Bel Aire Police Chief Darrell Atteberry said legislation sponsored by Americans for Prosperity-Kansas banning use of tax dollars for any form of lobbying would “effectively silence and disenfranchise the law enforcement associations across the state.” (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)
TOPEKA — Americans for Tax Reform president Grover Norquist touted a bill introduced by a lobbyist with Americans for Prosperity banning taxpayer-funded lobbying by cities, counties, schools and the state as a remedy to government’s excessive spending and devotion to regulation.
Norquist attempted to build support Monday for a Kansas Senate bill prohibiting use of public dollars for direct or indirect lobbying, to pay membership dues of associations engaged in lobbying, or for gifts or campaign contributions to elected officials or government workers.
Violations would leave public employees — those working for a county, township, city, school district or state agency, authority or institution — open to disciplinary action ranging from suspension to termination. The Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission would be authorized under Senate Bill 373 to assess any person civil fines of $1,000 for a first offense, $3,000 for a second infraction and $8,000 for a third or subsequent violation.