Kansas City Week in Review - January 25, 2013

Captioning provided by Caption Associates, LLC www.captionassociates.com   .   COMING UP, THE JOHNSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S UNFLINCHING ANNOUNCEMENT ON GUNS STUNS MANY.   SPORTING KC GETS STUNG WITH MORE BAD PR. THE KANSAS CITY MAN WHO GETS   MORE NATIONAL FACE TIME THAN ANYONE ELSE THIS WEEK. AND THE FIELD IS FINALLY SET ON   THE CANDIDATES TO REPLACE JOE REARDON AS MAYOR OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY.   THOSE STORIES AND MORE THIS HALF HOUR. HELLO, EVERYONE.   I'M NICK HAINES. DELIGHTED YOU'VE CHOSEN TO BE WITH US THIS HALF HOUR AS WE   CONNECT THE DOTS ON THE BIG STORIES OF THE WEEK. DISSECTING THOSE HEADLINES, THE   STAR'S CHIEF INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER STEVE KRASKE, WHOSE JOB ALSO KEEPS YOU UP-TO-DATE   WEEKDAYS AT 11 ON KCUR F.M. FREELANCE REPORTER SAM ZEFF JOW NOINING THE KCPT TEAM ON   IN-DEPTH NEWS ASSIGNMENTS, THE KANSAS CITY STAR'S NATIONALLY SYNDICATED COLUMNIST, MARY   SANCHEZ, AND STAR REPORTER COLUMNIST AND BLOGGER DAVE HELLING.   NOW THE JOHN SOG COUNTY SHERIFF STUNNED MANY PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST FEW   DAYS WITH AN UNFLINCHING ANNOUNCEMENT. SHERIFF FRANK DENNING POSTED A   NOTICE ON THE FRONT PAGE OF HIS WEBSITE SAYING HE WILL OPPOSE ANY FEDERAL GUN CONTROL LAWS,   INCLUDING LIMITS ON HIGH CAPACITY MASS SCENES. EVEN IN OUR NATIONAL GRIEF, WE   MUST ADHERE TO REASON WITH LOGIC, HE WRITES. LOGIC DICTATES TO US THAT ARMED   INDIVIDUALS WEATHER ARMED PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS OR HIRED SECURITY PERSONNEL ARE THE   ANSWERS TO PREVENT FUTURE TRAGEDIES IN THOSE PLACES THAT WE HAVE INADVERTENTLY MADE FREE   FIRE ZONES WITH THE TOTALLY USELESS NO GUNS ALLOWED SIGNS. WHAT TRIGGERED THIS ABOUT FOUR   YEARS BEFORE HE FACES REELECTION? WE DON'T KNOW.   IT ISN'T DEPLETELY CLEAR -- COMPLETELY CLEAR WHY HE WOULD TAKE THIS STAND AT THIS TIME   OTHER THAN JOHNSON COUNTY IS A FAIRLY CONSERVATIVE PLACE AND THAT OTHER SHERIFFS AROUND THE   NATION, INCLUDING SOME HERE IN MISSOURI THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT HERE IN A MINUTE, HAVE MADE   SIMILAR STATEMENTS. SO HE MIGHT HAVE FELT TO AS A PERSONAL MATTER.   BUT THE NATIONAL SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION HASN'T TAKEN THIS STAND?   NO, NOT AT ALL. RIGHT AFTER OBAMA'S NEWS CONFERENCE WHERE HE TALKS ABOUT   GOING AFTER EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND ASSAULT WEAPONS   BANS, THEY CAME OUT AND MAYBE TEPID SAID WE CAN   AGREE WITH THIS. WHERE HE'S REAL OUT OF STEP WITH THE CHEESE OF -- CHIEFS OF   POLICE. SO HE'S GENERALLY OUT OF STEP WITH HIS PEERS EXCEPT ON HANDFUL   OF MISSOURI SHERIFFS. HE MUST BE FEELING, THOUGH, SOMEHOW THAT IF HE DIDN'T DO   SOMETHING MORE PUBLICLY THAT SOMEBODY IS GOING TO BE STANDING AGAINST HIM AT THE NEXT   ELECTION, STEVE? THAT'S POSSIBLE. KEEP IN MIND, NICK, WE LIVE HERE   IN THE HEARTLAND, VERY CONSERVATIVE TERRITORY. GUN CONTROL MEASURES BY AND   LARGE, NOT VERY POPULAR. I'VE NOTICED OVER THE YEARS IN COVERING POLITICIANS,   PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO RUN FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT KINDS OF JOBS, THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR AREA   ALMOST CAN'T BE, YOU KNOW, PRO GUN STRONGLY ENOUGH AND ANTICRIME STRONGLY ENOUGH.   YOU'VE GOT TO BE FOR THE DEATH PENALTY IF YOU RUN FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL IN EITHER MISSOURI OR   KANSAS. TAKING THOSE KINDS OF STRONG STANDS ARE WHAT THESE GUYS DO TO   ENSURE THEY GET ELECTED. BUT THIS WASN'T JUST ANY STATEMENTS SAYING, I DON'T THINK   IF WE HAD MADE THESE DECISIONS WITH REGARDS TO   GUN CONTROL THAT THEY WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE   MASSACRE IN SANDY HOOK. THIS IS A COMPLETE STATEMENT SAYING, I WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY OF   THESE PARTICULAR MEASURES. YOU'RE GOING TO START TO HEAR MORE AND MORE OF THIS SORT OF   OUTCRY. I THINK SHERIFFS IS WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR A LOT OF IT.   YOU'RE ONLY STARTING TO HEAR CMN CMN -- CNN   REPORTING SOME OTHER PLACES WITH THE SAME SORT OF   STATEMENT. IT'S VERY, I WANT TO BE THE SHERIFF PILE IN THE MIDWEST   STATEMENT. FINE. LET HIM DO THAT.   WHERE I REALLY DISAGREE IS WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS A SHERIFF PROMOTING THOSE IDEAS   ABOUT THE FALLACIES OF THE GUN-FREE ZONES. THAT JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY   SENSE. GO ASK GABRIELLE GIFFORDS. DOWN THERE IN ARIZONA WHERE   THERE WERE GUNS EVERYWHERE, HE'S CLAIMING THAT   THE REASONS WHY THESE PEOPLE GO TO SCHOOLS AND   THE GUN-FREE ZONES TO DO THESE MASS SHOOTINGS IS BECAUSE THEY'RE GUN-FREE ZONES.   WELL, IT DOESN'T PLAY OUT. THAT'S THE PART OF THIS MESSAGE THAT IS JUST NONSENSE.   THERE WAS A MAN DOWN THERE WITH GABRIELLE GIFFORDS   THAT HAD A GUN AND THAT ALMOST SHOT THE GUY   WHO GOT THE GUN AWAY FROM -- I FORGET HIS NAME   NOW -- LOUGHNER. THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THIS.   IF HE WANTS TO GET UP AND DO THE LITTLE POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE AND GATHER MORE PEOPLE AROUND   BECAUSE HE'S SAYING THE THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO HEAR, FINE, BUT DON'T USE YOUR OFFICE TO   PROMOTE THESE THINGS THAT ARE PURE FANTASY. WHAT IS REALLY INTERESTING ABOUT   THIS, ALSO, THIS IS A SHERIFF THAT HAS BEEN VERY PROGRESSIVE IN OTHER KINDS OF DECISIONS,   INCLUDING THE AREA OF MENTAL HEALTH, SPENDING A LOT OF RESOURCES IN THAT AREA.   ABSOLUTELY. WE TALKED TO HIM FOR THE MEDICAID PIECE THAT WAS ON THE   LOCAL SHOW A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. WE WERE IN THE JAIL. YOU'VE SEEN SOME OF THE VIDEO   HERE, AND HE DOES RUN A VERY PROGRESSIVE JAIL, WHICH IS WHY I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE HIM COME   OUT WITH THIS REALLY FOUR SQUARE PRO-SECOND AMENDMENT ANTIGUN REGULATION SCREED ON HIS   WEBSITE. NOW, YOU KNOW, HIS BROTHER IS A MEMBER, A VERY CONSERVATIVE   MEMBER OF THE KANSAS STATE SENATE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL THE   POLITICS ARE. YOU GUYS PROBABLY UNDERSTAND THAT BETTER THAN I.   BUT I DON'T THINK OF HIM AS BEING THAT CONSERVATIVE   WHERE HE WANTS TO -- HE JUST DOESN'T WANT   TO ENFORCE GUN LAWS. I FOUND THAT VERY SURPRISING. WE SHOULD POINT OUT THAT   JOHNSON COUNTY IS NOT REALLY A HOTBED OF VIOLENT CRIME ACTIVITY.   THERE AREN'T A LOT OF MURDERS, CERTAINLY NOT A LOT OF GUN MURDERS.   SO IT MAY BE THAT THE SHERIFF FELT A LITTLE SAFER IN MAKING A STATEMENT LIKE THIS THAN, SAY,   THE SHERIFF OF JACKSON COUNTY MIGHT WHERE GUN VIOLENCE IS A REALITY ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS,   BUT IT IS NOT -- LET ME JUST SAY, IT IS NOT COMPLETELY OUT OF THE REALM OF THOUGHT FOR LAW   ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS TO ISSUE OPINIONS ON THINGS LIKE THIS. SIX YEARS AGO, I DID A STORY --   KANSAS CITY PASSED AN ORDINANCE ON PANHANDLING TO RESTRICT PANHANDLING AND BEGGING IN THE   STREETS, AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE AT THE TIME, JIM   CORWIN, PUT OUT A STATEMENT THAT HE WOULDN'T   ENFORCE IT BECAUSE HE THOUGHT IT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. SO LAW ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE HAVE   DISCRETION IN A ARENAS LIKE THIS, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT FRANK DENNING WAS EXERCISING.   LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE, BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO MISSOURI SHERIFFS ANNOUNCE   THEY WILL NOT ENFORCE FEDERAL GUN CONTROL LAWS IN THEIR COUNTIES.   THE NEWLY ELECTED REPUBLICAN SHERIFF OF OSAGE COUNTY MICHAEL DIXON SAYS HE WILL REFUSE TO   ENFORCE ANY LAWS AIMED AT BLOCKING THE PURCHASE, POSSESSION AND USE OF FIREARMS.   JOINING HIM IS SHERIFF CHARL EYE HEISS, SAYING TO   DO SO WOULD BE TANTAMOUNT TO AN ALL-OUT SALT ON   THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. CAN THEY DO THAT? OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A   SUPREMACY CLAUSE. FEDERAL LAWS TAKE PRECEDENT OVER STATE LAWS, BUT LAW ENFORCEMENT   OFFICIALS HAVE WIDE DESCRITION DESCRITION -- DISCRETION ACROSS A RANGE OF ISSUES IN TERMS OF   WHAT THEY DO OR DO NOT DO WHEN THEY ENFORCE THE LAWS, AND THIS MAY FALL INTO THAT, AS WELL.   ANY LEADER OF ANY ORGANIZATION CAN SAY MY ORGANIZATION IS GOING TO GO   HERE, NOT GOING TO SPEND MUCH TIME OVER THERE. IT'S THE SAME KIND OF THING   HERE, ABSOLUTELY. LET ME JUST SAY THAT THEY ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND IN   MISSOURI, IF THEY FAIL TO DO THEIR JOB, THEY CAN BE IMPEACHED.   AS I WAS DOING A LITTLE BACKGROUND RESEARCH ON THIS, THERE WAS A SHERIFF BACK IN 1926   WHO REFUSED TO ENFORCE GAMBLING LAWS, AND HE WAS IMPEACHED. NOW, THAT PROCESS IS LONG AND   IT'S DIFFICULT AND WOULD IT HAPPEN? PROBABLY NOT, BUT THEY NOT ONLY   HAVE TO ANSWER TO THE VOTERS, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY HAVE TO UPHOLD THEIR OATH,   WHICH IS TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,   AND IF THEY FAIL TO DO THAT, THEY CAN BEEN IMPEACHED. THEY WON'T BE I IMPEACHED IN   RURAL MISSOURI OR RURAL KANSAS FOR NOT ENFORCING GUN LAWS. DAVE HELLING MENTIONED JIM   CORWIN, THE FORMER POLICE CHIEF IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI NOT ENFORCING A PANHANDLING   ORDINANCE, WHICH WAS DURING THE MARK FUNKHOUSER   ADMINISTRATION, BUT ALSO JIM CORWIN DIDN'T WANT   TO ENFORCE MANY OF THE IMMIGRATION RULES AT THAT TIME EITHER.   IS THIS THE SAME THING? NO, BECAUSE ONE THING, THAT'S PARTLY A BIT OF A   MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT HOW CORWIN OPERATED, AND FORTE HAS FOLLOWED SUIT WITH THE SAME   POLICIES. THEY WORK WITH IMMIGRATION EVERY SINGLE DAY, BUT THEIR OFFICES   ARE NOT GOING OUT AND PICKING PEOPLE UP OFF THE STREET BASED ON, OH, I HEAR YOU SPEAKING   SPANISH OR YOU LOOK A CERTAIN WAY, I THINK YOU   POSSIBLY MIGHT BE AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT, LET ME   SPEED CALL ICE. THEY DON'T DO THAT. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID HE WOULDN'T   DO, WHICH DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE FORCE DOES NOT ALSO WORK WITH IMMIGRATION QUITE JOINTLY.   THEY DO EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO SOME OF THAT WAS JUST A BIT OF A MISS -- MISUNDERSTANDING,   AND AGAIN, IT IS AN ISSUE OF EMPHASIS. THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO BE GOING   AROUND AND PICKING OFF WHO IS AND WHO ISN'T AN IMMIGRANT. IT'S A RIDICULOUS POLICY FOR A   POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND SIMILARLY THEN, COULDN'T THESE SHERIFFS ALSO SAY THAT   ABOUT SOME OF THESE NEW GUN LAWS? THAT'S THE ARGUMENT THEY'LL   THAT, THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO ENFORCE THAT TYPE OF THING. QUICKLY, ONE OF THE THING FOR   VIEWERS TO THINK ABOUT, SHERIFFS ARE ELECTED. THAT'S WHY THEY MAKE THESE   STATEMENTS, NICK. SAM DID A STORY ON THE LOCAL SHOW LAST NIGHT ABOUT ELECTING   JUDGES. IMAGINE IF YOU HAD A JUDGE IN A CAMPAIGN SAYING, IN ESSENCE, I'M   NOT GOING TO ENFORCE GUN LAWS BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.   VIEWERS SHOULD THINK ABOUT HOW POLITICS INTERFACES WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNCTION, NOT JUST   AT THE SHERIFF LEVEL BUT AT THE JUDICIAL LEVEL AS WELL. THAT'S AN INTERESTING IMPORTANT   TOPIC FOR KANSANS TO FACE IN THE MONTHS AHEAD. LAST WEEK SPORTING CK GOT A   PR BLACK EYE AMID QUESTIONS THAT IT FAILED TO LIVE UP TO FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS TO CANCER   CHARITY LIVE STRONG. LIVE STRONG NAME WAS REMOVED FROM THE STADIUM AFTER IT WAS   CLAIMED THE SOCCER CLUB ONLY PAID $200,000 OF THE $1 MILLION THE COMPANY OWED THE CHARITY IN   2012. NOW, THERE ARE ACCUSATIONS THAT THE CLUB HAS NOT DELIVERED ON A   BIG COMMITMENT IT MADE WHEN IT TOOK ADVANTAGE OF MORE THAN $230 MILLION IN STATE AND LOCAL   TAX SUBSIDIES WHEN IT BUILT THE STADIUM IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY. THAT INCLUDES NO INNER CITY   SOCCER FIELDS THE TEAM PLEDGED TO BUILD IN 2010   AND NO 18 FIELD YOUTH SOCCER COMPLEX THAT WAS   SUPPOSED TO BE COMPLETED LAST DECEMBER. SO WHAT'S THE WORD FROM SPORTING   KANSAS CITY ON WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN BUILT? I THINK THEIR ARGUMENT IS   THEY'RE GOING TO TRY, THAT THEY'VE MADE SOME CHANGES. THERE ARE SOME THINGS THEY WANT   TO TALK TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT, THE TEAM WANTS TO TALK TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT IN TERMS OF   IMPLEMENTING THESE COMMITMENTS. BUT THE CLOCK IS   TICKING, AND YOU CAN HEAR PEOPLE IN WYANDOTTE   COUNTY SAYING, WELL, NOW WAIT A MINUTE, WE'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF LATITUDE, BUT YOU'RE   GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO HONOR THESE COMMITMENTS GOING FORWARD.   MARY, LAST WEEK, THERE SEEMED TO BE A LITTLE MORE CONSENSUS AROUND THIS TABLE THAT THERE WAS   A LITTLE MORE OF A BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT TO SPORTING KANSAS CITY BECAUSE OF THE LANCE ORM --   ARMSTRONG DEAL AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING THERE. BUT THERE IS A SECOND INCIDENCE   HERE. IS IT CHANGING IN THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF HOW THEY'RE VIEWING   SPORTING KANSAS CITY NOW? I DON'T THINK IT CHANGES THAT QUICK.   IT STILL HAS A GOOD NAME IN THE COMMUNITY. I THINKS THAT A POTENTIAL BLACK   EYE. MIKE DID A GREAT JOB FOR THE STAR REPORTING THAT STORY.   PEOPLE NEED TO, REPORTERS AND THE PUBLIC, NEED TO KEEP ON SUPPORTING KANSAS CITY.   IF THEY WANT TO KEEP BUILDING THEIR TEAM SPIRIT, THAT STARTS WITH LITTLE BITTY KIDS WHO HAVE   ACCESS TO THINGS LIKE GREAT SPORTING COMPLEXES. I DON'T THINK IT CHANGES THE   CLUB'S IMAGE EITHER, BUT HAVING SAID THAT, THERE IS A SENSE WITH THIS STORY THAT THE SOCCER   FIELDS WERE BEING PUSHED OFF ON THE BACK BURNER AND THE PUBLIC WASN'T THINKING ABOUT IT MUCH   UNTIL THE BRIGHT LIGHT OF PUBLIC SCRUTINY WAS SHINED ON THIS. SPORTING KANSAS CITY NEEDS TO   GET GOING HERE. THEY MISSED THE DEADLINE, AS YOU POINTED OUT.   THEY ARE SAYING THEY'RE LOOKING AT OTHER SITES AND ALL GOOD THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT THEY'VE   MISSED A DEADLINE, NEED TO GET GOING. YOU WONDER HOW FAST THEY WOULD   BE MOVING IF THE STAR HND SHED A LIGHT ON WHAT HAPPENED HERE. THIS WILL BE AN ISSUE THE NEXT   MAYOR OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH NOW THAT JOE REARDON RECENTLY ANNOUNCED   ESTEPING DOWN AFTER YEARS ON THE JOB. THIS WEEK WAS THE FILING   DEADLINE FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO SUCCEED REARDON. IT WILL BE ONE OF THESE FIVE   PEOPLE. UNIFIED GOVERNMENT DIMINISHENER, NATHAN BARNES, MARK HOLLAND, ANN   MURGUIA, BUSINESSMAN AND ACTIVIST CORDELL MEEKS JUNIOR AND JANICE WITT, WHO SOUGHT   OTHER OFFICES IN RECENT YEARS. DO ANY OF THEM HAVE A LEG UP? I THINK THE FIELD AND VOTERS   ARE SIFTING THROUGH ALL OF THIS. THIS HAS ALL COME   UP MUCH MORE QUICKLY THAN ANYONE ANTICIPATED.   THERE WAS A BROAD CONSENSUS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT   MAYOR REARDON WAS GOING TO SEEK REELECTION FOR   FOUR MORE YEARS. SUDDENLY HE'S NOT. I THINK OF THE FIVE, THE TWO   NAMES YOU HEAR THE MOST OFTEN FROM INSIDERS AND SORT OF WHERE THIS RACE MIGHT BE GOING,   REMEMBER, THERE WILL BE A TWO CANDIDATE RUNOFF, GENERAL ELECTION IN APRIL TO ELECT THE   NEW MAYOR. YOU HERE MOSTLY ABOUT ANN MURGUIA AND MARK HOLLAND.   THAT MAY NOT PROVE TO BE THE CASE ONCE THE PRIMARY COMES AND GOES.   THAT'S THE EARLY SOUNDING. IS MAYOR REARDON GOING TO BE ENDORSING ONE OF THESE   CANDIDATES? IS HE FAVORING ONE OF THESE CANDIDATES?   HE HAS NOT SAID ANYTHING PUBLICLY. THE INSIDER BUZZ IS THAT HE'S AN   ALLY OF MARK HOLLAND GOING FORWARD. ACTUALLY THE BUZZ EARLY ON   WAS THAT HE WAITED, JOE REARDON, TO MAKE HIS   ANNOUNCEMENT UNTIL THE VERY END TO TRY AND CLEAR A   PATH FOR MARK HOLLAND SO THERE WOULDN'T BE A FIELD THE SIZE THAT IT WAS, AND THEN THE WORD   GOT OUT AND SO NOW YOU HAVE FIVE PEOPLE IN PRIMARY, WHICH COMPLICATES THE PICTURE A LITTLE   BIT, BECAUSE THE TURNOUT IN A PRIMARY, PARTICULARLY A SPRING PRIMARY, AND THEN WYANDOTTE   COUNTY. SO WHETHER HE'LL ENDORSE MARK HOLLAND OR NOT IS NOT CLEAR.   THERE IS, THOUGH, SOME AN AN -- SOMETHING BETWEEN JOE REARDON AND ANN MURGUIA.   THERE IS INTEREST IN THE COUNTY TO KEEP THE POSITIVE MOMENTUM GOING.   I THINK FOLKS OVER THERE HAVE LIVED THROUGH SO MANY YEARS OF TOUGH TIMES, AND NOW THAT THERE   IS POSITIVE MOMENTUM GOING, PEOPLE WANT TO KEEP THE GOOD VIPE -- VIBE GOING, AND THAT   BEGINS TO SUGGEST THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE   INTEREST IN THIS PRIMARY THAN WE MIGHT TYPICALLY   SEE. I THINK THERE WILL BE. THAT IS ONE REASON WHY IT'S A   SHAME IT HAS COME ABOUT SO FAST. THE PRIMARY IS   GOING TO COME UPON PEOPLE SO QUICKLY, BECAUSE   WHAT THEY REALLY NEED IS THE PUBLIC NEEDS THOSE SORT OF FORUMS, TELEVISED FORUMS WHERE   THEY CAN HEAR EACH CANDIDATES. WE'LL MAKE A COMMITMENT ON THIS PROGRAM TO BRING THEM IN   AND I'M SURE YOU WILL ON ON UP-TO-DATE, AND THE STAR. OF COURSE.   BY THE WAY, MAYOR REARDON, TWO WEEKS AGO ON THIS PROGRAM, WAS ALSO SAYING HE WAS GOING TO   BE HAVING A JOB, THOUGH HE WASN'T WILLING TO DISCLOSE WHAT THAT JOB WAS.   DO WE KNOW WHAT THAT JOB HE WAS GOING TO WAS NOW? HE HAS NOT SAID.   WE'RE VERY EAGER TO FIND OUT WHAT IT IS, NICK. A PROPOSAL FAVORED BY SOME   CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS TO GIVE KANSAS GOVERNORS   AND LAWMAKERS MORE POWEROVER POINTMENTS TO THE   STATE'S APPELLATE COURTS CLEARED A KEY LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE THIS WEEK.   THE MEASURE WOULD AMEND THE KANSAS CONSTITUTION TO ALLOW GOVERNORS TO APPOINT MOM EVER --   APPOINT WHOMEVER THEY CHOOSE TO THE STATE COURT   OF APPEALS AND SUPREME COURT SUBJECT TO SENATE   CONFIRMATION. IT'S AN ISSUE WE TACKLED IN DEPTH ON KCPT'S LOCAL SHOW LAST   NIGHT. IN 2005, THE CONSTITUENT STATE SUPREME COURT -- STATE   SUPREME COURT RULED KANSAS WASN'T SPENDING ENOUGH MONEY ON EDUCATION AND ORDERED THEM TO   COME UP WITH $290 MILLION MORE. CONSERVATIVE   REPUBLICANS SAYING THE COURT WAS LEGISLATING FROM   THE BENCH WERE FURIOUS. I THINK THE THING MOTIVATING A LOT OF THIS WAS SCHOOL   FINANCE. CRYSTAL JUST RETIRED LAST WEEK FROM THE COURT OF APPEALS,   AND SHE AGREES THIS PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE IS A POWER GRAB TO CONTROL THE FUTURE OF   SCHOOL FINANCE. WHY YOU? WHY THE COURT OF APPEALS?   WHY NOW? BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR, I THINK, BELIEVES AT THIS POINT   THAT HE'S GOT THE POLITICAL CLOUT TO GET DONE WHAT HE WANTS TO GET DONE, AND MAYBE HE DOES.   BUT CURRENT SENATE VICE PRESIDENT JEFF KING COULDN'T DISAGREE MORE.   HE SAYS THIS IS ABOUT MORE DEMOCRACY AND FEWER LAWYERS. SO THE CRITICISM THAT THIS   ALL GOES BACK TO SCHOOL FUNDING, OUT OF PLAY. CAN I SAY FOR SURE WHAT   EVERYONE'S MOTIVATION IS, I CAN CERTAINLY SAY   FROM MY OWN, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SCHOOL   FUNDING. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY ONE CASE, NOR SHOULD IT.   DO YOU THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN SCANDAL OR INFAMY WITHIN THE COURT OF APPEALS OR SUPREME   COURT JUSTICES? I MEAN, HAS THERE BEEN SOMETHING THAT WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT?   WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION TO MAKE THIS BETTER?   I HAVE NOT PERSONALLY KNOWN OF ANY SCANDAL OR ANYTHING IMPROPER IN THE COURT OF APPEALS   OR SUPREME COURT. I THINK OUR SUPREME COURT JUSTICES AND OUR COURT OF   APPEALS JUDGES HAVE DONE -- GOOD MEN AND WOMEN THAT HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB.   THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THE WEIGH PELL AT   COURT -- WAY THE APPELLATE COURT JUDGES ARE PICKED   IS GOING TO PASS THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE AND   LIKELY ON THE BALLOT AUGUST OF NEXT YEAR, SETTING   UP WHAT IT'S SENATOR SAYS IS AN EXPENSIVE AND   UGLY CAMPAIGN. NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT'S WHAT WILL HAPPEN.   THERE WILL BE MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF MONEY RAISED AND SPENT IN CAMPAIGNING FOR AND AGAINST THAT   CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING TO COME FROM?   IT'S GOING TO COME FROM THE COKE BROTHERS IN WICHITA. IT WILL BE UNLIKE ANY   CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CAMPAIGN THAT I'VE SEEN IN MY LIFETIME.   AND NOT ONLY COKE MONEY BUT HE SAYS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM TRIAL LAWYERS AND OTHER SPECIAL   INTERESTS. BUT SENATOR KING SAYS NOW IS THE TIME TO HAVE THIS DEBATE.   MY HOPE AND BELIEF AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THE STATE OF KANSAS IS THAT THE VOTERS OF   KANSAS CAN SEE THROUGH THE NEGATIVE MISINFORMATION AND GET TO THE VALID POINTS OF THE   ISSUE. A LOT OF DEFINITIVE LANGUAGE IN THAT REPORT.   THIS IS GOING TO BE UNLIKE ANY CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CAMPAIGN THAT I'VE SEEN IN MY   LIFETIME, AS WE JUST HEARD IN THAT REPORT. SO IS THIS A DONE DEAL?   ARE WE GOING TO BE HEADING TO THE POLLING STATIONS? WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE THAT.   NOW, THERE IS SOME THOUGHT THAT DEMOCRATS AND MODERATE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE OF   REPRESENTATIVES MAY BE ABLE TO ERECT A WALL TO KEEP THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FROM   GOING THROUGH. IF IT'S GOING TO BE STOPPED, THAT'S WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE   STOPPED, BUT I THINK MOST PEOPLE BELIEVE IT IS GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH BOTH HOUSES.   IT'S ALREADY PASSED OUT OF THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITY AND YESTERDAY OUT OF THE SENATE   JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. NO IT'S HEADING TO THE FLOOR. I THINK IT WILL PASS OUT OF BOTH   HOUSES, BUT IT MAY BE STOPPED IN THE HOUSE. BUT THIS WAS GOING TO BE --   THAT REPORTER TALKED ABOUT IT BEING NEXT YEAR ON THE BALLOT. THIS WAS GOING TO BE, THEY WERE   TALKING ABOUT, APRIL OF THIS YEAR. WHY THE DELAY NOW?   WELL, THEY ARE PUSHED IT OFF MAYBE TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR WHAT THEY WANT TO DO HERE DOWN THE   ROAD. THE FOLKS WHO OPPOSE THIS FACE A VERY DIFFICULT HURDLE IN THAT   WHAT GOVERNOR BROWNBACK WANTS TO DO IS TO APPOINT THESE WITH CONFIRMATION FROM THE SENATE.   THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS OUT IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THE PRESIDENT GETS TO NAME   SOMEONE AND THEN THE SENATE HAS TO CONFIRM THAT PERSON. GOING AGAINST THAT IDEA, THAT'S   A TOUGH ARGUMENT TO MAKE, BECAUSE IT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON, D.C.   GOVERNOR BROWNBACK DOESN'T WANT ANYTHING DIFFERENT   THAN WHAT IS ALREADY BEING DONE AT A NATIONAL   LEVEL. SO FIGHTING THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY TOUGH THING TO DO.   I WOULD SAY IF THIS GOES TO THE BALLOT, IT MAY BE ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING CAMPAIGNS THAT   KANSAS HAS EVER SEEN, BECAUSE THE CONSERVATIVES   IN THE STATE, THE KOCH BROTHERS, OTHERS, WILL   SPEND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY, MILLIONS WHICH DOLLARS, BUT --   MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, BUT THE LAWYERS WHO LIKE THE CURRENT SYSTEM ARE NOT HIDING THEIR   LIGHTS UNDER BUSHELS EITHER, AND THEY CAN BE   EXPECTED TO POUR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, MILLIONS   OF DOLLARS INTO THE OPPOSITION TO A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. SO THE OUTCOME WILL BE   FASCINATING IF IT GETS ON THE BALLOT, BECAUSE   IT ISN'T CLEAR THAT -- KANSANS MAY NOT LIKE THE   WAY JUDGES MAKE THEIR DECISIONS, NICK, BUT AMENDED THE CONSTITUTION TO HAND ALL OF THAT   POWER OVER TO THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO BE A VERY TOUGH SALE. THIS JUST DIDN'T COME OUT OF   NOWHERE. IN FACT, THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF KANSAS HAVE SPOKEN ON THIS.   THEY SPOKE IN 1958. THERE WAS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AFTER A SCANDAL.   THE TRIPLE PLAY. IT MOVED -- THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT MOVED THROUGH THE VERY   RAPIDLY. 1958, IT'S ON THE BALLOT, PASSES WITH 58% OF THE VOTE.   SO THIS NOTION THAT THERE IS NO DEMOCRACY, IN SOME WAYS DEMOCRACY HAS ALREADY BEEN   INTERJECTED IN THE SYSTEM. MY RELATIVES, YOUR RELATIVES HAVE ALREADY SAID YES TO THE   CURRENT SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE. AND YOU SEE A LOT MORE OF THAT, OF COURSE, IN THE BIGGER   REPORT ON THIS, WHICH YOU CAN SEE IN THE REPEAT OF THE LOCAL SHOW, 5:30 ON SUNDAY.   BUT MARY, IF THE GOAL HERE IS TO CHANGE THE JUSTICES ON THE COURT OF APPEALS AND THE SUPREME   COURT, BY DOING THIS IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, IT WOULD TAKE AN AWFULLY LONG TIME   TO ACTUALLY WAIT FOR VACANCIES ON THESE COURTS,   AND THEN EVEN AFTER THAT TIME, WE KNOW EVEN AT   THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET WHEN IT COMES TO PUTTING   SOMEBODY ON THE COURT. YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE DECISIONS YOU WANT.   ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS ONE OF THESE BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU HOPE FOR, ARE WISHING   FOR, CAMPAIGNING FOR, THROWING ALL OF YOUR MONEY AT IN 2013, BECAUSE IT IS.   I MEAN, THESE IMPACTS ARE LONG-TERM. WE'LL SEE.   I THINK THE MESSAGING IS GOING TO BE REALLY PHENOMENAL AND INTERESTING TO SEE HOW EACH SIDE   PUSHES IT. BUT CONSERVATIVES IN KANSAS ARE PLAYING THE GAME HERE, NICK.   THEY'RE VERY, VERY CONFIDENT OF LONG-TERM CONTROL OF THE STATEHOUSE AND OF THE GOVERNOR'S   OFFICE, SO I DON'TS THINK THEY MIND PLAYING THAT LONG-TERM GAME.   AND UNLIKE THE FEDERAL SYSTEM, KANSAS JUDGES DO HAVE TO STAND FOR RETENTION.   NOW, A KANSAS JUDGE AT THE SUPREME COURT LEVEL, APPEALS COURT LEVEL, THERE'S NEVER BEEN   A VOTE TO NOT RETAIN THEM. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU COULDN'T START HAVING   CAMPAIGNS. AS WE SAW IN IOWA LAST YEAR. ON KAY RICE ON GAY MARRIAGE.   TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, ALL OF YOU MAY HAVE WITHSTOOD   RETENTION HERETOFORE, BUT THAT WAS BEFORE   WE PUT, OH, I DON'T KNOW, HALF A MILLION DOLLARS INTO A CAMPAIGN TO BOOT YOU OFF THE BENCH.   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WAS INAUGURATED TO A SECOND TERM THIS WEEK, AND THE   KANSAS CITY FIGURE WHO GOT MORE FACE TIME THAN ANY   OTHER DURING ALL THE FESTIVITIES WAS NOT EVEN   A POLITICIAN BUT A CLERGYMAN. THE REVEREND ADAM HAMILTON WHO LEADS THE METRO'S LARGEST   CONGREGATION, THE CHURCH OF THE RESURRECTION IN LEAWOOD, DELIVERED THE SERMON AT THE   NATIONAL INAUGURAL PRAYER SERVICE IN FRONT OF THE PRESIDENT AND THE REST OF THE   COUNTRY'S GOVERNMENTAL LEADERS. WE AMERICANS SAY IT SELDOM, BUT WE SHOULD SAY IT FAR MORE   OFTEN, THANK YOU FOR GIVING YOURSELVES FOR SACRIFICING, FOR LIVING IN GLASS HOUSES, FOR   ACCEPTING THE CON STAT BARRAGE OF -- CONSTANT BARRAGE OF CRITICISM WITH VERY LITTLE   PRAISE, FOR BEING WILLING TO RISK EVERYTHING IN ORDER TO SERVE THIS COUNTRY.   THANK YOU. DAVE HELLING, HOW DID HAMILTON GET THE JOB?   HE'S DEVELOPED A NATIONAL REPUTATION FOR SORT OF A BIPARTISAN, NONPARTISAN APPROACH   TO VERY CONTENTIOUS SOCIAL ISSUES. HE'S WRITTEN BOOKS.   HE HAS A NATIONAL STATURE, SO I THINK THE NATIONAL PRESS SERVICE REACHED OUT TO INVITE HIM.   THE NAME ADAM HAMILTON PROBABLY HELPED A LOT. IF HE HAD WORN A POWDERED WIG   MAYBE -- THAT'S JUST AN AMAZING NAME, AND HIS SERMON WAS PRETTY PHENOMENAL, NICK.   THAT'S A VERY DIFFICULT THING. IT WAS THE LAST LINE WHICH YOUR STORY THAT UNLIKE ANY   PRESIDENT, HE SAYS, MR. OBAMA, YOU HAVE AN ABILITY TO CAST A VISION AND INSPIRE PEOPLE.   YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PREACHER. NOBODY THOUGHT THAT OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, BILL CLINTON?   THOSE GUYS ARE GOOD, BUT HE MAYBE HAS A LITTLE EDGE OVER THAT.   HE OVERREACHED A LITTLE BIT WITHIN THAT ONE COMMENTARY. HE'S VERY GOOD.   HE'S VERY GOOD ABOUT MIXING IN CURRENT SOCIAL TOPICS. I'VE ACTUALLY ATTENDED SOME OF   HIS SERVICES. AND VERY POPULAR. THEY HAD 1500 AT HIS CHURCH JUST   TO WATCH THE INTERNET. THAT IS OUR WEEK IN REVIEW. I'M NICK HAINES.   Captioning provided by Caption Associates, LLC www.captionassociates.com