Kris Kobach, Part Deux.
If it seems like I’m picking on our secretary of state, I am.
I am still harping on his moonlighting on anti-illegal immigration issues while in public office. My recent column on this topic triggered an outpouring of passionate reactions, on both sides of the issue. It also led me to some new information, which is pertinent.
The secretary of state, like many other public officials, is required to file a Statement of Substantial Interests. It lists the firms and organizations that have paid the secretary in addition to his $86,000 a year salary.
The list is very interesting and raises once again the ethics of pursuing two careers – as secretary of state and as an immigration attorney. It appears implausible that Kobach could have worked only on nights and weekends for these extracurricular activities, as he has suggested.
As I noted in a recent column, Kobach was alleged to have made $100,000, while secretary of state, as part of his involvement with Farmers Branch, Texas. The Federation of American Immigration Reform hired him to author an anti-immigration ordinance, according to the past mayor pro tem of that city.
But thanks to the Statement of Substantial Interests, filed in April 2011, we know of 10 others who have paid Kobach recently. Each represents income to Kobach of no less than $2,000.
Kobach received payment from the law firm of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak, and Stewart, which claims to be one of America’s leading labor and employment law firms.
Kobach received payment from the city of Fremont, Neb., where he drafted an anti-illegal immigration ordinance.
Kobach received payment from Snell & Wilmer, a law firm in Arizona.
Kobach received payment from Maricopa County, Ariz., where he charged $300 an hour and a monthly stipend of $1,500 plus expenses, according to National Public Radio. Kobach had helped draft the famous anti-illegal laws of that state.
Kobach received payment by Digital Ally, Inc., which specializes in security cameras.
Kobach received payment from the Eagle Forum Education and Legal Defense Fund in St. Louis, Mo., an organization founded by Phyllis Schlafly.
Kobach received payment from the 7th District Missouri Republican Assembly.
Kobach received payment from The Federalist Society, a very conservative legal organization.
Kobach received payment from CMP Susquehanna Corp. as a Sunday night radio talk show host for a station in Kansas City.
But the number one benefactor is the Immigration Reform Law Institute, where Kobach serves as counsel. This organization focuses on anti-illegal immigration reform across the United States. And it is a pot of money for Kobach that is presumably quite substantial.
In contrast, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback lists no outside income.
So egregious is Kobach’s moonlighting that Kansas House Minority Leader Paul Davis has introduced a bill banning significant outside employment for statewide officials and department heads, citing Kobach as the reason.
Although the bill will never get bi-partisan support, it makes the point that needs to be made. This is bad precedent for Kansas and an abuse of the secretary of state’s office.
Sam Abadir
1 year, 5 months agoHere are a couple of points - some of which you made. First, nothing Kobach did was against the law. You made that point. The other point which you did not make is this - Kobach has not lacked in his duties as Secretary of State. He has been a good one and his outside activities compliment his duties as Secretary of State. No evidence exists either that a conflict of interest exists. I am certain you looked this up and if you found something you would have reported it.
If you were indeed fair about this and interested in abuses of office to make money you might talk about Obama and his book that he wrote. Obama and his administration sold thousands of these books to the State Department to give away as gifts. He profits on this. The State Department would NEVER have made such a purchase if there was a different president in office. You might have talked about Pelosi and the millions she made on the stock market. Or maybe a little closer to the point, you never commented on Governor Sebelius and her outside work such as being chair of the Democrat Governors Association. Sebelius was never elected by the people of Kansas to do that and you never complained. I’d be shocked if that work she did was only on nights and weekends.
Stop picking on Kobach. Stop being partisan. Start being fair.
Michael Kobe
1 year, 5 months agoSam Abadir makes several good points. One in particular captured my attention. In order for the complaint regarding Secretary of State Kris Kobach’s outside activities to have merit there must be a showing that those activities have had an adverse effect on his official duties. Steve Rose did not attempt to make that point in his writing. Nor did Steve offer that he opposes all outside activities by elected officials; those outside activities he opposes as well as those he approves.
The discussion of the amounts of money Kobach receives seems a thinly veiled effort to trigger class warfare. Yes, Kobach makes a great deal of money, much more than his government salary. So do many prominent Republicans and Democrats.
In connection with that point I would like to offer that many people moonlight to make more money. Having a second or third job should not be seen as a negative, but, rather, evidence of a person’s industry, so long as the jobs do not detract from each other. Moonlighting and working long hours used to be held up as indicators of good character. Both Steve and Stan Rose worked long hours to build successful lives. It seems we have now evolved to the point where we are expected to work less and depend on government more to earn the approbation of Steve.
Steven Ward
1 year, 5 months agoMr. Rose, I support your efforts in staying with this story. Whether Mr. Kobach is doing anything illegal or not (heaven forbid that an elected official, much less an attorney and college professor would do such a thing!) it certainly bears watching, particularly in the near future, if and when he gets involved with an effort in another state or at the national level.
Mr. Kobach is viewed by the extreme right of the Republican Party as a national expert in this field. Some may feel he is the next great leader of their cause. However, there are those of us who are, at least uncomfortable in his appearing to use his elected office here in Kansas as a springboard in his push for a place in the national spotlight.
In addition, I feel we must all wonder how much more effective Mr. Kobach would be if he were expending this level of effort doing the job he was elected to do. I’m not familiar with the concept that any elected official is required to only spend 40 hours a week performing his duties. Are you?
B. Clay Moore
1 year, 5 months agoThe extreme Right seems to honestly believe that the direction of their moral compasses trumps the law, ethical standards, and even the Constitution. There’s a belief that what they feel is “right” is all that matters, and this would seem to fall into that morass.
The Brownback administration has provided countless examples of this hubris, up to and including Brownback’s decision to ignore a Presidential visit to his state. I don’t think most people care, to be honest, so long as their own ideology is being served.
Andrew Jacobson
1 year, 5 months agoSam Abadir, Steve Rose is and has always being very much on the right of the political spectrum, so he isn’t being partisan.
Brian Mehnert
1 year, 5 months agoI await your future blather attacking elected officials who perform activities which promote illegal aliens… after all, you postulate that the problem is that Kris does this while also employed by the state; so those who promote illegal activity while in office will receive the same treatment?
John Altevogt
1 year, 5 months agoCongratulations. Nothing like opening the new publications with a record setting version of the same specious hypocrisy that sank The Sun.
Strangely I don’t recall your columns on all the time your pal Thornbird, or whatever his name was, failed to show up in this office, nor the voluminous columns that would be required to discuss the various conflicts of interest your endorsees had between their business interests and their political assignments. You could probably author a book on that weasel Vratil.
At any rate, how unfortunate that just when things were looking up for JOCO with the demise of The Sun this farce had to be inflicted on it by Der Sturmer. Old wine in a new skin as it were.
Matt S.
1 year, 5 months agoSteven Ward’s comment has it nailed. I believe this about politicians, and frankly, many other “high rollers” in our communities nationwide: there is no way you can effectively work your job and be devoted and active in much more than 1-2 other major initiatives. I have a salaried position with a company in the area, and I am rightfully busy much beyond the 40-hour work week to give that company my best. I am president of the board for the KC region of a national 501(c)3, and to live up to the commitments there and also keep a decent balance for my family, that is it—there are no more hours in the week, and by the way, I am already an insomniac and have always been considered an extremely efficient and effective individual—I am not a time waster—I am thorough and live up to the commitments I make to others: “Ay, there’s the rub.”
When I read about politicians doing as cited here—on both sides of the aisle—I am confident that they are not fulfilling any of the listed commitments to the best of their ability. There is simply not enough time in the day, no way. Frankly, I’m not sure I care if someone whose first commitment is to a private company also overextends themselves and actually ends up shorting everyone across the board. But when your first commitment is to your fellow citizens in public office, there is a difference, and I believe a problem. Speaking to this one example: are you seriously telling me that the state of Kansas, governing 2.8 million people across 82,000 square miles and needing to cooperate on commerce, finance, etc. with 49 other states in the midst of perhaps the 2nd “Great Depression”, doesn’t generate well over 80 hours of work per week in which to engage their secretary of state?
Lynn Paatalo
1 year, 5 months agoIf it’s against the state law then that should be followed by everyone. Don’t bring up elected officials in federal positions. The point isn’t relevant to Kansas law. Bottom line is if he has so much time to work for all of these other parties, when does he have time to work for Kansas? I’d be interested in seeing his time logs on the billings to see if he is doing it on our time.
Dean Allaudin Ottinger
1 year, 5 months agoOh yeah Kobach is working his anti-immigration cause all day long. Big surprise that the money is rolling in. His wildly over blown “voter fraud” issues in KS are legend. It’s becoming pretty clear that there appears to be a movement to dis-infranchise young,old, and minority voters. Sickening…un American
Holly Twentyfourseven
1 year, 5 months ago@ Sam Abadir Your argument Rose is being “unfair” in reporting Kobach’s other sources of income makes no sense. For the sake of argument, even if there is merit to what you say about Obama and Pelosi, it need not detract from the gross inappropriateness of Kobach’s actions. This is called the “913” for a reason. It’s a forum to discuss issues that concern JoCo specifically and Kansas in general. Assuming you’re a Republican, why ignore the unethical behavior of someone elected to your state government?