Sebelius has trouble in Kansas
posted at 1:34 pm on March 19, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
And it’s not a twister, Auntie Em. Kathleen Sebelius left her job as governor of Kansas to take a Cabinet position as Secretary of Health and Human Services in Barack Obama’s administration, but she left unfinished business behind. The Kansas City Star reports that legislators want to know how a Sebelius-tied charity wound up with an increase in government funding — while they spent $400,000 building a horse ranch:
Kansas lawmakers want to know whether a Johnson County nonprofit used its political connections to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to get a special funding increase last fall.
But a hearing into the matter Wednesday left lawmakers with more questions than answers.
Lenexa-based Community Living Opportunities was awarded nearly $713,000 in extra Medicaid funds. The group serves developmentally disabled Kansans, primarily in Johnson and Douglas counties.
At the time, the agency’s board of directors included Kansas Democratic Party Chairman Larry Gates, a Sebelius confidant, and his former law partner, Dan Biles, whom Sebelius appointed to the state Supreme Court this year. Lew Perkins, the University of Kansas athletic director, also serves on the board. Biles has since stepped down from the board.
The allegations come as Sebelius, a Democrat, awaits U.S. Senate confirmation to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which administers Medicaid.
CLO pleaded poverty, bypassing the normal request process and going directly to the Secretary of Social and Rehabilitation Services. They got the extra money, which puzzled other service providers in Kansas. They had requested extra funding through normal channels and had been told that Kansas didn’t have any extra funding. Imagine their surprise when the outfit that has Sebelius allies on its board got extra Medicaid cash.
The poverty plea looks weak in retrospect as well. They spent $400,000 on a ten-acre ranch as a therapeutic retreat. They bought horses and installed a swimming pool while building a house. Those may be good ideas for therapy, but the money spent on those activities hardly makes it look as though they had run out of cash for actual and ongoing therapies for their patients.
Now Sebelius will, if confirmed, handle Medicaid payments for the entire nation. How many more recipients have Sebelius pals on their boards? I guess we’ll find out, because it’s become clear after two short months of the Obama administration that we’re not in Kansas any more, Toto.
Blowback
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fire up that bus!
:-)
Buckaroo on March 19, 2009 at 1:35 PM
Forget the bus, they’re gonna need Bigfoot to fit everyone underneath
LimeyGeek on March 19, 2009 at 1:37 PM
Is there anyone in the Obama administration without ethical questions? ANYONE???
The only ones with seemingly good ethis are the Republicans: Robert Gates and Ray LaHood.
Norwegian on March 19, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Obama needs to instal trapdoors to lavapits under each cabinet seat.
Chuck Schick on March 19, 2009 at 1:39 PM
But Obama picked Kansas to beat WVU in the second round, so it’s all good, right?
forest on March 19, 2009 at 1:40 PM
Obama needs to start with himself. Corruption breeds corruption.
The sooner America gets rid of Obama the better.
izoneguy on March 19, 2009 at 1:41 PM
I’ve been waiting a long time to see corruption unmasked in our government.
There’s not enough popcorn in the world for this.
NeighborhoodCatLady on March 19, 2009 at 1:41 PM
Oh God please we do not want her back here in Kansas. But I dont want her confirmed.
canditaylor68 on March 19, 2009 at 1:41 PM
Barney Frank blames the press in 3…2…1…
Patrick S on March 19, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Fixed that for you , ed.
Mr. Bingley on March 19, 2009 at 1:42 PM
All together now…
ANNNNDDDD the wheels on the bus go round and round…
Round and round…. round and round…
Romeo13 on March 19, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Does Sebelius have tax problems? If not, she is probably safe as far as bho is concerned. Gads, these people are beyond belief.
L
letget on March 19, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Tax cheats…..check
Petty thieves…..check
Quid pro quo….check
Am I missing anything else?
Maybe we should be thankful that OJ Simpson hasn’t been nominated for a cabinet post.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on March 19, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Dammit, this might derail her nomination, and we’ll be stuck with her as Governor!
The Monster on March 19, 2009 at 1:44 PM
She has unique qualifications for this job. She is the ONLY one who has a full understanding of HHS. She, like Timbo, must be confirmed by the Senate TODAY or the world will end. H
innominatus on March 19, 2009 at 1:45 PM
If the media were to begin digging on Ms Sebelius, they would find all kinds of interesting dirt, but I kind of hope they don’t because then we’de get stuck with her, and she’s been a disaster for Kansas.
anniekc on March 19, 2009 at 1:45 PM
He loved those rubber tires,
and the traction that they got.
He loved those August days,
when the summer sun got hot.
He worked all through the winter,
plannin’ his attack
Consultin’ the state highway map
and the Farmers Almanac.
Barry drove a school bus!
Yeah, Barry drove a school bus!
forest on March 19, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Heh, Our gain is the nation’s loss. Obama has a knack of finding walking garbage for his cabinet.
Kalapana on March 19, 2009 at 1:46 PM
It would’ve been a cornucopia of monies had she just mandated it for abortions. And they wouldn’t have given a damn.
OhEssYouCowboys on March 19, 2009 at 1:46 PM
give him time
anniekc on March 19, 2009 at 1:46 PM
I was thinking the same thing. We dont want her they can keep her,maybe she can work in the treasury dept with Geitner-Sebellius likes to rob Peter to pay Paul.
canditaylor68 on March 19, 2009 at 1:47 PM
I’m sure that ranch was such a great idea that someone got a year end bonus.
Dusty on March 19, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Not the Kathleen Sebelius I knew.
Lou Budvis on March 19, 2009 at 1:48 PM
You guys actually think this will result in any sort of justice? Amazing.
ClassicCon on March 19, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Yet another example of the government having too much money, too much power and too much control over our country. And yet, we cede more of our rights to it every day.
It’s like bizarro world.
lorien1973 on March 19, 2009 at 1:49 PM
I absolutely agree.
canditaylor68 on March 19, 2009 at 1:51 PM
I’m gonna use my ‘Sebelius Bonus Medicaid Money’ to build a two story house for my unicorn, complete with a hot tub.
HornetSting on March 19, 2009 at 1:51 PM
Is Guiness keeping track of this?
What is the record for failed presidential appointments?
I try to keep a running tally of Obamas misfires and screwups, but I just can’t remember that much!
redshirt on March 19, 2009 at 1:51 PM
The word Guiness and Obama’s failures got me thinkiing….
we should have a Obama’s Failed Appointment Drinking Game……
HornetSting on March 19, 2009 at 1:53 PM
No. They are all crooks. And they are stealing us and our country (and our grandchildren) blind.
Alana on March 19, 2009 at 1:53 PM
NO, NO, NO! We almost got rid of her! Come on everybody, take one for us back here in Kansas. Pleeeease?
Keyser-Soze on March 19, 2009 at 1:54 PM
We can pay for a nice grey suit as well. Maybe a cat too? Shall his name be Mr. Bigglesworth?
Yngmarine on March 19, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Where will this all end?? Hopefully, with the adults back in charge!!!!!!
Dread Pirate Roberts VI on March 19, 2009 at 1:55 PM
One thing for sure with her as Secretary of Health and Human Services there will be more money coming their way.
albill on March 19, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Barry is surrounding himself with individuals who are obviously incompetent thieves who rather lie when the truth would be easier. Sebelius is a human contradiction and fits the mold perfectly.
volsense on March 19, 2009 at 1:55 PM
If this were a tv series, people would stop watching because it’s too unbelievable.
TOTUS has reverse-Midas touch: Everything He touches turns corrupt.
rbj on March 19, 2009 at 1:56 PM
Are they sure about that?
Sounds to me like they bought them a Jackass.
Ol’ Kathy the Jackass. Don’t stand behind her, she’s been eating lettuce.
NoDonkey on March 19, 2009 at 1:56 PM
Without too much fuss
They’ll toss her under the bus
Without getting blood on the tires
thomasaur on March 19, 2009 at 1:56 PM
“This is not the (Fill in the blank) I used to know”- Teleprompter Obama
portlandon on March 19, 2009 at 1:57 PM
Chrissy Matthews, did the Dems “outsource” their rebuttal of last year’s State of the Union address? Sebelius, like Jindal, isn’t a member of Congress.
Of course, Governor Jindal’s not suspected of involvement with “assisted giving” schemes.
Christien on March 19, 2009 at 1:57 PM
People need to wake up and realize that the democratic party was taken over by the communists after the Kennedy lads decided to take on the communists in the US Gov’t. in the 50′s.
How can anyone not be surprised that the big 0 is a flaming communist?
Remember the difference between a communist and a socialist is that a communist targets specific groups for elimination, which the big 0 has done with his pogrom against the unborn, senior citizens via the rationing of healthcare, and his attempt to shorten the lives of vets by making them pay for injuries received in the line of duty. His pogrom against the US workforce with card check is also a communist attempt to take over every business in this country that hires anyone not related to the business owner.
Communists also enrichen themselves at the expense of everyone else; this should ring a bell.
I truly hate communists and my former party. Truman and JFK are both spinning in their respective graves at the communists takeover of the democratic party. Nice work America!!!
And for another spin on the democratic party, it was the party of the CSA, Jim Crow, Bull Connor, the kkk.
Remember that Dr. King was a REPUBLICAN because he refused to be a member of a party that was the CSA government, as well as the party that created Jim Crow.
As for the big 0; the little man is the worst President since Harding, which says alot since Carter ruined everything he touched.
calguyintexas on March 19, 2009 at 1:57 PM
I must say that I do find that Obama has simplified and opened up this whole process for me as he promised.
His corrupt nominees are all corrupt in the exact thing they are being nominated for. In the past you have to think about it. Sure using your per Diem for an in house illegal alien bikini waxer is bad but does it really effect how good a Secretary of the Interior the candidate will be? That’s a lot to think about, now it’s easy to see the corruption and how it will effect government.
Thanks Obama!
Rocks on March 19, 2009 at 1:58 PM
This isn’t going to inspire confidence in Obamacare.
myrenovations on March 19, 2009 at 1:58 PM
haha Good idea.
becki51758 on March 19, 2009 at 1:59 PM
All those developmentally disabled people Sebelius failed to abort need $400K to horse around.
Steve Z on March 19, 2009 at 1:59 PM
OH YEAH, we still have Richardson in NM….she’s yours!
Sorry.
HornetSting on March 19, 2009 at 1:59 PM
I wonder who Keith Olbermann’s Worst Person in the World is this week?
It’d be so much easier for him if he picked from the Dems! Starting with Bawney Fwank.
kirkill on March 19, 2009 at 1:59 PM
I hope this story gets legs and she drops out of the running. Richardson did.
I can dream, can’t I?
Oink on March 19, 2009 at 2:01 PM
At least she has a history of giving out horses. 2 months in; no damn unicorns. I’m pissed.
lorien1973 on March 19, 2009 at 2:01 PM
I would not be surprised if Kathleen Sebelius along with her Dem cohorts funded a Jackalope ranch or government sponsored Snipe hunts for $400,000. Fictional entities paid for with real money.
portlandon on March 19, 2009 at 2:01 PM
Oh, I inform everyone I run into that Dr. King was a Republican and only the idiot liberals do not know it.
The Republican Party needs billboards on every highway that informs everyone that the man with the dream was a Republican!
I have never met a young African-American that is aware that Dr. King was a Republican.
calguyintexas on March 19, 2009 at 2:01 PM
Obama cabinet meeting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dW9-llaIS-g
joey24007 on March 19, 2009 at 2:01 PM
NO NO NO! We Kansanians were this close to being rid of her!
Btw, I live in Lenexa, have a disabled Mom-in-law and I’ve never even heard of this outfit…
Rogue on March 19, 2009 at 2:02 PM
Dammit cant they find another spot for there in Obacabinet? Everyone here was trying to stay quiet about her to get rid of her.
canditaylor68 on March 19, 2009 at 2:03 PM
Are you trying to kill people? Nobody can handle that much alcohol…
redshirt on March 19, 2009 at 2:04 PM
you’ve gotta connect more dots than this to have anything more than a democrat-like sarah palin-hunt. of course, had the name involved been sarah palin, she’d already be vilified by every MSM outlet in NOrth America.
GoodSamaritan on March 19, 2009 at 2:04 PM
How come we never see the Obama apolgists replying on posts like these? Hmmmmm?
Youngs98 on March 19, 2009 at 2:05 PM
You can only misappropriate monies on the down low.
OhEssYouCowboys on March 19, 2009 at 2:05 PM
We were so close…to throwing her a going away party…
canditaylor68 on March 19, 2009 at 2:05 PM
LMAO…no.
HornetSting on March 19, 2009 at 2:05 PM
Yeah, where is getalife?
redshirt on March 19, 2009 at 2:06 PM
Damn it! Ha-ha.
Keyser-Soze on March 19, 2009 at 2:07 PM
I’m actually surprised they didn’t wait until she was in Washington to bring this up…
Sebelius got into a pissing match with the state legislature recently because she wanted to tap certain funds to pay for things and the legislature told her “No! Not yours!”
That resulted in her sending out IOUs instead of income tax refund checks (the only state besides the near-bankrupt California to do so) and threatening to lay off state employees, IIRC.
teke184 on March 19, 2009 at 2:09 PM
WHEN I SAW THIS…
…I thought maybe someone had quipped regarding Sebelius:
“Make no mistake – I’d hit it.”
SlimyBill on March 19, 2009 at 2:09 PM
I bet someone is going to get called out at the Red Star for reporting this! The Editorial Board will denounce their own paper!
(Although I admit, I do use the Ed Board voting recommendations; everyone they recommend, I vote the other way!)
JamesLee on March 19, 2009 at 2:09 PM
It is truly amazing how the light of corruption has shone on the entire party called Democrap (nope. that ain’t a type-o).
madmonkphotog on March 19, 2009 at 2:09 PM
Axlerod: “Our pool of candidates for cabinet positions is running dry Mr. President”
Obama: “Call Gitmo, no, call Tony, no, call Hugo, no, hell, call that ranch in Texas.
Rovin on March 19, 2009 at 2:09 PM
I just want to be rid of her…there’s no time to party…might bring the wrath of Barney Fwank down on us ;)
Rogue on March 19, 2009 at 2:10 PM
Shh. Still on the Suicide Bomber thread.
HornetSting on March 19, 2009 at 2:12 PM
You guys are cherry picking here.
See what Robert Gibbs has to say:
“The bar that we set is the highest that any administration in the country has ever set.”
CinC on March 19, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Another Dem crook? No way!!!
marklmail on March 19, 2009 at 2:21 PM
You guys are cherry picking here.
See what Robert Gibbs has to say:
“The bar that we set is the highest that any administration in the country has ever set.”
CinC on March 19, 2009 at 2:18 PM
You think he meant to say “We’re made up of lawyers smoking the most sticky-icky of any administration this country has ever seen”?
teke184 on March 19, 2009 at 2:21 PM
As I have said, for quite a few years now, all the non-scumbag, honest Democrats retired or switched parties long ago. Can anyone name a Dim that isn’t corrupt?
Sporty1946 on March 19, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Even Brownback is supporting her confirmation =) Maybe this is why.
I just want her gone. She tried to create an entire healthcare program in Kansas paid for by smokers. Ugh.
canditaylor68 on March 19, 2009 at 2:23 PM
IS there a pattern? What was your first clue.
tarpon on March 19, 2009 at 2:24 PM
Are you kidding me on that Ray, I want to tax your mileage LaHood?
Knucklehead on March 19, 2009 at 2:24 PM
Martin Luther King, Sr. was definitely a Republican. MLK Jr. may have been at one time but there’s not a lot of certainty around this. Some claim so, some not.
I would not personally choose to push this issue.
Gilda on March 19, 2009 at 2:25 PM
There, that’s a little more accurate…
loudmouth883 on March 19, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Caption: I think GFY is that way.
radiofreevillage on March 19, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Yeah….ya would….except you’d have a buddy jump out from the closet with a vidcam and you’d play the rodeo game.
LimeyGeek on March 19, 2009 at 2:31 PM
With each passing day, we realize that people who spoke-up on behalf of Hussein during the campaign, did so only for personal gain.
In the words of Johnny Cash,…
.
.
Well you may throw your rock and hide your hand
Workin’ in the dark against your fellow man
But as sure as God made black and white
What’s done in the dark will be brought to the light
You can run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Sooner or later God’ll cut you down
Sooner or later God’ll cut you down
Go tell that long tongue liar
christene on March 19, 2009 at 2:32 PM
Are you kidding me? LaHood? Is he related to Roy VonNigga?
LimeyGeek on March 19, 2009 at 2:33 PM
If MLK were alive today and saw all of the things that have been done by Democrats in his name, he’d never stop throwing up.
Little twist on the Woody Allen quote about Jesus.
NoDonkey on March 19, 2009 at 2:33 PM
I suggest that Obama take a leaf out of the playbook of the Governor of Alaska and take submissions and conduct interviews from several Democrats all across the country, review their resumes as any good persoonel officer would do and make a decision on who the best person would be to fulfill that role and be able to pass confirmation.
No, I could not do that; I would then admit that Sarah Palin is not a bimbo and even more important have to admit that I was an idiot in selecting so many poor candidates who were either not qualified or had legal or tax problems.
technopeasant on March 19, 2009 at 2:33 PM
I Think They’re All Bozos on That Bus!
Buford Gooch on March 19, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Well, I guess we know what she did with the tax refund checks that she was refusing to send out.
Damiano on March 19, 2009 at 2:39 PM
CaptainObvious on March 19, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Don’t Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me My Pliers!
Nice F/T reference. : )
thomasaur on March 19, 2009 at 2:39 PM
I wonder what the odds are that this outfit has some kind of ties, however tenuous, to ACORN.
NoLeftTurn on March 19, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Best Administration, evah! HIGHEST ETHICAL BAR EVER!
GarandFan on March 19, 2009 at 2:49 PM
My name is Attila, and I am an Obamaholic….
Right_of_Attila on March 19, 2009 at 2:49 PM
“while they spent $400,000 building a horse ranch”
Ed, that was just the cost for the property. The ranch has a 22,000 square foot equestrian center and meeting lodge, a home, pool, nature trails, and a host of amenities. In late 2008 they were soliciting to reach a goal of $76,000 to fund the start of an equestrian program, acquiring and training horses and all that goes with it, in the Spring of 2009. I’d ballpark the stable/meeting lodge alone at $3M.
This has all the earmarks of that old joke about the gambler who asks the friend $10,000 so his mother can have her much needed operation. I’d sure like to see CLO’s annual report for 2007 at least (2008′s isn’t due until June 15) to the Secretary of State but it is not online.
Dusty on March 19, 2009 at 2:57 PM
Yeehaw!
SlimyBill on March 19, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Are you sure we’re not talking about the UAW resort and spa?
You gotta hand it to the Democrats. They’re all about employing the little people – as landscapers, gardeners, bartenders, masseuses, waiters, caddys, etc.
NoDonkey on March 19, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Oh God please we do not want her back here in Kansas. But I dont want her confirmed.
canditaylor68 on March 19, 2009 at 1:41 PM
No we don’t want her back here. Please take her someone please. Problem is, if she is not confirmed then she’ll probably run for the vacant senate seat in ’10 (Brownback is leaving to run for Gov.) Actually, she’s originally from Ohio, maybe they’ll take her back.
Sort of OT: When or when are we Kansans going to stop hearing Wizard of Oz references. My oh My!
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on March 19, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Looks like another Obama cabinet pick is getting ready to lay down and get some tire tracks across the face & chest.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/mar/18/exclusive-commerce-pick-tied-china-cash/
portlandon on March 19, 2009 at 3:13 PM
I wonder what the odds are that this outfit has some kind of ties, however tenuous, to ACORN.
NoLeftTurn on March 19, 2009 at 2:46 PM
At this point with the possible exception of Lawrence, the only Acorns we have here in Kansas fall off trees and feed Squirrels.
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on March 19, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Come on Kansas…Take One for the Team!!
PappaMac on March 19, 2009 at 3:27 PM
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