Kansas views on chamber list, voting audit, teacher licensure, military gun-free zones
Chamber list – The Kansas Chamber of Commerce’s list of “pro-job legislators” features lawmakers who supported Gov. Sam Brownback’s massive income-tax breaks for wealthy Kansans that failed to energize the economy with significant job growth the governor promised. The chamber actually cited them for supporting initiatives “important to ensuring the state’s economic health.” Seriously? The Kansas economy looks so promising that pro-chamber lawmakers approved the biggest tax increase in Kansas history to address staggering budget shortfalls – and the problem still isn’t fixed. Legislators excluded from the chamber’s list wouldn’t rubber-stamp an ultraconservative agenda that’s undermined public schools, infrastructure and other state services in its failed pursuit of job and economic growth.
Voting audit – Wichita State University mathematician and statistician Beth Clarkson has raised questions about whether Kansas voting machines are accurately counting some votes in Sedgwick County. Understandably, she wants tests conducted to see if the odd election returns she has seen have been, in fact, truly reported. Sedgwick County election officials haven’t released paper records needed to do recounts. Clarkson is in court now, trying to get the information. Secretary of State Kris Kobach’s office is part of that lawsuit. As the state’s chief elections official, he should work to help resolve the issue in favor of openness and transparency. His reluctance to strongly embrace that approach makes him look too selective regarding concerns over voter fraud.
Secretary of State Kris Kobach and election officials in Sedgwick County should welcome an audit that would compare election results reported by voting machines in that county with the paper backup that records each ballot cast on the machines. If these election officials are concerned with protecting the accuracy and integrity of Kansas elections, they should want to know for sure whether the voting machines they are using are accurately recording the votes being cast.
Kansans have a right to know if their votes were accurately recorded, especially when a reputable third party has examined election returns and uncovered unexplained irregularities. Such uncertainty surrounding Kansas’ elections can’t remain unchallenged, nor can it remain unanswered by those who have built their careers on and earn their profits from Kansas voters.
Teacher licensure – The Kansas State Board of Education’s decision to allow six school districts to bypass teacher licensure requirements in certain cases is an imperfect solution to what will probably be a growing problem. There is, after all, more to teaching than standing in front of students and reciting facts in the hope that the knowledge sinks in. Yet waiving licensure requirements when it’s necessary seems reasonable.
Gun-free zone – Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., introduced a bill that would eliminate gun-free zones at American military installations. He believes arming the at-times unarmed armed forces would “empower our brave servicemen and women to defend themselves and others from violent attacks and acts of terrorism.” We understand the good intentions behind such legislation as well as the attempt somehow to assuage raw emotions in the general public. But when the Pentagon itself doesn’t support such an effort, we are left to question if such a bill will have its intended effect – or create more problems than exist.
This story was originally published July 26, 2015 at 7:07 PM with the headline "Kansas views on chamber list, voting audit, teacher licensure, military gun-free zones."