Gov. Laura Kelly and former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius fundraise for Kansas Values Institute in DC
…because KVI needs more $ for TV ads to support Gov. Kelly
In May Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and former Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius attended an event in Washington, DC hosted by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) union “to raise funds for the Bluestem Kansas and the Kansas Values Institute.”
We are all now seeing the daily barrage of KVI ads in support of Gov. Kelly’s re-election. The Sunflower State Journal estimates broadcast spending for the governor’s race this year may approach $20 million.
The IFPTE (International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers) web site shows Derby, KS union leader R. Matthew Joyce with Kelly and Sebelius in DC at this IBT event.
The Bluestem Fund PAC
In 2000 Kathleen Sebelius established the Bluestem Fund PAC. After becoming governor it became her “Leadership PAC” to steer additional political funds in Kansas even while Sebelius enjoyed a sizable campaign war chest of her own.
Before leaving Kansas in 2009 to become President Obama’s HHS secretary, Sebelius’ Blue Stem Fund PAC had steered nearly $1 million in political money to help Kansas Democrats. Most of this money came from out of state, especially labor unions. OpenSecrets provides summary information for recent years.
Sebelius turned over the management of Bluestem to others when she left for HHS.
In its July 25, 2022 filing The Bluestem Fund reported a hefty $175,000 in contributions and $200,000 in expenditures with $110,000 on hand. The funds raised were from four unions. The $200,000 was spent in July with a South Carolina firm, Blue Ridge Strategies, for nebulous “field consulting services.”
Some union reports show contributions to both Bluestem Fund and KVI on the same date.
Kansas Values Institute
The Kansas Values Institute is a 501(c)(4) [lobbying, advocacy] concern. KVI will file an IRS 990 in a year or two that will show some details of money raised and spent in this 2022 election, well after anyone cares. That’s how current laws work.
KVI’s IRS 990 for 2020 apparently has been filed with the IRS. ProPublica shows some summary numbers for 2020 but the IRS 990 document is not yet available. The 2021 KVI filing is no place to been seen.
Known KVI funding comes mostly from “dark money” and union sources, but that is still being studied.
Look for additional WatchDogLab reporting soon about KVI.