Capitol Beats: ‘The pressing need was to divert attention’
Check this spot on Sundays for a few quick hits about what’s driving the debate in the Legislature.
Say what?
“I think the pressing need was to divert attention from our budget problems and rev up the base.”
— Rep. Melissa Rooker, R-Fairway, conjecturing on the reason Gov. Sam Brownback ended a protection for gay state workers that had been in place since 2007
“Obviously, if the man has an affair and it’s a private thing and nobody knows about it, you’re not going to find that. But my experience in life is that that will eventually come out. And when that comes out, they’re going to know that’s the end.”
— Sen. Forrest Knox, R-Altoona, explaining his bill that would require couples who are elite foster care parents to not have extramarital sex. Knox would have couples sign a form promising to meet this and other requirements.
1 in 6
One of every six Kansans uses Wichita water, according to a presentation by Alan King, Wichita’s director of public works and utilities, to the House Utilities Committee.
Trending
Gov. Sam Brownback made national news with his decision to roll back a protection for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender state workers against workplace discrimination. He was mocked on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart,” and the website The Daily Beast compared Kansas to Uganda.
Democrats said the governor was trying to distract from the state’s financial issues, and even some Republicans questioned the move. Some high-profile conservatives like Wichita pastor Terry Fox applauded the governor’s decision, saying sexual orientation should not be a protected class like race and religion.
News ahead
The House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing Thursday on HB 2147, which would enable victims of sexual assault to obtain protection orders against their alleged assailants. The legislation is sought by Rep. Gail Finney, D-Wichita, who received help in crafting it from the Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center. Finney said current law says a person can obtain a protection from abuse or stalking order only if she or he has had an intimate relationship with the other person or can show repeated examples of stalking.
Bryan Lowry
For more legislative news, go to www.kansas.com/politics and follow @BryanLowry3 on Twitter.
This story was originally published February 15, 2015 at 8:24 AM with the headline "Capitol Beats: ‘The pressing need was to divert attention’."