Kansas views on refugees, same-sex parents, Medicaid expansion, school board bill, KU inclusion
Refugees – This country has long opened its doors to “your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Yes, we need to be vigilant in vetting refugees from areas where terrorism flourishes. But sowing the seeds of fear to divert us from our principles is just what the terrorists want. Neither Gov. Sam Brownback nor his colleagues around the country should be exploiting the tragedy in Paris for political gain. Nor should they be adding their voices to the trumped-up charge that Syrian refugees are somehow equal to terrorists.
Same-sex parents – Every child deserves to grow up in a healthy, loving family because, as the governor has noted, they do make a difference. And, we firmly believe that gays and lesbians can provide those healthy families, just as they’ve always done, and are doing now.
Medicaid expansion – Kansas House Speaker Ray Merrick recently sought to silence critics within his own Republican Party by kicking them off a legislative panel contemplating Medicaid expansion. We hope the rest of the Legislature can see this for what it is and do the right thing to expand Medicaid to poor working Kansans without health care. It’s the humane thing to do and will help our local hospitals survive.
School board bill – When it comes to devising ways to cripple public schools, the far right in Kansas deserves an A for creativity. Another outlandish idea would drastically limit the eligibility of Kansans who could serve as school board members due to perceived conflicts of interest. We know elected officials have an obligation to acknowledge potential conflicts of interest, recuse themselves when necessary and abstain from votes. But local voters can address such issues on their governing bodies. Communities don’t need the state meddling.
KU inclusion – The process of addressing racial attitudes and inclusion at the University of Kansas is just beginning, but the concerns of KU students are being heard. No student body officers have resigned and no KU administrators have been dismissed, but there is no question students have gotten the attention of university policymakers. Talk alone won’t satisfy concerned students, but it’s a start as KU works toward the goal of making itself a supporting and welcoming place for everyone on campus.
This story was originally published November 29, 2015 at 6:07 PM with the headline "Kansas views on refugees, same-sex parents, Medicaid expansion, school board bill, KU inclusion."