Contra Costa Times, October 18, 2006

By John Hanna, Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan. - Renewing their debate over Kansas' economic strength, Republican challenger Jim Barnett is questioning the accuracy of Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' latest television ad.

The 30-second spot, called "Work," is reminiscent of the "Morning in America" campaign President Reagan used to win a landslide re-election in 1984. It began airing in the Kansas City, Topeka and Wichita markets this week.

It features early morning vignettes of Kansans getting ready for the day, suggesting Sebelius is up early each day "determined to keep Kansas moving forward."

The ad cites two studies, one in 2004 by the Pacific Research Institute, of San Francisco, labeling Kansas first in "economic freedom," and another from the Beacon Hill Institute in Boston, ranking Kansas 13th among states in economic competitiveness.

But Barnett questioned Thursday whether Sebelius deserved credit for the California institute's praise of Kansas because most of the statistics it used predated Sebelius taking office in January 2003. Also, he said, while the Beacon Hill report rated Kansas highly, a new Forbes magazine study ranked Kansas 48th for its economic climate.

His criticism came the same day the Cato Institute in Washington gave Sebelius a "D" in fiscal policy.

"The governor should spend more time dealing with the reality of Kansas paychecks instead of reports from Massachusetts and San Francisco think tanks," said Barnett spokesman Rodger Woods.

Sebelius and Barnett, a state senator from Emporia, have clashed repeatedly over the economy. She has stressed that an improved economy is a reason for voters to give her a second term, while Barnett argues the economy isn't as strong as she portrays it.

"Unfortunately, it seems like doom and gloom where the senator is concerned and that's not something we buy into," said Sebelius spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran.

The Pacific Research Institute study mentioned that Kansas had an unemployment rate lower than the national average in 2003, and it gave the state high marks for its regulatory climate. But much of its data was collected between 1995 and 2001, before Sebelius took office.

The Forbes magazine study, released last month, did rank Kansas low for its economic climate, which covered growth in jobs, income and gross state product.

But the same study said Kansas had the 10th best regulatory environment and the 15th best quality of life, and the state ranked 21st overall on the magazine's "Best for Business" list.

As for the Cato Institute report, the libertarian think tank gave only one governor an "A," Missouri Republican Matt Blunt. It praised him for, among other things, cutting Medicaid spending.

Sebelius was among 22 governors who received a "D" or "F."

"Considering the source, we're just fine with that," Corcoran said.

On the Net:
Barnett campaign: http://www.barnettforgovernor.com
Sebelius campaign: http://www.ksgovernor.com
Pacific Research Institute report: http://www.pacificresearch.org/pub/sab/entrep/2004/econ_freedom/index.html
Beacon Hill report: http://www.beaconhill.org/Compete05/FinalCompete05-060921.pdf
Forbes study: http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/9/06beststates_Kansas_090021.html

Cato Institute study: http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa581.pdf