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Kansas Attorney General Steve Six is riding his first election roller-coaster. The three-year incumbent was appointed by former Governor Kathleen Sebelius following the resignation of former attorney general Paul Morrison. Now he’s fighting to retain his seat and prove he’s the best candidate to defend the state not only in the courtroom but on the national stage.
Six has brought stability and a low profile to an office that, for several years, was known more for the antics of its leaders than its accomplishments for the people. Through his re-election campaign, Six is banking on his track record to keep him in office, touting the $17.6 million in fraudulent funds and theft and $21.96 million in fraudulent Medicare expenditures he has saved for residents.
But opponent Derek Schmidt’s campaign rhetoric hasn’t focused on what Six has accomplished, instead the state senator is working hard to bring attention to the one thing Six didn’t do- challenge the nation’s new health care legislation.
Health care has become the sticking point for many Americans and despite the rhetoric he has added to the conversation, has become the dominant issue for the race for attorney general.
“We’re running on a three-year record of actually doing the job,” Six said. “In my view, it’s good for the voters. They can test-drive it for three years and see if they like it.”
Earlier this year, when presented with the opportunity to join other states in a federal lawsuit challenging the nation’s new health care legislation, Six opted out.
He said the decision to not join the suit was made after much research and a determination that there would be little success in a challenge.
“We went to work, researched it and at the end of the day determined there was little to no chance of success in the constitutional challenges, having got to that point, we looked at what the other areas are that need lots of attention, I didn’t see it made sense to divert resources from things we were doing right here in Kansas to join a lawsuit that already had 20 people pursing it,” he said. “No one was waiting around for Kansas to get there for the case to go forward. The case will go forward.”
And rulings on the matter, thus far, have also shown no constitutional defects in the new law.
He is also quick to point out that during its previous session, the state’s House and Senate had the opportunity, through a proposed resolution, to require Six to file a challenge on the state’s behalf. The resolution was defeated in the House and was never brought to a vote in the Senate, where Six served as majority leader.
“The representatives of the people said they don’t want me to do it,” Six said.
Despite his decision to not participate in the health care challenge, Six notes that he did chose to join with nine other states in am amicus brief requesting the U.S. Supreme court to hear the case of AEP v. Connecticut.
“Like most Kansans, I am weary of lawsuits which attempt to bypass our legislative process and ask the courts to set public policy,” Six wrote in the brief. “The Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in this case is an intrusion on the policy making authority of the legislative and executive branches. The proper place for a debate over greenhouse gas regulation is among policy makers, not in the court system.”
He also recently stepped in to help Al Snyder, the father of the late Lance Cpl Matthew Snyder, whose funeral was pickited by members of Westboro Baptist Church. Six authored a brief, which was signed by 47 other states, in support of Snyder’s right to privacy. Earlier this month, Six also traveled to Washington D.C. to take part in oral comments before the U.S. Supreme Court.
“As Kansans we feel a real obligation to help out here,” Six said. “This is the Phelps’ group from our state: people are embarrassed that they call Kansas their home.”
Six said he believes that mandates and legislation should come from law makers, not courts and would continue to consider each opportunity to participate in a constitutional challenge on a case-by-case basis.
“I stand up for Kansas and try to do what is best for the state,” Six said.
Kansas Attorney General Steve Six is riding his first election roller-coaster. The three-year incumbent was appointed by former Governor Kathleen Sebelius following the resignation of former attorney general Paul Morrison. Now he’s fighting to retain his seat and prove he’s the best candidate to defend the state not only in the courtroom but on the national stage.
Six has brought stability and a low profile to an office that, for several years, was known more for the antics of its leaders than its accomplishments for the people. Through his re-election campaign, Six is banking on his track record to keep him in office, touting the $17.6 million in fraudulent funds and theft and $21.96 million in fraudulent Medicare expenditures he has saved for residents.
But opponent Derek Schmidt’s campaign rhetoric hasn’t focused on what Six has accomplished, instead the state senator is working hard to bring attention to the one thing Six didn’t do- challenge the nation’s new health care legislation.
Health care has become the sticking point for many Americans and despite the rhetoric he has added to the conversation, has become the dominant issue for the race for attorney general.
“We’re running on a three-year record of actually doing the job,” Six said. “In my view, it’s good for the voters. They can test-drive it for three years and see if they like it.”
Earlier this year, when presented with the opportunity to join other states in a federal lawsuit challenging the nation’s new health care legislation, Six opted out.
He said the decision to not join the suit was made after much research and a determination that there would be little success in a challenge.
“We went to work, researched it and at the end of the day determined there was little to no chance of success in the constitutional challenges, having got to that point, we looked at what the other areas are that need lots of attention, I didn’t see it made sense to divert resources from things we were doing right here in Kansas to join a lawsuit that already had 20 people pursing it,” he said. “No one was waiting around for Kansas to get there for the case to go forward. The case will go forward.”
And rulings on the matter, thus far, have also shown no constitutional defects in the new law.
He is also quick to point out that during its previous session, the state’s House and Senate had the opportunity, through a proposed resolution, to require Six to file a challenge on the state’s behalf. The resolution was defeated in the House and was never brought to a vote in the Senate, where Six served as majority leader.
“The representatives of the people said they don’t want me to do it,” Six said.
Despite his decision to not participate in the health care challenge, Six notes that he did chose to join with nine other states in am amicus brief requesting the U.S. Supreme court to hear the case of AEP v. Connecticut.
“Like most Kansans, I am weary of lawsuits which attempt to bypass our legislative process and ask the courts to set public policy,” Six wrote in the brief. “The Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in this case is an intrusion on the policy making authority of the legislative and executive branches. The proper place for a debate over greenhouse gas regulation is among policy makers, not in the court system.”
He also recently stepped in to help Al Snyder, the father of the late Lance Cpl Matthew Snyder, whose funeral was pickited by members of Westboro Baptist Church. Six authored a brief, which was signed by 47 other states, in support of Snyder’s right to privacy. Earlier this month, Six also traveled to Washington D.C. to take part in oral comments before the U.S. Supreme Court.
“As Kansans we feel a real obligation to help out here,” Six said. “This is the Phelps’ group from our state: people are embarrassed that they call Kansas their home.”
Six said he believes that mandates and legislation should come from law makers, not courts and would continue to consider each opportunity to participate in a constitutional challenge on a case-by-case basis.
“I stand up for Kansas and try to do what is best for the state,” Six said.
