The views and opinions expressed in this editorial article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of Salina Post or Eagle Media.&nbsp;The&nbsp;editorial is intended to stimulate critical thinking and debate on issues of public interest and should be read with an open mind. Readers are encouraged to consider multiple sources of information and to form their own informed opinions.

By:&nbsp;DR. RUSSELL ARBEN FOX&nbsp;

Back in December I wrote&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mittelpolitan.substack.com/p/insight-kansas-column-for-december">a column on symbolism and substance in politics</a>. At the time, I was especially struck by the problem of what it means to take political rhetoric—the constant, often bizarre social media statements flooding from the White House being a great example—“seriously but not literally.” As we continue, both in Kansas and across the country, to be caught up in a political environment filled with protests and proclamations that may or may not be meant to be taken seriously, a return to the topic is in order.

Here in Wichita, the largest stand-alone city in Kansas, the biggest controversy of the past two months has been a declaration which our city council issued in support of Transgender Day of Visibility, a national occasion promoted by LGBTQ organizations. Mayor Lily Wu&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article302324064.html">did not endorse that proclamation</a>, though neither did she prevent the majority of council members who did support it from publicly presenting it. Since&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article302386849.html">the relevant city ordinance seems to stipulate that the mayor must formally read any proclamation issued by the council</a>, her action (or lack thereof) has generated&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/dion-lefler/article302362364.html">heated debate</a>, including&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article302440494.html">multiple</a>&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article302929154.html">accusations</a>&nbsp;both by and against the mayor.

I brought up this controversy while speaking to a civic group recently, and one participant asked a question that seemed to capture what the majority of that group seemed to be feeling: why are we fighting about entirely symbolic proclamations anyway? It’s a fair question.

Like I wrote in my previous column, it’s very easy to get frustrated over what might be broadly called “performative politics.” Often that term is used critically: you, or the church or business or interests you represent, don’t have the votes or resources to affect real change, so instead you just “perform” your demands, grabbing attention, disrupting others with your silly, symbolic claims.

But making statements, carrying signs, or organizing on behalf of recognition isn’t silly at all. Rather, these kinds of performative actions occupy a range of places within our political life.

At one end, there are those who possess actual administrative or executive authority: a CEO, a mayor, a governor, or the President of the United States. The statements such people make, even if they’re legally groundless or substantively empty, still matter, because the authority they possess will invariably influence others to take action, even if there is no basis for doing so.

On the other end, though, are just ordinary citizens, possessing no more authority than anyone else. But citizens can nonetheless take up a signs to express frustration (as sizable crowds have done almost every week over the past few months in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/local/article305500671.html">Wichita</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article303558496.html">Kansas City</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://hayspost.com/posts/069b4d3f-9ecc-45cb-95df-c5b75b653d08">Hays</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/05/01/may-day-rally-draws-hundreds-to-kansas-capitol-to-protest-trump-administration/">Topeka</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/general-news/2025/apr/30/may-day-protest-in-lawrence-and-across-the-u-s-to-oppose-trumps-executive-actions-and-support-workers-rights-social-justice/">Lawrence</a>, and elsewhere), and by so doing capture the attention of others. Also, any citizen can petition elected leaders to plead for recognition for the work one does, or the identity one represents. If enough agree, then suddenly a degree of legitimacy—and, crucially, the awareness of others—is granted that didn’t exist before, empowering those who made the request.

Over the past decade, as social media has transformed political life, multiple scholars have begun to rethink democratic politics, and the place of performance and spectatorship within it. Today we live in an environment where “attention” is often the most valuable commodity anyone can possess. Those who can do the work and organize with others and put themselves forward to make sure their cause is seen (and sometimes their opponents triggered or scandalized), may not be a distraction; instead, maybe they’re doing politics the way it is fated to be played today.

Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita, KS

You can send us your opinions/letters to the editor, along with your name, city and or county location to&nbsp;newstips@salinapost.com

The views and opinions expressed in this editorial article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of Salina Post or Eagle Media.&nbsp;The&nbsp;editorial is intended to stimulate critical thinking and debate on issues of public interest and should be read with an open mind. Readers are encouraged to consider multiple sources of information and to form their own informed opinions.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582312931775.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;DR. RUSSELL ARBEN FOX&nbsp;Back in December I wrote&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mittelpolitan.substack.com/p/insight-kansas-column-for-december">a column on symbolism and substance in politics</a>. At the time, I was especially struck by the problem of what it means to take political rhetoric—the constant, often bizarre social media statements flooding from the White House being a great example—“seriously but not literally.” As we continue, both in Kansas and across the country, to be caught up in a political environment filled with protests and proclamations that may or may not be meant to be taken seriously, a return to the topic is in order.Here in Wichita, the largest stand-alone city in Kansas, the biggest controversy of the past two months has been a declaration which our city council issued in support of Transgender Day of Visibility, a national occasion promoted by LGBTQ organizations. Mayor Lily Wu&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article302324064.html">did not endorse that proclamation</a>, though neither did she prevent the majority of council members who did support it from publicly presenting it. Since&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article302386849.html">the relevant city ordinance seems to stipulate that the mayor must formally read any proclamation issued by the council</a>, her action (or lack thereof) has generated&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/dion-lefler/article302362364.html">heated debate</a>, including&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article302440494.html">multiple</a>&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article302929154.html">accusations</a>&nbsp;both by and against the mayor.I brought up this controversy while speaking to a civic group recently, and one participant asked a question that seemed to capture what the majority of that group seemed to be feeling: why are we fighting about entirely symbolic proclamations anyway? It’s a fair question.Like I wrote in my previous column, it’s very easy to get frustrated over what might be broadly called “performative politics.” Often that term is used critically: you, or the church or business or interests you represent, don’t have the votes or resources to affect real change, so instead you just “perform” your demands, grabbing attention, disrupting others with your silly, symbolic claims.But making statements, carrying signs, or organizing on behalf of recognition isn’t silly at all. Rather, these kinds of performative actions occupy a range of places within our political life.At one end, there are those who possess actual administrative or executive authority: a CEO, a mayor, a governor, or the President of the United States. The statements such people make, even if they’re legally groundless or substantively empty, still matter, because the authority they possess will invariably influence others to take action, even if there is no basis for doing so.On the other end, though, are just ordinary citizens, possessing no more authority than anyone else. But citizens can nonetheless take up a signs to express frustration (as sizable crowds have done almost every week over the past few months in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/local/article305500671.html">Wichita</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article303558496.html">Kansas City</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://hayspost.com/posts/069b4d3f-9ecc-45cb-95df-c5b75b653d08">Hays</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/05/01/may-day-rally-draws-hundreds-to-kansas-capitol-to-protest-trump-administration/">Topeka</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/general-news/2025/apr/30/may-day-protest-in-lawrence-and-across-the-u-s-to-oppose-trumps-executive-actions-and-support-workers-rights-social-justice/">Lawrence</a>, and elsewhere), and by so doing capture the attention of others. Also, any citizen can petition elected leaders to plead for recognition for the work one does, or the identity one represents. If enough agree, then suddenly a degree of legitimacy—and, crucially, the awareness of others—is granted that didn’t exist before, empowering those who made the request.Over the past decade, as social media has transformed political life, multiple scholars have begun to rethink democratic politics, and the place of performance and spectatorship within it. Today we live in an environment where “attention” is often the most valuable commodity anyone can possess. Those who can do the work and organize with others and put themselves forward to make sure their cause is seen (and sometimes their opponents triggered or scandalized), may not be a distraction; instead, maybe they’re doing politics the way it is fated to be played today.Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita, KSYou can send us your opinions/letters to the editor, along with your name, city and or county location to&nbsp;newstips@salinapost.com

OPINION: Protests, proclamations and performative politics

Every day, public servants carry out critical work that allows our society to function. We rely on public servants for our daily safety through emergency services and preventing crime and terrorism; to ensure we build and maintain the physical infrastructure allowing us to move from place to place, communicate across long distances, power our homes or drink clean water; to educate our children; to administer critical social programs like Social Security and Medicare; and much more. 

In Kansas, Federal employees carry out programs that help conserve our soil and water resources, provide stability to our agricultural economy, support our armed forces, process our Social Security Checks and tax refunds, deliver our mail, and more.

Too often their work goes unnoticed until something goes wrong. Yet public servants work every day to provide a stable foundation for all of us to enjoy our lives and our freedom. 

Since 1985, the first week of May has been designated as Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW) to recognize those who serve our communities and our country.

John Ourada, Salina, Retired NRCS-USDA Engineer and

President, Kansas Federation of National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE)

John Ourada (Salina), is a retired NRCS-USDA Engineer and President, Kansas Federation of National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE)

The views and opinions expressed in this editorial article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Salina Post or Eagle Media. The editorial is intended to stimulate critical thinking and debate on issues of public interest and should be read with an open mind. Readers are encouraged to consider multiple sources of information and to form their own informed opinions.

You can send us your opinions/letters to the editor, along with your name, city and or county location to newstips@salinapost.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582312931775.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By: JOHN OURADASalina, KSEvery day, public servants carry out critical work that allows our society to function. We rely on public servants for our daily safety through emergency services and preventing crime and terrorism; to ensure we build and maintain the physical infrastructure allowing us to move from place to place, communicate across long distances, power our homes or drink clean water; to educate our children; to administer critical social programs like Social Security and Medicare; and much more. In Kansas, Federal employees carry out programs that help conserve our soil and water resources, provide stability to our agricultural economy, support our armed forces, process our Social Security Checks and tax refunds, deliver our mail, and more.Too often their work goes unnoticed until something goes wrong. Yet public servants work every day to provide a stable foundation for all of us to enjoy our lives and our freedom. Since 1985, the first week of May has been designated as Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW) to recognize those who serve our communities and our country.John Ourada, Salina, Retired NRCS-USDA Engineer andPresident, Kansas Federation of National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE)John Ourada (Salina), is a retired NRCS-USDA Engineer and President, Kansas Federation of National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE)The views and opinions expressed in this editorial article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Salina Post or Eagle Media. The editorial is intended to stimulate critical thinking and debate on issues of public interest and should be read with an open mind. Readers are encouraged to consider multiple sources of information and to form their own informed opinions.You can send us your opinions/letters to the editor, along with your name, city and or county location to newstips@salinapost.com

OPINION: Don't Forget To Recognize Public Servants This Week

&nbsp;By RUSSELL FOX Insight Kansas

16 months from now Kansans will vote on a state constitutional amendment that will, if passed, institute popular elections for state supreme court justices. This possibility disturbs many Kansans, and it’s worth trying to understand why.

Today, Kansas has a mostly merit-based system for choosing supreme court justices; while the governor makes the appointment, they are required to choose from list of candidates prepared by a non-partisan committee of lawyers. It’s a fairly unique process, though some other states also take a similarly mixed approach to the filling of state judicial positions.

The idea of shifting to straightforward competitive elections for choosing justices is hardly unknown, however; 21 states have that system (which was also the selection process for judges that Thomas Jefferson preferred, for whatever that’s worth). So what is the fear?

Most say they’re concerned that judicial elections would result in huge amounts of money flowing into Kansas to influence voters one way or another, as was the case recently in Wisconsin, where over $100 million was spent in the last Supreme Court election. The focus here is on the profound inequality and potential corruption which comes along with such expensive political races. These elements of contemporary politics are especially inappropriate for the judicial system, or so the argument goes, since it needs to stand as a neutral, non-partisan arbiter of constitutional disputes.

The first part of that fear of indisputably true; while direct connections between large campaign donations and quid-pro-quo-type corruption are rare, the reality of money’s indirect influence on the choices which elected leaders make is all but impossible to deny. But that said, I don’t know if the second part of that concern matters as much as some believe.

Basically, I’m dubious that the judicial branches of our state governments (much like the federal judiciary) have ever been or could ever be the entirely “neutral, non-partisan arbiters” of the law that many want to believe them to be. It’s not as though Governor Kelly, when there was a vacancy of the Kansas Supreme Court, didn’t carefully investigate the suggested nominees, so as to avoid choosing someone ideologically committed to an agenda she opposed.

Which I think points to the real problem with adopting judicial elections in our current environment of essentially unregulated campaign money. Put frankly: who are the sorts of people who are going to want to serve in the highest levels of our state’s judicial system if doing so will require extensive commitments to raising money and campaigning? Obviously, it’s more likely to appeal to those who, like most politicians generally, desire to promote specific political and legal agendas. So the result of electing justices may not be a corrupting of the judiciary, but rather simply making more obvious the political biases that everyone involved already possesses.

Maintaining a constitutional place for unelected judges in a democratic republic is no easy feat. There needs to be a role for public input; leaving justices entirely unaccountable to those whom their decisions affect is, I think, a sure recipe for discontent. But on the other hand, inviting people entirely committed to their political agendas to put themselves forward as the judicial candidates we choose from could undermine the dispositions upon which the courts’ legitimacy depends. In Kansas, state judges are already subject to retention votes, though they are almost never removed for that reason. Perhaps taking more seriously that aspect of the judicial selection process—by, for example, imposing term limits—could make for a more balanced reform of the system, rather than replacing it entirely?

Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita, KS

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690389122282.jpeg" alt="russell-fox NEW friends university courtesy photo.jpg" />
 <figcaption>russell-fox NEW friends university courtesy photo.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;By RUSSELL FOX Insight Kansas16 months from now Kansans will vote on a state constitutional amendment that will, if passed, institute popular elections for state supreme court justices. This possibility disturbs many Kansans, and it’s worth trying to understand why.Today, Kansas has a mostly merit-based system for choosing supreme court justices; while the governor makes the appointment, they are required to choose from list of candidates prepared by a non-partisan committee of lawyers. It’s a fairly unique process, though some other states also take a similarly mixed approach to the filling of state judicial positions.The idea of shifting to straightforward competitive elections for choosing justices is hardly unknown, however; 21 states have that system (which was also the selection process for judges that Thomas Jefferson preferred, for whatever that’s worth). So what is the fear?Most say they’re concerned that judicial elections would result in huge amounts of money flowing into Kansas to influence voters one way or another, as was the case recently in Wisconsin, where over $100 million was spent in the last Supreme Court election. The focus here is on the profound inequality and potential corruption which comes along with such expensive political races. These elements of contemporary politics are especially inappropriate for the judicial system, or so the argument goes, since it needs to stand as a neutral, non-partisan arbiter of constitutional disputes.The first part of that fear of indisputably true; while direct connections between large campaign donations and quid-pro-quo-type corruption are rare, the reality of money’s indirect influence on the choices which elected leaders make is all but impossible to deny. But that said, I don’t know if the second part of that concern matters as much as some believe.Basically, I’m dubious that the judicial branches of our state governments (much like the federal judiciary) have ever been or could ever be the entirely “neutral, non-partisan arbiters” of the law that many want to believe them to be. It’s not as though Governor Kelly, when there was a vacancy of the Kansas Supreme Court, didn’t carefully investigate the suggested nominees, so as to avoid choosing someone ideologically committed to an agenda she opposed.Which I think points to the real problem with adopting judicial elections in our current environment of essentially unregulated campaign money. Put frankly: who are the sorts of people who are going to want to serve in the highest levels of our state’s judicial system if doing so will require extensive commitments to raising money and campaigning? Obviously, it’s more likely to appeal to those who, like most politicians generally, desire to promote specific political and legal agendas. So the result of electing justices may not be a corrupting of the judiciary, but rather simply making more obvious the political biases that everyone involved already possesses.Maintaining a constitutional place for unelected judges in a democratic republic is no easy feat. There needs to be a role for public input; leaving justices entirely unaccountable to those whom their decisions affect is, I think, a sure recipe for discontent. But on the other hand, inviting people entirely committed to their political agendas to put themselves forward as the judicial candidates we choose from could undermine the dispositions upon which the courts’ legitimacy depends. In Kansas, state judges are already subject to retention votes, though they are almost never removed for that reason. Perhaps taking more seriously that aspect of the judicial selection process—by, for example, imposing term limits—could make for a more balanced reform of the system, rather than replacing it entirely?Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita, KS The views and opinions expressed in this editorial article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Salina Post or Eagle Media. The editorial is intended to stimulate critical thinking and debate on issues of public interest and should be read with an open mind. Readers are encouraged to consider multiple sources of information and to form their own informed opinions.

INSIGHT: What’s the real problem with electing justices?

By DAVID NORLIN Saline County Resident Denial is not just a river in Egypt.

For those who are still in it, cutting through the chaos is one way out, even though the chaos is confusing, on purpose. In Topeka or D.C., just following bills is, well, debilitating.

Near-daily executive orders are in reality executive&nbsp;disorders. But we can wake to this truth. It’s not conservatism — it’s corruption. On steroids. Remember the frog in first lukewarm, then boiling water? The heat is coming up, less gradually every day. Will we jump out in time? Every day reduces the chance.

Through the fog, we must fully grasp — and admit — where we are. Unfortunately, President Trump’s mindset is easy to discern.

As felon-in-chief, he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/07/us/politics/trump-justice-dept-ousters.html" target="_blank">continues to purge</a>&nbsp;the Justice Department. In the nouveau regime, crimes are not crimes if they say they’re not. They’ll first get rid of the people who once said they were. Removing truth-tellers’ salary, pension and security detail should do it. In short, they’ll make opponents’ lives as miserable and insecure as possible.

No more wasting money on the little people. They’re on their way to cut our Social Security and Medicaid, and perhaps Medicare. The co-president of Public Citizen, weighing in on Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-social-security-lies" target="_blank">Social Security lies</a>&nbsp;in his address to Congress, said these are “the prelude to vicious cuts.”

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-California) summed it up: “This is their core agenda. (It’s) reverse Roosevelt. They are no longer even hiding it.”

Farmers, consumers and the entire economy are terrorized with tariffs, at the whim of Trump’s on/off button. (Pick your news source.)

National Republicans’ lockstep mentality is echoed by the Kansas’ monopoly party. Kansas legislative leadership seeks to dilute the vote by deluding the people. They and their docile (or worse, complicit) gang of enabler-legislators seek to block troublesome votes by removing the three-day&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/23/kansas-senate-bill-would-set-election-day-deadline-for-mail-in-ballots/">mail ballot grace period</a>, shutting out thousands of votes.

They would make our Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/07/kansas-senate-adopts-plan-to-elect-supreme-court-justices-a-step-toward-overturning-abortion-rights/">selection by election</a>, with justices bought by the same mega-donor dollars that installed them. This would chill rights to education and women’s reproductive freedom.

How does this get a pass from the public? By misinformation. By appealing to collective (mostly white) prejudice. And by assaulting and defunding education, especially higher ed. Universities are called universities for a reason. Designed to promote universal understanding and values in education, too often they have suffered at the whim of moneyed interests. Public financing is key to even private college funding.

Nonetheless, the Trump Administration just&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gp979w055o" target="_blank">cut $400 million</a>&nbsp;from Columbia University’s budget, drastically affecting “research and other critical functions, impacting students, faculty, staff, research, and patient care” because students took a stand for Palestine. This is a blow. More than a quarter of Columbia’s $6.6 billion in annual operating revenue&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/07/nyregion/trump-administration-columbia-grants-cancelled-antisemitism.html" target="_blank">comes from federal sources</a>, according to its 2024 financial statements.

Call it what it is. Mafia thuggery and bullying, until universities knuckle under.

The Kansas Legislature monopoly party marches in lockstep with their congressional colleagues. Salina’s Republican Rep Steven Howe got off on a good foot with his appeal for Republicans to<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/01/15/a-kansas-legislator-stands-against-trump-and-jan-6-violence-will-his-fellow-republicans-listen/">re-examine their votes</a>for Donald Trump come the 2024 election.

However, he was shortly back on the bandwagon. Howe’s&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/01/31/bill-restricting-dei-returns-to-kansas-legislature-amid-debate-over-ideology-pronouns/">crusade and “investigation”</a>against universities’ diversity, equity and inclusion policies put him firmly in the Trump camp and resulted in that witch-hunt becoming state law.

This year, Howe introduced a bill aimed at&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/10/kansas-house-bill-strives-to-strip-property-interest-from-definition-of-university-college-tenure/">weakening tenure protections</a>&nbsp;at Kansas universities. His action was “at the behest of Steven Lovett, general counsel at Emporia State University,” where 30 tenured or tenure-track professors were fired in 2022. ESU is “embroiled in state and federal court battles” as a result. Lovett’s seeming conflict of interest in this action was questioned, even by an ESU spokeswoman.

There is little doubt whose side Howe is on. He even moved in his House committee “to add $2.2 million to the ESU budget for legal expenses in (Lovett’s) faculty firing case.

Spreading chaos and retribution is also blatantly obvious in Trump’s complete board replacement of the Kennedy Center.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/trump-kennedy-center-laura-ingraham-maria-bartiromo-rcna195468" target="_blank">He named himself board chair</a>&nbsp;for the country’s premier performing arts center, now to become the Trump Center for the Conforming Arts. In that action, he decried DEI and the center’s leadership and performances. It might feature WWE wrestling next.

As Nietzsche said, “Distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful.”

Once we get past denial, this bullying culture must be faced up to, to face them down. It can be as simple as&nbsp;no. As a legal immigrant friend of mine said yesterday, “The more&nbsp;no’s&nbsp;they get, the smaller they become.”

David Norlin is&nbsp;a retired Cloud County Community College teacher, where he was department chairman of communications/English, specializing in media.&nbsp; The views and opinions expressed in this editorial article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Salina Post or Eagle Media. The editorial is intended to stimulate critical thinking and debate on issues of public interest and should be read with an open mind. Readers are encouraged to consider multiple sources of information and to form their own informed opinions. Send us your opinions and your name and county location to to newstips@salinapost.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582312931775.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVID NORLIN Saline County Resident Denial is not just a river in Egypt.For those who are still in it, cutting through the chaos is one way out, even though the chaos is confusing, on purpose. In Topeka or D.C., just following bills is, well, debilitating.Near-daily executive orders are in reality executive&nbsp;disorders. But we can wake to this truth. It’s not conservatism — it’s corruption. On steroids. Remember the frog in first lukewarm, then boiling water? The heat is coming up, less gradually every day. Will we jump out in time? Every day reduces the chance.Through the fog, we must fully grasp — and admit — where we are. Unfortunately, President Trump’s mindset is easy to discern.As felon-in-chief, he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/07/us/politics/trump-justice-dept-ousters.html" target="_blank">continues to purge</a>&nbsp;the Justice Department. In the nouveau regime, crimes are not crimes if they say they’re not. They’ll first get rid of the people who once said they were. Removing truth-tellers’ salary, pension and security detail should do it. In short, they’ll make opponents’ lives as miserable and insecure as possible.They are not stopping there.No more wasting money on the little people. They’re on their way to cut our Social Security and Medicaid, and perhaps Medicare. The co-president of Public Citizen, weighing in on Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-social-security-lies" target="_blank">Social Security lies</a>&nbsp;in his address to Congress, said these are “the prelude to vicious cuts.”Rep. Ro Khanna (D-California) summed it up: “This is their core agenda. (It’s) reverse Roosevelt. They are no longer even hiding it.”Farmers, consumers and the entire economy are terrorized with tariffs, at the whim of Trump’s on/off button. (Pick your news source.)National Republicans’ lockstep mentality is echoed by the Kansas’ monopoly party. Kansas legislative leadership seeks to dilute the vote by deluding the people. They and their docile (or worse, complicit) gang of enabler-legislators seek to block troublesome votes by removing the three-day&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/23/kansas-senate-bill-would-set-election-day-deadline-for-mail-in-ballots/">mail ballot grace period</a>, shutting out thousands of votes.They would make our Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/07/kansas-senate-adopts-plan-to-elect-supreme-court-justices-a-step-toward-overturning-abortion-rights/">selection by election</a>, with justices bought by the same mega-donor dollars that installed them. This would chill rights to education and women’s reproductive freedom.How does this get a pass from the public? By misinformation. By appealing to collective (mostly white) prejudice. And by assaulting and defunding education, especially higher ed. Universities are called universities for a reason. Designed to promote universal understanding and values in education, too often they have suffered at the whim of moneyed interests. Public financing is key to even private college funding.Nonetheless, the Trump Administration just&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gp979w055o" target="_blank">cut $400 million</a>&nbsp;from Columbia University’s budget, drastically affecting “research and other critical functions, impacting students, faculty, staff, research, and patient care” because students took a stand for Palestine. This is a blow. More than a quarter of Columbia’s $6.6 billion in annual operating revenue&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/07/nyregion/trump-administration-columbia-grants-cancelled-antisemitism.html" target="_blank">comes from federal sources</a>, according to its 2024 financial statements.Call it what it is. Mafia thuggery and bullying, until universities knuckle under.The Kansas Legislature monopoly party marches in lockstep with their congressional colleagues. Salina’s Republican Rep Steven Howe got off on a good foot with his appeal for Republicans to<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/01/15/a-kansas-legislator-stands-against-trump-and-jan-6-violence-will-his-fellow-republicans-listen/">re-examine their votes</a>for Donald Trump come the 2024 election.However, he was shortly back on the bandwagon. Howe’s&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/01/31/bill-restricting-dei-returns-to-kansas-legislature-amid-debate-over-ideology-pronouns/">crusade and “investigation”</a>against universities’ diversity, equity and inclusion policies put him firmly in the Trump camp and resulted in that witch-hunt becoming state law.This year, Howe introduced a bill aimed at&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/10/kansas-house-bill-strives-to-strip-property-interest-from-definition-of-university-college-tenure/">weakening tenure protections</a>&nbsp;at Kansas universities. His action was “at the behest of Steven Lovett, general counsel at Emporia State University,” where 30 tenured or tenure-track professors were fired in 2022. ESU is “embroiled in state and federal court battles” as a result. Lovett’s seeming conflict of interest in this action was questioned, even by an ESU spokeswoman.There is little doubt whose side Howe is on. He even moved in his House committee “to add $2.2 million to the ESU budget for legal expenses in (Lovett’s) faculty firing case.Spreading chaos and retribution is also blatantly obvious in Trump’s complete board replacement of the Kennedy Center.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/trump-kennedy-center-laura-ingraham-maria-bartiromo-rcna195468" target="_blank">He named himself board chair</a>&nbsp;for the country’s premier performing arts center, now to become the Trump Center for the Conforming Arts. In that action, he decried DEI and the center’s leadership and performances. It might feature WWE wrestling next.As Nietzsche said, “Distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful.”Once we get past denial, this bullying culture must be faced up to, to face them down. It can be as simple as&nbsp;no. As a legal immigrant friend of mine said yesterday, “The more&nbsp;no’s&nbsp;they get, the smaller they become.”May it be so.David Norlin is&nbsp;a retired Cloud County Community College teacher, where he was department chairman of communications/English, specializing in media.&nbsp; The views and opinions expressed in this editorial article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Salina Post or Eagle Media. The editorial is intended to stimulate critical thinking and debate on issues of public interest and should be read with an open mind. Readers are encouraged to consider multiple sources of information and to form their own informed opinions. Send us your opinions and your name and county location to to newstips@salinapost.com

OPINION: Chaos envelops Topeka and Washington as leaders pursue vengeance

TOPEKA — Senate Committees continued to review bills which have been sent over from the House. As we work though committee bills on the floor, we will also begin to have Conference Committee reports to vote on as well. A Conference Committee is a small, bipartisan and bicameral committee that works to smooth out the differences between the House’s and Senate’s version of a similar bill. Once the Conference Committee comes to a compromise, the committee’s version of the bill will be sent to both the House and the Senate for a final vote, before advancing the bill to the Governor’s desk.

By a vote of 38-2, Steven Anderson was confirmed to the Office of Inspector General.

<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb14/">SB14</a>&nbsp;would prevent the state government from shutting down in the event the governor and legislature can’t come to an agreement on a budget prior to the end of the fiscal year. In such an event, the bill would provide for continuing appropriations at the same level as the previous fiscal year. This would ensure that schools would never close and that state government operations would continue. Both the House and Senate have passed SB 14 and the differences are being worked out in conference committee. I voted yes.

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2062/">HB 2062</a> would make amendments to law regarding child support guidelines established by the Kansas Supreme Court to require the guidelines to consider the direct medical and pregnancy-related expenses of the mother. The Senate amended the bill to also include a personal exemption of $2,320 for any unborn child, as defined by the bill, starting in tax year 2025. HB 2062 passed 30-9. I voted yes.

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2029/">HB 2029</a> would designate as the Rep Marvin S Robinson Memorial Highway a portion of K-5 in Wyandotte County, from North 18th Street to North 38th Street and would remove the portion of I-635 that shares a route with K-5 from designation as the Harry Darby Memorial Highway. HB 2029 passed 37-2. I voted yes.

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2092/">HB 2092</a> would modify the automatic expiration date of professional employer organization (PEO) registrations and filing of annual audits and would modify surety bond requirements for those PEOs with insufficient working capital. HB 2092 passed 39-0. I voted yes.

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2117/">HB 2117</a> would modify business filing requirements for certain entities, authorize certain entities rendering a professional service to participate in transactions under the Business Entity Transactions Act, and make certain information provided by a covered entity’s former registered agent a public record. HB 2117 passed 39-0. I voted yes.

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2166/">HB 2166</a> would continue in existence certain exceptions to the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA). HB 2166 passed 39-0. I voted yes.

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2027/">HB 2027</a> would reorganize subsections within the public assistance statute pertaining to eligibility requirements for the cash assistance program (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or TANF), the food assistance program (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP), and the child care subsidy program; general requirements related to drug screenings and convictions; assignment of support rights to the Secretary for Children and Families and limited power of attorney; and provisions related to fraud investigations. HB 2027 passed 31-8. I voted yes.

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2124/">HB 2124</a> would designate two portions of highway and one bridge in honor of military service members: The CPL Monte Wayne Forrest Memorial Highway would be a portion of US-160 in Sumner County, from the eastern city limits of Argonia east to Eden Road, The POW MIA Memorial Highway&nbsp;would be US-77 from I-70 in Geary County north to US-24 in Riley County and from its eastern intersection with US24 in Riley County north to the junction with K-16, also in Riley County and The POW MIA Memorial Bridge would be Bridge No. 82-14-6.88 (026) on K-82 in Clay County. HB 2124 passed 39-0. I voted yes.

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2155/">HB 2155</a> would specify that sheriffs have liability for official acts of the sheriff and sheriff’s sureties related to the charge and custody of county jails. HB 2155 passed 30-9. I voted yes.

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2347/">HB 2347</a> would amend the required culpability of a person obtaining control over stolen property or services and would make the theft of certain motor vehicles a felony. The bill would also make theft of a motor vehicle that is valued between $500 and $1,500 a severity level 10 nonperson felony. HB 2347 passed 39-0. I voted yes.

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb213/">SB 213</a> would prohibit non-residents from hunting migratory waterfowl during certain times and places and change the fees for migratory waterfowl habitat stamps. SB 213 passed 38-1. I voted yes.

HB 2042 would amend law related to title insurance agent audits, surety bonds, and controlled business. HB 2042 passed 39-0. I voted yes.

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb20https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2043/43/">HB 2043</a> would allow an insurer or producer to request an extension of a pilot or testing program for a value-added product or service beyond a one-year period for any additional time needed to determine whether the value-added product or service meets the criteria in the case the insurer or producer is unable to determine sufficient evidence within the first year. The bill would clarify the time period for an agent or insurer to respond to an inquiry concerning a consumer complaint from the Insurance Department to be within 14 calendar days of receipt of the inquiry The bill would add the failure of an insurer to respond to an inquiry from the Department to the list of actions that could lead the Commissioner of Insurance to deny, suspend, revoke, or refuse a new license or application for license. HB 2043 passed 39-0. I voted yes.

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2045/">HB 2045</a> would grant the Commissioner of Insurance the ability to decrease the number of appointed board members on certain boards that fall under the Commissioner’s appointing authority. The bill would remove the requirements for the Committee on Surety Bonds and Insurance to meet at least once per month and that the meetings be held in the office of the Commissioner. HB 2045 passed 39-0. I voted yes.

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2106/">HB 2106</a> would amend the Campaign Finance Act to add additional certification requirements to persons promoting or opposing the adoption or repeal of any provision of the Kansas Constitution; prohibit any person that engages in activity promoting or opposing the adoption or repeal of any provision of the Kansas Constitution from accepting contributions or expenditures from a foreign national; and define “foreign national.” HB 2106 passed 39-0. I voted yes.

<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/scr1611/">SCR 1611</a>, a constitutional amendment giving Kansans the right to elect justices to the Kansas Supreme Court. If also adopted by the House, it would go to the ballot in August of 2026 for a vote of the people. If passed on the ballot with a simple majority, elections for the Kansas Supreme Court would begin in 2028. SCR1611 passed with a vote of 27-13. I voted no.

Explanation of vote - "I voted against SCR 1611 because, while I acknowledge that the current method of selecting judicial candidates through a nominating committee is not without its flaws, this resolution does not offer a sound alternative. I have previously supported a system that more closely mirrors the federal model (Senate confirmation) but SCR 1611 fails to establish essential safeguards for judicial selection. One of my concerns is the lack of parameters for candidacy. The judiciary requires expertise, impartiality, and a deep understanding of the law, and SCR 1611 does not ensure that these critical qualities are upheld in the selection process. A Senate confirmation process in Kansas would allow for more thorough vetting of a candidate. Additionally, I am concerned about the impact this resolution&nbsp;would have on rural representation. Larger population centers, with greater resources and voting power, would have the ability to dominate the selection of Supreme Court justices, leaving rural communities with little to no voice in the process. Ensuring a fair and balanced judiciary requires a system that protects representation for all Kansans, not just those in high-population areas."

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2145/">HB 2145</a> would amend law regarding county fair association boards to establish membership of the Butler County fair board. The bill would also move similar provisions regarding membership of the Cloud County fair board into the underlying county fair association board statute. Passed 39-0. I voted yes.

<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb4/">SB 4 </a>Requires the return of advance voting ballots by 7:00 p.m. on the day of the election. The deadline for all ballots to be cast and/or received would be 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. The legislation would take effect on January 1, 2026, meaning 2025 local elections would be the last year in which the current “grace period” is in effect. SB4 passed 30-10 and is now headed to the Governor. I voted yes.

<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb237/">SB 237</a> would require courts to consider the value of a qualified retirement account in determination of child support orders and eliminate the exemption of such accounts from claims to collect child support. SB 237 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb269/">SB 269</a> would prohibit the Board of Tax Appeals from charging a filing fee to a taxpayer who has an appeal from a previous year still pending before BOTA. SB 269 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2261/">HB 2261</a> would add majors of the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) as being in unclassified service under the Kansas Civil Service Act. The bill also would provide permanent status for a person returning to a classified KHP position at the end of a term in an unclassified KHP position. HB 2261 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb194/">SB 194</a> would void any provision of a covenant or other restriction established or amended between January 1, 1948, and December 31, 1958. The bill would declare covenants prohibiting other than single-family residence use and containing discriminatory provisions to be against public policy and to be void and unenforceable. SB 194 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

JUDICIAL BRANCH INFORMATION – Websites for questions about Judges and rulings and elections · Kansas Courts website (<a href="https://kscourts.gov/">https://kscourts.gov/</a> ) - you will find a map of Kansas where you can click on any of the 31 judicial districts. On a judicial district page, you can see all the judges of that judicial district and find their local website where their local judges are listed.

· To learn more about the current Kansas Supreme Court Justices and Court of Appeals judges, the Kansas Courts website provides background information on all the justices and court of appeals judges. <a href="https://kscourts.gov/About-the-Courts">https://kscourts.gov/About-the-Courts</a>

· Decisions made by the appellate courts are posted on the Kansas Courts website. All decisions made by the courts are explained here: <a href="https://searchdro.kscourts.gov/Documents/LoadPage">https://searchdro.kscourts.gov/Documents/LoadPage</a>

· For the most recent retention elections, the Kansas Bar Association has posted judge ratings. The last retention election was for some court of appeals judges: <a href="https://ksbar.org/?pg=your-kansas-judges">https://ksbar.org/?pg=your-kansas-judges</a>. For the next retention election for appellate court judges and justices, these surveys will be taken for those members.

· Some local districts, like Johnson County, perform their own ratings on their judges. <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-sLaAnG53Jf39PCk7oZCsmA_3D_3D/">https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-sLaAnG53Jf39PCk7oZCsmA_3D_3D/</a>

WATCH AND LISTEN TO THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_0NO-Pb96CFABvxDwXAq8A"> Kansas Legislature YouTube</a> – Here you can follow the legislature live as it happens, or access archives of past sessions and committee meetings. <a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/">Kansas Legislature Audio </a>– Here you can listen in on session or committees when they are in session, or access prior committee meetings, as well. Kansas Legislature website – <a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a> - has extensive information on legislators, committees, bills, and past sessions.

FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE – Scott Schwab

March is Women’s History Month – an opportunity to recognize women’s contributions to our state and nation. Kansas women were at the frontlines of the suffrage movement and helped to secure voting rights for women in Kansas before the national movement. Elwill M. Shanahan was the first female Kansas Secretary of State from 1966 to 1978. Secretary Shanahan was the first woman to hold a position in the constitutionally elected branch of Kansas government and the second female president of the National Association of Secretaries of State in 1975. Learn more about the women who paved the way for us through the <a href="https://www.kansashistory.gov/kansapedia/woman-s-suffrage/14524">Kansas Historical Society</a> and <a href="https://www.ksde.gov/Agency/Division-of-Learning-Services/Career-Standards-and-Assessment-Services/Content-Area-F-L/History-Government-and-Social-Studies/Womens-History-Month">Kansas State Department of Education</a>.

The newest mural was unveiled in the State Capitol on Kansas Day this year celebrates the suffragist movement with a painting named “Rebel Women” by Kansas artist Phyllis Garibay-Coon. The oil painting is 18-feet-by 8-feet and was approved in 2023 after SB 479 passed the Kansas Legislature unanimously in 2022. In total, there are 13 Kansas Suffragists depicted in the painting. The mural is located on the 1st floor east wing near the cage elevator and is the only mural in the Capitol painted by a woman – another first. One of the best ways to celebrate the suffrage movement is to register to vote. The following links are available to ensure you are prepared to participate in the upcoming municipal elections: <a href="https://www.kdor.ks.gov/apps/voterreg/home/index">Register to vote</a> <a href="https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/VoterView">Check your voter information</a>

Several legislative town halls have already taken place across the 36th Kansas Senate District, with more scheduled in the coming weeks.

· March 22 at 8:30 a.m. – Representative Lisa Mosher and I will host a Legislative Coffee at the Cuba Community Hall, sponsored by Farm Bureau. Later that morning, we will meet with constituents in Washington County at the Sale Barn Café at 11:00 a.m..

· April 1 at 1:00 p.m. – Senator Billinger, Representative Rahjes, and I will be in Stockton for a Legislative Coffee at the Stockton City Building. Later that afternoon at 2:15, we will be in Phillipsburg at the Huck Boyd Community Center. Both Legislative Coffees are sponsored by Farm Bureau.

· April 5 at 3:00 p.m. – Representative Bill Bloom and I will participate in the Farm Bureau Clay County Forum at the Happy Hippie in Clay Center.

· April 29 at 10:00 a.m. – Representative Troy Waymaster and I will be in Smith County for the VA Town Hall &amp; Health Fair at the American Legion Hall in Kensington.

We look forward to connecting with you, sharing legislative updates, and discussing the issues that matter most. Hope to see you there!

Thank you for all of your calls, emails, and letters regarding your thoughts and concerns about happenings in Kansas. I always encourage you to stay informed of the issues under consideration by the Kansas Legislature. Committee schedules, bills, and other helpful information can be easily accessed through the legislature’s website at <a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a>. You are also able to ‘listen in live’ at this website. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions. An email is the best at this point in the session.

Senator Elaine Bowers Kansas State Capitol Building Room 223-E 300SW 10th St. Topeka, KS&nbsp;66612 elaine.bowers@senate.ks.gov 785-296-7389 <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/" target="_blank">www.kslegislature.org</a> <a href="http://www.elainebowers.com/" target="_blank">www.elainebowers.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644853578448.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, 36th Dist. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, 36th Dist. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA — Senate Committees continued to review bills which have been sent over from the House. As we work though committee bills on the floor, we will also begin to have Conference Committee reports to vote on as well. A Conference Committee is a small, bipartisan and bicameral committee that works to smooth out the differences between the House’s and Senate’s version of a similar bill. Once the Conference Committee comes to a compromise, the committee’s version of the bill will be sent to both the House and the Senate for a final vote, before advancing the bill to the Governor’s desk.SENATE CONFIRMATIONBy a vote of 38-2, Steven Anderson was confirmed to the Office of Inspector General.SENATE FLOOR ACTION<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb14/">SB14</a>&nbsp;would prevent the state government from shutting down in the event the governor and legislature can’t come to an agreement on a budget prior to the end of the fiscal year. In such an event, the bill would provide for continuing appropriations at the same level as the previous fiscal year. This would ensure that schools would never close and that state government operations would continue. Both the House and Senate have passed SB 14 and the differences are being worked out in conference committee. I voted yes.<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2062/">HB 2062</a> would make amendments to law regarding child support guidelines established by the Kansas Supreme Court to require the guidelines to consider the direct medical and pregnancy-related expenses of the mother. The Senate amended the bill to also include a personal exemption of $2,320 for any unborn child, as defined by the bill, starting in tax year 2025. HB 2062 passed 30-9. I voted yes.<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2029/">HB 2029</a> would designate as the Rep Marvin S Robinson Memorial Highway a portion of K-5 in Wyandotte County, from North 18th Street to North 38th Street and would remove the portion of I-635 that shares a route with K-5 from designation as the Harry Darby Memorial Highway. HB 2029 passed 37-2. I voted yes.<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2092/">HB 2092</a> would modify the automatic expiration date of professional employer organization (PEO) registrations and filing of annual audits and would modify surety bond requirements for those PEOs with insufficient working capital. HB 2092 passed 39-0. I voted yes.<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2117/">HB 2117</a> would modify business filing requirements for certain entities, authorize certain entities rendering a professional service to participate in transactions under the Business Entity Transactions Act, and make certain information provided by a covered entity’s former registered agent a public record. HB 2117 passed 39-0. I voted yes.<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2166/">HB 2166</a> would continue in existence certain exceptions to the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA). HB 2166 passed 39-0. I voted yes.<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2027/">HB 2027</a> would reorganize subsections within the public assistance statute pertaining to eligibility requirements for the cash assistance program (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or TANF), the food assistance program (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP), and the child care subsidy program; general requirements related to drug screenings and convictions; assignment of support rights to the Secretary for Children and Families and limited power of attorney; and provisions related to fraud investigations. HB 2027 passed 31-8. I voted yes.<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2124/">HB 2124</a> would designate two portions of highway and one bridge in honor of military service members: The CPL Monte Wayne Forrest Memorial Highway would be a portion of US-160 in Sumner County, from the eastern city limits of Argonia east to Eden Road, The POW MIA Memorial Highway&nbsp;would be US-77 from I-70 in Geary County north to US-24 in Riley County and from its eastern intersection with US24 in Riley County north to the junction with K-16, also in Riley County and The POW MIA Memorial Bridge would be Bridge No. 82-14-6.88 (026) on K-82 in Clay County. HB 2124 passed 39-0. I voted yes.<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2155/">HB 2155</a> would specify that sheriffs have liability for official acts of the sheriff and sheriff’s sureties related to the charge and custody of county jails. HB 2155 passed 30-9. I voted yes.<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2347/">HB 2347</a> would amend the required culpability of a person obtaining control over stolen property or services and would make the theft of certain motor vehicles a felony. The bill would also make theft of a motor vehicle that is valued between $500 and $1,500 a severity level 10 nonperson felony. HB 2347 passed 39-0. I voted yes.<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb213/">SB 213</a> would prohibit non-residents from hunting migratory waterfowl during certain times and places and change the fees for migratory waterfowl habitat stamps. SB 213 passed 38-1. I voted yes.HB 2042 would amend law related to title insurance agent audits, surety bonds, and controlled business. HB 2042 passed 39-0. I voted yes.<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb20https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2043/43/">HB 2043</a> would allow an insurer or producer to request an extension of a pilot or testing program for a value-added product or service beyond a one-year period for any additional time needed to determine whether the value-added product or service meets the criteria in the case the insurer or producer is unable to determine sufficient evidence within the first year. The bill would clarify the time period for an agent or insurer to respond to an inquiry concerning a consumer complaint from the Insurance Department to be within 14 calendar days of receipt of the inquiry The bill would add the failure of an insurer to respond to an inquiry from the Department to the list of actions that could lead the Commissioner of Insurance to deny, suspend, revoke, or refuse a new license or application for license. HB 2043 passed 39-0. I voted yes.<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2045/">HB 2045</a> would grant the Commissioner of Insurance the ability to decrease the number of appointed board members on certain boards that fall under the Commissioner’s appointing authority. The bill would remove the requirements for the Committee on Surety Bonds and Insurance to meet at least once per month and that the meetings be held in the office of the Commissioner. HB 2045 passed 39-0. I voted yes.<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2106/">HB 2106</a> would amend the Campaign Finance Act to add additional certification requirements to persons promoting or opposing the adoption or repeal of any provision of the Kansas Constitution; prohibit any person that engages in activity promoting or opposing the adoption or repeal of any provision of the Kansas Constitution from accepting contributions or expenditures from a foreign national; and define “foreign national.” HB 2106 passed 39-0. I voted yes.<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/scr1611/">SCR 1611</a>, a constitutional amendment giving Kansans the right to elect justices to the Kansas Supreme Court. If also adopted by the House, it would go to the ballot in August of 2026 for a vote of the people. If passed on the ballot with a simple majority, elections for the Kansas Supreme Court would begin in 2028. SCR1611 passed with a vote of 27-13. I voted no.Explanation of vote - "I voted against SCR 1611 because, while I acknowledge that the current method of selecting judicial candidates through a nominating committee is not without its flaws, this resolution does not offer a sound alternative. I have previously supported a system that more closely mirrors the federal model (Senate confirmation) but SCR 1611 fails to establish essential safeguards for judicial selection. One of my concerns is the lack of parameters for candidacy. The judiciary requires expertise, impartiality, and a deep understanding of the law, and SCR 1611 does not ensure that these critical qualities are upheld in the selection process. A Senate confirmation process in Kansas would allow for more thorough vetting of a candidate. Additionally, I am concerned about the impact this resolution&nbsp;would have on rural representation. Larger population centers, with greater resources and voting power, would have the ability to dominate the selection of Supreme Court justices, leaving rural communities with little to no voice in the process. Ensuring a fair and balanced judiciary requires a system that protects representation for all Kansans, not just those in high-population areas."<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2145/">HB 2145</a> would amend law regarding county fair association boards to establish membership of the Butler County fair board. The bill would also move similar provisions regarding membership of the Cloud County fair board into the underlying county fair association board statute. Passed 39-0. I voted yes.<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb4/">SB 4 </a>Requires the return of advance voting ballots by 7:00 p.m. on the day of the election. The deadline for all ballots to be cast and/or received would be 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. The legislation would take effect on January 1, 2026, meaning 2025 local elections would be the last year in which the current “grace period” is in effect. SB4 passed 30-10 and is now headed to the Governor. I voted yes.<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb237/">SB 237</a> would require courts to consider the value of a qualified retirement account in determination of child support orders and eliminate the exemption of such accounts from claims to collect child support. SB 237 passed 40-0. I voted yes.<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb269/">SB 269</a> would prohibit the Board of Tax Appeals from charging a filing fee to a taxpayer who has an appeal from a previous year still pending before BOTA. SB 269 passed 40-0. I voted yes.<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2261/">HB 2261</a> would add majors of the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) as being in unclassified service under the Kansas Civil Service Act. The bill also would provide permanent status for a person returning to a classified KHP position at the end of a term in an unclassified KHP position. HB 2261 passed 40-0. I voted yes.<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb194/">SB 194</a> would void any provision of a covenant or other restriction established or amended between January 1, 1948, and December 31, 1958. The bill would declare covenants prohibiting other than single-family residence use and containing discriminatory provisions to be against public policy and to be void and unenforceable. SB 194 passed 40-0. I voted yes.JUDICIAL BRANCH INFORMATION – Websites for questions about Judges and rulings and elections · Kansas Courts website (<a href="https://kscourts.gov/">https://kscourts.gov/</a> ) - you will find a map of Kansas where you can click on any of the 31 judicial districts. On a judicial district page, you can see all the judges of that judicial district and find their local website where their local judges are listed.· To learn more about the current Kansas Supreme Court Justices and Court of Appeals judges, the Kansas Courts website provides background information on all the justices and court of appeals judges. <a href="https://kscourts.gov/About-the-Courts">https://kscourts.gov/About-the-Courts</a>· Decisions made by the appellate courts are posted on the Kansas Courts website. All decisions made by the courts are explained here: <a href="https://searchdro.kscourts.gov/Documents/LoadPage">https://searchdro.kscourts.gov/Documents/LoadPage</a>· For the most recent retention elections, the Kansas Bar Association has posted judge ratings. The last retention election was for some court of appeals judges: <a href="https://ksbar.org/?pg=your-kansas-judges">https://ksbar.org/?pg=your-kansas-judges</a>. For the next retention election for appellate court judges and justices, these surveys will be taken for those members.· Some local districts, like Johnson County, perform their own ratings on their judges. <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-sLaAnG53Jf39PCk7oZCsmA_3D_3D/">https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-sLaAnG53Jf39PCk7oZCsmA_3D_3D/</a>WATCH AND LISTEN TO THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_0NO-Pb96CFABvxDwXAq8A"> Kansas Legislature YouTube</a> – Here you can follow the legislature live as it happens, or access archives of past sessions and committee meetings. <a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/">Kansas Legislature Audio </a>– Here you can listen in on session or committees when they are in session, or access prior committee meetings, as well. Kansas Legislature website – <a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a> - has extensive information on legislators, committees, bills, and past sessions.FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE – Scott SchwabWOMEN'S HISTORY MONTHMarch is Women’s History Month – an opportunity to recognize women’s contributions to our state and nation. Kansas women were at the frontlines of the suffrage movement and helped to secure voting rights for women in Kansas before the national movement. Elwill M. Shanahan was the first female Kansas Secretary of State from 1966 to 1978. Secretary Shanahan was the first woman to hold a position in the constitutionally elected branch of Kansas government and the second female president of the National Association of Secretaries of State in 1975. Learn more about the women who paved the way for us through the <a href="https://www.kansashistory.gov/kansapedia/woman-s-suffrage/14524">Kansas Historical Society</a> and <a href="https://www.ksde.gov/Agency/Division-of-Learning-Services/Career-Standards-and-Assessment-Services/Content-Area-F-L/History-Government-and-Social-Studies/Womens-History-Month">Kansas State Department of Education</a>.Rebel WomenThe newest mural was unveiled in the State Capitol on Kansas Day this year celebrates the suffragist movement with a painting named “Rebel Women” by Kansas artist Phyllis Garibay-Coon. The oil painting is 18-feet-by 8-feet and was approved in 2023 after SB 479 passed the Kansas Legislature unanimously in 2022. In total, there are 13 Kansas Suffragists depicted in the painting. The mural is located on the 1st floor east wing near the cage elevator and is the only mural in the Capitol painted by a woman – another first. One of the best ways to celebrate the suffrage movement is to register to vote. The following links are available to ensure you are prepared to participate in the upcoming municipal elections: <a href="https://www.kdor.ks.gov/apps/voterreg/home/index">Register to vote</a> <a href="https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/VoterView">Check your voter information</a>LEGISLATIVE TOWNHALLSSeveral legislative town halls have already taken place across the 36th Kansas Senate District, with more scheduled in the coming weeks.· March 22 at 8:30 a.m. – Representative Lisa Mosher and I will host a Legislative Coffee at the Cuba Community Hall, sponsored by Farm Bureau. Later that morning, we will meet with constituents in Washington County at the Sale Barn Café at 11:00 a.m..· April 1 at 1:00 p.m. – Senator Billinger, Representative Rahjes, and I will be in Stockton for a Legislative Coffee at the Stockton City Building. Later that afternoon at 2:15, we will be in Phillipsburg at the Huck Boyd Community Center. Both Legislative Coffees are sponsored by Farm Bureau.· April 5 at 3:00 p.m. – Representative Bill Bloom and I will participate in the Farm Bureau Clay County Forum at the Happy Hippie in Clay Center.· April 29 at 10:00 a.m. – Representative Troy Waymaster and I will be in Smith County for the VA Town Hall &amp; Health Fair at the American Legion Hall in Kensington.We look forward to connecting with you, sharing legislative updates, and discussing the issues that matter most. Hope to see you there!THANK YOU FOR ENGAGINGThank you for all of your calls, emails, and letters regarding your thoughts and concerns about happenings in Kansas. I always encourage you to stay informed of the issues under consideration by the Kansas Legislature. Committee schedules, bills, and other helpful information can be easily accessed through the legislature’s website at <a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a>. You are also able to ‘listen in live’ at this website. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions. An email is the best at this point in the session.Thank you for the honor of serving you!Senator Elaine Bowers Kansas State Capitol Building Room 223-E 300SW 10th St. Topeka, KS&nbsp;66612 elaine.bowers@senate.ks.gov 785-296-7389 <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/" target="_blank">www.kslegislature.org</a> <a href="http://www.elainebowers.com/" target="_blank">www.elainebowers.com</a>

BOWERS: 2025 Senate Scene, Weeks 8 & 9

SENATE HIGHLIGHTS March 4, 2025

Senate Committees continued to review bills which have been sent over from the House, and we had one day of General Orders this week in the Senate.&nbsp; As we work though committee bills on the floor, we will also begin to have&nbsp;Conference Committee reports to vote on as well.&nbsp; 

A Conference Committee is a small, bipartisan and bicameral committee that works to smooth out the differences between the House’s and Senate’s version of a similar bill.&nbsp; Once the Conference Committee comes to a compromise, the committee’s version of the bill will be sent to both the House and the Senate for a final vote, before advancing the bill to the Governor’s desk.&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/scr1604/">SCR 1604</a>, a resolution calling for the Convention of States.&nbsp; Under Article V of the United States Constitution, a convention of states may be called to propose amendments to the United States Constitution.&nbsp; It takes 34 states ratifying identical resolutions to call for such a convention, and then 38 states to ratify any amendments emerging from that convention. So far, 19 states have adopted a version of SCR 1604, which calls for a convention “limited to proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress."&nbsp;&nbsp;SCR1604 passed 29-11.&nbsp; I voted yes.

<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb33/">SB 33</a>&nbsp;would authorize the sales tax exemption provided for in continuing law for sales of the services of slaughtering, butchering, custom cutting, dressing, processing, or packaging of an animal for the customer’s own use or consumption to be claimed without a requirement that exemption certificates or forms be provided by the purchaser or collected or maintained by the seller.&nbsp; This a follow-up bill from 2024 which removed sales tax on the processing of meat but customers were required to fill out extra Department of Revenue paperwork each time and keep on file for future review of the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;SB 33 passed 40-0.&nbsp; I voted yes.

<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb137/">SB 137</a>&nbsp;would amend the Kansas Standard Asset Seizure and Forfeiture Act to permit firearms forfeited under the Act to be sold or transferred to a properly licensed federal firearms dealer.&nbsp;&nbsp;SB&nbsp;137 passed 39-1.&nbsp; I voted yes.

Full texts of the bills and supplemental notes as well as the Final Action vote on these measures can be found at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/">www.kslegislature.org</a>.&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_0NO-Pb96CFABvxDwXAq8A?view_as=subscriber">Kansas Legislature YouTube</a>&nbsp;– Here you can follow the legislature live as it happens, or access archives of past sessions and committee meetings.

<a target="_blank" href="http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/View/Calendar/">Kansas Legislature Audio</a>&nbsp;– Here you can listen in on session or committees when they are in session, or access prior committee meetings, as well.

Kansas Legislature website –&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/">www.kslegislature.org</a>&nbsp;- has extensive information on legislators, committees, bills, and past sessions.

<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/kansascoge/">COGE Portal</a>&nbsp;– Committee on Government Efficiency Portal <a target="_blank" href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/">WhiteHouse.gov</a>&nbsp;–Executive Actions are included here

UPDATE FROM KANSAS INSURANCE COMMISSIONER VICKI SCHMIDT

If you or someone you know has an issue with their insurance, we are happy to help!&nbsp; We may not always like the answers we get, but we will do our best to get you an answer.&nbsp; Please use the contact information below to reach out to us if we can be of assistance.

Main Line: (785) 296-3071 Consumer Assistance Hotline: 1-800-432-2484 Consumer Complaint:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kid.webcomplaints@ks.gov">kid.webcomplaints@ks.gov</a> Producer Licensing:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:KID.Licensing@ks.gov">kid.licensing@ks.gov</a> Email:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:KID.Commissioner@ks.gov">KID.Commissioner@ks.gov</a> Website:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001SoDYgtD-dFj2steoGgFmoL8pLuf0NSmUSYwQCgp1HsxoadVCfwcm_95Am0jNUs0wFnhLh6WZZDNC0I3bvXKrYLcDAFEsmw8M0DoCWSkqIfiLrZCsRdIrP9T0QLWMfcrFnRn8KKAZuWRvenC77dA6Tw==&amp;c=_XGtk_g_SmaADwMA6e5Ys1lOAPiD2n0Y0WhdVf1Fcsl9xHGubVgxOA==&amp;ch=r3uWbCcKhRBHU_y3dsLIzaxpLTKaKBOHKjED-RjqskJBJwcemc8Blw==">Insurance.kansas.gov</a>

Thank you for all of your calls, emails, and letters regarding your thoughts and concerns about happenings in Kansas. I always encourage you to stay informed of the issues under consideration by the Kansas Legislature.&nbsp; Committee schedules, bills, and other helpful information can be easily accessed through the legislature’s website at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/">www.kslegislature.org</a>.&nbsp; You are also able to ‘listen in live’ at this website.&nbsp; Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions.&nbsp; An email is the best at this point in the session.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644853578448.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, 36th Dist. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, 36th Dist. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SENATE HIGHLIGHTS March 4, 2025Senate Committees continued to review bills which have been sent over from the House, and we had one day of General Orders this week in the Senate.&nbsp; As we work though committee bills on the floor, we will also begin to have&nbsp;Conference Committee reports to vote on as well.&nbsp; A Conference Committee is a small, bipartisan and bicameral committee that works to smooth out the differences between the House’s and Senate’s version of a similar bill.&nbsp; Once the Conference Committee comes to a compromise, the committee’s version of the bill will be sent to both the House and the Senate for a final vote, before advancing the bill to the Governor’s desk.&nbsp;SENATE FLOOR ACTION<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/scr1604/">SCR 1604</a>, a resolution calling for the Convention of States.&nbsp; Under Article V of the United States Constitution, a convention of states may be called to propose amendments to the United States Constitution.&nbsp; It takes 34 states ratifying identical resolutions to call for such a convention, and then 38 states to ratify any amendments emerging from that convention. So far, 19 states have adopted a version of SCR 1604, which calls for a convention “limited to proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress."&nbsp;&nbsp;SCR1604 passed 29-11.&nbsp; I voted yes.<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb33/">SB 33</a>&nbsp;would authorize the sales tax exemption provided for in continuing law for sales of the services of slaughtering, butchering, custom cutting, dressing, processing, or packaging of an animal for the customer’s own use or consumption to be claimed without a requirement that exemption certificates or forms be provided by the purchaser or collected or maintained by the seller.&nbsp; This a follow-up bill from 2024 which removed sales tax on the processing of meat but customers were required to fill out extra Department of Revenue paperwork each time and keep on file for future review of the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;SB 33 passed 40-0.&nbsp; I voted yes.<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb137/">SB 137</a>&nbsp;would amend the Kansas Standard Asset Seizure and Forfeiture Act to permit firearms forfeited under the Act to be sold or transferred to a properly licensed federal firearms dealer.&nbsp;&nbsp;SB&nbsp;137 passed 39-1.&nbsp; I voted yes.Full texts of the bills and supplemental notes as well as the Final Action vote on these measures can be found at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/">www.kslegislature.org</a>.&nbsp;WATCH AND LISTEN TO THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE<a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_0NO-Pb96CFABvxDwXAq8A?view_as=subscriber">Kansas Legislature YouTube</a>&nbsp;– Here you can follow the legislature live as it happens, or access archives of past sessions and committee meetings.<a target="_blank" href="http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/View/Calendar/">Kansas Legislature Audio</a>&nbsp;– Here you can listen in on session or committees when they are in session, or access prior committee meetings, as well.Kansas Legislature website –&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/">www.kslegislature.org</a>&nbsp;- has extensive information on legislators, committees, bills, and past sessions.ADDITIONAL RESOURCES<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/kansascoge/">COGE Portal</a>&nbsp;– Committee on Government Efficiency Portal <a target="_blank" href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/">WhiteHouse.gov</a>&nbsp;–Executive Actions are included hereUPDATE FROM KANSAS INSURANCE COMMISSIONER VICKI SCHMIDTIf you or someone you know has an issue with their insurance, we are happy to help!&nbsp; We may not always like the answers we get, but we will do our best to get you an answer.&nbsp; Please use the contact information below to reach out to us if we can be of assistance.Main Line: (785) 296-3071 Consumer Assistance Hotline: 1-800-432-2484 Consumer Complaint:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kid.webcomplaints@ks.gov">kid.webcomplaints@ks.gov</a> Producer Licensing:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:KID.Licensing@ks.gov">kid.licensing@ks.gov</a> Email:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:KID.Commissioner@ks.gov">KID.Commissioner@ks.gov</a> Website:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001SoDYgtD-dFj2steoGgFmoL8pLuf0NSmUSYwQCgp1HsxoadVCfwcm_95Am0jNUs0wFnhLh6WZZDNC0I3bvXKrYLcDAFEsmw8M0DoCWSkqIfiLrZCsRdIrP9T0QLWMfcrFnRn8KKAZuWRvenC77dA6Tw==&amp;c=_XGtk_g_SmaADwMA6e5Ys1lOAPiD2n0Y0WhdVf1Fcsl9xHGubVgxOA==&amp;ch=r3uWbCcKhRBHU_y3dsLIzaxpLTKaKBOHKjED-RjqskJBJwcemc8Blw==">Insurance.kansas.gov</a>THANK YOU FOR ENGAGINGThank you for all of your calls, emails, and letters regarding your thoughts and concerns about happenings in Kansas. I always encourage you to stay informed of the issues under consideration by the Kansas Legislature.&nbsp; Committee schedules, bills, and other helpful information can be easily accessed through the legislature’s website at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/">www.kslegislature.org</a>.&nbsp; You are also able to ‘listen in live’ at this website.&nbsp; Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions.&nbsp; An email is the best at this point in the session.Thank you for the honor of serving you!Senator Elaine Bowers Kansas State Capitol Building Room 223-E 300SW 10th St. Topeka, KS&nbsp;66612 elaine.bowers@senate.ks.gov 785-296-7389 <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/" target="_blank">www.kslegislature.org</a> <a href="http://www.elainebowers.com/" target="_blank">www.elainebowers.com</a>

BOWERS: 2025 Senate Scene, Week 7

By BRIANNE HEIDBREDER Associate Professor of Political Science Kansas State University.

This legislative session, Kansas legislators are considering whether to restrict what low-income households can buy with their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Specifically, Senate Bill 79 requests authorization from the federal government to prohibit the use of those funds to buy candy and soda.

Even if the bill passes, the federal government will still have the final say on granting a waiver. However, this issue represents a broader debate in U.S. politics about the proper purpose and scope of government involvement in our day-to-day lives.

In other words, is this something that the Kansas Legislature should do, or is the government meddling too much in people's private decisions?

Proponents of these restrictions contend that excluding sugar-filled beverages and snacks aligns with the SNAP program's initial objective of assisting low-income families in purchasing nutritious food. They argue that limiting unhealthy purchases would help ensure those taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.

They also suggest that these restrictions could even lead to lower healthcare costs down the line.

In contrast, critics argue that this kind of policy unfairly targets low-income people. Restricting their purchases implies they can’t or shouldn’t make their own food choices. SNAP recipients already face the stigma of using government assistance. Under these rules, they might face even more frustration when they face growing restrictions on what they can and cannot buy.

Furthermore, there isn’t universal consensus on what counts as “unhealthy.” Many processed foods have sugar in them, but they’re also a staple for families who don’t have easy access to fresh produce.

Enforcing these rules would also be complicated and not just for government agencies. Stores would have to keep track of which products are allowed, and benefit recipients would need to be informed of this change, which could cause confusion at the checkout.

The question is whether the potential health benefits are worth the extra hassle.

This is not the first time a state has tried to restrict SNAP purchases. However, past efforts to impose SNAP purchasing limits have been stopped by strong lobbying efforts from the beverage

and food retail sectors, bureaucratic resistance within the USDA and congressional agricultural committees, and hesitance from those who prioritize the program’s role in supporting low-income households without added burden or stigma.

It is also important to note that research on whether these types of disincentives actually change purchase and consumption behavior show mixed results.

However, there’s a growing push for policies that limit government aid and what people can do with it. In fact, some wonder if policies like this will see new life under Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s call to “Make America Healthy Again.”

Kansas lawmakers face a choice. While encouraging healthier eating and making better use of public funds sounds good in theory, the practical and ethical issues can’t be ignored. In the end, Kansas must ask: Will restricting SNAP purchases help, or is it just more government interference?

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678375940173.jpeg" alt="Brianne Heidbreder Insight Kansas thumbnail.jpg" />
 <figcaption>Brianne Heidbreder Insight Kansas thumbnail.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRIANNE HEIDBREDER Associate Professor of Political Science Kansas State University. This legislative session, Kansas legislators are considering whether to restrict what low-income households can buy with their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Specifically, Senate Bill 79 requests authorization from the federal government to prohibit the use of those funds to buy candy and soda.Even if the bill passes, the federal government will still have the final say on granting a waiver. However, this issue represents a broader debate in U.S. politics about the proper purpose and scope of government involvement in our day-to-day lives.In other words, is this something that the Kansas Legislature should do, or is the government meddling too much in people's private decisions?Proponents of these restrictions contend that excluding sugar-filled beverages and snacks aligns with the SNAP program's initial objective of assisting low-income families in purchasing nutritious food. They argue that limiting unhealthy purchases would help ensure those taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582312931775.png" alt="opinion sq.png" />
 <figcaption>opinion sq.png</figcaption>
 </figure>They also suggest that these restrictions could even lead to lower healthcare costs down the line.In contrast, critics argue that this kind of policy unfairly targets low-income people. Restricting their purchases implies they can’t or shouldn’t make their own food choices. SNAP recipients already face the stigma of using government assistance. Under these rules, they might face even more frustration when they face growing restrictions on what they can and cannot buy.Furthermore, there isn’t universal consensus on what counts as “unhealthy.” Many processed foods have sugar in them, but they’re also a staple for families who don’t have easy access to fresh produce.Enforcing these rules would also be complicated and not just for government agencies. Stores would have to keep track of which products are allowed, and benefit recipients would need to be informed of this change, which could cause confusion at the checkout.The question is whether the potential health benefits are worth the extra hassle.This is not the first time a state has tried to restrict SNAP purchases. However, past efforts to impose SNAP purchasing limits have been stopped by strong lobbying efforts from the beverageand food retail sectors, bureaucratic resistance within the USDA and congressional agricultural committees, and hesitance from those who prioritize the program’s role in supporting low-income households without added burden or stigma.It is also important to note that research on whether these types of disincentives actually change purchase and consumption behavior show mixed results.However, there’s a growing push for policies that limit government aid and what people can do with it. In fact, some wonder if policies like this will see new life under Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s call to “Make America Healthy Again.”Kansas lawmakers face a choice. While encouraging healthier eating and making better use of public funds sounds good in theory, the practical and ethical issues can’t be ignored. In the end, Kansas must ask: Will restricting SNAP purchases help, or is it just more government interference?The views and opinions expressed in this editorial article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Salina Post or Eagle Media. The editorial is intended to stimulate critical thinking and debate on issues of public interest and should be read with an open mind. Readers are encouraged to consider multiple sources of information and to form their own informed opinions.

INSIGHT: Should Kansas restrict SNAP purchases of soda and candy?

By DAVID NORLIN Salina Resident

The Lyin’ kIng is on his throne.&nbsp;&nbsp;Loyal subjects spin yarns night and day to cover his naked untruths.&nbsp;&nbsp;The web of lies and Day One dictator decrees spin out faster than a truckload of spiders.&nbsp;&nbsp;Who can keep track?

Our Kansas representatives, given their oath to protect the Constitution, should erect a barrier wall against this destruction of the Republic.&nbsp;&nbsp;But these Republicans haven’t.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

If you are not yet ‘woke,’ it is long past time.

Resistance is imperative.&nbsp;&nbsp;Your life just got unimaginably harder than need be.&nbsp;&nbsp;It is getting far worse, daily.&nbsp;&nbsp;No single writing, podcast, or news report can presently capture all attacks on the body politic.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

First, the J6 criminal pardons.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;“In his first 24 hours as President, Donald Trump [took] actions large and small that dramatically compromise the justice system and ……. the Department of Justice.

“Some, like his pardoning of 1,500 defendants ….. convicted and sentenced for their roles in attacking the Capitol on January 6th, including convictions of horrible acts of violence against law enforcement, are high profile. They are a betrayal; a slap in the face to those officers and their families who suffered physical and emotional scars, ongoing trauma, or death. They undermine the hundreds of prosecutors and FBI agents who, regardless of party or politics, worked tirelessly on these cases, as well as bipartisan federal judges who sentenced them….

“[Now] individuals who (not without encouragement) used violence to achieve their ends are back out into our communities, who will [live in fear of] the consequences. The pardons encourage others to use similar means of political protest, without fear of long-term accountability.

“[Even more insidious]: the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/ed-martin-advocate-jan-6-defendants-interim-chief-us-attorney-dc-rcna188446">appointment of Ed Martin</a>, a prominent backer of the Jan. 6 insurrectionists, as interim U.S. attorney in Washington, DC.&nbsp;&nbsp;What does that tell you?

Here’s what it tells us: People loyal to Trump cannot be reached by career federal prosecutors and agents; it is the ultimate politicization of the justice system and Department of Justice.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://contrarian.substack.com/p/undermining-doj?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email">Remember the Retrumplican rhetoric about the DOJ being ‘weaponized’?&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;It wasn’t before.&nbsp;&nbsp;It is now.&nbsp;

Secondly, there are the hopelessly incompetent Trump-loyalist cabinet nominees.&nbsp;

This pardon/appointment dirty work bulldozed a path for Attorney General nominees, to head an invaded Department of (In)justice.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sexual predator Matt Gaetz has withdrawn.&nbsp;&nbsp;Now comes Pam Bondi.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Bondi, a well-known figure in Trump’s circle, chaired the America First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by former Trump administration staffers. She’s been a vocal critic of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/">criminal cases against Trump</a>. [Recently], she called Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith and other prosecutors [charging]Trump “horrible” people, trying to make names for themselves by “going after Donald Trump and weaponizing our legal system.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaetz-trump-fbi-justice-department-248b46ba0c882dd46d661568e8bd3bd7">Fair and just?&nbsp;&nbsp;No.&nbsp;&nbsp;And Bondi is just one tip of the iceberg</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It is no exaggeration to say that all Trump’s Niagara Falls loyalist-incompetents flood are almost entirely opposed to their respective departments’ purposes.

As such, Individually and collectively, they are a threat to US Security.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Our Congress Critters are sworn to protect us from domestic terrorists.&nbsp;&nbsp;Instead,&nbsp;&nbsp;they are not watchdogs, but lapdogs brought to heel.

Jerry Moran had one good moment.&nbsp;&nbsp;Regarding Trump’s J6 pardons, he said: “It is wrong to pardon individuals convicted of violent crime...."&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas common sense, right?

But then he votes for Pete Hegseth to head the Defense Department.&nbsp;&nbsp;A moral reprobate with a history of drunken out-of-control behavior, accused of abuse by previous wives and of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/24/pete-hegseth-confirmed-defense-secretary">gross mismanagement of non-profits, surely would not pass Jerry’s muster--but it did.&nbsp;</a>

Jerry’s been an outspoken advocate for Veterans and our armed forces.&nbsp;&nbsp;But now, his vote for Hegseth spits in the face of our armed servicemen and women—and his own aforementioned common sense.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

I called previous to that vote.&nbsp;&nbsp;Happily, I avoided the usual default message-recorder.&nbsp;&nbsp;Jerry’s real, live DC aide noted that he had met with the Hedger and asked about items the aide ticked off, clearly from a script.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But did was Hegseth’s fitness for the position once mentioned?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nope.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sadly, Jerry is only one such (insert adjectives here) Kansas Republican Congressperson.&nbsp;&nbsp;The rest are serving us equally shamefully.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As illustration, I’ll close with the post-election, widely-published column from Tracey Mann, our illustrious 1st-District Congressman.&nbsp;&nbsp;His role as inheritor of the Marshall/Huelskamp reign of fools (Example: their claims that Barack Obama was not a citizen), was starkly evident throughout.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/opinion/columns/2025/01/20/trump-mandates-include-protecting-constitutional-rights-opinion/77834480007/">But this line has to rank as Tracey’s most Orwellian, truth-free distortion of reality thus far:&nbsp;</a>

&nbsp;“America has spoken and made it clear that we do not want four more years of chaos. I look forward to working with President Trump to deliver on this mandate in the 119th Congress.”

Chaos, Tracey?&nbsp;&nbsp;You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.&nbsp;&nbsp;And here’s a reality-based statement:&nbsp;&nbsp;You are part of the problem, not the solution.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582312931775.png" alt="opinion sq.png" />
 <figcaption>opinion sq.png</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVID NORLIN Salina ResidentThe Lyin’ kIng is on his throne.&nbsp;&nbsp;Loyal subjects spin yarns night and day to cover his naked untruths.&nbsp;&nbsp;The web of lies and Day One dictator decrees spin out faster than a truckload of spiders.&nbsp;&nbsp;Who can keep track?Our Kansas representatives, given their oath to protect the Constitution, should erect a barrier wall against this destruction of the Republic.&nbsp;&nbsp;But these Republicans haven’t.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If you are not yet ‘woke,’ it is long past time.Resistance is imperative.&nbsp;&nbsp;Your life just got unimaginably harder than need be.&nbsp;&nbsp;It is getting far worse, daily.&nbsp;&nbsp;No single writing, podcast, or news report can presently capture all attacks on the body politic.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Here are two examples:First, the J6 criminal pardons.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“In his first 24 hours as President, Donald Trump [took] actions large and small that dramatically compromise the justice system and ……. the Department of Justice.“Some, like his pardoning of 1,500 defendants ….. convicted and sentenced for their roles in attacking the Capitol on January 6th, including convictions of horrible acts of violence against law enforcement, are high profile. They are a betrayal; a slap in the face to those officers and their families who suffered physical and emotional scars, ongoing trauma, or death. They undermine the hundreds of prosecutors and FBI agents who, regardless of party or politics, worked tirelessly on these cases, as well as bipartisan federal judges who sentenced them….“[Now] individuals who (not without encouragement) used violence to achieve their ends are back out into our communities, who will [live in fear of] the consequences. The pardons encourage others to use similar means of political protest, without fear of long-term accountability.“[Even more insidious]: the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/ed-martin-advocate-jan-6-defendants-interim-chief-us-attorney-dc-rcna188446">appointment of Ed Martin</a>, a prominent backer of the Jan. 6 insurrectionists, as interim U.S. attorney in Washington, DC.&nbsp;&nbsp;What does that tell you?Here’s what it tells us: People loyal to Trump cannot be reached by career federal prosecutors and agents; it is the ultimate politicization of the justice system and Department of Justice.”&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://contrarian.substack.com/p/undermining-doj?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email">Remember the Retrumplican rhetoric about the DOJ being ‘weaponized’?&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;It wasn’t before.&nbsp;&nbsp;It is now.&nbsp;Secondly, there are the hopelessly incompetent Trump-loyalist cabinet nominees.&nbsp;This pardon/appointment dirty work bulldozed a path for Attorney General nominees, to head an invaded Department of (In)justice.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sexual predator Matt Gaetz has withdrawn.&nbsp;&nbsp;Now comes Pam Bondi.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Bondi, a well-known figure in Trump’s circle, chaired the America First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by former Trump administration staffers. She’s been a vocal critic of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/">criminal cases against Trump</a>. [Recently], she called Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith and other prosecutors [charging]Trump “horrible” people, trying to make names for themselves by “going after Donald Trump and weaponizing our legal system.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaetz-trump-fbi-justice-department-248b46ba0c882dd46d661568e8bd3bd7">Fair and just?&nbsp;&nbsp;No.&nbsp;&nbsp;And Bondi is just one tip of the iceberg</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It is no exaggeration to say that all Trump’s Niagara Falls loyalist-incompetents flood are almost entirely opposed to their respective departments’ purposes.As such, Individually and collectively, they are a threat to US Security.&nbsp;&nbsp;Our Congress Critters are sworn to protect us from domestic terrorists.&nbsp;&nbsp;Instead,&nbsp;&nbsp;they are not watchdogs, but lapdogs brought to heel.Jerry Moran had one good moment.&nbsp;&nbsp;Regarding Trump’s J6 pardons, he said: “It is wrong to pardon individuals convicted of violent crime...."&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas common sense, right?But then he votes for Pete Hegseth to head the Defense Department.&nbsp;&nbsp;A moral reprobate with a history of drunken out-of-control behavior, accused of abuse by previous wives and of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/24/pete-hegseth-confirmed-defense-secretary">gross mismanagement of non-profits, surely would not pass Jerry’s muster--but it did.&nbsp;</a>Jerry’s been an outspoken advocate for Veterans and our armed forces.&nbsp;&nbsp;But now, his vote for Hegseth spits in the face of our armed servicemen and women—and his own aforementioned common sense.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I called previous to that vote.&nbsp;&nbsp;Happily, I avoided the usual default message-recorder.&nbsp;&nbsp;Jerry’s real, live DC aide noted that he had met with the Hedger and asked about items the aide ticked off, clearly from a script.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But did was Hegseth’s fitness for the position once mentioned?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nope.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sadly, Jerry is only one such (insert adjectives here) Kansas Republican Congressperson.&nbsp;&nbsp;The rest are serving us equally shamefully.&nbsp;&nbsp;As illustration, I’ll close with the post-election, widely-published column from Tracey Mann, our illustrious 1st-District Congressman.&nbsp;&nbsp;His role as inheritor of the Marshall/Huelskamp reign of fools (Example: their claims that Barack Obama was not a citizen), was starkly evident throughout.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/opinion/columns/2025/01/20/trump-mandates-include-protecting-constitutional-rights-opinion/77834480007/">But this line has to rank as Tracey’s most Orwellian, truth-free distortion of reality thus far:&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;“America has spoken and made it clear that we do not want four more years of chaos. I look forward to working with President Trump to deliver on this mandate in the 119th Congress.”Chaos, Tracey?&nbsp;&nbsp;You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.&nbsp;&nbsp;And here’s a reality-based statement:&nbsp;&nbsp;You are part of the problem, not the solution.&nbsp;&nbsp;Wake.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Up.&nbsp;&nbsp;The views and opinions expressed in this editorial article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Salina Post or Eagle Media. The editorial is intended to stimulate critical thinking and debate on issues of public interest and should be read with an open mind. Readers are encouraged to consider multiple sources of information and to form their own informed opinions.

OPINION: Stop the chaos?  Where's it coming from?

By MARK R. JOSLYN Insight Kansas

For decades, there has been a general understanding of the coalitions that define the two parties. The wealthy and college educated leaned Republican, while the less educated, working class, and the disadvantaged supported Democrats.

We knew generally what to expect from both sides. No longer.&nbsp; 

The college educated and affluent are drifting leftward. The working class and those without a college degree are moving right. The so-called&nbsp; “<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Polarized-Degrees-Transformed-American-Politics/dp/1316512010">diploma divide</a>” has arrived.

The divide first took shape in 2008, when Obama carried college educated voters and McCain won those without a college degree.

Since then, the split has expanded considerably.&nbsp;College educated whites now comprise a plurality of the Democrat coalition, reaching&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/MattGrossmann/status/1855439671138058673">nearly 40</a>&nbsp;percent of the total Democrat presidential vote. A majority of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/election/2024/exit-polls/national-results/general/president/0">college educated</a>,&nbsp;in fact, voted for Kamala Harris in 2024 while a majority without a college degree voted for Donald Trump.

And, for the first time since the advent of reliable&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.foxnews.com/elections/2024/general-results/voter-analysis">exit polling</a>, the Republican candidate won the lowest income group – under $50,000 while the Democrat secured the highest income category – $100,000 plus.

This helps explain why Biden pushed so hard for student loan forgiveness and approved tax credits for electric vehicles. It also sheds light on Trump’s support for tariffs and a no tax on tips plan. 

As new coalition members join, they shape the parties’ cultures which are showcased every four years during party conventions.&nbsp;In&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Democratic_National_Convention#Schedule">2020</a>, Democrats choose Pulitzer Prize winning author and presidential historian Jon Meacham and former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD to deliver remarks on the final evening of their convention.

By contrast,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Republican_National_Convention#Schedule">Republicans</a>&nbsp;featured Franklin Graham, son of Christian evangelist Billy Graham, and Dana White CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.&nbsp;White was spotlighted again in 2024, this time presenting Trump to convention delegates.&nbsp; Former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan and Teamster president Sean O’ Brien also received coveted primetime slots.

The party transformations have impacted Kansans as well.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ksdata.ku.edu/ksdata/ksah/rankings/1rank2.pdf">Wealthy</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ksdata.ku.edu/ksdata/ksah/education/6ed15b.pdf">well educated Kansas counties</a>&nbsp;now represent opportunities for Democrats.

Johnson County, a historical stronghold of Republicans, is experiencing a noticeable shift toward Democrats.&nbsp;In 2008, Obama secured nearly&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://uselectionatlas.org/">45 percent</a>&nbsp;of the county’s vote, reaching the highest percentage by a Democrat since FDR in 1932.&nbsp;Hillary Clinton nearly equaled that percentage in 2016 and Biden surpassed it with 52.7 percent in 2020, marking the first time a Democrat had won Johnson County in over 100 years.&nbsp;Kamala Harris then improved on Biden’s percentage and won Riley County as well.

Less affluent and less educated counties are moving rightward.&nbsp;Crawford County for example in the southeast quadrant voted for Carter in 1976, Dukakis in 1988, Clinton in 1992 and 1996. And then in 2008, Crawford joined Douglas and Wyandotte as the only counties to support Obama.&nbsp;But over the last four presidential contests, Crawford turned&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://uselectionatlas.org/">red</a>.&nbsp;Hillary Clinton’s 35 percent was the worst performance by a Democrat since 1924 – Biden and Harris managed only a modest uptick.&nbsp;&nbsp;

These changes can be confusing and frustrating for many long-time party loyalists. After all, the parties they had once aligned with and cast their votes for have effectively vanished.&nbsp; 

It’s time to reset our expectations.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Mark Joslyn is a professor of political science at the University of Kansas, Lawrence.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695215697316.png" alt="Dr. Mark Joslyn. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Mark Joslyn. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARK R. JOSLYN Insight KansasFor decades, there has been a general understanding of the coalitions that define the two parties. The wealthy and college educated leaned Republican, while the less educated, working class, and the disadvantaged supported Democrats.We knew generally what to expect from both sides. No longer.&nbsp; The college educated and affluent are drifting leftward. The working class and those without a college degree are moving right. The so-called&nbsp; “<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Polarized-Degrees-Transformed-American-Politics/dp/1316512010">diploma divide</a>” has arrived.The divide first took shape in 2008, when Obama carried college educated voters and McCain won those without a college degree.Since then, the split has expanded considerably.&nbsp;College educated whites now comprise a plurality of the Democrat coalition, reaching&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/MattGrossmann/status/1855439671138058673">nearly 40</a>&nbsp;percent of the total Democrat presidential vote. A majority of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/election/2024/exit-polls/national-results/general/president/0">college educated</a>,&nbsp;in fact, voted for Kamala Harris in 2024 while a majority without a college degree voted for Donald Trump.And, for the first time since the advent of reliable&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.foxnews.com/elections/2024/general-results/voter-analysis">exit polling</a>, the Republican candidate won the lowest income group – under $50,000 while the Democrat secured the highest income category – $100,000 plus.This helps explain why Biden pushed so hard for student loan forgiveness and approved tax credits for electric vehicles. It also sheds light on Trump’s support for tariffs and a no tax on tips plan. As new coalition members join, they shape the parties’ cultures which are showcased every four years during party conventions.&nbsp;In&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Democratic_National_Convention#Schedule">2020</a>, Democrats choose Pulitzer Prize winning author and presidential historian Jon Meacham and former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD to deliver remarks on the final evening of their convention.By contrast,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Republican_National_Convention#Schedule">Republicans</a>&nbsp;featured Franklin Graham, son of Christian evangelist Billy Graham, and Dana White CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.&nbsp;White was spotlighted again in 2024, this time presenting Trump to convention delegates.&nbsp; Former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan and Teamster president Sean O’ Brien also received coveted primetime slots. The party transformations have impacted Kansans as well.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ksdata.ku.edu/ksdata/ksah/rankings/1rank2.pdf">Wealthy</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ksdata.ku.edu/ksdata/ksah/education/6ed15b.pdf">well educated Kansas counties</a>&nbsp;now represent opportunities for Democrats.Johnson County, a historical stronghold of Republicans, is experiencing a noticeable shift toward Democrats.&nbsp;In 2008, Obama secured nearly&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://uselectionatlas.org/">45 percent</a>&nbsp;of the county’s vote, reaching the highest percentage by a Democrat since FDR in 1932.&nbsp;Hillary Clinton nearly equaled that percentage in 2016 and Biden surpassed it with 52.7 percent in 2020, marking the first time a Democrat had won Johnson County in over 100 years.&nbsp;Kamala Harris then improved on Biden’s percentage and won Riley County as well. Less affluent and less educated counties are moving rightward.&nbsp;Crawford County for example in the southeast quadrant voted for Carter in 1976, Dukakis in 1988, Clinton in 1992 and 1996. And then in 2008, Crawford joined Douglas and Wyandotte as the only counties to support Obama.&nbsp;But over the last four presidential contests, Crawford turned&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://uselectionatlas.org/">red</a>.&nbsp;Hillary Clinton’s 35 percent was the worst performance by a Democrat since 1924 – Biden and Harris managed only a modest uptick.&nbsp;&nbsp; These changes can be confusing and frustrating for many long-time party loyalists. After all, the parties they had once aligned with and cast their votes for have effectively vanished.&nbsp; It’s time to reset our expectations.&nbsp;&nbsp;Mark Joslyn is a professor of political science at the University of Kansas, Lawrence.&nbsp;

INSIGHT KANSAS: Adjusting to the new political reality

By&nbsp;BILL FIANDER Washburn Public Policy Lecturer

Fresh off citizen vitriol for rising property taxes during their 2024 campaigns, a fortified Republican super-majority Kansas Legislature began loading their prized horses into the starting gate of this year’s Property Tax Derby.

Kansas GOP leaders eye this as the final jewel in the coveted Tax Cut Triple Crown – sales, income, and property. In previous sessions, they successfully bet on both Governor Kelly’s food tax horse (Axe The Tax) and their income tax horse (Trickle Down) sired from the Brownback stud farm.

Elected jockeys have three levers at their disposal to determine the pace of property taxes in the derby. The State totally controls the first lever (assessments) and oversees county appraisals for the second lever (property values) which are really at the mercy of market forces. The most powerful lever (mill levy) is nearly all in the grip of local government.

Property taxes fund 60%-100% of local government budgets, but less than 1% of state government. Property tax revenue is the lifeblood for local services such as schools, police, roads, parks, transit, libraries, etc. with some hemorrhaging. Conversely, they mean virtually nothing to the State budget.

With that in mind, let’s handicap three GOP entrants while Democrats snooze in the barn.

· “Cap The Tax” (SCR 1603) – Senate Taxation Farms first entry is a Constitutional Amendment capping taxable property values at 3% annually thus artificially controlling property value – not the free market. This well-intentioned concept has all sorts of unintended consequences. Said cap is lifted for home sales and improvements causing vastly different taxable values on the same block while discouraging mobility and investment for an even tighter housing market. Local budgets get squeezed by inflation over 3% but still could effectively make themselves whole by pulling their prodigious mill levy lever. Ultimately, voters must approve if it gets that far. Given the House killed a 4% cap last year, this horse may get stuck on the rail again.

· “Building Biscuit” (SB 35) - Senate Taxation Farms’ second entry would repeal the State’s paltry 1.5 mill levy that goes towards deferred maintenance of state buildings. This is the most local government-friendly entry because it does not jeopardize local revenue. Building maintenance would shift to the State’s general fund made up of income and sales tax. Without a dedicated mill levy, universities are rightfully nervous their proverbial can could be kicked down the road. Homeowners would save a whopping $22 annually on a $200K house. This horse has the best legs for a stretch run but little return for wagers.

· “School Levy Sugar” (HB 2011) – The entry from House Taxation Stables has a similar profile to Building Biscuit. Instead of building maintenance, 1.5 mills are wiped from the State’s 20 mills for local schools. Relief for homeowners is just as paltry. Ostensibly, local schools would be made whole through the State’s sales and income taxes. But it puts their can on the line instead of universities. Without Supreme Court oversight for a school funding case, this horse is drifting a little wide at the turn.

If these don’t excite everybody, look for late entries like last year’s prized thoroughbred – exempting residential value from the State’s 20 mill school levy, expanding the homestead exemption, OR the ultimate horse trade – Medicaid expansion.

To paraphrase the State’s highest-paid employee (Bill Self), don’t worry about the mules, keep loading the wagon and don’t crash local services.

Bill Fiander is a lecturer at Washburn University specializing in public administration, urban planning, and state/local government. He is the former planning and development director for the City of Topeka.

The views and opinions expressed in this opinion article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of Salina Post or Eagle Communications. The editorial is intended to stimulate critical thinking and debate on issues of public interest and should be read with an open mind. Readers are encouraged to consider multiple sources of information and to form their own informed opinions. If you would like to submit an opinion please submit it&nbsp;newstips@salinapost.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713976057142.jpeg" alt="bill fiander" />
 <figcaption>bill fiander</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;BILL FIANDER Washburn Public Policy LecturerFresh off citizen vitriol for rising property taxes during their 2024 campaigns, a fortified Republican super-majority Kansas Legislature began loading their prized horses into the starting gate of this year’s Property Tax Derby.Kansas GOP leaders eye this as the final jewel in the coveted Tax Cut Triple Crown – sales, income, and property. In previous sessions, they successfully bet on both Governor Kelly’s food tax horse (Axe The Tax) and their income tax horse (Trickle Down) sired from the Brownback stud farm.Elected jockeys have three levers at their disposal to determine the pace of property taxes in the derby. The State totally controls the first lever (assessments) and oversees county appraisals for the second lever (property values) which are really at the mercy of market forces. The most powerful lever (mill levy) is nearly all in the grip of local government.Property taxes fund 60%-100% of local government budgets, but less than 1% of state government. Property tax revenue is the lifeblood for local services such as schools, police, roads, parks, transit, libraries, etc. with some hemorrhaging. Conversely, they mean virtually nothing to the State budget.With that in mind, let’s handicap three GOP entrants while Democrats snooze in the barn.· “Cap The Tax” (SCR 1603) – Senate Taxation Farms first entry is a Constitutional Amendment capping taxable property values at 3% annually thus artificially controlling property value – not the free market. This well-intentioned concept has all sorts of unintended consequences. Said cap is lifted for home sales and improvements causing vastly different taxable values on the same block while discouraging mobility and investment for an even tighter housing market. Local budgets get squeezed by inflation over 3% but still could effectively make themselves whole by pulling their prodigious mill levy lever. Ultimately, voters must approve if it gets that far. Given the House killed a 4% cap last year, this horse may get stuck on the rail again.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582312931775.png" alt="opinion sq.png" />
 <figcaption>opinion sq.png</figcaption>
 </figure>· “Building Biscuit” (SB 35) - Senate Taxation Farms’ second entry would repeal the State’s paltry 1.5 mill levy that goes towards deferred maintenance of state buildings. This is the most local government-friendly entry because it does not jeopardize local revenue. Building maintenance would shift to the State’s general fund made up of income and sales tax. Without a dedicated mill levy, universities are rightfully nervous their proverbial can could be kicked down the road. Homeowners would save a whopping $22 annually on a $200K house. This horse has the best legs for a stretch run but little return for wagers.· “School Levy Sugar” (HB 2011) – The entry from House Taxation Stables has a similar profile to Building Biscuit. Instead of building maintenance, 1.5 mills are wiped from the State’s 20 mills for local schools. Relief for homeowners is just as paltry. Ostensibly, local schools would be made whole through the State’s sales and income taxes. But it puts their can on the line instead of universities. Without Supreme Court oversight for a school funding case, this horse is drifting a little wide at the turn.If these don’t excite everybody, look for late entries like last year’s prized thoroughbred – exempting residential value from the State’s 20 mill school levy, expanding the homestead exemption, OR the ultimate horse trade – Medicaid expansion.To paraphrase the State’s highest-paid employee (Bill Self), don’t worry about the mules, keep loading the wagon and don’t crash local services.---Bill Fiander is a lecturer at Washburn University specializing in public administration, urban planning, and state/local government. He is the former planning and development director for the City of Topeka.The views and opinions expressed in this opinion article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of Salina Post or Eagle Communications. The editorial is intended to stimulate critical thinking and debate on issues of public interest and should be read with an open mind. Readers are encouraged to consider multiple sources of information and to form their own informed opinions. If you would like to submit an opinion please submit it&nbsp;newstips@salinapost.com

Opinion