<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609297173904.jpeg" alt="State Rep. Steven Howe" />
 <figcaption>State Rep. Steven Howe</figcaption>
 </figure>Following is a statement issued Wednesday afternoon by Republican State Rep. Steven Howe, Salina, concerning derogatory comments made pertaining to the ouster of U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney. Howe represents the 71st District in Kansas.As a State Representative I rarely weigh-in on national politics. However, I believe it is time for Republicans including myself to push-back against the vitriol that has plagued our Party and political landscape. As a lifelong Republican and former staffer for two Republican members of Congress, I am appalled at the divisiveness and disrespect exhibited by our former President in his comments directed at the U.S. Representative from Wyoming. There is no reason to publicly defame someone’s character. This type of inflammatory rhetoric is childish, beneath the Office of the President, and it does nothing to further the cause of freedom, liberty, or the well-being of our country.When I ran for office last summer, I made a commitment to listen, encourage civility, and work with others to find solutions. For the past five months I have worked with legislators from each corner of Kansas. Whether it was addressing the broken unemployment system or supporting our school kids, Republicans worked together to accomplish common sense solutions that would gain bipartisan support, and even receive the approval from our Governor who is a Democrat. More importantly than the legislative victories we accomplished, we did it civilly and without name-calling. I challenge all citizens to keep engaged in the political process by having thoughtful dialogue and avoiding personal attacks. We can do better!U.S. House Republicans ousted&nbsp; Cheney from her post as the chamber’s No. 3 GOP leader on Wednesday, punishing her after she repeatedly rebuked former President Donald Trump for his false claims of election fraud and his role in fomenting the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, according to the Associated Press.Today on his blog, the former president posted, "Liz Cheney is a bitter, horrible human being. I watched her yesterday and realized how bad she is for the Republican Party. She has no personality or anything good having to do with politics or our Country. She is a talking point for Democrats, whether that means the Border, the gas lines, inflation, or destroying our economy. She is a warmonger whose family stupidly pushed us into the never-ending Middle East Disaster, draining our wealth and depleting our Great Military, the worst decision in our Country’s history. I look forward to soon watching her as a Paid Contributor on CNN or MSDNC!"

Howe issues statement concerning comments made about Cheney