Derek Schmidt

Derek Schmidt
44th Kansas Attorney General
Incumbent
Assumed office January 10, 2011
Preceded by	Stephen Six
Member of the Kansas Senate from the 15th district
In office January 8, 2001 – January 10, 2011
Preceded by	Tim Emert
Succeeded by	Jeff King
Kansas Senate Majority Leader
In office January 10, 2005 – January 10, 2011
Preceded by	Lana Oleen
Succeeded by	Jay Emler
Personal details
Born	January 23, 1968 (1968-01-23) (age 43) Independence, Kansas
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Jennifer Schmidt
Profession	Attorney

Derek Schmidt is a the 44th and current Attorney General of Kansas. Schmidt previously served as member of the Kansas Senate, representing the 15th district, and as Senate Majority Leader. Before serving in the legislature, he was Special Counsel to Governor Bill Graves.^[1]

Schmidt defeated former attorney general, Democrat Stephen Six in the November 2010 elections.^[2] Schmidt resigned his Senate seat upon taking office as attorney general.^[3]

Early life and career

Derek Larkin Schmidt was born on January 23, 1968 in Independence, Kansas.^[4] Schmidt is the only child of Barbara Schmidt and Bill Schmidt.^[4] He attended the University of Kansas where he received a BA in Journalism.^[4] Schmidt went overseas to the United Kingdom where at the University of Leicester he obtained his Masters in International Politics.^[5] He went on to attend Georgetown University Law Center (GULC) where Schmidt received his Juris Doctor.^[5] While attending classes at GULC, Schmidt served as an assistant first to former United States Senator Nancy Kassebaum, and then to Senator Chuck Hagel.^[1] Following his graduation he served in several public official roles including Assistant Attorney General of Kansas, and as Special Counsel to the Governor of Kansas.^[1]

Legislative career

During his time in the Senate, Schmidt supported:^[6]

• Increased state funding for education
• Increased eligibility of children for health care
• Nuclear-powered energy
• Tougher punishments for repeat felons
• Legislative spending restraint

Legislation sponsored or co-sponsored by Schmidt included:^[6]:

• Senate Bill 584 to consolidate the food inspections agencies,
• Senate Bill 531 to increase K-12 educational funding,
• House Sub. for SB 81 to increase child health care,
• Senate Bill 586 to create financial incentives for nuclear power plant expansion,
• House Bill 2707 to create tougher punishments for three-time thieves,
• Senate Sub. for HB 2006 to create incentives for the aviation industry

Major donors

The top contributors to Schmidt's 2008 Senate campaign, according to the National Institute on Money in State Politics:^[7] Kansas Association of Realtors $2,000, Kansas Contractor's Association $1,500, Watco Industroes $1,500, Koch Industries $1,500, and Kansas Chamber of Commerce and Industry $1,500.

As Attorney General

One of Schmidt's first acts attorney general for Kansas was to join the states that oppose the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on constitutional grounds in the case of Florida et al v. United States Department of Health and Human Services.^[8][9]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Campaign website biography
2. ^ Schmidt ousts Six in AG race, Topeka Capital-Journal, 2 November 2010
3. ^ Kansas Secretary of State Official Twitter Feed
4. ^ ^{a b c} "Derek Schmidt Profile". http://www.nvo.com/dschmidt/derekschmidtbiography/. Retrieved 2007-12-10. ^{[dead link]}
5. ^ ^{a b} "Hall Center selects state Sen. Derek Schmidt as first Simons Fellow". http://www.news.ku.edu/2006/january/26/simons.shtml. Retrieved 2007-12-10. 
6. ^ ^{a b} Derek Schmidt's website
7. ^ Derek Schmidt 2008 campaign contributions
8. ^ Schmidt, Derek (2011-01-12). "Full text: Kansas Attorney General Schmidt's letter about health care reform". Kansas City Business Journal. http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2011/01/12/full-text-kansas-attorney-general.html. Retrieved 2011-02-11. "The Act’s mandate that all citizens and legal residents of the United States maintain qualifying healthcare coverage or pay a penalty (the individual mandate) is an unprecedented attempt to expand federal power that would encroach on the sovereignty of the State of Kansas and on the rights of our citizens." 
9. ^ Klepper, David (2011-01-12). "Kansas wants in on health care lawsuit". Kansas City Star. http://www.kansascity.com/2011/01/12/2580237/kansas-wants-in-on-health-care.html. Retrieved 2011-02-11. "The letter, addressed to Florida’s attorney general, asks permission to join the 20 states that are suing the federal government over the law." 

External links

• Official website of Attorney General Derek Schmidt
• Project Vote Smart profile
• Follow the Money campaign contributions
  • 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008
• Sen. Schmidt's website
• Attorney General Campaign website

Persondata
Name	Schmidt, Derek
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	January 23, 1968
Place of birth	Independence, Kansas
Date of death
Place of death