The Slate is Set!!
Post-filing Deadline Update
The
deadline for candidates to file for office has passed and the
slat for the 2006 Kansas Primary is now set. I am very please
to announce that the Sedgwick County Democratic Party has recruited
a Democrat to run for all three county commission seats that are
up for election this year. Additionally, we have a Democratic
candidate for 21 of the 22 State House seats from this county.
Statewide, we have a full and complete slate.
Four of our incumbents will face no opposition in the general
election this year. Rep. Oletha-Faust Goudeau, Rep. Melody Miller,
Rep. Geraldine Flaharty, and Rep. Delia Garcia have no Republican
opponent. Our two incumbent judged, Judge Joe Kisner and Judge
Greg Waller, are also unopposed.
Before we get to November, Democrats have some decisions to make
in important primaries this August 1. Two Democrats, Sen. David
Haley and author and attorney Robert Beattie have filed for Secretary
of State. Four Democrats are now running for the nomination to
face off with Todd Tiahrt in the 4th Congressional District race.
The candidates in the race are Ronald Voth, Garth McGinn, Patrick
Quaney, and Marty Mork. A fifth candidate, Tim Erickson, dropped
out of the race earlier this week. Locally, we have three Democrats
running for the 4th District County Commission seat: Inga Taylor,
Dee Stuart, and Michael Kinard. The race for 5th District County
Commission features former Democratic legislator Gwen Welshimer
and a second candidate, Sean Morley. Rep. Delia Garcia also faces
a primary challenge in the 103rd State House District.
For a complete list of candidates statewide
click here.
Kansas
Democratic Party welcomes new leaders
Nine
former Republicans join slate of Democratic candidates working
to bring Kansas together
TOPEKA — As the Kansas Republican Party continues to divide
the state with the same old partisan bickering, Governor Kathleen
Sebelius and Kansas Democrats are bringing Kansans together to
move our state forward. As of the filing deadline today, nine
former Republicans have joined the Democratic Party and committed
themselves to putting progress ahead of partisanship.
These former Republicans join a large field of Democrats running
this year, including a full slate of candidates for statewide
office, State Board of Education and Congress. In 2004, Kansas
Democrats contested 39 Republican-held legislative seats. This
year, the Kansas Democratic Party has candidates running in 100
seats, including 58 seats currently held by Republicans
“Our party is growing through the leadership of Governor
Sebelius and other Democrats who are changing the direction of
our state,” KDP Chairman Larry Gates said. “We welcome
these new leaders, as well as all Kansans who are committed to
putting the best interests of our state first.”
Former Republicans who have recently
joined the Democratic Party and are seeking office:
1) Mark Parkinson, former Kansas Republican Party Chairman and
Republican legislator, who is running for Lt. Governor;
2) Paul Morrison, current Johnson County District Attorney, running
for Attorney General;
3) Steve Lukert, seeking re-election in the 62nd House District;
4) Cindy Neighbor, former Republican legislator running to again
represent the 18th House District;
5) Duane Mathes, current Edwards County Commissioner, running
in the 117th House District;
6) Judy Leyerzapf, current Abilene City Commissioner, running
in the 68th House District;
7) Kent Goyen, running in the 114th House District; and
8) Walt Chappell, running in the 91st House District.
9) Brenton Weeks, running in the 29th House District
HALEY TO RUN FOR
KANSAS SECRETARY OF STATE
Candidate Calls
For Positive Change and New Energy to Protect Voting Rights,
Level the Playing Field for Small Business, Save Taxpayers Money
(KANSAS CITY) — State Senator David Haley
today announced that he will run for Kansas Secretary of State,
saying
that voters, businesses, and taxpayers are searching for new leadership
and a new direction in how the statewide office operates.
“We can do a better job of protecting the
right to vote and have that vote count,” Haley said. “We
can do a better job of providing small business with accurate
information to expand, and a better job of promoting open government
and holding elected officials accountable for following our campaign
finance laws.”
“We can do it all — if we realize that
our job isn’t just to govern but to inspire,” Haley
said.
Haley's record of public service embodies that
unique Kansas tradition of reaching across party lines to provide
forward-looking leadership rooted in the common-sense values of
the past.
A fiscal conservative, Haley champions measures
to curb waste and abuse in state government to save taxpayers
money and guarantee continued support for public schools, criminal
justice, and access to health care. He has sponsored a range of
important reforms, from campaign finance and reporting to prohibiting
unfair seizures of private property.
Haley was elected to the State Senate in 2000 and
earned a reputation as an effective steward of tax dollars. He
serves as ranking member of the Senate Public Health and Welfare
Committee; and on the Senate Judiciary; State Tribal Relations;
and the Corrections and Juvenile Justice committees, as well.
Haley previously served in the state House of Representatives,
where he was a member of the House Judiciary, Health and Human
Services, and Governmental Organizations and Elections committees.
Public service is second nature to Haley’s
family. His father, a former state senator, served five U.S. presidents,
culminating as Ambassador to the Gambia, the West African nation
from which their family's forefather, Kunte Kinteh, was brought
to the New World as a slave — a story chronicled in the
bestseller "ROOTS" by David's uncle, Alex Haley.
A native of Kansas City, David has four children
and lives in Wyandotte County, where he is active in community
projects and his church.
Robert
Beattie files for Secretary of State
Wichita Attorney, BTK Author, and university
lecturer files to restore professionalism and leadership to the
office of 
Secretary
of State
TOPEKA, KS – Declaring that "Kansas needs an independent,
professional secretary of state focused on protecting the voting
process" Wichita BTK author and attorney Bob Beattie today
filed for the Democratic nomination for secretary of state. Beattie,
50, said he plans to increase voter registration and turnout by
modernizing the state's chief election office.
"My priority as secretary of state will be to guarantee
all Kansas voters have access to the ballot and to guarantee a
reliable election," Beattie said.
Beattie decided to run for secretary of state because he believes
the people of Kansas deserve a trusted professional who will return
the office to independent, responsible leadership. Recently, election
officials in Sedgwick County reduced the number of polling places
from 292 in 2004 to 62 for the 2006 elections.
"I am deeply concerned with the recent developments in my
home county and other communities around the state that threaten
the votes of thousands of Kansas," Beattie said. "We
have the technology and ingenuity in Kansas to ensure that all
Kansans are included in this process."
Beattie, who is the author of recently published book Nightmare
in Wichita: The Hunt for the BTK Strangler is a Wichita attorney
who has practiced law in state and federal district and appellate
courts and administrative agencies. Beattie worked as a Kansas
Certified Emergency Medical Technician for 17 years, working as
a Firefighter nine of those years.
Many in the Wichita community have already expressed their support
for Beattie's campaign to Robert and his wife, Mary Ann. Beattie
said he will begin assembling his campaign organization in the
coming weeks.
"I believe the people of Kansas deserve an independent,
professional Secretary of State who is focused on protecting the
voting process for all Kansans, and I intend to actively protect
that process," Beattie said.
Democrats
Rollout Second Round of Legislative Challengers
The Sedgwick County Democratic Party has rolled out its second
set of challengers for the State House of Representatives. Four
candidates announced their intentions to take on incumbent Republican
legislators at a joint press conference on Tuesday, May 30. Speaking
to a crowded back room full of press and supporters, each candidate
laid out their platform and shared their vision for a stronger
Kansas.
“We are very pleased that more candidates have come forward
to run for the state legislature. This is a year full of promise
for Democrats, especially in Kansas,” said Jason Dilts,
Executive Director of the Sedgwick County Democratic Party. “We
need legislators who will work to secure a future for all Kansas
families and seek common sense solutions to the problems of everyday
Kansans. The Republican majority has not been willing to work
for substantive progress on adequately funding education, providing
affordable health care, and creating quality jobs. “We plan
to field a complete slate of candidates, whether incumbents or
challengers, who will go to Topeka to find solutions to our state’s
problems,” stated Sedgwick County Democratic Party Chair
Kelly W. Johnston.
Leaders of the local party expect there to be one more join
press conference for legislative challengers before the June 12
filing deadline.
For information about each candidate, click on the links below:
H.W.
(Bill) Collier, M.D, State House District 90
Walt
Chappell, State House District 91
Ruth
Sale, State House District 97
Jane
Byrnes, State House District 105
GWEN WELSHIMER
IS BACK!!
Former Legislator Announces run for
Sedgwick County Commission
On Wednesday, May 17, Gwen Welshimer
announced her candidacy for the 5th District County Commission
Seat. The text of her announcement speech is below:
I am Gwen Welshimer, former six-term Kansas legislator, announcing
my candidacy for the 5th District Seat on the 
Sedgwick
County Commission. I have filed at the county election office
and am challenging the incumbent commission chairman, Ben Sciortino,
in this race.
Sedgwick County has been sweeping up windfall property tax collections
from increasing property values. But the money is not showing
up in public health, homeland security, the Coliseum, jail expansions,
or Cow Town. So, “where’s the money, Ben?“ I
played a major legislative role in the school finance formula
that reduced property taxes in Wichita by 27% in 1992. Since then,
my property taxes have almost doubled. I want to know where the
money is!
Why have salaries for Sedgwick County commissioners increased
46% since 1991? I believe term limits for Sedgwick County commissioners
are long overdue and, like the Wichita City Council, commissioners
should be limited to two 4-year terms. The Sedgwick County commissioners’
“Who’s Who List” of campaign contributors should
be published online just like other candidates. The public should
know who’s doing business with the County.
I will not cave in to legislators who want to stop Sedgwick County
from voting…I believe a destination casino issue in Sedgwick
County must be decided by the voters.
I’ll bring a brighter future to Sedgwick County. I’ll
work behind the scenes and in public to establish true spending
priorities, offer alternatives to never-ending jail expansions
and stop never-ending property tax increases. I want an investigation
into the County’s building permits and subsequent compliance
with our environmental laws.
I believe I am the best candidate in this race. I have a more
appropriate background and better experience in Sedgwick County
government issues. I’ll use my background, knowledge and
experience to bring a brighter future to Sedgwick County.
THREE DEMOCRATS
ANNOUNCED FOR
COUNTY COMMISSION DIST.4
Three Democrats have announced their intentions to file for the
4th District Sedgwick County Commission seat, which
includes Maize, Park City and Valley Center as well as parts of
north Wichita. Inga Taylor, Dee Stuart, and Michael Kinard will
all be vying for their party’s nomination in the August
1st Primary.
Inga Taylor has been a case manager, the Director of Day Services
of the New Hope Services of Valley Center, and currently works
in the clinic at the county jail. She was also a candidate for
Wichita
City Council in 2005. Dee Stuart is the Mayor of Park City and
has been an outspoken advocate for giving citizens the right to
vote on a casino in Sedgwick County. Michael Kinard is a former
Wichita School Board member and was also the Democratic Party’s
2004 nominee for the 4th Congressional seat. He currently has
his own photography business.
The winner will advance to the November 7 General Election and
race the Republican nominee. The seat is currently held by Lucy
Burtnett, who was elected by Republican Precinct Committee members
in 2004 to replace
Carolyn McGinn after her election to the State Senate.
There will be a primary in both parties for this seat, as Burtnett
faces a challenge from Valley Center Police Chief Kelly Parks.
“The Sedgwick County Democratic Party is pleased to have
three quality candidates running for this office,” said
Executive Director Jason Dilts. “This race will give Democrats
a solid reason to show up at the polls and vote on in the August
1 Primary. We encourage Democratic voters to look at these candidates
and choose their favorite one. Regardless of who wins in August,
the party will unite around the nominee.” Dilts also wishes
to remind unaffiliated voters that they can vote in the Democratic
Primary.
Legislature
passes school plan to benefit Kansas children, families and businesses
The following is a letter from Governor Kathleen Sebelius:
The Kansas Legislature finally passed, and I will sign, a three-year,
$466 million plan to strengthen Kansas schools.
Since early January, when I brought the leaders of the Legislature
together to find a way to forge a solution, I have remained optimistic.
This has been a long, hard fight with many ups and downs, but
I am gratified that the Legislature has done the right thing.
This action is vital. Our economy depends on strong public schools
to keep and attract new businesses and maintain a well-trained
workforce. Parents, rightly, have high expectations that our schools
serve their children well and prepare them for a life in a competitive
21st century.
This plan brings school funding closer to what every independent
study has shown is necessary to continue providing our children
with a quality education.
The plan strengthens public schools in rural and urban districts
alike, preserves and enhances local control, provides new resources
for at-risk students, especially in our most challenged districts,
and increases our commitment to each and every child in Kansas.
This is a big commitment and a bigger responsibility. For the
first time, we have abandoned the thumb-in-the-dike, one-year
solution to funding schools and given our local districts the
opportunity to make long range plans.
I am determined that this new money not be wasted. Last year,
I ordered a widespread audit of our public schools. Its findings
pointed the way to efficiencies and effective practices to make
our schools better. In the year ahead, I will be watching carefully
that these new dollars go to where they were intended: to make
our children’s education better.
Thank you for your support of Kansas school children. The calls,
letters, and emails to legislators from concerned citizens like
you helped turn the tide and ensured the Legislature made a commitment
to first class schools throughout Kansas.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Sebelius
Chairman
Howard Dean Responds to Bush's PR Campaign on Immigration
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the
following statement on the President's address on immigration
tonight:
"After more than five years of sitting on the sidelines
it's noteworthy that tonight the President finally joined the
call from Democrats for comprehensive immigration reform. Unfortunately,
at a time when we needed real leadership, we once again heard
a political PR campaign filled with an unrealistic short-term
fix, rather than a detailed long term solution.
"Once again the President tried to hide the truth about
his guest worker program, which would force immigrants into indentured
servitude and fail to protect U.S. workers and their wages. For
what little substance the President did offer, he left out critical
answers on practicality and cost, at a time when our national
debt and budget deficits are at record highs and our national
guard is stretched thin.
"What's worse, the President failed to denounce the House
Republicans' plan to criminalize immigrants, families, doctors,
and even clergy, leaving many to question whether or not he will
stand up to the extremists in his party.
"The President's lack of leadership and tonight's band-aid
approach to border security was more of the same. The American
people are looking for substance not sound bites. Democrats have
been consistent and will continue to fight for comprehensive immigration
reform that is both tough and smart. That means reform that strengthens
our borders. It means reform that protects U.S. workers and their
wages, reunites families, and allows hard working immigrants who
pay taxes and obey the law the opportunity to apply for the responsibilities
of citizenship."
Spies Like Us:
New Revelations About Bush's Secret Domestic NSA Programs
According to reports in USA Today, the National Security Agency
has assembled the largest database "ever 
assembled
in the world" to secretly collect the phone records of "tens
of millions of Americans," "across town or across the
country - to family members, co-workers, business contacts, and
others." The program "reaches into homes and businesses
across the nation by amassing information about the calls of ordinary
Americans - most of whom aren't suspected of any crime."
[USA Today, 5/11/06]
It is now clear that the NSA's domestic spying, intelligence
gathering and data mining operations are "far more expansive
than what the White House has acknowledged." This news follows
the revelations by the White House that it authorized wiretapping
of Americans' international calls. The Bush Administration justified
the previously disclosed eavesdropping by arguing that "one
end of the communication" was "outside the United States,"
and that "domestic call records. . . were believed to be
private." [USA Today, 5/11/06]
"This is another example of the Bush Administration misleading
the American people," said Democratic National Committee
Press Secretary Stacie Paxton. "We were told that the NSA
was only focused on international calls, and that is clearly not
the case. The American people deserve to know why the Bush White
House is monitoring the calls of tens of millions of Americans.
Democrats understand that we can be tough on our enemies and be
honest with ordinary American people."
New document from DNC Research Below:
DOMESTIC SPYING PROGRAM COLLECTS INFORMATION ON LAW-ABIDING
AMERICANS
USA Today: NSA "Reaches into Homes And Businesses
Across The Nation" to Get Information about Phone Calls of
Law Abiding Americans. According to an article in USA Today, "The
NSA program reaches into homes and businesses across the nation
by amassing information about the calls of ordinary Americans
"most of whom aren't suspected of any crime." [USA Today,
5/11/06]
Source: Largest Database "Ever Assembled in The
World", Goal "to Create A Database of Every Call Ever
Made" within U.S. Border. "It is the largest
database ever assembled in the world," said an unnamed source.
The agency's goal was "to create a database of every call
ever made" within the nation's borders. [USA Today, 5/11/06]
Government Had Detailed Records of Calls of Tens of
Millions of Americans. According to USA Today, using
data provided by AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth, the National
Security Agency had detailed records of calls made by tens of
millions of Americans- "across town or across the country-
to family members, co-workers, business contacts and others."
[USA Today, 5/11/06]
THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION MISLED AMERICA ON DOMESTIC SPYING
THE PRESIDENT WAS UNTRUTHFUL...
President Bush: "The Program Applies Only to International
Communications." In January of 2006, President Bush
addressed the National Security Agency. "In the weeks following
September the 11th, I authorized a terrorist surveillance program
to detect and intercept al Qaeda communications involving someone
here in the United States. This is a targeted program to intercept
communications in which intelligence professionals have reason
to believe that at least one person is a member or agent of al
Qaeda or a related terrorist organization. The program applies
only to international communications. In other words, one end
of the communication must be outside the United States."
[US Fed News, 1/25/06]
...SO WAS HIS VICE PRESIDENT
Vice President Cheney: Program Dealt with International
Al Qaeda Calls. Vice President Cheney said the surveillance
program addressed a concern of the 9/11 Commission that the government
had difficulty linking the activities of domestic and international
terrorists. "It's hard to think of any category of information
that could be more important to the safety of the United States
than international communication, one end of which we have reason
to believe is related to al-Qaida," Cheney said. "The
enemy that struck on 9/11 is weakened, fractured, but still lethal
and still determined to hit us again. Either we are serious about
fighting this war on terror or we are not." [Associated Press,
1/20/06]
...AND HIS ATTORNEY
GENERAL
Attorney General Gonzales Said In Senate
Hearing That International Calls Only Were Allowed To Be Intercepted
and That NSA Minimized "Unnecessary Collection" Of Information
Of Americans. Gonzales said, "While the president
approved this program to respond to the new threats against us,
he also imposed several important safeguards to protect the privacy
and civil liberties of all Americans. First, only international
communications are authorized for interception under this program
-- that is communications between a foreign country and this country."
Gonzales went on to say that "to protect the privacy of Americans
still further, the NSA employs safeguards to minimize the unnecessary
collection and dissemination of information about U.S. persons."
[Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, 2/6/06]
• Gonzales Said It Was Incorrect To Call
The NSA Spying Domestic Surveillance. In testimony before the
senate, Gonzales said of the NSA spying program, "I think
people who call this a domestic surveillance program are doing
a disservice to the American people. It would be like flying
from Texas to Poland and saying that's a domestic flight. We
know that's not true. That would be an international flight.
And what we're talking about are international communications."
[Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, 2/6/06]
...AND HIS SECRETARY OF STATE
Secretary of State Rice: President "Authorized
The National Security Agency to Collect Information on A Limited
Number of People with Ties to Al Qaeda." In an interview
with CNN"s Wolf Blitzer, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
defended President Bush's authorization of the NSA surveillance
program. "The president has -- first of all, let's talk about
what he authorized," Rice said. "He authorized the National
Security Agency to collect information on a limited number of
people with ties to Al Qaeda in order to be able to close the
gap, the seam, between the domestic territory of the United States
and foreign territory." [CNN, The Situation Room, 12/26/05]
...AND HIS BRAIN
Bush's Top Advisor Karl Rove: Profoundly
Wrong to Disagree with Eavesdropping on International Calls.
Karl Rove said Democrats' views of Bush's program that allowed
the National Security Agency to eavesdrop without court warrants
on Americans whose international calls and e-mails it believed
might be linked to al-Qaeda "doesn't make them unpatriotic
but it does make them wrong, consistently, profoundly and equally
wrong." "America is at war," Rove said. "We
face a ruthless enemy and we need and we have a commander in chief
and a Congress who understands the nature and the threat. . .To
retreat before a victory is won would be a reckless act and this
president will not allow it." [Associated Press, 2/24/06]
...AND HIS MOUTH
Former White House Press Secretary Scott
McClellan: Program "Very Limited in Nature. . . It's about
Looking at Calls That Involve Someone Overseas That Is An Al Qaeda
Member or Affiliated with Al Qaeda." During a press
briefing, Scott McClellan talked about the "limited"
nature of the NSA program and how it only was used to look at
calls involving al Qaeda. "As he (President Bush) indicated
in his press conference, he did that in the weeks after the attacks
of September 11th. It's an important tool that has helped us to
prevent attacks here on the homeland. And that's why it's so important.
But it's also one that is fully within our Constitution and our
laws, and it's very limited in nature. And let me just point out,
because some articles try to say this is about domestic surveillance
- this is about detecting and preventing attacks. It's about looking
at calls that involve someone overseas that is an al Qaeda member
or affiliated with al Qaeda in some way. So it's important to
make that very clear. This is about involving communications with
known al Qaeda members or related terrorist organizations."
[US Fed News, 1/4/06]
...AND HIS NEW HEAD
OF THE CIA, WHO GOT THE WHOLE THING ROLLING
General Hayden Oversaw Creation of Domestic
Surveillance Program. Hayden oversaw the creation and
implementation of the Administration's domestic surveillance program
at the National Security Agency. [International Herald Tribune,
5/9/06; Financial Times, 5/8/06]
Hayden Defended "Aggressive" NSA
Spying Claiming It Only Dealt With International Calls And Did
Not Collect "Reams Of Intelligence." In defense
of the NSA domestic surveillance program, General Hayden said,
"There's always a balancing between security and liberty.
We understand that this is a more -- I'll use the word 'aggressive'
program than would be traditionally available under FISA. It is
also less intrusive. It deals only with international calls. It
is generally for far shorter periods of time. And it is not designed
to collect reams of intelligence, but to detect and warn and prevent
about attacks. And, therefore, that's where we've decided to draw
that balance between security and liberty." Hayden continued,
saying "the authorization given to NSA by the President requires
that one end of these communications has to be outside the United
States. I can assure you, by the physics of the intercept, by
how we actually conduct our activities, that one end of these
communications are always outside the United States of America."
[White House Briefing, 12/19/05]
Republicans
Ignore Sky High Gas Prices While Big Oil Rakes in Record Profits
On a day when Shell Oil Company announced profits
of more than $6 billion, Americans continue to be gouged at the
pump while Republican leaders in Washington offer no solutions,
only tax breaks for their industry friends.
"Today another oil company joined the
growing list of big energy firms raking in record profits on the
backs of American consumers. It looks like the Bush-Cheney Administration's
experience in the oilfields has really paid off for big oil,"
said Democratic National Committee Press Secretary Stacie Paxton.
"Time and again, Republicans in Washington have had an opportunity
to offer a real energy policy to the American people but instead
have chosen to side with their friends in the industry. The American
people want change, not more of the same failed Bush policies
that have led to gas prices reaching an average of $3 a gallon
and done nothing to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Democrats
remain committed to stopping price gouging and enacting a comprehensive
energy policy that makes America energy independent by 2020. Together,
America can do better."
See below for a new
document from DNC Research:
Gas Prices Rise to Record Levels
Since Bush's 2nd Inauguration, Gas Prices
Have Risen By $1.08, a 59 Percent Increase. According
the Energy Information Administration, the price of regular, unleaded,
gasoline has risen by $1.08, or 58.7 percent, since Bush's 2nd
inauguration. On January 17, 2005, just before Bush's second inauguration
the average price of gasoline was $1.84 a gallon. As of May 4,
2006, the average price of gasoline is $2.92 a gallon. [Energy
Information Administration]
Since Bush's 1st Inauguration, Gas Prices
Have Risen by $1.46, a 100 Percent Increase. According
to the Energy Information Administration, the price of regular,
unleaded, gasoline has risen by $1.46, or 100 percent, since Bush’s
1st inauguration. On January 15, 2001 just before Bush's first
inauguration the average price of gasoline was $1.46 a gallon.
As of May 4, 2006, the average price of gasoline is $2.92 a gallon.
[Energy Information Administration]
While Oil Companies Make Record Profits.
. . Higher Gas Prices Are Used to Line Pockets of Big Oil Companies:
Shell's 1st Quarter
Profits Rose 12 Percent. Shell reported a 3 percent
increase in net income from a year earlier to $6.89 billion, or
$1.05 a share. Shell's profit excluding changes in inventory values
rose 12 percent to $6.09 billion. [CNN, 5/4/06]
Exxon Mobil's 1st
Quarter Profits Increased 7 Percent. Exxon Mobil,
the world's largest publicly traded oil company, reported a 7
percent gain in its first quarter earnings. Net income rose to
$8.4 billion in the first quarter, compared with $7.86 billion
in the year-earlier period. It was the highest first quarter gain
for the company. Sales climbed 9 percent to $89 billion. [New
York Times, 4/27/05]
ConocoPhillips 1st
Quarter Profits Surged 13 Percent. ConocoPhillips,
the nation's third-largest oil and gas producer, said that its
first quarter profits rose 13 percent as stronger exploration
and production results yielded the best first-quarter earnings
since Phillips Petroleum Co. and Conoco Inc. combined in 2002.
Net income jumped to $3.29 billion, or $2.34 a share for the January-March
period, from $2.91 billion, or $2.05 a share, in the year-earlier
period. Revenue at ConocoPhillips grew to $47.9 billion in the
first quarter from $38.9 billion last year. [AP, 4/27/06]
Chevron 1st Quarter
Profits Surged 40 Percent. Chevron Corp.'s first-quarter
profit soared 49 percent to $4 billion. Chevron's net income for
the three months ended in March translated into $1.80 per share,
two cents above the average estimate among analysts polled by
Thomson Financial. It compared to a profit of $2.7 billion, or
$1.28 per share, in the same January-March period last year. Revenue
totaled $54.6 billion, a 31 percent increase from $41.6 billion
last year. [AP, 4/28/06]
Amerada Hess's 1st
Quarter Profits Tripled. Amerada Hess said its
net income in the first quarter surged to $695 million, or $6.62
per share, compared with $219 million, or $2.12 a share, in the
year-earlier period. [Reuters, 4/26/06]
BP's 1st Quarter
Profits Increased 7%. BP's net profit rose 7 percent
to $5.282 billion, beating an average forecast of $5.21 billion.
[Reuters, 4/25/06]
Big Four Oil Companies'
Profits Have Increased Over the Last Year. According
to Bloomberg, "Combined first-quarter net income at the world's
four largest oil companies, including Exxon Mobil Corp. and BP
Plc, was $24.6 billion, a 1 percent increase from a year earlier."
[Bloomberg, 5/4/06]
Past News
April 2006
March
2006
February 2006
January
2006
December
2005
November
2005
October
2005
September
2005
August
2005
July 2005
June
2005
