Clay Wirestone, the opinion editor, shares his weekly collection of legislative odds and ends. You can also check out the archive for more.
And just like that, it’s all done! Well, at least for now.
The Kansas Legislature reluctantly made its way towards the finish line on Friday night, grappling with a multitude of tax and budget proposals. As I penned this column during the afternoon and evening, I honestly couldn’t predict the outcome of it all. You can find the complete story on the Kansas Reflector.
This week was eventful, with Facebook falsely declaring us as a cyber threat. However, there were several other noteworthy events that took place. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights.
Backbenchers strike back
This Article Includes
It’s not often that both Democratic lawmakers and Republican lawmakers are displeased with their respective leaders at the same time. While Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly may not always have the support of her fellow Democrats, Republican House Speaker Dan Hawkins doesn’t always have the backing of his Republican colleagues either. However, the fact that both groups are currently dissatisfied with their leaders is a unique situation.
On Thursday, the morning started with Democrats expressing their frustration towards the governor for endorsing a tax compromise proposal that only decreased rates for the highest income bracket. Later in the evening, Republican lawmakers refused to heed Hawkins’ pleas to approve the tax plan and move on.
House minority leader Vic Miller, a Topeka Democrat, criticized the income tax relief measures, stating that they primarily benefit the top bracket, the wealthiest individuals. He emphasized that 70% of the relief is targeted towards the top 20% of taxpayers. Miller argued that tax relief should be directed towards those who need it the most, rather than those who need it the least.
The lingering stench of former Gov. Sam Brownback’s tax “experiment” seems to be hindering both Democrats and Republicans from making progress.
Kansas voters have a clear understanding of the importance and ramifications of flawed tax policies, and their elected representatives share this understanding. Regardless of political affiliation, lawmakers hesitate when it comes to enacting significant tax cuts that predominantly favor the wealthy. This creates a challenging situation for leaders, as their affluent supporters strongly advocate for immediate tax reductions.
As I write this sentence on a late Friday, it seems that the chambers might be heading towards a compromise. Only time will tell.
Kansas Representative Brandon Woodard, a Democrat from Lenexa, was present at a hearing on Kansas elections on September 28, 2023.
Gay marriage GOP
When Rep. Brandon Woodard, a Democrat from Lenexa, took the initiative to introduce a bill that would eliminate the state’s legal ban on same-sex marriage, one might have expected the vote to strictly follow party divisions.
It did not.
Although Woodard’s request did not succeed, it is noteworthy to mention the eight House Republicans who voted in favor of pulling the bill from committee. It is also important to clarify that the vote was not specifically in support of same-sex marriage, but rather in support of bringing House Bill 2177 up for a vote. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that 21 lawmakers were absent during the vote, so it is uncertain how everyone in the chamber would have voted.
Here are the eight Republicans who expressed their interest in debating the bill: Reps. Lewis “Bill” Bloom from Clay Center, Jesse Borjon from Topeka, Susan Concannon from Beloit, Nick Hoheisel from Wichita, Mark Schreiber from Emporia, Jeff Underhill from Junction City, Laura Williams from Lenexa, and David Younger from Ulysses.
Progress can be seen in the changing times, as evidenced by the recent stance taken by Republican legislators. It is worth noting that just 19 years ago, the state overwhelmingly supported an amendment that prohibited same-sex unions. This shift in perspective highlights the positive evolution that society has undergone.
The photograph accompanying my column highlights a recently passed age-verification bill by the Kansas Legislature. This bill has raised concerns regarding the portrayal of LGBTQ+ individuals. (Image credit: Getty Images)
Criticism received
Rep. Jason Probst, a Democrat from Hutchinson, made the decision to support an online age-verification bill in the House that aims to prevent minors from accessing adult content. Several other Democrats also showed their support for this bill. In a recent column, I expressed my concerns about how this legislation could potentially criminalize any form of content that portrays LGBTQ+ individuals expressing affection in public, whether through written articles or visual imagery.
Probst was extremely displeased with that particular take, to say the least.
In his highly regarded Substack blog, That Guy in Hutch, Probst strongly criticized my column, dismissing it as “patently false.” He also used the word “hysterical” to describe my interpretation, which is quite an intriguing choice of words when criticizing an opinion writer who is openly gay.
Now, let’s get back on track. If you’re interested in knowing the representative’s reaction, you can read the column here.
To the best of my knowledge, Probst does not possess a law degree.
I know someone who does: Max Kautsch, a Lawrence First Amendment specialist. He not only provided me with information for the column but also responded extensively to Probst. You can find his comment below the Substack post and a more detailed explanation on Kautsch’s website. In this situation, I am inclined to trust the person with legal expertise.
I understand that people can get stressed during intense moments and may say things they don’t truly mean. I have a great deal of respect for Probst and genuinely appreciate his writing.
However, he is mistaken on this subject.
House Speaker Dan Hawkins and Senate President Ty Masterson made their presence felt at the annual anti-abortion rally on January 24, 2024. The two lawmakers were seen attending the event, as captured in a photograph where they can be seen wearing sunglasses. Their participation highlights their strong stance on the issue, emphasizing their commitment to the cause.
They want it this way
This week’s dramatic events have certainly generated a plethora of exciting news stories. However, it is important to note that such events often lead to hasty and ill-informed decisions.
Leaders prefer things to be done that way.
Hawkins and Senate President Ty Masterson are not known for their desire to provide their members with sufficient time and freedom to pass the most effective bills. Instead, they prefer to create a sense of urgency and pressure by pushing for difficult votes, leaving their members drained and more likely to accept whatever subpar legislation is presented to them.
Both men have the ability to extend the session and empower committee chairs. They can also enforce a rule that requires lawmakers to work on Fridays throughout the session, rather than regularly taking a paid day off. There are several options available to them in order to create a more organized and thoughtful process. However, implementing these changes would mean that they would have to relinquish some of their power.
Both individuals have no desire to engage in such an activity.
Lawmakers are working late into the night, hastily putting together conference committees and coming up with new language on the spot. This rushed approach means that policies are being passed without proper public scrutiny. While Masterson and Hawkins may claim political victories from this process, it comes at the expense of representative government for all Kansans.
