Kansas Lawmakers Want More Oversight on Gov Mansion After Abortion Event
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
May 30, 2008
Topeka, KS (LifeNews.com) — Some pro-life lawmakers are seeking more oversight on the governor’s mansion after Gov. Kathleen Sebelius held a reception there featuring late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller. They say the governor should not be selling access to the building.
Rep. Lance Kinzer and Sen. Tim Huelskamp, both Republicans, say they are considering legislation that would call on the governor’s office to provide more public information about the events at Cedar Crest.
“I think there’s just something really unseemly about auctioning off access to the governor’s mansion to political contributors,” Kinzer told the Associated Press. “I think it’s something that needs to be looked at.”
“If the KKK had been the highest bidder to the women’s political caucus or whatever group that was, do you think they would have had a soiree at the governor’s mansion? I really don’t," he added.
Huelskamp chimed in and added that he thinks the governor should release a list of everyone who has attended receptions at the mansion.
"We’d consider legislation if we can’t find out who all’s been staying there, going there and using that,” he told AP.
As LifeNews.com reported, the pro-life group Operation Rescue produced photos of Sebelius appearing at the mansion reception with George Tiller, who does late-term abortions in Wichita.
Sebelius spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran spoke with the media in response and said the April, 9, 2007 event at Cedar Crest was given as a prize to the Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus, a group that promotes pro-abortion candidates.
Late Wednesday, Sebelius dismissed the notion that she threw a lavish party for the abortion practitioner but confirmed the event took place.
She backed up Corcoran’s comments that the dinner was one Tiller purchased at a fundraising event for the pro-abortion political group. The event, known as the Torch Dinner, includes donated auction items to raise more money and the reception with Sebelius was included.
“I have offered, at the Torch Dinner in previous years, auction items to come to Cedar Crest,” Sebelius said, according to the Lawrence Journal World. “This was one of those years, and Dr. Tiller happened to be the bidder on this event."
