Elderly, disabled lost in election

Conservatives weren’t the only ones who took a bloodbath in last week’s primary election. To every group besides the education establishment: Your seat at the table is now gone, and you’re about to take it on the chin.

Big Education partisans on the left won the day. You lost.

I understand this grim reality as a state legislator, but also as the father of a child with disabilities and the son of an elderly parent under my care. Know this: Everything happening in Topeka these next two years will be driven by Big Education and for Big Education. Not for teachers, and certainly not for students.

Elderly and disabled Kansans lost big; they just don’t know it yet.

Dedicated physicians who treat poor patients for ever-dwindling Medicaid fees? Sorry, you lost.

Care providers – those who feed, bathe and secure the safety of severely autistic children, those suffering a mental health crisis and others with extreme disabilities – you lost.

You who care for disabled Kansans like my son: Thank you for all you do, but – sorry – you don’t have taxpayer-funded lobbyists or Big Education lawyers and union bosses. They won. You lost.

It’s high time for Kansans – including news media – to ask candidates uncomfortable questions about their spending priorities. Consider:

▪  The Kansas State Board of Education voted recently to ask for $900 million in new education spending over two years, in addition to already record-high levels of funding.

▪  So-called moderate Republicans campaigned to expand Medicaid, a program benefiting mostly able-bodied, single people (i.e., who can work) at a taxpayer price tag beginning at $55 million a year.

▪  Highway construction lobbyists want a million dollars a day back into their pockets.

Democrats and “moderate” Republicans who bought and now own Topeka can’t wait to start writing fresh checks on the backs of taxpayers to satisfy their political cronies. When will it stop?

How much more money is needed, and what can taxpayers expect in return? Are candidates ready to raise taxes on already overburdened Kansans who pay the bills?

You think the Kansas primary was a bloodbath? It’s the elderly, disabled and taxpayers of Kansas who are really about to get soaked.

This story was originally published August 12, 2016 at 12:01 AM with the headline "Elderly, disabled lost in election."