Kansas views on budget crisis, prosecuting teachers, moving elections, Kobach powers, earthquakes
It’s the economy – Maybe Kansas hasn’t suffered enough. Maybe facing yet-another self-inflicted budget deficit that has one senator proposing to raise taxes on ag land by an average of 479 percent, and the government cutting school and university funding and raiding the highway fund isn’t enough to get some people’s attention. Maybe Kansas just needs to bleed a lot more before some in Topeka get the message that it’s the economy that people are concerned about, not porn, guns, the teachers union and other social-engineering efforts.
Budget crisis – Gov. Sam Brownback and his followers eagerly have blamed others for the self-inflicted budget crisis. And now, concern has focused on the Legislature’s lack of progress toward addressing next year’s deficit. But rest assured, the Kansas Policy Institute – a think tank promoting the free-market views of the Koch brothers, and guiding Brownback – will have a plan for ultraconservatives in charge to rubber stamp. Unless they are somehow stopped, we can expect more reckless spending cuts and higher taxes for Kansans who can least afford them – while preserving the ill-conceived income-tax breaks that created the mess in the first place.
Prosecuting teachers – State senators passed, 26-14, a bill that, if signed into law, will strip from K-12 teachers legal protection from criminal charges for using curriculum materials viewed by others as harmful to minors. Sen. Mary Pilcher-Cook, R-Shawnee, said enthusiasm for the bill was sparked by display of a poster in a Johnson County middle school in 2013. Parents in the school district complained and the poster was removed. Wasn’t that simple enough? Is there a need to seek charges against a teacher? Members of the Kansas House should decline to act as rashly as the Senate and let the bill die.
Moving elections – Legislators have failed to make the case that moving local city and school board elections to November is needed. Other measures, such as increasing the use of mail ballots, would be a far more logical step to try to boost voter participation. It would be less expensive to try and would avoid the upheaval of changing election calendars and local terms of office.
Kobach powers – Unfortunately, the Senate advanced a plan to give Secretary of State Kris Kobach’s office the ability to prosecute voter fraud cases. Kobach continues to insist that voter fraud is rampant, even though local and federal prosecutors disagree. Giving Kobach prosecutorial power could lead to harassment of citizens. The House must stop him from gaining that opportunity.
Earthquakes – According to the Kansas and U.S. Geological Survey, there have been 424 earthquakes in Kansas since 1977 – with 232 of those happening in the past two years. Nevertheless, the Legislature has taken no tangible action on the matter. The most we seemingly can get out of Topeka is a promise that someone will review the data behind the increase in earthquakes, particularly in Harper and Sumner counties. Meanwhile, a historic courthouse is crumbling, and homeowners are wondering if they should buy earthquake insurance – and whether it would do any good.
This story was originally published March 8, 2015 at 7:07 PM with the headline "Kansas views on budget crisis, prosecuting teachers, moving elections, Kobach powers, earthquakes."