax relief, and increasing school accountability.

• Some in the House threw up roadblocks, but this bipartisan coalition never wavered in its commitment to giving the children of Kansas a great education.

• As a result, we have strengthened our schools, increased accountability for the use of taxpayer dollars, and provided property tax relief.

• For all the talk about courts and the constitution, this session was about one thing: providing Kansas kids with a great education.

• Good schools equal good jobs and a growing economy, and our entire state will benefit from this victory.

The following statement is from Governor Kathleen Sebelius:

“Today, the Kansas Legislature came together to do the right thing for our schools and our children.

“Over the past few weeks, I have worked closely with a group of responsible Republican and Democratic legislators to meet the challenge of providing a first-class education to every Kansas child.

“I appreciate their productive approach to the special session and their willingness to fight for the best interests of Kansas schoolchildren.

“There is more to do to secure a strong future for our schools and our kids, but this plan is a big step toward ensuring our children go to the best schools possible.

“The new money in this school funding plan will go straight into classroom learning, where education dollars belong. And that’s good news for Kansas taxpayers and Kansas parents.

“In the spirit of our cooperative efforts over the past week, I look forward to finding ways to protect our growing Kansas economy and maintain the sound financial management of the past three years.”

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Past News

June 2005