Gov. Sam Brownback has proposed cutting the Kansas Ethics committee budget by 9.3 percent, or about $65,000 thus eliminating one audit position.
The commission does random, in-depth audits of candidates or political groups.
This is not a good idea and will hurts Kansans. Residents need this type of scrutiny to inform us of groups with ill intent.
Any group that does not want to be scrutinized is exactly the group that needs to be scrutinized.
Perhaps Gov. Brownback is afraid he will be scrutinized for the behind-the-scenes work he did to make sure that moderates such as Jean Schodorf, former Republican state senator and Ruth Teichman, former Republican state senator, where ousted from the Legislature.
Perhaps he is afraid that he will be scrutinized for his proposal to assume greater control of appointments to the Kansas Court of Appeals.
This proposal would allow Brownback’s picks to be confirmed by the Senate. Currently, governors are required to choose from among three nominees chosen by a state commission.  If the governor gets his way in changing the court, it would result in a system based on politics rather than merit.
There is a reason we have three branches of government. It is called the balance of power.
The Governor has succeeded in gaining control of two branches, the legislative and executive. He does not also need to control the judicial branch. The balance of power was set up by our forefathers so that all voices can be heard.
Brownback wants to control them all. No one should have that much power. No one.
This would be frightening for Kansans.

Karen La Pierre