Kansas views on new airport, court funding, moving elections, Kobach powers, cop cameras
New airport – Wichita has a bright, shiny new object that is a gem for the region. It’s the new terminal at the newly renamed Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport. It’s a gorgeous gateway for travelers headed to faraway destinations for business and pleasure. And it’s an impressive entryway for visitors to the Air Capital City and south-central Kansas.
Court funding – The Legislature passed, and Gov. Sam Brownback recently signed, a reckless measure that would eliminate funding for the state’s entire judicial branch if the Kansas Supreme Court overturns a 2014 law on judicial supervision of district courts. This is an unconscionable intrusion on the actions of another branch of government. The Legislature’s act is essentially extortion: Rule in our favor or be shut down. The lawmakers appear ready to create a constitutional crisis by seeking to control decisions made by the Supreme Court. The justices should follow the rule of law when they reach any decision, not the infantile whims of legislators.
Moving elections – Lawrence City Commission and school board members just added six or more months to their current terms in office thanks to legislation signed by Gov. Sam Brownback. No one asked them whether that was OK or whether they supported moving local elections to November in odd-numbered years. Some of them spoke up anyway, saying that the move didn’t make sense, but legislators weren’t listening so the change is now law.
State budget – Even after this session ends, our troubles are not over. Gov. Sam Brownback has spent all of our savings, and the days when we could count on raiding the highway fund are rapidly ending. On top of that, you probably can count on the state losing its latest school funding lawsuit, which potentially could cost Kansas hundreds of millions more a year.
Kobach powers – Despite Secretary of State Kris Kobach’s protestations, Kansas is not experiencing voter fraud. The fantasy was spawned by the ultraconservative American Legislative Exchange Council, and has led to varying degrees of voter-suppression efforts around the country. Only Kansas has been so bold as to give prosecutorial powers to its chief elections officer. We find it difficult to understand why legislators would be willing to entrust Kobach with this power. He has done nothing to earn it.
Cop cameras – Body cameras worn by law enforcement officers are touted as important tools that serve law enforcement and the public. So why isn’t the Topeka Police Department paying closer attention to the video recorded by body cameras worn by its officers? Video recorded by a body camera on Sept. 27, 2014, would have prevented the convictions – since set aside by Topeka Municipal Court Judge Vic Miller – of two Topeka residents on multiple charges, including assault on a law enforcement officer and interfering with law enforcement. Had it not been for the diligence of assistant city attorney Luther L. Ganieany Jr., it is unlikely the convictions would have been reversed.
This story was originally published June 14, 2015 at 7:08 PM with the headline "Kansas views on new airport, court funding, moving elections, Kobach powers, cop cameras."