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When Democrats and moderate Republicans picked up a large number of seats in the 2016 elections, expectations were high that they would form a governing coalition that could check the power of the more conservative Republicans who have all but ruled in the Kansas Statehouse through most of the Brownback administration.

But there were signs Wednesday that relations between the two groups is being strained, particularly after a vote in the House late the night before when a $600 million income tax bill went down in flames, 37-85.

Only moments earlier, the bill passed through the Senate, 26-14, which was only one vote shy of the two-thirds majority needed to override an all-but-certain veto from Gov. Sam Brownback. But when it reached the floor of the House shortly before midnight, the Democrat-moderate "coalition" appeared to rupture.

All four House members from Lawrence Democrats Barbara Ballard, Boog Highberger and John Wilson; and Republican Tom Sloan voted in favor of the bill, as did Rep. Jim Karleskint, R-Tonganoxie, whose district covers eastern Douglas County and Eudora.

But House Democratic Leader Jim Ward of Wichita voted no, as did other prominent Democrats such as Tom Assistant Minority Leader Stan Frownfelter of Kansas City, Minority Whip Ed Trimmer of Winfield, and Rep. Brandon Whipple of Wichita.

Moderate Republicans also split on the vote, with Rep. Melissa Rooker of Fairway voting in favor, but Rep. Russ Jennings of Lakin switching to no before the final tally was taken.

One sign that relations between the two groups was growing tense was in a Twitter exchange on Wednesday between Ward and moderate Republican Tom Cox of Shawnee, who supported the tax bill.

First, there was Ward:

Which prompted this reply from Cox.

Later in the day, in a House Democrats caucus meeting, Ward rejected the accusation that he had not tried to work with moderates, outlining a list of things he said would get him, and probably several other Democrats, to vote yes on a tax bill, but he said moderates had not been willing to cede much ground on any of them.

The list included such things as restoring tax deductions and tax credits that benefit the middle class but were repealed or reduced in Brownback's tax plan, or a higher rate than what has been proposed so far for the upper bracket in a three-tiered tax system.

He also said he would consider concessions outside of the tax discussion, like allowing a vote on concealed-carry, or sending a bill to Brownback's desk establishing a task force to monitor the state foster care system.

In the caucus meeting, however, Ward also conceded that the caucus itself was split almost down the middle, with about half of the 40-member caucus saying tax plans like the one offered Tuesday night may be short of what they would like, but are a good first step toward funding schools and solving the state's budget crisis.

"The other group, which is about half-and-half, recognizes the work but says we need more because my district's going to pay a lot of those taxes and I don't have enough to convince them it's good for them long-term with what's on the table, so I want to see it improved enough that I can go home and defend it," Ward said.

But Sloan, who is counted among the moderate Republicans, said Democrats in that second group are being unrealistic.

"You never fix things in perpetuity," Sloan said during a interview in his office.

Sloan said he promised voters during his last campaign that he would vote for restoring a three-tiered income tax system that would generate enough money to fund core public services. But he said most voters he spoke with do not want to return to tax rates as high as they were before the 2012 tax cuts that Brownback championed.

Given that, Sloan said he thinks Democrats should accept the fact that they are not going to get everything they want, and they probably are not going to completely solve the state's budget problems with one bill in one legislative session.

Ward, meanwhile, tried to downplay tensions with moderate Republicans, saying he believes the two groups will eventually come together.

"Everyone's going to calm down, as we will, because we really want to do the right thing for Kansas," he said. "We're going to get in a room and get to 'yes.' It may be today; it may be tomorrow. ... I see no reason to beat up on (moderates)."

At that point, though, Ballard interjected, saying: "They're beating up on some of our people too."

Continued here:
Tax vote exposes rift in the Democrat-moderate Republican coalition - Lawrence Journal World (blog)

Demonstrators march in the Texas Capitol on Monday. Photograph: Meredith Hoffman/AP

A group of Democratic state representatives on Monday accused a Republican of threatening to put a bullet in the head of a fellow lawmaker on the Texas House floor, as a raucous protest against a new state immigration law unfolded in a public gallery and legislators confronted each other.

The protest was against the recently approved bill SB4, an anti-sanctuary cities measure that compels local police under the threat of jail and removal from office to enforce federal immigration law. Opponents of SB4 have filed lawsuits against the bill, which Governor Greg Abbott signed earlier this month in a ceremony held without notice and broadcast only by Facebook Live.

Hundreds of protesters wearing red t-shirts and chanting lucha fight waved banners reading See you in court! and began cheering, blowing whistles and chanting from the gallery: Here to stay! and Hey, hey, ho, ho SB4 has got to go!

They were cleared from the gallery by state troopers but continued their protest inside the ground floor rotunda. In the chamber, representatives argued and jostled.

At an afternoon news conference, the Democrats said Republican Matt Rinaldi, from suburban Dallas, made the shooting threat towards Poncho Nevarez, a Democrat from the border town of Eagle Pass. Several Democrats said Rinaldi also bragged about calling Ice on protesters who interrupted a floor session, leading to a near-scuffle between Rinaldi and Democrat Cesar Blanco. The Democrats said Rinaldis comments about shooting came during a second altercation, moments later.

In a statement posted on Facebook on Monday afternoon, Rinaldi said Nevarez had threatened my life on the House floor after I called Ice on several illegal immigrants who held signs in the gallery which said I am illegal and here to stay.

Claiming that several Democrats encouraged the protesters to disobey law enforcement, Rinaldi continued: When I told the Democrats I called Ice, Representative Ramon Romero physically assaulted me, and other Democrats were held back by colleagues.

Rinaldi claimed to have been threatened twice more by Navarez and said he had made it clear that if he attempted to, in his words, get me, I would shoot him in self defense.

I am currently under [department of public safety] protection, he continued. Several of my colleagues heard the threats made and witnessed Ramon [Romero] assaulting me.

At the protest in the rotunda Leroy Pena of Dallas, a Lipan Apache Indian, held a sign reading: Governor Abbott, show me your papers. I am a 15th-generation Texan.

The protest was organized by activists who canvassed over Memorial Day weekend in Austin, informing anxious immigrants about the rights they retain despite the law and urged grassroots resistance against it.

One protester, Abril Gallardo, rode 15 hours in a van to attend, to urge fellow Hispanics to fight back. Fear motivated me to get involved, said the 26-year-old Mexican native who entered the US as an undocumented immigrant at age 12.

Opponents call the Texas anti-sanctuary cities law a show your papers law, since it empowers police to inquire about peoples immigration status during routine interactions such as traffic stops. City governments and immigrant rights groups have challenged the legality of the law, hopeful for a victory like one in Arizona, but such actions could take months to have any effect.

Originally posted here:
Texas Republican 'threatens to shoot Democrat' over immigration protest - The Guardian

By Susan Stamper Brown | May 31, 2017 | 12:40 p.m.

Democrats just lost another election, this time in Montana. Unless they are willing to do some down-on-your-knees, cry-out-to-Jesus soul searching, the only way theyll win another election is if they collude with the Russians to steal one the way President Donald Trump didnt.

Its going to take much more than an Olivia Pope-style scandal fixer to fix whats wrong with the Democratic Party. Putting a cowboy suit on an anti-gun, big government liberal like Rob Quist, who regularly does gigs at a nudist resort in Idaho, was about as effective as putting lipstick on a pig.

It was also a naked attempt to blanket a semblance of normalcy over a Democrat Party that better represents the characters in the Star Wars cantina scene than those on Main Street or Your Street, U.S.A.

Thats why Greg Gianforte won Montana's special election for the House of Representatives, despite being charged with assaulting a journalist one day prior.

After reading reports and listening to the audio of the altercation, I thought Gianfortes response was kind of sexy. Before the snowflake generation evolved, thats how manly men resolved their differences.

And still do, in places like Montana and Alaska, where men arent ostracized for being men. They duke it out, brush it off, shake hands and go on their way.

Republicans should be on guard that the leftist-controlled media are not there to get facts; they are there to get at them.

Reporters who just happen to have a recorder turned on will do their darnedest to bait politicians into physical altercations. As tempting as it might be, theres no place in politics for body-slamming obnoxious metrosexual snowflake reporters, or any other kind for that matter.

Democrats and the left-leaning media had nothing to say when in 2004, now-Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., emerged from a crowd and body-slammed a guy who was trying to shout down then-Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. Democrats promoted that clown to senator but are outraged at Gianforte.

Lets not forget that the violent political climate propagated by todays progressive-left is to blame for fostering a culture of violence. Violence, not manly wrestling matches.

The Democrat Party is overrun by violent far-left extremists who regularly display their antipathy to things they dislike using violence. Setting fires, throwing Molotov cocktails, smashing windows, throwing rocks at police, destroying private property and physically attacking Republicans like what happened at Berkeley in February was the norm long before Trump arrived on the scene.

Normal Americans watching this appalling behavior have come to understand that, just like terrorists, these left-wing anarchists the Democrat Party harbors cannot be reasoned with, so defeating Democrats at the ballot box is Americas only hope.

Despite the barrage of Trump-Russia nothing-burgers the media cook up and dish out daily, regular Americans believe what the Democrat Party stands for is far worse.

Democrats are out of touch to believe that their globalist, gun-grabbing, anti-Christian, anti-free speech, anti-capitalism, Russian-boogiemen-around-every-corner, race-baiting platform of victimhood would win the hearts and minds of regular people.

Whats flabbergasting to Democrats is that Americas proverbial abused wife on the other side of the aisle has finally conjured up the courage to put her foot down and say, No more! Not in my house! No more to the lies ... no more to the abuse.

Shocking?

Only to those who refuse to take an honest look at themselves and the political party to which they associate.

Susan Stamper Brown writes about culture, politics and current events from her home in Alaska, and is syndicated by Cagle Cartoons. Contact her through Facebook or at [emailprotected]. Click here for previous columns. The opinions expressed are her own.

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Susan Stamper Brown: It's Time for Democrats to Get Real - Noozhawk

Charges are being dismissed against one of two suspects in the June 2016 arson death of Matthew Eldenburg.

Cody A. Harvey, of Sedalia, was charged in September 2016 with first degree arson and first degree murder, but those charges are being dismissed, according to Pettis County Prosecuting Attorney Phillip Sawyer.

A second suspect, Aran T. Cantrell, also of Sedalia, is facing the same charges, which will remain. Both suspects have been in the Pettis County Jail since their arrest.

Both Harvey and Cantrell requested change of venue and judge after entering not guilty pleas, and all requests were granted. Harveys case was set for a jury trial next week in Jackson County.

This morning it became evident to the Prosecutors Office that the admissible evidence was going to be insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Cody A. Harvey committed the charged crimes, and accordingly, charges against Mr. Harvey are being dismissed, Sawyer said in a news release issued Wednesday evening. We are limited in what we can say about the evidence because a case is still pending against Aran Cantrell, but the problem does not stem from any failure on the part of the (Sedalia) Police Department or any inadequacy in its investigation.

The police department and other law enforcement agencies did everything they possibly could to bring the investigation to a successful conclusion. The problem involves an essential non-law enforcement witness who has given false or inaccurate statements as to what took place in the case.

Cantrells case is set for a jury trial in Clay County in July. Sawyer said the evidence issue involves only the Harvey case and that he expects Cantrells case to be tried in July.

Eldenburg, 30, died in a fire at his South Grand Avenue home June 23, 2016. Sedalia firefighters found him during a primary search of the residence and paramedics tried to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead at Bothwell Regional Health Center two hours after the fire began.

Cantrell and Harvey were arrested by SPD about a week after the fire, which was ruled an arson by the Missouri State Fire Marshals Office, and charged with first degree arson.

It wasnt until September that first degree murder charges were added, as Eldenburgs autopsy results were needed. Pettis County Coroner Robert Skip Smith told the Democrat in September the results showed Eldenburg was alive at the time of the fire, making the case a homicide.

According to court documents, several witnesses identified Cantrell as a suspect. Cantrell told SPD detectives Eldenburg was unconscious on the couch, admitting to getting gasoline from the garage and pouring it on Eldenburg. He said an accomplice, identified as Harvey, lit Eldenburg on fire. Cantrell said he poured gas throughout the house and that Harvey lit the fire with the stoves natural gas turned on, both leaving the house once the fire began.

Harvey was then questioned by detectives, but he maintained he was not involved in the fire. However, he was unable to give an explanation as to where he was from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 23, and admitted to being in an argument with Eldenburg the night before.

Aran Cantrell

http://sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_Aran-Cantrell.jpgAran Cantrell

Cody Harvey

http://sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_Cody-Harvey.jpgCody Harvey

Second suspects trial set for July

Nicole Cooke can be reached at 660-530-0138 or on Twitter @NicoleRCooke.

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More here:
Charges dismissed for suspect in 2016 murder - Sedalia Democrat

A Republican senator said he would shoot his Democrat colleague in self-defense after alleging he had been threatened following an immigration protest on the floor of the Texas House.

Representative Matt Rinaldi claimed he had been physically assaulted on Monday by Democrat Ramon Romero and threatened byPoncho Nevarez after calling Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on the protesters, who were demonstrating against a law signed by Governor Greg Abbott that cracks down on santuary cities.

A group of people, allegedly including a number of undocumented immigrants, gained entry to the floor of the House to stage a protest, carrying banners with slogans such as I am an ally to all immigrants in a demonstration that prompted Rinaldi to call ICE.

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When I told the Democrats I called ICE, Representative Ramon Romero physically assaulted me, and other Democrats were held back by colleagues, Rinaldi said in a statement he posted on his Twitter account.

During that time Poncho told me that he would "get me on the way to my car." He later approached me and reiterated that "I had to leave at some point, and he would get me." I made it clear that if he attempted to, in his words, "get me," I would shoot him in self defense, he explained, adding: I am currently under DPS protection. Several of my colleagues heard the threats made and witnessed Ramon assaulting me.

Rinaldi added in his Twitter post that several Democrats encouraged the protesters to disobey law enforcement and alleged that his life had been threatened.

But Romero said in a social media postand in a press conference that the claims by Rinaldi were completely baseless.

Representative Rinaldi came over to a group of members of the Mexican American legislative caucus at the time when citizens and non citizens alike were in the gallery exercising their right to protest, their first amendment rights, and he threatened to call the immigration service on the people in the gallery which naturally prompted a strong reaction from members of my caucus, the chairman of the Mexican American caucus said at a press conference recorded by the Texas Tribune.

He added there is video of Rinaldi calling ICE, and invited members of the caucus to speak about what had happened following the protest against legislation on sanctuary cities.

One member, Cesar Blanco, said that for Rinaldi to assume the people peacefully protesting in the gallery were not Americans or were undocumented was disrespectful and added it demonstrated his true colours.

Andmember Phil Cortezwho was involved in the discussion with Rinaldi added: We were just on the floor talking about the SB4 protests and Rinaldi came up to us and said I called ICE on all of them.

We will not be intimidated, we will not be disrespected and those individuals up there were exercising their American rights to protest, he said, adding Rinaldi started everything and they would not let him get away with it.

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Texas Republican says he'd shoot Democrat colleague in 'self defense' after immigration row - Newsweek