November 3, 2023     The Friday File Donate Now KSGOP CLICK HERE     Guest Column by Brent Hoffman Chairman Douglas County Republican Party Significant Change in Kansas Begins at the Local Level - Go Vote! Local races for school board, city commission and county commission are just as important, if not more important, as any state or federal election. Local elections have consequences locally, statewide, and even nationwide. In Douglas County, years and years of electing City Commissioners, County Commissioners, and School Board members who place the interests of themselves along with State and National special interest groups ahead of their constituents and taxpayers has resulted in significant increases to property taxes from all local taxing units. Reckless spending in recent years has resulted in property tax increases of 54% within the City of Lawrence alone, just in the past 8 years (2017 through 2024 adopted budget). These tax increases are in addition to large increases in cost-of-living expenses experienced by everyone with a pulse over the past 2 years. This approach is not sustainable for Douglas County nor for numerous other counties across our state. In addition, the overbudgeting tactics employed by the local taxing units (county, city and school boards) result in higher property taxes billed. When any or all of these units then spend less than their inflated budget it results in building excess cash and investment balances. This cash and investment hoarding is real and is also unsustainable. The cash balance for Douglas County at the end of 2022 was over $155MM, up over $100MM since the end of 2016. Cash receipts (based on the budget) exceeded actual expenditures by nearly $87MM over the same period. The years and years of being fiscally irresponsible must stop, but if Republicans only place the blame on Democrats and refuse to accept responsibility nothing will change. Sadly, over the past decade or two, Republicans in Douglas County have largely disengaged from their local politics. This complacency has led to bloated government, fiscal irresponsibility, bad policies, and lack of accountability. That is beginning to change in Douglas County, but we have a lot of work to do. We must key in on common issues affecting all voters and taxpayers locally and remain laser focused on our end goals. It is imperative for us to find qualified, passionate, honest, and competent candidates who are committed to the values stated in the Kansas Republican Platform to run for office. It will take more than a handful of people who are willing to donate and raise money for their campaigns, door-knock and call voters in their districts, and hold them accountable after those campaigns are successful. In the years ahead, we will be intentional about engaging Conservatives and Republicans so we can increase the number of common-sense voters that are registered in Douglas County and educate them on the importance of voting in local, off-year, so called non-partisan elections. We then must be better at turning them out to vote. If we do this, I am confident that we will make progress in turning this little blue dot in a big red State back to a more purplish hue. We cannot lose sight of the importance of local elections. They will have consequences for all of us for years. Please vote next Tuesday if you haven’t already and encourage your family and friends to vote as well.     Resolutions Committee Chairman’s Update by Linda Highland Hearing Set to Consider End of Social Emotional Learning The KSGOP Resolution adopted at the State Committee Meeting on September 30, 2023, calling for the end of Social Emotional Learning in Kansas schools, has been sent to the Kansas State Board of Education. On November 14, the KSBE meets at 900 SW Jackson Street, Topeka, at 10:00 a.m. to hear from the public. Please join with other Republicans to speak to the board during the 3-minute per person public comment period. The Norton County Republican Central Committee is endorsing the resolution by signing and sending it to the board. They call upon other county executive committees and individuals to join with them to email and write the KSBE and local school boards. Attached are the KSBE contact information and the resolution. Kansas is among 27 states that have SEL in place as a comprehensive curriculum. The Missouri State Board of Education recently voted to not adopt the SEL curriculum. Local school boards do not have to adopt the comprehensive SEL curriculum but do have to report to the KSDE some form of SEL training. The Medal of Honor Character Development program is one way to meet the standard while teaching honorable values. The academic scores of our Kansas students have suffered since SEL became a growing part of the school day. For example, Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson reported in 2023 that 32.89% of all Kansas public school students are scoring in math at the lowest proficiency of Level 1, "a limited ability to understand and use the skills and knowledge needed for postsecondary readiness." Only 8.18% of all students assessed in 2023 ELA scored at the highest Level 4, "an excellent ability to understand and use knowledge needed for postsecondary readiness." Behavioral data collection and surveys are a huge concern. Let's help the KSBE do the right thing to end SEL and return to a focus on academics in Kansas schools by standing up and speaking for our children. Linda Highland, Chair KSGOP Resolution Committee Kansas State Board of Education Contact Information District 1 Danny Zeck 1924 Pine Ridge Drive Leavenworth, KS 66048 Phone: (913) 683-1836 Email: [email protected] District 2 Melanie Haas 9909 Craig Dr. Overland Park, KS 66212 Phone: (816) 226-7728 Email: [email protected] District 3 Michelle Dombrosky 14248 W. 157th St. Olathe, KS 66062 Phone: (913) 782-1835 Email: [email protected] District 4 Ann E. Mah 3351 SE Meadowview Dr. Topeka, KS 66605 Phone: (785) 266-9434 Cell: (785) 231-0823 Email: [email protected] District 5 Cathy Hopkins 1714 Eisenhower Road Hays, KS 67601 Phone:(913) 634-0445 Email:[email protected] District 6 Dr. Deena Horst 920 S. 9th Salina, KS 67401 Phone: (785) 827-8540 Cell: (785) 822-5521 Email: [email protected] District 7 Dennis Hershberger 8812 S. Halstead St. Hutchinson, KS 67501 Phone: (620) 931-7459 Email: [email protected] District 8 Betty Arnold 5311 E. Pembrook St. Wichita, KS 67220 Phone: (316) 684-7792 Email: [email protected] District 9 Jim Porter 501 S. 7th Fredonia, KS 66736 Phone: (316) 617-6779 Email: [email protected] District 10 Jim McNiece 1213 Manchester Court Wichita, KS 67212 Phone: (316) 729-9742 Email: [email protected] Resolution Calling for the End of Social Emotional Learning (CLICK HERE)     Olathe School Board Loses Lawsuit, Johnson County BOCC Chairman Mike Kelly, Take Note On Thursday, November 2, 2023, a verdict was released in a lawsuit filed by Jenny Gilmore, a candidate for the Olathe School Board. The lawsuit was filed two years ago against the Olathe School Board President, Joe Beveridge, by Gilmore because she was stopped at the beginning of her public comments in a public meeting of the Olathe School Board at Beveridge’s stern authoritarian direction. Gilmore was not allowed to finish her comments due to Beveridge’s juvenile temper tantrum from the Dias, including temporarily pausing the meeting because he clearly knew he had overstepped but ultimately and definantly refusing to back off. In her lawsuit, Gilmore claimed her United States Constitutional rights, and specifically, her First Amendment right to free speech had been violated. Gilmore did not sue the school district. For unknown reasons, the Olathe School District chose to take up the financial responsibility for the cost of Beveridge’s defense using taxpayer dollars earmarked for public education to pay for lawyers to get Beveridge out of hot water. It did not work. A jury verdict announced yesterday found Beveridge, not the Olathe School District, did engage in viewpoint discrimination and violated Gilmore’s First Amendment right. As a result, she was awarded the $1 she sued for, plus all of her associated legal costs. All of this was easily avoidable if Beveridge had just let Gilmore have her Constitutionally protected say. He refused, and as such he failed in his sworn duty per his Oath of Office to uphold the Constitution. As a result of this blatant failure he should resign his position on the Olathe School Board immediately, and he should pay these costs personally, not burdening the Olathe School District and taxpayers with the financial burden and poor results of his lacking judgment. “This case was NEVER about money for me but was about our local government upholding their oath to the US Constitution and 1st amendment.”, said Gilmore in a social media post yesterday. “I hope parents feel and see this win for them as I did today.” Gilmore continued, “I ask for your vote on November 7th to give parents a seat at the table when it comes to putting students first in our Olathe schools because I only asked for $1. There is no way to ensure they won't do it again without a board that believes parents have a right to speak to their school board.” Gilmore is on the ballot for the Olathe School Board, made up of seven total members, next Tuesday November 11th. In addition to the position she is looking to fill, three other seats are also on the ballot. This means there is the opportunity to definitively take over the Olathe School Board with Conservative Republicans vs. the Democrats and totalitarianists currently holding these spots. GO VOTE! Additionally, the verdict in this lawsuit serves as a legal notice to Mike Kelly, Chairman of the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners, who has stifled free speech at BOCC meetings since becoming Chairman last year, following in the anti-first amendment footsteps of the previous Chairman, Ed Eilert. Beginning next Thursday at the BOCC meeting, a group pointing out this rights violation will again appear for public comments. If those comments are stifled, cut off, or in any way not allowed to be conveyed in the same manner as the balance of the business meeting, a lawsuit will be filed shortly after that, according to several Johnson County citizens with standing. Mike Kelly needs to get a thicker skin and wise up. His hurt feelings and massive ego do not give him, or any member of the BOCC, the ability to legally ignore the First Amendment. The crazy Left-wing chaos of 2020 is ebbing. Can you feel and see it? Normalcy is creeping back into daily life, and common sense appears to be on the rise. Free Americans with the right to address those who work for them should have never been violated. This story will be updated in The Friday File next week. Note: The Friday File Guest Column is made available to Republican candidates for President of the United States or to a specific Republican of particular importance, significance, or interest to Kansas Republican voters. The Friday File has an e-mailed circulation of approximately 30,000. Columnists are offered this space as a service to Kansas Republicans who want and need to hear from those who desire to be our Republican Presidential nominee or are Republican leaders in or around Kansas. Each author's comments are unedited, published as submitted, and exclusively their own. The opinions and positions shared in The Friday File Guest Column may, or may not, be reflective of the opinions or positions of the publisher or the Kansas Republican Party, Inc. The KSGOP does not endorse nor support any candidate for any office over another in a contested Republican primary election. The Friday File, and all content therein, is the sole property of the publisher. All Rights Reserved.     Conservatively Speaking by KSGOP Chairman Mike Brown Go Vote! Election Day is this coming Tuesday, November 7, 2023, and your KSGOP has been hard at work on Get Out The Vote (GOTV) efforts, including text messaging, email, and direct mail. It has often been said that government closest to the people is the best and most responsive government. Your local school board and city council are as close to home as possible and are comprised of your friends and neighbors. These are folks you likely know and share much in common with, and you may even know their politics. These candidates have been working hard for your vote since summer when it was hot and humid. They've given up personal and family time to run for office, and we owe them our gratitude by voting for them. Check with your local Republican County Party for the names of candidates who share your values as a Kansas Republican. We need you to participate in these looming successes by voting so we can celebrate across Kansas the hundreds of Republican wins just ahead!     Democrats Align with Hamas America must cut off Hamas and block them from access to the outside and Western world. Hamas terrorists are murdering soulless animals who employ barbaric tactics to further their wretchedly wicked and skewed view of the world through their particular religious lens. They believe it is just to imprison and kill innocent civilians, behead children, rape women, and burn babies to death in kitchen ovens, among other unspeakable acts. To be clear, Hamas is a barbarian organization that only understands brute and blunt force which is what must be shown to them. Simply put, Hamas must be eradicated from Earth. And shame on every American Democrat and the Left for not unequivocally condemning the barbaric animals that are Hamas. It is wretched and wicked to witness the antisemitic vitriol coming from the Left and for their vacant support of Israel and the Israeli and Jewish people. The “operational pause” called for by this disastrous Democrat US administration is nothing more than an opportunity for Hamas to re-load. Absolutely not. Hard no. There was an operational pause / cease-fire that existed through October 6, 2023. The killing of innocent Israelis on the morning of October 7, 2023 shattered the cease-fire. The USA must stand with Israel and our Jewish brothers and sisters. No equivocation. No cease-fire. No “Operational Pause”. No mercy. Full eradication.     MEMBERSHIP DRIVE UNDERWAY Join the 1776 Club Now to Become a Card-Carrying Kansas Patriot Today! OUR GOAL IS 200 MEMBERS BY END OF THE YEAR! JOIN NOW! JOIN NOW CLICK HERE 1776 Club     News & Opinion Stories You May Have Missed This Week (Click on Blue Links Below for Stories) Johnson's election to speaker leads the rank-and-file GOP Source: Fox News Johnson unveils $14.3B Israel aid bill paid for with IRS cuts Source: Washington Examiner Speaker Johnson: Israel money must move by itself Source: The Hill House Israel aid bill faces strong Senate opposition Source: Bloomberg Where’s the anger over the US citizens still held by Hamas? Source: National Review GOP sets political trap for Democrats with Israel bill Source: The Hill Extreme anti-Israel, Hamas-sympathizing moments on college campuses Source: Fox News Calls for a Cease-Fire Are Calls for Israel To Surrender Source: The Wall Street Journal Biden canceled $127B of student loans despite court rulings Source: Wall Street Journal Joe Biden sinks to Hillary Clinton's level of unpopularity Source: Washington Examiner Mike Pence drops out of 2024 presidential race Source: CBS News Devastation for Acapulco’s poor after Hurricane Otis Source: AP News Sen. Menendez pleads not guilty to acting as foreign agent Source: National Review Jacob Lew confirmed as US ambassador to Israel Source: AP News Senate hearing turns chaotic with angry protestors Source: Fox News NATO chief warns against escalated tensions in Middle East Source: The Hill Will the 'Squad’ ever be held accountable for their actions? Source: Washington Examiner     🎄 ☃️ 🦌 ⛪ 🎁 🎅🤶 KSGOP Christmas Shopping Headquarters ⛪ 🎁 🎄 🦌 ☃️ 🤶🎅 Order Now to get your KSGOP Gift Gear by Christmas! 🤶🎅 Santa Always Appreciates an Early-Bird ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ CLICK HERE to Shop Now!     Facts and Figures Biden's Failed Foreign Policy The Republican Party will always stand with Israel, our nation’s strongest ally in the Middle East. Our hearts and prayers continue to be with the Israeli people and the men, women, and children who are being held hostage by Hamas terrorists. What you need to know: After 3 years of weak leadership from Joe Biden, America and our allies around the world are less safe. In the Middle East - Biden’s policies of appeasement have enriched the rogue Iranian regime to the tune of tens of billions of dollars. Biden has failed to vigorously enforce congressionally enacted sanctions while opening up new lines of cash for Iran to fund terror. Now, Israel is under attack from Iran-backed terrorist proxies. In Europe - Biden lifted sanctions on Putin’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a move that he was warned was a “calamitous foreign policy disaster.” Not only that, he undermined American energy production, weakening our influence and empowering malign producers of energy like Russia. In Afghanistan – The chaotic troop withdrawal left Americans dead, the Afghan government collapsed and stranded tens of thousands of Afghan allies. In Asia – Biden continues to ignore a growing number of aggressive provocations from the Chinese Communist Party. He gave the CCP a pass on their COVID obstruction, let their spy balloon gather intelligence from sensitive military sites, promoted the use of the CCP spyware app TikTok, and is standing idly by as China reportedly sets up a spy base in Cuba. In North America – Cartels are exploiting Biden’s open borders agenda to poison tens of thousands of Americans with deadly fentanyl. At the same time, experts warn of the ever-growing terror threat as 1.6 million “got aways” have escaped into the country on Biden’s watch. The bottom line: Americans and our allies worldwide are looking for strong leadership from our Commander-in-Chief. Sadly, Joe Biden’s record of weak leadership and appeasement has emboldened our enemies and left our country more vulnerable to attack. Biden's Border Problem Joe Biden's border crisis undermines our national security. What you need to know: New data shows 269,735 illegal immigrants were encountered attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border in September – a 15 percent increase in crossings from the previous month and the highest total for September in DHS history. For 31 straight months, monthly encounters have been higher than even the highest month seen under the previous administration. FY 2023 has seen nearly 2.5 million encounters, surpassing last year’s record. The Biden administration has now set the all-time record for migrant encounters at the southern border for the last three years in a row. With roughly 8,900 daily encounters, this dwarfs the definition of a "crisis" set by Obama's DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson in 2019 when he said that "more than 1,000" encounters a day "overwhelm the system." September’s 269,000-plus encounters is a 462 percent increase from the average August apprehensions from 2017-2020. 13,771 unaccompanied children were encountered. A record 123,815 migrants who crossed as part of a family were encountered. 147,042 illegal immigrants were encountered from countries outside the Northern Triangle and Mexico, showing Biden's crisis is global. At least 169 people on the terror watchlist have been encountered trying to cross the southern border this fiscal year – breaking the record of 98 set last year. More people on the FBI terror watchlist have been arrested at the southern border this fiscal year than the previous six years combined. Nearly 7.9 million illegal immigrants have crossed the border since Biden took office. This includes the nearly 6.3 million illegal immigrants that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has encountered and the more than 1.6 million got aways that have escaped past Border Patrol into the U.S. Border officials say that the official number of gotaways vastly undercounts the illegal immigrants who make it into the U.S. without being apprehended. The bottom line: Biden's failure to address the situation at the border or even recognize it as a crisis is a complete dereliction of duty.     Local Election Dates Approach   Local Elections Matter - Make Your Plan To Vote Now! Local elections are approaching, and it is essential to begin planning to cast your ballot. Local elections are as crucial and critical as federal and presidential elections. Local elections this year in Kansas include city council seats, school board seats, and, in some jurisdictions, community college board of trustee seats. These seats at the Dias are the local levels of government most impactful to your daily life as they are units of government closest to you. Over the last several months, hundreds of Republican candidates running for these offices have been knocking on front doors in their districts across Kansas. Campaigning is challenging, so when the candidates or their teams come to your door, please engage them and thank them for their sacrifice and dedication to making Kansas, America, and the Republican Party ever-better.   Note: If you have a Republican event you would like to tell folks about, please email the details for inclusion consideration to: [email protected] Please Include: date, time, address, and event description   Kansas Republican Calendar of Events November 5, 2023 Daylight Savings Time Ends November 6 In-person advance voting ends at 12 noon November 7 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION DAY November 8, 2023 3rd Republican Presidential Debate Miami, FL November 11, 2023 Veteran’s Day November 14, 2023 10 am Kansas State Board of Education 900 SW Jackson St., Topeka, KS 66612 Hearing to end Social Emotional Learning (SEL) November 23, 2023 Thanksgiving Day December 7 (Sunset) through December 15 (Nightfall) Chanukah December 9, 2023 10 am - 4 pm Overland Park NRA/ILA Freedom Fest Save The Date Notice December 25, 2023 Christmas Day January 1, 2024 New Years Day January 15, 2024 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day January 26-28, 2024 KSGOP State Committee Winter Meeting Location To Be Determined Save The Date Notice January 30 - February 02, 2024 RNC Winter Meeting Las Vegas February 20, 2024 Last Day to Register to Vote or Update Address for 3/19/24 Presidential Preference Primary March 10, 2024 Daylight Savings Time Begins March 19, 2024 Kansas Presidential Preference Primary Election November 3,2024 Daylight Savings Time Ends Local Election Dates Approach   Local Elections Matter - Make Your Plan To Vote Now! Local elections are approaching, and it is essential to begin planning to cast your ballot. Local elections are as crucial and critical as federal and presidential elections. Local elections this year in Kansas include city council seats, school board seats, and, in some jurisdictions, community college board of trustee seats. These seats at the Dias are the local levels of government most impactful to your daily life as they are units of government closest to you. Over the last several months, hundreds of Republican candidates running for these offices have been knocking on front doors in their districts across Kansas. Campaigning is challenging, so when the candidates or their teams come to your door, please engage them and thank them for their sacrifice and dedication to making Kansas, America, and the Republican Party ever-better.   Note: If you have a Republican event you would like to tell folks about, please email the details for inclusion consideration to: [email protected] Please Include: date, time, address, and event description   Kansas Republican Calendar of Events 2023 November 5, 2023 Daylight Savings Time Ends November 6 In-person advance voting ends at 12:00 p.m. November 7 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION DAY November 8, 2023 3rd Republican Presidential Debate Miami, FL November 11, 2023 Veteran’s Day November 14, 2023 10 am Kansas State Board of Education 900 SW Jackson St., Topeka, KS 66612 Hearing to end Social Emotional Learning (SEL) November 23, 2023 Thanksgiving Day December 7 (Sunset) through December 15 (Nightfall) Chanukah December 9, 2023 10 am - 4 pm Overland Park NRA/ILA Freedom Fest 5300 Metcalf Avenue Overland Park, KS December 22 (sunrise through nightfall) Fast of Tevet 10 December 25, 2023 Christmas Day 2024 January 1, 2024 New Years Day January 15, 2024 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day January 25 15 Shevat January 26-28, 2024 KSGOP State Committee Winter Meeting Location To Be Determined Save The Date Notice January 30 - February 02, 2024 RNC Winter Meeting Las Vegas February 20, 2024 Last Day to Register to Vote or Update Address for 3/19/24 Presidential Preference Primary March 10, 2024 Daylight Savings Time Begins March 19, 2024 Kansas Presidential Preference Primary Election March 23, 2024 (sunset) through March 24 (nightfall) Purim April 22 (sunset) through April 30 (nightfall) Passover Wednesday, May 22 Second Passover June 11 (sunset) through June 13 (nightfall) Shavuot November 3,2024 Daylight Savings Time Ends     “The road to Socialism, abject poverty, human suffering, and the end of freedom on earth runs through the middle of a divided Republican party.” ~ Mike Brown     Donate Now KSGOP CLICK HERE     If you received a forwarded copy of The Friday File, please sign up by clicking the box below to get your FREE copy delivered directly to your email and never risk missing out on another issue! 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