TheChat: Kansas is officially drought-free

Good morning.

▪ “We are thankful the recent rains helped remove all counties from a drought designation.” — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback announcing that for the first time in five years all counties in the state have been declared as drought-free.

This is an undeniable dose of good news.

▪ “Now we have Sen. Kurt Schaefer trying to out-conservative his primary opponent, Josh Hawley, and say that he single-handily brought down abortions in Columbia.” — Alison Dreith, executive director of the NARAL Pro Choice Missouri, lashing out at how Schaefer and another conservative lawmaker are handling an investigation into Planned Parenthood.

The investigation stems from the controversy surrounding the alleged sale of body parts. Dreith said Schaefer’s run for attorney general was motivating what she called his Planned Parenthood “witch hunt.”

▪ “But as the Supreme Court has repeatedly demonstrated, they play politics just as well as the one who appointed many of them — Kathleen Sebelius.” — an email blast from Kansas House Republicans to supporters.

The email railed against the recent Kansas Supreme Court ruling on school funding and accused the court of “moving the goal line” when it comes to what constitutes fair distribution of school funding dollars. Republicans are setting up the court as their punching bag as this case continues to unwind.

▪ “Really unprecedented in Missouri’s modern political era.” — Michael Hafner, a spokesman for John Brunner, on the number of joint forums the four GOP candidates for Missouri governor have made this year.

So far, the candidates have made about a dozen joint appearances with another six debates or forums scheduled before the August primary.