K-State union wants to keep cozy with lawmakers

By   /  May 13, 2013  /  Kansas, News, public sector, State Government  /  1 Comment

AP file photo

OSAWATOMIE — The Kansas State Employees Association wants to bite the hand that pays them, says labor union president Bill Glover.

In a move that has surprised some, the public-employee union at Kansas State University has come out against shifting control of classified employees to the local level. Instead, the union has aligned with the notably anti-union state Legislature.

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Audit takes aim at Kansas facilities for veterans

By   /  May 7, 2013  /  Featured, Kansas, Kansas Government, News  /  No Comments

ATTENTION: State auditors unearthed a number of troubling financial issues at two Kansas facilities designed to serve local veterans.

Lax financial controls, poor accountability and the potential for fraud landed two Kansas veterans facilities in state auditors’ crosshairs Tuesday morning.

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Kansas pension blunder nears $300,000 in cost to taxpayers

By   /  April 25, 2013  /  Featured, General Interest, Kansas, News, Pensions, public sector  /  2 Comments

cash money

The Kansas Public Employee Retirement System wrongly awarded nearly $300,000 in the past six years – and that’s just the start.

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Kansas hospital with poor staff retention posts $1 million overtime increase

By   /  April 19, 2013  /  Featured, Issues, Kansas, public sector, State Budgets, unions  /  No Comments

Larned campus

By Travis Perry │ Kansas Watchdog

OSAWATOMIE — Larned State Hospital set a new high-water mark for overtime spending last year, posting an increase of more than $1 million.

Overtime spending at LSH jumped 82 percent, from $1.3 million in 2011 to $2.4 million in 2012, according to state spending data on KansasOpenGov.org.

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Kansans spent welfare cash on strippers, smokes and sour mash

By   /  April 9, 2013  /  Accountability, Featured, Gambling, Issues, Kansas, Kansas Government, News, Wasteful spending  /  4 Comments

EASY MONEY: Kansas welfare recipients withdrew more than $43,000 from ATMs at liquor stores, smoke shops, casinos and strip clubs from August to October 2012.

Some Kansas welfare recipients are living large on the public dime, spending your tax dollars at liquor stores, strip clubs, smoke shops and casinos.

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