December 15, 2023   The Friday File       KSGOP Kansas Days Winter Convention Registration Now Open * * * * * CONVENTION DETAILS ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ Date: January 26, 2024 and January 27, 2024 Location: Overland Park Marriott 10800 Metcalf Avenue Overland Park, KS 66210 A room block at the Overland Park Marriott has been reserved for the KSGOP. The room block reservation registration is now open (see below) and is available for the nights of January 26th and 27th. Please plan for overnight stays on Friday and Saturday nights as there will be late evening and early morning events! All Overland Park Marriott guest rooms have been recently renovated and are available in single-king or double-king configurations. The hotel is also newly renovated, and this will be a first-class experience. Overland Park Marriott Hotel Room Block Reservations ➡️ NOTE: Room Block closes 01/10/24 ⬅️ CLICK HERE KSGOP 2024 Kansas Days Winter Convention Registration CLICK HERE Other Information: Further details on the convention schedule will become available in the coming weeks. There will be many learning opportunities and relevant presentations by folks you will definitely want to hear from - along with a few fun surprises too!     Trump to Remain on Ballot in Michigan KSGOP in Leadership Position at Michigan Supreme Court Read the story from ABC News CLICK HERE In a recent ruling, a Michigan judge dismissed a lawsuit seeking to remove Donald Trump from the state's 2024 ballot using the 14th Amendment as justification. The judge stated that Michigan's secretary of state lacked the authority under state law to determine Trump's eligibility based on this amendment, marking a significant win for Trump, whose vast lead in the 2024 Republican primary race continues to grow, per recent polling. Similar challenges against Trump have surfaced in other states with the Minnesota Supreme Court recently rejecting a related constitutional challenge and a ruling from the Colorado Supreme Court keeping him on the state's ballot. Despite initial rulings, experts anticipate the appeals will likely reach the United States Supreme Court, potentially resolving the matter nationwide. As expected, the liberal advocacy group involved in the Michigan case immediately announced plans to appeal and urged the state Supreme Court to intervene. Judge James Redford highlighted that disqualifying Trump would shift a decision away from elected representatives to a single judicial officer, a scenario he deemed unfitting for a decision of such magnitude. Michigan's Secretary of State, a leftist Democrat, Jocelyn Benson, went on to announce the 2024 presidential primary candidate list, including President Trump. The Trump campaign heralded the decision labeling the cases as "unconstitutional left-wing fantasy". Free Speech For People, the liberal advocacy group involved In the case, criticized the judge's reasoning and vowed to continue legal actions across other states. The legal saga surrounding Trump's eligibility persists, with potential far-reaching implications for the upcoming elections, as courts grapple with the application of the 14th Amendment and the boundaries of judicial intervention in electoral matters. Note: The Kansas Republican Party is proud to join other states in this critical effort. It is an honor for the KSGOP to play a key role in this pivotal chapter of American History. I also wish to express my sincere gratitude to Ben Sisney, Esq., and the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) for their tireless efforts in this case and other similar legal matters. I appreciate their dedicated representation of the Michigan Republican Party as an intervening party in this lawsuit, as well as the unwavering support of other state parties who collaborated with KSGOP to defend our country. Their contributions are invaluable, and their commitment to upholding the law is commendable. Without these amazing Patriots and many others, our republic would not be so robustly defended against these frequent and flagrant assaults on America and our ideals of fairness and justice.     What are the Academic Outcomes and Costs Under SEL? Testimony to Kansas State Board of Education November 14, 2023 Linda Highland Today, CASEL promotes, “SEL should pervade every aspect of a district’s work – from the superintendent’s office to academics and core priorities, to the classroom. Social emotional learning is the pathway towards equity, access, and social justice.” And the Fetzer Institute says, “Now, 30 years later, we are working to add pluralistic, spiritual development into whole child curricula.” The institute, through its partner, CASEL, is adding, “The Question Project to education by fostering “natural spirituality” in schools.” So Fetzer’s desired religion is coming into our schools by way of SEL. The evidence shows that foundations and think tanks push their agendas into the public schools by way of the US Department of Education and congressional funding, and by executive orders of governors pushed by their National Governors Association and other NGOs. Local districts and the state legislature are forced to pay for all of this, because it is mandated by KSDE state accreditation and the Kansas Supreme Court, where the taxpayers were on the hook to fund both sides of education spending court cases. How much does the federal government contribute to the cost of Kansas education? Out of the total costs of over half of the state budget, only 10-12% of federal funding brings bundles of hoops for local districts to navigate. What are the outcomes students are getting with this SEL redirection in Kansas education? Achievement scores are falling drastically, and remediation is commonplace. This is a huge financial and discouraging burden to students who were not properly educated. All the while, our schools are fully funded, spending on average $17,502 per child in 2023. Millions and millions of those dollars are being spent on SEL class work. Kansas is the 3rd highest ranking in state aid with academic scores ranking Kansas 44th in the nation by Ed Week. Most recently assessment scores show only 10.01% of all Kansas students are proficient at the highest level in Math, 8.18% at the highest level in ELA, and 11.8% at the highest level in Science. Your reported academic scores, the ACT, and the NAEP clearly demonstrate that SEL does not improve academic achievement. Just when we thought baby standards were bad, KDHE has health and family standards for all of us! And with Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s new executive order, the state will set OUR standards for us through Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), the same people who tried slapping a mask on your face and a needle in your arm not long ago. Click on Link Below: Kansas Part C State Systemic Improvement Plan Individualized Family Service Plan Family Service Coordination Eligibility Kansas-IDEA-Part-C-Procedure-Manual---Whole-Document         Conservatively Speaking KSGOP Chairman Mike Brown Something Better I wrote a column this week about leadership and defense of the defenseless for the Friday File, however I changed course deciding it was more important to hear from the Father of the Republican Party, Abraham Lincoln. His speech is far, far better than anything I’ve ever written or contemplated. Here are my favorite lines from the president's second inaugural speech; “…with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in…” Have a great weekend, my fellow countrymen. Fellow Countrymen: At this second appearing to take the oath of the Presidential office there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first. Then a statement somewhat in detail of a course to be pursued seemed fitting and proper. Now, at the expiration of four years, during which public declarations have been constantly called forth on every point and phase of this great conflict which is of primary concern to the nation as a whole, little that is new could be presented. The progress of our arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to myself, and it is, I trust, reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all. With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured. On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it, all sought to avert it. While the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, insurgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war—seeking to dissolve the Union and divide effects by negotiation. Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish. And the war came. One-eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was somehow the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union even by war, while the Government claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it. Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with or even before the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes. "Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh." If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether." With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations. —Abraham Lincoln March 4, 1865     Vote Now for Your Presidential Preference Please click the button above for our short (2 min. read) KSGOP Presidential Preference Primary survey. Note: Save The Date March 19, 2024 Kansas Presidential Preference Primary!     Meet the KSGOP National Committeeman and Committewoman Candidates     Dr. Mark Steffen My life has been a series of events preparing me for these times. Husband, father, physician, farmer, oil & gas producer, general contractor: my specialty has been tackling new challenges head on, and with God’s grace…. successfully. In the spirit of servant leadership, I ask for your support for Kansas Republican Party National Committeeman. As an elected County precinct committeeman, District Delegate, State Delegate, and Kansas State Senator, I have led the grassroots’ charge back to the CONSTITUTION, our FREEDOMS, and the TRUTH. I pledge to promote our Kansas Republican Party Platform unapologetically from “Sea to Shining Sea”. UNITY is ultimately found within our values and principles, it’s also where success resides and where a true “Red Wave” begins. The RNC struggles to define what they stand for as their thinking is frequently usurped by big-money donors committed to their selfish interests. Endorsements: the approval I seek is from WE THE PEOPLE, while they are rarely famous, they are Kansas’ greatest asset. My heart and soul are firmly planted in the Kansas Grassroots. A vote for me will be a vote for a Republican revival, a resurgence. I WILL NOT DISAPPOINT!! See my resume at SteffenForKansas.com. Facebook: Dr. Mark Steffen. Cell: 620-802-1188     MARK KAHRS Helping elect solid conservatives to office and advancing the America First agenda has been a lifelong endeavor for me. My most valued political experience is what I've gained as a grassroots activist working with conservatives to elect Republicans. I've served as: Precinct committeeman Field Director for Todd Tiahrt for Congress Kansas GOP State Committee Delegate Sedgwick County Republican Central Committee Chairman Kansas Fourth District Republican Treasurer Kansas Fourth District Chairman Kansas State Representative Vice Chair of the Kansas Republican House Campaign Committee I’ve helped maintain a Republican majority in the Kansas House, fought to keep our Republican primaries closed, recruited conservatives to run for office, and raised money for candidates and conservative initiatives. As a member of the RNC, I am working to strengthen the integrity of our elections and to build conservative coalitions. It’s critical work I hope to continue. My decades of service to the Republican Party helped me earn the support of three of Kansas's Republican Congressional District Chairs – Laura Francis, Eric Rucker, and Debbie Luper. I hope to earn your support as well.     MARIA HOLIDAY I appreciate this opportunity to introduce myself, my name is Maria Holiday and I am currently the Chair of the Johnson County Republican Party. It is one of many roles I have held in Kansas politics. I was born in Wichita and raised in Ellinwood in Barton County. My family moved to Garden City when I was a sophomore. After high school, I graduated from St. Mary of the Plains in Dodge City with a degree in education. My husband's job brought us to Johnson County in 1992. Doc and I have three grown children, four granddaughters, and a lab mix named Ebony. I believe the Republican Party has a winning platform. “We The People,” must pull together to defend our country. I have and will continue to fight for truth! We need leadership who is not timid about promoting our platform. As your National Committeewoman, I will have a vote for new National leadership in 2025. I will vote for a leader that will listen to the grassroots. We need an RNC that can create excitement and hope for the future. We need the RNC to support conservative ideals, project political strength, and win the big races across America and Kansas. “We The People” are desperately waiting for an RNC that is not afraid to take ACTION! In addition to being the Johnson County Chair, I have been the Chair for the Kansas Republican Assembly, the secretary for the 3rd Congressional District, a grassroots coordinator for Phill Kline, a campaign volunteer for multiple campaigns, a campaign manager, and a candidate for public office. I am a 2007 graduate of the Eisenhower Women in Leadership Series. I am unabashedly pro-life, and I have always supported Republican leadership. In my first year as Johnson County Chair, our JCRP team rebuilt our website and added a campaign toolkit for candidates. We have established messaging recommendations, created precinct committee persons recruitment and training committees, held candidate training, and remodeled our office so our 2 dozen local Republican groups have a home large enough to hold their meetings and events. We doubled fundraising this year over last and got a record number of Republicans out to vote in a local election. If you want a National Committee Woman who gets things done - I’m your girl. I care about our country. I care about saving it.     WENDY BINGESSER Wendy is currently serving as the Chair of the Third District Republican Party and previously served as the Chair of the Olathe Republican Party. She is a graduate of the Eisenhower Series and a member of the KFRW. In 2020, she personally knocked the entirety of four critical Kansas House districts and won them all. These wins allowed Republicans to keep their supermajority and deliver on key proposals. As a Johnson County Charter Commissioner, Wendy won a battle to keep the sheriff an elected office and blocked a radical proposal for a public health and safety governing board. Wendy is a mother, wife, K-State alumna, and proud Kansas conservative. Blessings, Wendy     How Do The Elections For NCM & NCW Work? As the KSGOP State Committee Meeting on January 27, 2024 approaches, here is some detail on the official elections of NCM & NCW. The KSGOP Bylaws (see below) specifically detail that the KSGOP Executive Director or the KSGOP Secretary must be notified by a candidate no less than seven days before the official Winter State Committee meeting. Several candidates have officially declared their candidacy to the KSGOP including (alphabetically by last name) Wendy Bingesser, Maria Holiday, Mark Kahrs, and Mark Steffen. Other interested candidates should read and follow the KSGOP Constitution and Bylaws available at www.kansas.gop. Upon official notification to the KSGOP, the candidate should expect to receive a written confirmation from the Executive Director or Secretary confirming said notification. If you have submitted a notification but did not receive a confirmation, please resend it and ask for a received receipt. Each official candidate is eligible to supply a short narrative to Mike Brown at [email protected] regarding their experience, qualifications, endorsements, and any other pertinent information plus a picture of themselves. The KSGOP leadership, all members of the State Committee, and all Precinct Committeemen/women, in their official party capacity, are forbidden from endorsing, backing, or supporting candidates participating in primary elections, including inner-party races. This rule applies to the race for Kansas National Committeeman/woman. Certainly, all Kansas Republicans (including me) reserve the right to personally endorse any Republican candidate in any race at any time in their personal and private capacity. I discourage all elected and party Republicans from endorsements as they create unnecessary division and hard feelings when the KSGOP is now coming together and readying for 2024. Unity First!   NCM / NCW Election Rules Kansas Republican Party Bylaws Paragraph 8 Election of NCM/NCW National Committeeman and National Committeewoman (B) STATE COMMITTEE OFFICERS State Committee Membership Not Required: It shall not be necessary for any officer of the state committee to be a member of the state committee at the time of his or her election. Election: Elective officers of the state committee shall be elected by secret ballot, except in the case of uncontested elections. To have their name placed in nomination for any elected state party position, a candidate must provide the state party Secretary or Executive Director written notice of their intent to have their name placed into nomination seven (7) days before the election date. The Secretary or Executive Director will inform all state committee members and alternate members of all candidates for state party office no later than five (5) days before the election date. Republican National Committee Governing Rule No. 2 Election of NCM/NCW National Committeeman and National Committeewoman (a) Method of Election (1) Where the rules adopted by a state Republican Party provides a method of election of the national committeeman and the national committeewoman; they shall be elected pursuant to such method. (2) Where the rules adopted by a state Republican Party does not provide a method of election of the national committeeman and the national committeewoman, and where state laws do provide such a method of election, they shall be elected pursuant to such method provided by state laws. (3) Where neither the rules adopted by a state Republican Party nor state laws provide a method of election of the national committeeman and the national committeewoman, the national convention delegation from such state shall elect them. (6) Prior to the convening of each national convention, the chairman of the delegation from each state shall submit the names of the elected national committee members to the secretary of the convention and their election shall be ratified by the national convention if otherwise in accordance with these rules.   (a) Method of Election (1) Where the rules adopted by a state Republican Party provides a method of election of the national committeeman and the national committeewoman; they shall be elected pursuant to such method. (2) Where the rules adopted by a state Republican Party does not provide a method of election of the national committeeman and the national committeewoman, and where state laws do provide such a method of election, they shall be elected pursuant to such method provided by state laws. (3) Where neither the rules adopted by a state Republican Party nor state laws provide a method of election of the national committeeman and the national committeewoman, the national convention delegation from such state shall elect them. (6) Prior to the convening of each national convention, the chairman of the delegation from each state shall submit the names of the elected national committee members to the secretary of the convention and their election shall be ratified by the national convention if otherwise in accordance with these rules.       MEMBERSHIP DRIVE UNDERWAY Join the 1776 Club Now As a Card-Carrying Kansas Republican Patriot, You Qualify to Receive Amazing Benefits of Membership! We are VERY close to our goal of 200 members by year-end! JOIN NOW! ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ JOIN NOW CLICK HERE 1776 Club     “Tell Me Something Good…” “Tell Me Something Good…” is an uplifting and informative column by YOU! Submittals may be an email, a picture, a meme, a joke, or about anything you think worthy. But keep it clean and family-friendly, please! NOTE: Email your submittals to [email protected] School Principal Adopts Student Who Was Sent to His Office By Andy Corbley of A middle school principal in Kentucky adopted a girl who was acting out after she had spent her whole life in and out of foster homes. Sent to his office after being suspended, he realized that she just needed, perhaps one time, for “something to go in her favor.” Kentucky school principal Jason Smith walked out of his office one day and saw a girl from the 6th grade sitting on a chair by the door—suspended for throwing a cup of yogurt during lunch. One can only imagine how much delinquency and mischief Smith had seen throughout his 14 years in charge of the school, but something about the girl struck him that day. Asking whether she thought such behavior was acceptable at a restaurant, Raven Whitaker replied she had never been to one. Where she had been was in and out of foster homes for most of her life, where foster moms and dads had made plenty of promises they were unable to keep. “At that point, I had felt like she just needed a hand, needed help,” Smith told Good Morning America. “I recognized that she needed something to go in her favor, maybe for once, that it hadn’t gone in her favor in the past, but she just needed somebody to help her.” After discussing it with his wife Marybeth, she believed there was something special about Raven. The couple had struggled with infertility for years, and had previously failed to turn foster children they’d hosted into candidates for adoption. After discussing the matter with Raven’s case worker in 2015, they heard that they too could foster her. They also talked with her personally about the matter. With their doors opened, Raven wasn’t sure it was going to turn out any differently, although she admitted to GMA that the welcome was immediately and detectably warmer than past homes. “It was really weird at first because, in my mind, I thought of [Jason Smith] as the bad guy because I was always getting in trouble,” Raven Whitaker-Smith told GMA. “I gave them a bunch of trouble to see what would happen, I kind of tested whether or not this was real or not to see if they would keep me no matter what, because they would tell me that but, you know, I’d heard that a lot before.” However, it wasn’t long before the love and sincerity of the couple won her over, and the three became an official family in October 2017. With a principal in the house, Raven improved her performance in school, graduating and moving forward to attend the Univ. of Kentucky where she is studying to be a social worker.     News & Opinion Stories You May Have Missed This Week Why a formal impeachment inquiry is now necessary Source: National Review Let’s be clear: This is about Joe Biden, not Hunter Biden Source: The Federalist Victory seems not to be an option for Biden Source: Wall Street Journal Johnson defends vote to formalize impeachment inquiry Source: Fox News Schumer delays Senate recess to pass Ukraine-border bill Source: Washington Examiner Thousands of migrants overwhelm Arizona border crossing Source: The Sun Argentina's newly elected president sworn into office Source: Fox News SCOTUS declines to hear abortion clinic 'bubble' zones case Source: Washington Examiner Committee calls for tariffs as part of reset with China Source: Daily Caller UN Assembly passes resolution calling for Gaza cease-fire Source: The Hill Congress is on a Christmas spending spree Source: Washington Examiner NY GOP picks Mazi Melesa Pilip to succeed George Santos Source: Politico House passes defense policy bill Source: Wall Street Journal Campus intolerance isn't new, it's just finally in the spotlight Source: Washington Examiner     This is a weekly reminder that Joe Biden President of the United States and his son Hunter Biden are liars and kingpins in a crime syndicate ring. The Biden family has betrayed America, committing the crime of treason. They must be held accountable. Impeach Biden Now You’re welcome! #NeverForget     🎄 ☃️ 🦌 ⛪ 🎁 🎅🤶 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!     2023 December 7 (Sunset) through December 15 (Nightfall) Chanukah December 25 Christmas Day 2024 January 1 New Years Day January 15 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day January 26-28 Celebrating Kansas Day! KSGOP State Committee Meeting Winter Convention Overland Park Marriott 10800 Metcalf Avenue Overland Park, KS 66210 More info coming soon! Stay tuned! January 29 Kansas Day Kansas was admitted to the Union in 1861 January 30 - February 02 RNC Winter Meeting Las Vegas February 20 Last Day to Register to Vote or Update Address for 3/19/24 Presidential Preference Primary March 10 Daylight Savings Time Begins March 19 Kansas Presidential Preference Primary Election June 3 12 noon Candidate Filing Deadline July 16 Deadline to register to vote or update your voter registration information to participate in the 2024 primary election. July 17 First day of advance voting. Advance ballots by mail are transmitted. In-person advance voting may begin. Check with your county election officer for specific times and locations. July 30 Last day to apply for an advance voting mail ballot. August 5 In-person advance voting ends at 12:00 p.m. August 6 PRIMARY ELECTION All advance ballots by mail must be postmarked by Election Day and received by Friday, August 9, 2024. October 15 Deadline to register to vote or update your voter registration information to participate in the 2024 general election. October 16 First day of advance voting. Advance ballots by mail are transmitted. In-person advance voting may begin. Check with your county election officer for specific times and locations. October 29 Last day to apply for an advance voting mail ballot. November 3 Daylight Savings Time Ends November 4 In-person advance voting ends at 12:00 p.m. November 5 GENERAL ELECTION     “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 below to get your FREE copy delivered directly to your email inbox every week and never risk missing out on another issue! Friday File Sign Up CLICK HERE     About KSGOP Donate 1776 Club KSGOP Leadership     Mailing Address: P.O. Box 4157 Topeka KS 66604 Phone: 785-234-3456 Email: [email protected] Website: www.kansas.gop   Republican Documents Kansas Republican Party Constitution (FULL DOCUMENT AVAILABLE BY CLICKING ON THE IMAGES BELOW)     Kansas Republican Party Platform (FULL DOCUMENT AVAILABLE BY CLICKING ON THE IMAGE BELOW)   The KSGOP Friday File Newsletter is published weekly and has a circulation of nearly 30,000. Paid for by the Kansas Republican Party, Inc. Mike Brown, Chairman Alan Townsend, Treasurer     Kansas Republican Party | P.O. Box 4157, Topeka, KS 66604 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!