Meet Greg Orman

Our candidate for the United States Senate in his own words:

And we have our man: Greg Orman for US Senate!

As sent out today by the Kansas Democratic Party:

Kansas Businessman and Entrepreneur Greg Orman to Run for United States Senate

Orman: "Everyday Kansans Deserve a Senator with the Right Priorities"

Olathe, KS - Olathe businessman and entrepreneur Greg Orman (D) today filed his official Statement of Candidacy with the Federal Elections Commission, making it official that Orman will challenge long-term incumbent Pat Roberts in the 2008 election for United States Senate.

"As I look at what's going on in Washington, and the course we're on as a nation, I am convinced we can and should be doing better," Orman said of his decision to run.

"Like so many Kansans, I'm disappointed and deeply troubled by the inaction, infighting, and ineffectiveness on display in Washington today. And I'm prepared to offer the people of Kansas a United States Senator with the right priorities who can help get America moving in a positive direction again."

Orman, whose father owned and operated a furniture store in Stanley, Kansas beginning in 1971, is the founder of Environmental Lighting Concepts - the mission of which was to assist businesses in becoming more energy-efficient. While Orman was at the helm of ELC, the company installed energy-saving lighting systems that led to a cumulative reduction of over one million tons of emissions - roughly the equivalent of taking 20,000 automobiles off the road forever.

Orman sold Environmental Lighting Concepts to KLT Energy Services Inc., a subsidiary of Kansas City Power & Light in 1997, and agreed to join the company as an executive focused on new business development. Since joining KLT - and subsequently leading his own company, Denali Partners- Orman has directly assisted numerous small businesses in their efforts to grow and compete in the global marketplace.

Orman for US Senate is planning an official campaign announcement tour in the coming weeks.

It's awfully exciting we have a candidate filed to run against Pat Roberts. Roberts has been a resident of Washington, DC, not Kansas, for the last 50 years, and it's time we send someone new. He's been a lapdog for this administration, and he continues to vote against the best interests of Kansans.

On every issue, Pat Roberts is wrong, and he's wrong for Kansas. Greg Orman will give us the voice we deserve!

"Giving Thanks" - Osage County Democrats Fall Fundraiser!

I'd like to formally invite everyone to our Fall potluck dinner Saturday, November 10 at the Lyndon Community Center (204 Topeka Ave, Lyndon). Doors will open at 6 p.m. with dinner served at 6:30 p.m.

We have two special guests scheduled to join us: Kansas Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley (who represents the northern half of Osage County) and Congresswoman Nancy Boyda!

The event will celebrate what our county party has been able to manage in the last year- and I certainly hope we can draw a crowd!

(A donation would be appreciated, but not required. Please bring a covered dish and your own place setting).

Demofest this weekend!

Just wanted to remind everyone Demofest will be this weekend in Wichita- promises to be a wonderfully fun time!

Even if you don't want to fork out the dough to attend the fun on Friday night, the caucus meetings on Saturday are always informative and interesting, and our very own member of Congress, Rep. Nancy Boyda, will be speaking during the state committee meeting.

As to some housekeeping- our Fall 2007 Fundraiser will be Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. in Lyndon at the Lyndon Community Building. There will be more detail at a later date.

Hope to see you this weekend in Wichita!

Boyda's sweeping ethics reform law

Earlier this afternoon Congresswoman Boyda saw her first truly major legislative accomplishment- language she authored and saw approved unanimously by the House became law as part of Honest Leadership, Open Government Act when that bill was signed by President Bush.

Her proposal (now federal law) prevents lawmakers who have been convicted of a felony from receiving a federal pension. This commonsense measure is exactly the sort of leadership we are becoming accustomed to from our freshmen congresswoman- and exactly the sort of thing of which Kansans should be proud.

The following is the enter press release:

PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNS BOYDA ETHICS REFORM PROPOSAL INTO LAW

FEDERAL LAW NOW STRIPS PENSIONS OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS CONVICTED OF ABUSING THEIR OFFICES

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Bush today signed into law the Honest Leadership, Open Government Act, the most significant ethics reform package to pass Congress in decades. Among the new law's sweeping provisions is language authored by Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (Kansas Second District) to strip the pensions of Members of Congress who are convicted of crimes related to their official duties.

Prior federal law only stripped the pensions of Members of Congress in cases of treason and certain espionage-related offenses. In January, Rep. Boyda introduced the Pensions Forfeiture Act to revoke the pensions of Members convicted of numerous other crimes, such as bribery, conspiracy, and perjury. The language of the Pensions Forfeiture Act was later incorporated into the Honest Leadership, Open Government Act, which passed both houses of Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support before being signed into law today.

Boyda said, "For decades, taxpayers have funded Congressional pensions for former representatives who criminally abused their offices. The typical payout is $47,000 a year – greater than the average American's household income."

She added, "By revoking the pensions of politicians who misuse their powers, Congress is taking a strong stand for honesty and accountability in government. I hope that, by passing this bill into law, Congress has started to earn back Americans' trust and rebuild faith in the legislative process."

In addition to Boyda's provisions, the Honest Leadership. Open Government Act also limits the so-called "revolving door" of lawmakers entering the lobbying industry, and it imposes extensive financial disclosure requirements on lobbyists. Taken together, these changes represent the most significant ethics overhaul to pass Congress in decades.

Slattery for Senate?

According to the KC Prime Buzz blog (Kansas City Star) former Kansas Congressman Jim Slattery is considering running against Pat Roberts in 2008.

Here's the link to the story: http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/6371

Slattery would make a remarkable candidate for the Senate- he was a congressman for more than a decade, so he knows the game inside and out, he'd be able to raise money out the ears, and is a well-known Kansas figure.

People will talk, I'm sure, about his defeat at the hands of Bill Graves for governor in 1994- but remember, folks, 1994 was a hard year for Democrats nationwide and that certainly contributed to his defeat.

2008 will be a different year, and he'll be facing not a popular Republican non-incumbent, but a entrenched incumbent who absolutely shares the blame for the mess that is Iraq.

Demofest 2007!

For those of you who haven't ever been to a State Party function, you should try to make it to this year's Demofest in Wichita. Former Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. from Tennessee will be our keynote on Friday night, with Congresswoman Nancy Boyda the guest speaker Saturday afternoon. See the attached information- hope to see you there!

JOIN US FOR DEMOFEST 2007

Hyatt Regency in Wichita - September 28-29

Friday evening keynote address byCongressman Harold Ford, Jr.

"... the walking, living embodiment of where America ought to go in the 21st century..."-President Bill Clinton

Dance with Gov. Sebelius to the music ofElana James & the Continental Two

"James matches her bow work with a sweet, sassy purr of a voice and turns both to the task of rendering a contemporary take on some very traditional western swing and jazz ideas."-Rolling Stone

Make Your Reservation Today!

Demofest registration - $75 contribution per person
(Saturday only registration available - call (785) 234-0425 for details
Registration Deadline: 5:00pm on September 21st!
A "Demofest 2007" rate of $89.00 is available at the Hyatt, call (888) 904-9288 before Sept. 5th.

Friday, September 28
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm	Sponsor Reception w/ Harold Ford, Jr.
7:30 pm	Doors Open
8:15 pm	Program w/ Harold Ford, Jr & Elana James

Saturday, September 29
8:00 am - 3:30 pm	Registration Opens
8:30 am - 12:55 pm	Caucus Meetings
1:15 pm - 2:45pm	Working Lunch, Congressional District Meetings
3:30 pm - 5:00pm	State Committee Meeting

Featured Speaker: Congresswoman Nancy Boyda