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TOPEKA, Kan.

Several Kansas Supreme Court justices expressed skepticism Tuesday about a Republican official's decision to keep the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate on the ballot against his wishes as they reviewed a legal dispute that could affect the national fight for control of the Senate.

During arguments before the court, justices focused on whether a formal letter from Democrat Chad Taylor to withdraw from the race required Secretary of State Kris Kobach to remove Taylor's name from the Nov. 4 ballot. Some Democrats nudged Taylor out of the race because they see independent candidate Greg Orman as the stronger rival to three-term Republican incumbent Sen. Pat Roberts.

"The letter is what it is," Justice Dan Biles said from the bench. "If, as a matter of law, the letter complies with the statute, he (Kobach) has no discretion."

The Democrat's withdrawal thrust the Senate race into the national spotlight. Republicans hope to recapture a Senate majority and they've always counted on Roberts winning re-election in his GOP-leaning state. Some Democrats believe an Orman victory could deny the GOP a majority in a close national election.

Roberts, 78, has looked vulnerable since a tough GOP primary race against a tea party challenger. Orman, a 45-year-old businessman and co-founder of a private equity firm, raised more in contributions and was more visible on television than Democrat Taylor, the Topeka-area district attorney.

Kobach, who serves on Roberts' honorary campaign committee with other prominent Republicans, ruled that Taylor's name had to remain on the ballot because the candidate didn't meet the requirements of state law in withdrawing. Keeping Taylor's name on the ballot could split the anti-Roberts vote and allow the incumbent to win more easily.

A state election law says nominees' names can be removed from the ballot if they die or declare they're incapable of fulfilling the duties of office. Taylor's letter said he wanted to withdraw "pursuant to" the law, but he has not given a reason why he can't serve. Taylor attended the hearing but declined to comment.

Taylor petitioned the court to overturn Kobach's decision. The court is expected to rule quickly, because county officials must begin mailing ballots Saturday to overseas military personnel.

But a court decision may not be the end of the legal dispute.

Read the original post:
Kansas judges question why Democrat kept on ballot

John Tuohy, Stephanie Wang and Brian Eason, brian.eason@indystar.com 10:04 p.m. EDT September 15, 2014

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard (Photo: Matt Kryger / The Star)

A City-County Council Democrat and aides to Republican Mayor Greg Ballard are seeking a way to save the mayor's early childhood education plan for low-income children.

The negotiations come as Ballard's funding proposal for the program appears headed for defeat at a council committee meeting Tuesday night.

The Democrat-controlled council is expected to reject paying for pre-kindergarten by eliminating a local property tax credit.

Democratic Councilman John Barth said he is trying to salvage a compromise that mollifies both sides. He has been in talks with the administration to find another way to fund the five-year, $50 million initiative that would provide pre-school for thousands of 4-year-olds.

The battle over the ambitious plan and how it would be paid for has raged since Ballard proposed it in July. Some observers see political gamesmanship at play, with the 2015 mayoral election quickly approaching and Democrats and Republicans eager to assign blame for derailed policies or claim credit for programs that are implemented.

Barth said about four or five funding alternatives have been proposed for the pre-K program, but he declined to give details. Though his party opposes paying for the program with the tax credit, some members think it is a worthy program that should be pursued, if possible, Barth said.

"There is some support on the council floor for a version of the pre-K program," Barth said. "What exactly it will look like is unknown so far, but the goal is to serve the same amount of children."

Mayoral spokesman Marc Lotter confirmed that proposals that don't touch the homestead credit are being discussed.

Excerpt from:
Democrat tries to rescue Ballard's pre-K plan

Rep. Mike Michaud, D-Maine, left, joined by Former President Bill Clinton, right, speaks Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014 in Portland, Maine at a campaign rally for Michauds campaign for governor. (AP Photo/Joel Page) more >

By - Associated Press - Monday, September 15, 2014

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) Gubernatorial hopeful Mike Michaud says Maine must take advantage of telemedicine and support preventative care services that can reduce health care costs down the road.

The Democrats 10-part health care plan released on Monday also includes expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, which he has pledged to put forward on his first day in office, if elected.

Republican Gov. Paul LePage opposes the expansion because he says it will be too costly for Maine.

Michauds plan also calls for facilitating the use of telehealth services, which allows physicians to interact with patients via video, to prevent costly hospital admissions.

He also proposes improving substance abuse and mental health services, by creating a policy center to recommend evidence-based prevention and treatment plans, among other things.

See the article here:
Democrat Michaud outlines ideas around health care

Im not Barack Obama, she says after demonstrating her prowess with a pump-action skeet gun. I disagree with him on guns, coal and the EPA, she added, referring to the Federal Environmental Protection Agency which is reviled as a regulatory burden in much of rural and conservative America.

Democrats currently control the 100-member senate - with 53 members and two Democrat-leaning independents - but most predictions show they are now likely to lose their majority in November, further emasculating the Obama presidency.

Democrats had hoped Ms Grimes could win an important victory, but she is currently trailing her opponent, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell by 5 points according to the RealClearPolitics aggregate of polls.

Mr McConnell, 72, was first elected in 1984, and in the ad Ms Grimess mocks the ageing senators attempt to curry favour with conservative voters when he brandished a musket at a major conservative conference in Washington earlier this year.

Mitch, thats not how you hold a gun, the youthful Ms Grimes taunted her opponent in closing the 30-second ad.

Mr McConnells campaign shrugged off the insult. An inexperienced Obama liberal with a gun is no less dangerous for Kentucky families than one without, his campaign told Politico.

Read the rest here:
Gun-toting Democrat Senate hopeful: 'I'm not Barack Obama'

Kansas Democrat Chad Taylor, who quit the U.S. Senate race there on Sept. 3, has found his exit blocked by a Republican who wont let him off the ballot.

Republican Secretary of State Kris Kobach rejected Taylors withdrawal letter as deficient, forcing the Democrat to stay in the contest where he could siphon votes from independent Greg Orman, who is running neck-and-neck with Republican incumbent Pat Roberts.

Taylor has sued to be removed from the ballot, which must be finalized by Sept. 19. The Kansas Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments today in Topeka.

The court battle comes as Republicans fight for a net gain of six seats in the Nov. 4 election that would give them control of the U.S. Senate. Democrats now hold 55 seats and are defending 21 of them. Republicans are defending 15 seats.

Roberts, whos held his post since 1997, trailed Orman 37 percent to 36 percent, according to SurveyUSA poll results released Sept. 8, in which voters were asked how they would vote knowing Taylor no longer wants to run yet will remain on the ballot. Ten percent said theyd vote for Taylor.

By keeping my name on the ballot despite my explicit and timely withdrawal, the Secretary of State is conscripting me to run for office, in violation of my First Amendment rights, Taylor said in court papers.

A state prosecutor in Kansass Shawnee County who struggled to raise money in the race, Taylor claims his withdrawal letter was approved by an official in Kobachs office before being rejected by the secretary of state.

Lawyers for Kobach said in court papers that the Democratic nominee failed to declare hes incapable of fulfilling the duties of the office if elected, as required by law, making his withdrawal letter ineffectual.

The letter was delivered to Kobachs office in the late afternoon of Sept. 3, the last day Taylor could legally drop out of the race, according to the secretary of states lawyers. The court said it will hear 20 minutes of argument from each side.

The case is Taylor v. Kobach, 14-112431-S, Kansas Supreme Court (Topeka).

Continue reading here:
Kansas Senate Race Dropout Sues to Get Name Off Ballot