Again, are we sure this guy is a Democrat?

Steineger Hired Convicted Felon

The conviction? A 2006 felony count of theft from his campaign account. That change was accompanied by a misdemeanor account for filing a false campaign finance report.

From the Pitch: Sager's history would have been an odd choice to oversee Steineger's money in his campaign to become Kansas' chief election official. In January 2007, Sager pleaded guilty to filing a false campaign report. He had been charged with writing $22,500 in checks from his campaign accounts to himself as well as making up a $50,000 personal loan.

The office Chris Steineger seeks administers elections, and must do so fairly and ethically. Nothing less than the integrity of state democracy is at stake

We're not clear what the relationship between disgraced Missouri legislator Mike Sager and Chris Steineger was before he joined Chris hired Mike, and it doesn't matter. The fact that Chris Steineger hired man with a record of illegal campaign finance schemes to run his campaign reveals a remarkable failure of judgement and disregard for the sanctity campaign finance law.

Chris later said he was unaware of Mr. Sager's prior convictions when he hired him. Apparently, he didn't even give Mike Sager the Google treatment before he hired him. Imagine the kind of criminals he might hire if he were elected Secretary of State.

"Feeding the mouth that bites"

When pressed for to answer for his attendence at AFP and TEA parties Steineger has suggested he's there to listen, as any good politician should. But that simply isn't true.

He's not listening, he's speaking to the mob:

Less than a year after Democrats regained the House majority Chris Steineger was the featured guest at an Americans for Prosperity conference designed to re-establish the GOP as a viable political organization capable of reclaiming the majority. During the same period of time most other Democrats were becoming active in the movement to win a Senate majority and reclaim the White House after years of failed leadership from the very candidates AFP supports.

Black Eyes and Bruised Egos (Picking Fights, pt 3)

On August 23rd 2009 Chris Steineger displayed shocking behavior unbecoming a serious candidate for public office.

Fueled by too much alcohol, a heated debate about healthcare reform exploded into a barfight at Briet’s, a popular bar in Kansas City Kansas.

The following Monday Senator Steineger unabashedly arrived at committee meetings and offered creatively inconsistent explanations for his shiner. He description of his black eye varied from the product of “a gardening accident” to “an assault.”

Later, it was confirmed that he was the chief instigator of a bar fight,and that Steineger invited this bruising upon himself.

Related:

Steineger speaks about about the shiner

Lawyer’s response

Steineger Instigated barfight

The Joe Lieberman of Kansas; the Mark Gilstrap saga (Picking Fights, pt 2)

In a 2008 primary Steineger waged a public fight against Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

Following his divisive and foolhardy foray into the Kansas City Mayors race (see “Picking a Fight, pt. 1") Chris Steineger took sides in another contest between Democrats.

This time, he came out on the losing side of a fight made more acrimonious by his foolishly unnecessary behavior. True to form, Chris Steineger released another letter:

State Sen. Mark Gilstrap, a 12-year incumbent from Wyandotte County, is a conservative Catholic Democrat who is staunchly opposed to abortion and tax hikes. His voting record demonstrates his personal beliefs on these issues and, having been elected three times, he is clearly supported by the people he represents.

In 2006, Mark Gilstrap chose to support the re-election of former Attorney General Phill Kline, a choice that did not sit well with the Sebelius or Hensley. They have adopted the tactics of conservative Republicans by supporting Gilstrap's opponent in the Democrat primary. While I personally disagree with Mark's choice of Kline, I adamantly support his right to associate and vote for whom he wants.

Wyandotte County: a tale of three families. (Picking Fights, pt 1)

In 2005 Wyandotte County was home to a spirited contest between two great Democrats for the Kansas City Mayor’s office.

Always keen to the opportunity to inject himself into the debate, Chris Stieneger chose to make an endorsement.

No single action did more to spoil the tone and tenor of this race. Suddenly, it was Democratic bloodsport:

"Joe [Reardon] is a sober man who spends his free time with his wife and kids. When Rehorn was in the Legislature, he was occasionally tuned in and could be effective, but only about 4-6 hours per days. Unfortunately, he also spent almost every evening from 6PM until late drinking at a pub called The Gregory in downtown Topeka.

… Observers in Wyandotte County know that Rehorn has been a regular at Johnny's Sports bar and the Twin City Tavern for years. My Grandfather always spoke against men who spent too much time at bars drinking beer, as he came home every night to be with his family, do chores, and get the family ahead. [editors note: irony, at "A Street Fightin' Man"

Surely, Chris could have found a less destructive way to make an endorsement and avoided marring the good name of a respected Democrat and colleague.

Unfortunately, this isn't the only time “The Joe Lieberman of Kansas” undermined Democratic unity.

Are we sure this guy is a Democrat?

From Chris Steineger's facebook page:

“Tonight went to the biggest gala dinner event of the Legislative session, the Kansas Chamber of Commerce & Industry.”

[editors note: the Kansas AFL-CIO also met that night, I guess how Chris regards labor and working families]

“I also walked throught the Repub convention for an hour. The had a wine reception provided by Kansas vinters & winerys including one from Wyandotte County!”

[editors note: what was he doing at a Republican fundraiser?!]

“Last night I went to annual Sons & Daughters of Kansas dinner in Topeka. I always assumed it was a Republican event…”

[editors note: was he expecting a Republican event? And if so, why was he going?]

As Senator, Steineger voted for Repressive Voter ID Law

In 2007 Kansas Republicans launched a campaign to introduce a modern form of poll taxes to Kansas. This effort was aided by only one member of the Senate Democratic caucus, Chris Steineger.

Under the deceptive guise of “election security” the GOP and Chris Steineger sought to require a driver’s license with current address from all voters.

This naked political proposal imposes an unnecessary obstacle to likely Democratic voters. Driver’s license requirements disproportionately affect four traditionally Democratic constituencies: the disabled and the elderly, who often don’t drive and don’t have licenses; the poor, who might not own a car or have a license; and mobile populations, especially the young, who often don't have a current address on their driver’s license.

Fundamentally, Republicans sense an opportunity to gain an advantage by making it harder to vote in elections. Why is Senator Steineger helping them do so?

Through his words and actions Chris Steineger has made it clear that he believes it should be harder to vote in Kansas. The question for Democrats is simple: do Democrats believe elections should be more or less accessible?

Text of SB 168

The Roll Call vote

Steineger fined $5000 dollars for breach of election ethics...

...in campaign for office charged with enforcing election laws.

Higher penalty avoided when commission determined Steineger clueless rather than willfully criminal.

Topeka Capitol Journal Article re-printed in full, below the fold:

Is there still room under the bus?

"I take full responsibility for the mistakes of everyone else:"

Watch the video:

Wichita Eagle: Steineger should have known better

This article from Rhonda Holman cuts to the chase. Reprinted here in it's entirety:

"It’s troubling that someone who wants to be secretary of state, Kansas’ top election official, could violate campaign-finance law once last year, let alone twice.

It’s worse because the candidate, Chris Steineger, has been a state senator from Kansas City, Kan., for 13 years. He’s had plenty of time to learn the admittedly tricky campaign laws. He’s also been present for legislative debates over whether to change the law he violated when he used his Senate campaign fund to pay for political work in anticipation of a statewide run for office.

It’s hard to imagine that Democratic voters will be fully reassured by his statement that he “picked up the wrong checkbook and wrote the wrong check,” as Steineger said Tuesday before the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission fined him $5,000. The Democrats’ other choice on primary day will be Chris Biggs, currently interim secretary of state."