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Book Review - The Rise and Spectacular Fall: Radical Kansas Republicans, 2010 to 2020

9/5/2020

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Recently, my friend Ed Flentje sent me a book he authored including cartoons by Richard Crowson, entitled The Rise and Spectacular Fall: Radical Kansas Republicans, 2010-2020. I’ve read it and came away with not only an excellent refresher course in Kansas government and politics but a clear message that Governor Brownback may be gone but his damaging and totally counterproductive politics live on, and based on the recent Primary results, that continues into 2020.

In the Foreword written by Davis “Buzz” Merritt, newspaper reporter and editor since 1957, he started with a quote combined with his own addition: “Those who cannot do, teach, those who can do, can’t teach,” and “Those who cannot do or teach write newspaper opinion pieces.” That was a light way of introducing Ed’s collection of ten years of opinion pieces he wrote and shared around the state. And it is quite the archive of Kansas political thought and history.

Organized around three chapters: Finance, Politics, and Governance, Ed’s opinion’s are shared as the ten year period progressed, leaving us in depth information and analysis based on his observations and opinions at the time on government action and politics. For me, this read is a must for anyone who wants to better understand the unfortunate "lost decade" just completed in Kansas, but most importantly, to appreciate that the decade following will continue to be heavily influenced by the Brownback failures and, unless that is understood and dealt with, the damage will continue.

I will have more to say on this subject next week on my blog, but I share this today as a focus for further reading and learning on the topic. The book provides excellent background and great detail about the many problems created during those years, and it is my hope that it can provide both education and inspiration, as we charge up for another contentious and consequential election year.

Crowson’s cartoons will add a lighter touch but still very effective at getting the messages across in an entertaining and digestible way. The book is available via eBook or hard-copy and is a must read for anyone concerned about the challenges we face as a state and the politics of the time.
Ed Flentje - The Rise and Spectacular Fall: Radical Kansas Republicans, 2010 to 2020
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Democrats Lucky to Have Speaker Pelosi

5/9/2020

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​Speaker Nancy Pelosi has led through difficult times, balancing political realities with what is best for the country. She has certainly come across often as the adult in the room of Congressional leaders and the Administration. Despite representing a very liberal district, she has operated from a very pragmatic point of view. She has charted an aggressive course of action while working to keep her caucus in the majority, knowing if they lose the majority everything accomplished would be destroyed.    

There are those that lump both Houses as making up the do nothing Congress. The facts clearly document that she and her caucus have actually been very responsive to the needs of the American people. Through her leadership and the hard work of her committee chairs and the Caucus, over 400 bills, many key ones, like safeguarding our elections and with huge public support, have passed the House and been sent to the Senate. From there, Republican Majority Leader McConnell makes sure the House legislation goes nowhere and that very few originating bills come out of the Senate for the House to work.

Her first major challenge was dealing with President Trump and the decision of Impeachment. Early on, she clearly wanted the Fall 2020 election to determine if the issues surrounding the President merited impeachment. I believe Speaker Pelosi thought delaying was both best for the United States as well as her Democratic Caucus. But when the Ukraine scandal more clearly brought to light impeachable offenses and the public tide shifted towards holding hearings, she quickly assigned her Judiciary and Intelligence committees to hold hearings. She managed the process effectively and amazingly kept her troops together (albeit, there was one defector), to pass the impeachment of the President and send the indictment to the United States Senate.

Her role in the government’s response to the Coronavirus again showed her leadership skills and capacity both to challenge and to work with this Administration. Speaker Pelosi worked one-on-one with Treasury Secretary Mnuchin to develop packages that address the nation’s needs as well as secure the support of the Administration and the votes needed in the Senate. While not perfect, these relief efforts have been made significantly better through the help of Speaker Pelosi and other Congressional Democrats.
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The first day of the 116th Congress, Nancy Pelosi was once again elected Speaker of the House on January 3rd, 2019.
What makes her accomplishments even more interesting is that, after the 2018 Congressional elections and winning the majority, many members of the Democratic Caucus worked hard to deny Pelosi the Speakership. Yet, she not only won, but today is almost without exception solidly backed by the entire caucus. This is not an easy thing to accomplish. But the amount of respect she has garnered among her colleagues over the years and her experienced leadership have clearly made her the right person for the job, at the right time.

Given the challenges of dealing with a President like Trump and a Majority Leader like McConnell, Speaker Pelosi has done amazing things. History will place her in the short list of Speakers who have really stood out with common sense, political savvy, and success. She has impacted Washington action in a positive way for the best interests of our country.

I am currently reading the new book “Pelosi,” by Molly Ball. I haven’t finished it yet, but I’ve already learned about so many fascinating, character-building experiences she’s had in her decades of public service. She has always been a smart, tough leader. And she's paved the way for so many other outstanding female leaders, who will help guide us into the future. I’m looking forward to learning more about her brilliant career as I finish reading this insightful new book.
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This photo was taken at the Reopening and Rededication of the Rotunda at the National Archives on September 17th, 2003. Pictured here are Congressional leaders, Rep. Steny Hoyer, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Tom Daschle, and Speaker Dennis Hastert along with former Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who delivered remarks and myself, Archivist of the United States.
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Best and Worst from the 2010s

1/4/2020

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Looking back over the last ten years and my eighth decade of life, I am sharing what stands out for me both in good ways and bad:

On the good side:

  1. I had the pleasure of finishing ten years as Archivist of the United States and played a role in making sure we all understand that it is not just for history that we have records, but to protect citizens’ entitlements (Veterans, for example). And maybe, most importantly given the times we are in, conveying the importance of records as essential in holding the government accountable.
  2. My engagement with the Staley School of Leadership Studies at Kansas State University for the entire decade has grown my confidence in the potential of our younger population, giving me hope for the future.
  3. Governor Kelly defeating Secretary of State Kris Kobach in the 2018 election.
  4. Kansas City Royals won the World Series for the first time since 1985, K-State won Big 12 championships in both football and basketball. Yes, KU won the other nine in basketball, but offsetting that, K-State was 10-0 competing against KU in football. 
  5. Kansas State University closed the decade by making really good decisions and hires that will, I believe, have significant positive impact for the coming decade. 


On the bad side: 

  1. Having to endure eight Brownback years (and all the mistakes that will haunt Kansans for many years) really makes a much more difficult path to the future for both the Governor and Legislators.
  2. The election of Donald Trump as President in 2016. A man with little or no respect for the law, little or no understanding of how our government functions, and little or no appreciation of the huge challenges (e.g., climate change) we face that, if not addressed, will do damage of unbelievable portions.
  3. Having Moscow Mitch (Republican Senator from Kentucky) in a position to stop almost every important piece of legislation through the entire decade, even those that had overwhelming public support. In addition, his handling of the courts and judges has set several damaging precedents for the future.
  4. Almost 100% of Scientists with a climate background have issued serious warnings throughout the decade and there has been little or no action in response.
  5. The national failure to make any progress on immigration reform, funding of infrastructure needs, dealing with gun violence, addressing climate change, as well as the increasing National debt. This represents the utmost failure of our leadership in Washington D.C.

Here’s to a new year and decade with the hope that progress can and will be made.
Rotunda National Archives
The rotunda of the National Archives, home to the "Charters of Freedom." These documents, including our Constitution, have safeguarded democracy in our country since its founding. But, as we know from Dr. Benjamin Franklin, our nation is only a republic, "if we can keep it."
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Women Running for Office Will Save Our Country

6/2/2019

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Hillary Clinton may have lost in her 2016 effort to be President (Electoral College only, she won the popular vote big-time) but for sure her success played a key role, I believe, in inspiring so many talented women to run for Congress in 2018 and win. There are 34 new women in the House of Representatives, 33 of whom are Democrats. What stands out to me when I catch an interview with one of them is their passionate commitment to do what they told voters during the campaign they would do. Clearly, these women listened and learned from voters and they are committed to not making the aisle a barrier to getting anything done.

Now, for the first time, we have many talented Democratic women running for President of the United States. Regardless of whether a woman wins or not in 2020, their presence adds a positive dimension to the dialogue. When women lead the way on many issues of obvious interest to women, more men understand and are supportive. More women running at all levels of government also gives a different perspective as we try to address the many challenges we face as a country.

Looking ahead, this country’s best hope is with women winning more and more elections at every level. I say that because women are much more likely to scrap this viciously partisan gamesmanship that exists at almost all levels of elections, and they will work to get positive things done for the good of the people. Congresswoman Sharice Davids in our Kansas 3rd Congressional District is an excellent example. She is very bright, very passionate about changes that need to be made like in health care and not hesitant to work across the aisle to get things done.

I see similar progress in the Kansas Legislature, particularly compared to when I was in office. In recent years, bipartisan groups of women have been key to getting our state back on the road to recovery after the devastating Brownback years, and Governor Laura Kelly will now take the lead in keeping us on the right path. Now, compare that to when I was first elected to the Legislature in 1970. In my first term the Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed and sent to the states for potential ratification. To show you how times have changed, support for the Amendment was strong generally across the board and it was passed overwhelmingly by a male and Republican-dominated legislature. There were only two women in the House and, interestingly enough, both voted against it based primarily on their concern that we would all be using the same bathroom.

Then, following my re-election in 1976 and becoming Speaker for the '77-78 term, I was in the position of appointing all the committee chairs. By then, we had added several women to the Democratic Caucus and it was my pleasure to appoint the first ever women chairs of committees in the Kansas Legislature. They were Ruth Wilkin from Topeka and Ruth Lazzati from Wichita.

For the record, there are very good men in public office as well. It is just that there are too many men who are there to hold the seat, enjoy whatever perks exist, and follow whatever the special interests who got them elected want them to do. Good women are making a real difference at both the state and national level. It just might be realistic now to hope that with this progress continuing, we will soon reach a tipping point and sanity in politics will once again become common at both the national and state levels.
Congresswoman Sharice Davids
Congresswoman Sharice Davids of Kansas, on the campaign trail in 2018
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Governor Kelly Will Take on a Long List of Challenges for Kansas

1/10/2019

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As Inauguration approaches and the transition period for newly-elected Kansas Governor Laura Kelly comes to an end, the initial approach to the many problems the state faces will become public and ready for the Legislature to engage. I have high confidence that the Kelly administration will do the very best they can for Kansas, and I have no intention of second guessing their directions. What I do want to do is help educate the public on just how massive the problems are and how desperately important it will be for enough legislators from both parties to set politics aside and, in a-non partisan way, work with the Governor to address our endless challenges.

I say all this because we are at a point of no return. We either step up and correct what is not working or the state, at some point soon, will be in a hole so big that getting out just may not be possible. Making these corrections will, from my experience, require at least two actions to take place. First, will be the incredible importance of quality and sustained communication from the Kelly administration to the Legislature and the people of Kansas. Kansans must understand the massive problems we face. Second, citizens need to participate, speak up, and let the Legislature know they expect (and will support) action in addressing these challenges.  

The reality is that quality state government has been totally decimated as a result of the disastrous Brownback years. Public education, as it should, gets lots of attention and, to a lesser extent, the need to take care of our infrastructure is known. Both these areas must be responsibly addressed. But my point is that recent policies have negatively impacted state government across the board. Twelve and sixteen hour shifts for workers in our prisons and state hospitals are not the norm because it is the new way to better serve these agencies’ missions. These institutions simply do not have the budget to adequately undertake their responsibilities and maintain accreditation standards, which can lead to loss of federal funds, further compounding the problem.

Often forgotten is the devastating damage the Brownback administration did to the civil service system. That administration was able, with legislative support, to ignore the long standing system where merit prevailed, which lead to quality folks being attracted to public service. I am sure the Kelly administration will work to get the civil service law changed back. But in this case, the law will allow the administration to switch back to merit now and start the process of recruiting quality public servants we need to successfully carry out state programs and functions. This will all take time and probably much of the four-year term for any significant progress to be made. But steps in the right direction will need to start right away.

For quality government to be restored, it is essential that the public know the long range plan and that the initial steps taken by the Kelly administration are consistent with that plan. From a practical point of view, this will take leadership from both sides of the aisle understanding that it cannot be politics as usual. I know the Governor will be reaching out and doing her part. Key to success is whether the legislative leaders within both parties can set aside 2020 election goals and “gotcha” politics that only lead to stalemate and getting done only what has to be done. We must now put the state and its future first, or that future will not be what we want and need.
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The New Congress Gavels In

1/3/2019

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Listening to several new members of the U.S. House of Representatives, I see a much stronger commitment to focus on the issues they ran on and act on what they learned from the constituents they now represent. Seems like these new members were motivated to run, to serve, and fight for what is needed and not just take a step toward a long career in politics, which requires putting re-election efforts first and foremost. If my initial observations prove to be true and new members sell some veterans on putting the needs of the people first, like health care and infrastructure, we just might begin to address gridlock in Washington D.C.

Much of the success in increasing the size of the Democratic Caucus was achieved by talented women. If history is any lesson, this is a very good sign. The current women in Congress have, in general, been much more willing to cross the aisle and put country first. There is no indication that the new members wouldn’t follow that same pattern of bipartisanship. In Kansas, it was the women in the Legislature, in a well thought-out, nonpartisan way, that made major contributions to reversing some devastating outcomes of the Brownback Experiment. In Washington, for key crossover votes, almost without exception, Republican women are on that short list. At this moment there are not many Republican women in Congress, but there are several key ones who are willing to at least listen and set politics aside for the good of this country.

The Republican makeup of the U.S. House is different only in having fewer members in the caucus. It isn’t like there was any surge of new Republicans who fit the moderate mold replacing hard-line conservatives. I assume this is tied to the President’s dominance in Republican politics, including picking and supporting only candidates that are in line with the current far right direction. The Republican political machine probably doesn’t even recruit moderates that might be the most likely to win and to partner with Democrats.

While there will be plenty of opportunities to contrast with the President and speak up for American values, I believe another key for Democrats is not to go “investigation-crazy” now that they have power. Yes, some questions need to be answered, but I hope they pick the investigations with the strongest case that most Americans expect them to conduct. Hopefully, they stay away from dominating the evening news cycle with only coverage of what is being investigated. Much of what needs to be done for the good of the country has strong public support (for example, dealing with climate change). But if the public does not get the news on those issues and becomes distracted by one investigation after another, they won’t be the partner needed to get legislation into law.

In sum, much of these new members’ success, in my opinion, will depend heavily on what legislative plan is put together and how hard they are willing to work to avoid being just another different version of what we’ve had before. If all we get is lots of talk and investigating with no real effort made to reach across the aisle, progress, if any, will be limited. They need to remember the Senate is now even more Republican and if the Democrats’ effort to work with them comes across as partisan politics, I fear come 2020, the public will not be happy with either party. It may be impossible, but their efforts have got to be real and effectively communicated.
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Reflecting on Election Night 2018

11/9/2018

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“Bittersweet” sums it up for almost everyone. Republicans and Democrats both had something to brag about as well as some real disappointments. From the far right to the left, both had winners and losers. D.C. Democrats now have the House and Pelosi back as Speaker. The Republicans have a stronger hold on the U.S. Senate. And in Kansas, the excitement of Senator Kelly winning the Governor’s race drew national attention, given her talent, experience, and the fact that President Trump campaigned twice for her opponent. We also gained the very talented and dynamic Sharice Davids, who will add balance to our Kansas delegation and benefits to our state. Both parties lost incumbent state legislators but, come January, the makeup of the Kansas House will be about the same. Winning for the Democrats in the 3rd Congressional District was somewhat offset by a very hard to understand loss in the Second.

Nationally, the big winners were President Trump and Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi. The President now has a much stronger Republican Senate making it easier to appoint and confirm far right Judges. The House Democrats now have the subpoena power to hold hearings and successfully get the records they want. But they, in particular, would be wise to not overplay their hand. If the House develops an image of just holding hearings and working to get even with the Republicans, their majority may be short lived.   

One shocker for me in Kansas was Representative Tim Hodge’s apparent loss in the Newton House District, although there are more votes to be counted that could change the final result. Tim is an exceptional talent and was an incredible freshman legislator. Bright, personable, and very hardworking, he really made a difference for his constituents which, as a freshman, is really rare. So what happened? I couldn’t come up with any reason until I found out Laura Kelly shockingly won Harvey county over Kris Kobach. It then became clearer to me. That area of Kansas was the only one that applauded my four-time veto of capital punishment. Supporting machine-gun-toting Kobach was too much for many Republicans, but their party loyalty would not allow a second vote to be given to a Democrat. If Governor Colyer had won the Republican Primary, Tim Hodge would certainly be heading back to Topeka for a second term.

Another shocker, and bitter pill, was Paul Davis losing the Second District Congressional race to soon-to-be Congressman Steve Watkins. This makes absolutely no sense. The Second District is fairly favorable territory for a Democrat. Davis had the experience of campaigning in 2014 for Governor to build on. As I’ve written before, Watkins would have never won a runoff election with any of the Republicans he defeated in August. He has serious problems with the truth and was certainly not ready for primetime as a candidate. What he did have was lots of money and no hesitancy using an unfortunate incident from many years ago over and over against Davis.

With 2020 and the Presidency now starting to get the political attention, Tuesday’s results do not seem to add to the candidate lineup for the Democrats or introduce any new Republican backup to President Trump. Had there been different results for Democrats in the Senate race in Texas or the Governor’s race in Florida, I might assess this election differently. And with some recounts and potential runoffs ahead, there will be more to learn in the weeks to come and, no doubt, more to say about the impacts of Tuesday, November 6th. What we can, I hope, all agree on is how great it would be if we were allowed a break from partisan politics and fundraising, at least until after the holidays.
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Just Days Left to Determine the Future of Kansas

10/23/2018

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As we look to the future, Kansans are already voting in what is shaping up to be a pivotal election. And what you do in the next two weeks (and counting) will greatly influence the future of our state. The Governor’s race will determine whether we return to sane, sensible leadership or go with Brownback 2.0. In the Secretary of State contest, we have the opportunity to elect someone who actually wants all eligible Kansans to vote, a marked contrast to our current Secretary of State. The Congressional races are unique because all four are competitive, something that doesn’t happen in Kansas. So, how will this all turn out?

One thing I know is that, in competitive races, the old adage that ‘every vote counts’ is very real. Remember, just recently in the statewide Republican Primary, Kris Kobach won by less than 400 votes. The outcome will be determined entirely by who shows up to vote and who does not.

So what does that mean for all of us who understand how important this election is? What is it that we all need to do? Here's a list to get you started:
  • VOTE EARLY. Make sure the folks around you vote early if possible, either in person or by mail. You can find a location to vote early in your county here: iwillvote.com
  • OUR CANDIDATES NEED RESOURCES. Pick at least one to give a financial contribution, every dollar helps.
  • GET OTHERS OUT TO VOTE. Pay special attention to Democrats who don’t always vote in the midterms. Remind them of when and where to vote (early, if possible). Offer a ride.
  • DOOR-TO-DOOR WORKS. Political parties use modern technology and work to understand different communities and voters. Your local party can give you a focused list of doors in your neighborhood to knock on. You’d be surprised how appreciative people are to have face-to-face contact with like-minded voters.
  • SAME IS TRUE OF CALLING. Done right, calling people to get them out to vote can make the difference.
  • QUALITY LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES. Share information about the legislative candidates in your district. Pass on mailers, share via social media and email.
  • LOCAL ELECTIONS AND BALLOT ISSUES. The same is true for educating yourself and neighbors about local initiatives. Find quality information in your community and take time to share this with other voters.
  • VOLUNTEER ON ELECTION DAY. Give your time to candidates or your local party. We must finish strong.
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​In the end, who is elected to lead us and shape our future is up to the voters. We need to make sure we’ve done everything possible to not only help educate voters, but get them out to vote. Please understand that, given the quality of the Democratic candidates, what you do for one does help others on the ticket by increasing possibilities for the entire ticket. Given what is at stake, there should be no hesitancy on our part to make sure we do everything possible each day we have. Let’s make the evening of November 6th one that puts a smile on our face as we look to a better future for the state of Kansas.
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Senator Laura Kelly: A Clear Choice for Kansas Governor

10/16/2018

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It seems apparent that Kansans are very engaged in following this year's race for our next Governor. Secretary of State Kobach, with his extracurricular out-of-state activities, is the most known (though not exactly the most liked) of the three candidates, and there is consensus that he has locked in the far right base but might be having trouble adding to that number. Then there is Greg Orman, an independent with ample personal money, trying to repeat his strong effort in 2014 against Senator Pat Roberts but struggling build up a strong base of support. And that leaves Democratic Senator Laura Kelly, who is currently slightly ahead in most polls. Kelly is focused on motivating Democratic turnout and adding additional moderate Republicans to the many who have already joined her team. I strongly believe Senator Kelly is the right pick for the job, and I’d like to share more of my thoughts here.

I have met Kris Kobach only once. It was a number of years ago at a celebration in Topeka for the 150th Anniversary of the Pony Express. Scheduling circumstances gave us about thirty minutes, just the two of us visiting. In that time, he came across as friendly, respectful, and with skills that would make him a good campaigner. I share that because for those of us clearly supporting Senator Kelly, we need to take Kobach very seriously. Yes, he has done some very crazy things, including voter suppression and anti immigration policies that are harmful to Kansas agriculture and our economy, but his supporters back him on both issues, giving him a solid voter.

I have known Greg Orman since the beginning of his campaign against Pat Roberts. As a person, I like and respect him. He has a record of business success and clearly wants an opportunity to serve the public. But to this point in the race, he has made little or no progress, confirming what I have believed all along: Kansas is not ready to get excited about an independent candidate running against both a Republican and Democratic nominee. In 2014, there was no Democrat on the ballot against Roberts. My biggest concern with Orman is his disdain for both political parties, and I wonder: how could he ever successfully work with a legislature filled with Republicans and Democrats? Then, of course, is his potential for being a spoiler, helping to elect Kobach by taking votes from Kelly.

Then there is Senator Laura Kelly, the most qualified candidate to lead our state the next four years and to correct the eight years of backward thinking and huge mistakes from Brownback and company. Having had a long and productive experience in the legislature, she knows the system, the legislators, and the issues—​which puts her as Governor in a strong position to lead. Several years ago, how many I forget, Laura came to see me. She was looking at running for Governor then and wanted to visit. I remember leaving that discussion very impressed, and I still am.

Having laid out the choices Kansans have for our next Governor, I share this thought: Without a doubt, if this decision goes the wrong way, as in electing Kris Kobach, it will have a huge negative impact on our future. We could survive Greg Orman, but he is likely not going to win. Senator Laura Kelly has the skills and experience to lead us back to sanity, pull us together with a plan that most Kansans can support, and start restoring our image as a stable, sensible state that wisely invests in its future. The challenges the next four years bring are huge, but progress can be made with a Governor Kelly leading the way.
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Don’t Let the Kansas 2nd District Be Bought

10/8/2018

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When I look at the Kansas Second Congressional District race, I see much of what is wrong with our politics today. Driven by the United States Supreme Court decision on Citizens United, unlimited money is pouring in to try defeat Paul Davis. With no limits for billionaires on how much they can put in and the fact that it can all be done in secret, it makes for ads filled with false information—​and the candidate who’s being helped by them can simply deny responsibility.

In 2014, if there had not been the off-the-charts efforts of National Republicans to save Senator Pat Roberts’ re-election, plus dark outside millions, Paul Davis would be Governor Davis today and running for a second term. Anyway, that didn’t happen. But now, in Paul Davis, we have a candidate with a proven record of solid Kansas values and important leadership experience. He understands how government works, what being a representative of the people means, and how to best serve the people of the Second Congressional District.

His opponent, Steve Watkins, it is fair to say, is totally new to politics and does not know what it means to represent the people. He has few if any real Kansas connections and his resume is filled with outright lies. In fairness to many Republicans, he would not be the Republican nominee without the very crowded field of candidates and lots of his father's money. I think it is fair to say there were several other candidates with more relevant experience. Even far-right Republicans should have some concern, given Watkins’ support of Democrats before his recent conversion to the Republican Party. Now, contrast that with Paul Davis, who has built up a strong record of public service as a Democrat who knows how to work with both parties to deliver common sense solutions for Kansans.

However, the reality Paul Davis faces in the next four weeks is huge. The Republican Speaker Paul Ryan PAC has targeted more money for the Kansas Second than any other district in the country. As much as four million dollars to support Republican Steve Watkins will be coming into the district. If you are asking why, it is quite simple. Many of the very, very rich that have benefited much from the federal government in past years do not want any changes in Congress that could over time take those tax breaks away.

So what does Paul Davis do to win? Well for sure his campaign team and Paul Davis know very well what that is. He has to raise as much money as he can so it doesn't get too one-sided on TV advertising, continue to work the district growing his army of supporters, and make sure every county is taken seriously, especially in close elections, every vote does count. In the end, his supporters have to come through and, most importantly, they must help get every vote out for Paul Davis.

One other thing I add is the value to Kansas to have both Democrats and Republicans representing our state in Washington. There would be at least two benefits: One, we would have links to both sides of the aisle in Congress and ties to whichever party had the White House, and two, Kansans would be hearing directly from representatives of both political parties. Now we only hear one side, and all-too-often, only one side of the argument has gotten their way in Washington.

We need our representatives to work on behalf of all the people, not just those who can afford to pour endless money into an election in order to amplify their point of view. But, in order to make that happen, everyday Kansans will need to stand up, speak out, and work hard in support of candidates who will do right by Kansas. In the Second Congressional District, that means sending Paul Davis to Congress.
Paul Davis, Kansas 2nd District
At this event, Paul is announcing a group of Republican leaders who have endorsed him in this race for the 2nd Congressional District of Kansas.
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BAM: A Qualified Kansan for Secretary of State

10/2/2018

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Not getting the attention that it deserves, the race for Secretary of State here in Kansas provides a unique opportunity for change. Obviously, I’ve been around a long time, and I think it is accurate to say that in my lifetime every elected Secretary of State has been a Republican. Until eight years ago, that had not been a problem. They did their job, almost without exception, in a manner that served all Kansans, and no serious questions about their performance or motives were ever raised. As a partisan, sure I would have liked that a Democrat won at least once, but in terms of good government, we were well served.

The first Secretary that I actually knew was Elwell Shanahan, originally from Smolan. Her two brothers, for four terms, carried my petitions to file for State Representative. Successors to Elwell included Jack Brier, Bill Graves, and Ron Thornton—​all good men who ran an honest shop without favor to one party or individual. Then, in 2008, we were introduced to a different kind of public servant, Kris Kobach, who is now the Republican nominee for Governor. This is setting up a choice between Kobach’s Republican successor and Brian “BAM” McClendon, a Democrat who brings very interesting skills and a commitment to restore not just sanity to the office but new ideas to better serve the voters and citizens of Kansas.

BAM—​and I’m told that name will be on the ballot—​is a Kansan who went to California and had huge success. He co-founded the company that became Google Earth and now has returned to Kansas to serve his native state, something that not enough Kansans who exit do. In a nutshell, BAM has the technology skills, the leadership experience, and the public service commitment to be the right person to undo the damage done by Mr. Kobach and set a new and better course for the office.

Secretary Kobach spent too much time on out-of-state immigration issues and figuring out new ways to discourage and/or stop some voters from voting—​then more time and taxpayer money on defending those actions, largely unsuccessfully, in court. BAM is committed to doing the actual work of the job: protecting the right to vote, improving services for our Kansas business community, and increasing transparency and access to official state information for all Kansans.

With all the legitimate concern about the security and integrity of our election systems, it is more important than ever that our Secretary of State have a background in technology—​and especially leadership within technology. BAM can lead improvements to the process that will help provide assurance to the voters that their vote was properly recorded and counted. And, instead of a Secretary of State focused on voter suppression, we can have one who is committed to increasing voter participation and citizen engagement with our government.

It is rare that someone with Brian “BAM” McClendon’s skills and experience steps up for public service. It will be up to the voters of Kansas to make their choice. I urge all voting Kansans to take a serious look at BAM and the opportunity we have as Kansans to elect a Secretary of State that is not only uniquely qualified but is such a marked and welcome contrast to Kobach.
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Hope for the Kansas 'Big First' Congressional District

9/20/2018

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To those of you who question why I would even raise the First District race for Congress as one that should be a priority for Democrats, I want to make that case for the possibility of winning as well as helping the party for the future. I know we’ve had good candidates make real efforts in the Big First before, but we really didn’t ever make their campaigns a priority. The reality is we as Democrats have all-too-often conceded the First District to the Republicans. What I want to do in this writing is make the case for working hard for Alan LaPolice, but just not for him, but for the future of the Democratic Party in the Big First and Kansas.

So why can Alan win? What is different that would make one feel confident that it is at least a possibility? It starts with the basic fact that Alan has run before. He first ran in a Republican primary during 2014, where he represented sanity against the incumbent at the time, Tim Huelskamp. Two years later, he ran as an Independent, where it’s a challenge to build up a strong base of support. And today, as a Democrat, he’s running in a year when he and the party are both extremely energized and focused on change. LaPolice knows the district, has contacts all across the area, and is well versed in how to successfully campaign in a district as large and varied as the Big First. And his background growing up on a farm and serving in the United States Army should give voters confidence in both his care for our state and his dedication to public service.

Another big difference: Alan is raising money, something that earlier candidates largely failed to do. That has created outside interest and, in a year where the balance of Congress is in question and many voters are seeking a check on Presidential power, the First District of Kansas is getting some real attention. And for good reason. Many in the district’s key industries have become rather uneasy with their current voice in Congress. It’s clear that, in his race to embrace the Trump Administration and its agenda on issues like trade and immigration, Congressman Marshall lost touch with the voters of the district. As you may recall, he was delivered a “wake-up call” by the Kansas Farm Bureau during the primaries. They initially declined an endorsement of him, essentially telling him to, “remember who got you here in the first place.” This act alone opened some doors that normally would have locked us out. After finally receiving some engagement and assurances from Marshall, Farm Bureau eventually released a lukewarm endorsement. But the overarching message is clear: When your Congressman has to be reminded of who he represents during an election year, the people deserve an alternative who understands their issues and will work hard on their behalf. Alan understands the needs of the district and has traveled across the Big First listening to industry and community leaders who are telling him they want change. He’s very smart, articulates his message well, and brings energy and enthusiasm everywhere he goes. In a nutshell, Alan is a great candidate.

As I alluded to earlier, this race can help the Democratic Party as well. It is a simple fact that areas ignored by political parties shift over time heavily to the other party. For Kansas Democrats, this is why we have so little strength in rural counties. It is why we lose statewide races that we should have won. But it is not just statewide races, legislative and local races are also impacted. In my 50 years of political activity, we have gone from being frequently competitive to all-too-frequently not even having a candidate to support. When I was in the Legislature, we had a sprinkling of legislative Democrats from rural areas throughout the state. Today, many years later, we have none. This trend cannot continue if we have any real desire to be competitive and equally represented, which is vitally important for our system of democracy to work. 

Helping Alan LaPolice can make the Democratic Party stronger across the state and put us in position to really make a positive difference for Kansas. This is particularly true at a time when so much of the Republican Party is tied to the far, far right. We have seven weeks left to help elect Alan LaPolice in the Big First. Our hard work will make a significant investment for a better future.
Alan LaPolice
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A Labor Day Salute to Missouri Voters

8/29/2018

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On this coming Labor Day, September the third, I salute the wisdom of the voters of the State of Missouri. On August the 7th, they voted to repeal their existing Right to Work law and helped restore some hope for me that the people, the voters, do have something to say and do have a role in how their government should operate. The vote was overwhelming, and I know that didn’t just happen on its own. Much work, including help from Kansas, went into educating the voter on what Right to Work really means and the benefits of workers having some of their strength restored at the bargaining table.  

It was just a year ago this weekend that I posted a blog on “The Labor Movement and the Middle Class.” I stand by what I wrote then in terms of the critical link between the labor movement and the success of the middle class. But, on reflection, if you had asked me at that time of the chances that Missouri would repeal their Right to Work law, I would have probably said slim to none. I would have said so because, as I wrote, the labor movement had been on a long decline. How could they possibly have the political muscle to achieve this goal? Oh for sure the labor folks worked hard and invested much in this effort. But I really believe what brought this success this time is they got the people to understand that what they wanted would be for the greater good of the State of Missouri, not just for union members and Unions in general.

As I put this salute together, I was reminded of a parallel experience growing up on and operating a dairy and Registered Holstein herd for many years. Most agricultural commodities had a checkoff so that, as commodities were sold, there would be money pooled to promote the product and fund further research and development into that commodity. For dairy, it was milk checks to go primarily towards marketing their product. It was put in place by a vote of those who produced and sold their milk to Co-Ops primarily. But when the majority vote took place and it came time to implement, the checkoff applied to even those who opposed the checkoff. There was no “right to sell” without the checkoff but with the benefits. Everyone participated. I also remember listening to dairymen defend their system and, at the same time, oppose labor’s view on Right to Work. Apparently, consistency doesn’t always govern.

Federal laws permit and enforce many mandatory commodity checkoffs. Meaning we currently require farmers to chip in “for the good of the group,” but when workers wish to pool together their resources for their collective benefit, we pass laws that essentially exempt people from having to pay into it. Afterall, the so-called “Right to Work” is really just the right to avoid paying union dues, while any benefits that result from the negotiations—​to the employees themselves or the labor market as a whole—​still come your way.

So I salute the repeal of Right to Work in Missouri, and I issue a warning to their Legislature. The initial reaction from the Republican Legislative leadership on the repeal is to consider the possibility of just passing a new “Right to Work” law. In their view, they are the all-powerful legislature and are in a much better position to know what is best for the state. If that is the case, the next people's movement just might be taking them out of office.
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Something Good in Every Day

8/19/2018

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“Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day.”  This message is posted right over the check-in desk at the lab where I have my blood tests on a regular basis. We do have bad days for sure. But I think, all too often, we fail to see or appreciate some part of the day that was good. When not appreciated, it is often our loss as well as missed opportunities to positively impact other folks or happenings.
​
My most recent personal example was election day, August 7, 2018. The winners in the Primaries have now advanced to gear up for the general election in this critical election year, but in their wake, there are many other qualified and committed Kansans who offered up their names and life experiences to their fellow citizens and asked to represent them and work on their behalf. So how could something so depressing as losing an election that you and many others had put so much time and energy into have something good to acknowledge and benefit from? From personal experience, having lost three elections, I can say that it is not easy, and it often has to come days later. For Democrats, in the crowded field for Governor and 3rd District Congress, I am sure some of that reflection is still coming.

But as I look back now, I can see several positives. For starters, many candidates who lost will live to fight and win on another day, and within that group, there is a lot of talent that will be recognized and supported. Through their leadership, they will each continue to impact their communities and our state. And there will also be many valuable lessons learned from their campaigns that, in time, will have positive impacts. That is why the good and bad needs to be found, documented, and stand ready for the right opportunity to be used.

On a personal level, looking back on the Democratic Governors race, there was much good to appreciate. I got to know Josh Svaty and Katrina Lewison (as well as their spouses) much better and appreciate their huge potential for the future. I also got to listen to these two exceptional speakers election night, not just appropriately conceding to Senator Kelly, but also communicating their support going forward. They made it clear that the fight for a better Kansas goes on and that all Democrats must do their part. I also know there are hundreds and hundreds of Kansans across the state that feel the same and will be there to help now as well as with opportunities in the future.

The realities of our current system have made it even harder for qualified citizens to step up and offer their service. But, without good people with diverse experiences running for public office (and strong supporters working hard for something they believe in), we will never achieve the outcomes the people want and need. So to all those who have sought public office or given it serious consideration: We need you, and we need your leadership at all levels of government. The path to positive change will not always be an easy one; there will be bad days. But we must find the good in every day, and use it to drive the pursuit of progress.
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Still Learning Lessons from Tuesday’s Primary

8/13/2018

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For many years, I have been telling students to be a learner, and not just for classes they are taking, but life going forward. Learn from experiences as well as understand what is changing and adjust accordingly. Last week’s Primary Election night was a learning experience for me personally, and it also raised some structural points about our elections that could use some more thought. From the impact of so many candidates, to the influence of big dollars from one donor, to how the primary—​because of timing and structure—​has unique implications, I think a greater understanding of these lessons will have value going forward.

Let me start with some background. We hold our primary on even numbered years and on the first Tuesday of August. Historically, Democrats have had so few contested primaries there is little awareness that a primary exists. Making it worse, in the summer, a vast majority of voters are way too busy with all the summer distractions to even know the campaigns are going on. The impact, I think, is it puts a special value on the last few days with the advantages going to candidates that have significant money on hand.

Now, in terms of the structure and laws that govern our elections, Tuesday night has left some critical points in my mind about the value of more open primaries and some other adjustments that could help elevate the citizen voice in our government. First off, having a closed primary—​where voters must be registered with the party they intend to vote with in advance of the election (a registration date that was recently moved up by Kansas election laws)—​adds unnecessary complications for voters who are simply trying to exercise their right to vote. Many voters do not adhere strictly to a party line or change parties frequently based on shifting priorities and dynamics in our politics, and these are precisely the voters whose voices are diminished by a closed primary. So why not open up the process and allow anyone to register (on Election Day and during early voting) and vote for any candidate of their choosing? As we have seen in the ongoing county election canvases, this complication (and the interpretation of the laws set out by our Legislature and Governor) will likely decide the winner of the Republican Primary for Governor.

In addition, from Tuesday’s results, I want to put on the table for discussion moving up our primary to allow time for a runoff election if the winning candidate does not have 50% of the vote. This would not have impacted the Democratic Governors race but would have the Congressional race in the Third District and for the Republicans both in the Governor’s race and Second District for Congress. If the winner has less than 50% of the vote, the top two would duel it out say 30 days later. Yes, that is expensive, but it might be the incentive we need to shift to mail ballots, something that has worked well in states like Washington where the turnout is much higher for elections at all levels.

Personally, I think the Governor’s race for the Republicans shows the huge value of having a runoff election. For example, let’s assume the current numbers hold up and Kobach wins a very close race with Governor Colyer. Kobach was probably helped by three candidates going after him and splitting up the vote. One-on-one, the Governor might have won easily and in my opinion, with those results, the Republicans would have their top candidate—​which, regardless of partisan feelings, we should want.

The crowded field for the Republicans in the 2nd Congressional district is another example where I would contend the winner would not survive a runoff and again leave the Republicans with less than their best going forward. Now, as a fan of Paul Davis for this year, I guess the current system is okay. But in this case, it was also an example, as was the Governor’s race, where huge contributions came from one donor, obviously impacting the results, where a one-on-one would likely lead to a different candidate coming out on top.

As the votes continue to be counted in the close and undecided Republican Primary for Governor, we will see what other lessons may become clear from this hotly contested race. But one thing is certain: This Primary Election will have long-lasting implications for the future of Kansas. So let’s hope we learn our lessons well.
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Colyer's Clever Ways to Hide his Brownback Beliefs

8/4/2018

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Out of originally a large field of Republicans for Governor, what I see now is a two man race between Secretary of State Kris Kobach and Governor Colyer. Kobach is as much a clone of President Trump as possible. Currently, Governor Colyer is trying to come across as having been no part of the messed up Brownback administration. Colyer does have a much different personality than Governor Brownback. Yes, he is much more likable and does humanitarian projects we can all support. If you don’t care about the state and the negative impacts of Brownback and Colyer, it is quite easy to see Governor Colyer as an improvement. The problem is that his philosophy and direction on all critical issues is a continuation of Brownback.

As a politician, Colyer has made full use of his authority as Governor to sign bills passed by the Legislature and do it wherever it will get the most press. And it appears the press is accomodating him out of disdain for his principle opponent. I suspect the press, at least it appears, are doing everything they can, to push Colyer as a very different Governor than Brownback and to hurt Kobach wherever possible.

Colyer is touting highway projects like Highway 69 in southeast Kansas as something that will get done immediately. Sound familiar? The folks in southeast Kansas have been made this promise all too often. Colyer was a significant part of an administration that robbed from KDOT to balance the overall budget and conveniently forgot about the campaign promises made.

Politically, what Colyer has going for him is that he is not Kris Kobach. Kobach, it appears, has successfully wrapped up the far-right vote with the support of Trump. With the help of Kansas Farm Bureau, this allows Colyer to focus on more reasonable Republicans. What seems to be forgotten for the moment by Republicans is the bulk of Colyer’s positions basically continue the Brownback agenda including the failed KanCare initiative where Colyer had a major role. The wildcards in all of this are Ken Selzer and Jim Barnett who have legitimate campaigns, and probably will take significant votes away from Colyer, possibly helping Kobach to win in the end.

The results on Tuesday, August 7th will be a critical, clarifying step in what, from my perspective, has been one of the most complex and important election cycles we have faced in Kansas. The candidates who emerge from this gubernatorial primary will immediately begin a general election race that will determine the direction of our state for decades to come.
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The 2018 Primary Election for Kansas Governor

7/28/2018

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I believe this is an important election year as we have ever had in Kansas. We will decide whether education is an area in which we want to wisely invest, whether taking care of our infrastructure as in roads and highways has merit, and whether the civil service system is repaired with the politics removed. This election year will decide whether we continue down those paths of destruction for four or eight more years or we change directions and return Kansas on a path to the sane and sensible thinking that served our state well in the past.

Assessing the Republican field of candidates appears to be relatively easy, certainly from a philosophical point of view. You have three candidates: Kobach, Colyer, and Selzer, who are trying hard to paint over the Brownback connection, but in reality have the very same direction in mind for the state. Kobach’s Trump connections and more ferocious rhetoric on issues such as immigration have separated him a bit from the field, but the bottom line is that he, like the other two, are not going to invest in the key areas needed for the future of our state. Then, there is Jim Barnett, who I like. He is too sane and sensible for today’s Republican Party. Bottom line: that means, come Fall, the Republican nominee will be supporting a continuation of the disastrous policies of the Brownback-Colyer administration.

On the Democratic side, there are five candidates. One is too young to get to vote for himself but is having a positive impact and the four others each have their own unique strengths. I’ve been involved in Democratic politics since 1960, and this is by far the best total lineup for Governor we’ve ever had. In contrast to the Republican Party’s limited debates and forums, the Democrats have been at the other extreme of getting out to the public. I’ve lost track of exactly how many events have been held and/or streamed online, but it is safe to say Democrats have had many opportunities to hear from and evaluate the candidates. In my opinion, there are two who could win the primary on August 7th.

As I said earlier, coming out of the Republican Primary will be a candidate, whether he admits it or not, who will, if elected, extend the disastrous positions that seriously damaged our education system, infrastructure, civil service system, and almost all agencies assigned responsibility of doing any good for the people of Kansas. It is time we stop being the butt of nationwide jokes and start turning things around.

It’s not only the few differences the Democratic candidates have that should impact your vote. Consider who can win in November. Support the candidate you think has the best chance of winning. Give it serious thought. Our Kansas future is at stake. We can’t prosper under four more years of the same failed ideology. As I’ve said before, at some point, we risk digging ourselves so deep that recovery is next to impossible.
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Who Will Speak Up for American Values?

6/14/2018

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This past week pushed me over the edge with President Trump. With his approval rating increasing, which will continue unless responsible Republicans speak out, time is running out. This last week took us to new levels of craziness. His cheap shots at leaders of countries who have been long time friends and allies, and at the same time cozying up to the brutal dictator of North Korea, will do serious damage to our respect around the world and in the process, hurt us economically as well as from a national security perspective. The same is true for his unlimited pulling out of almost every treaty-agreement we have with nations around the world. At some point, we are going to be isolated and pay a huge price for not addressing the situation now. We need to make it clear to the world that our responsible elected officials and citizens do not support this direction and are taking steps to return to sanity.

But topping it all is his clear position that he is above the law, that he can pardon just anyone including himself and in the process it would make no difference how serious the crime was or the damage to this country. He is being allowed to act as a dictator all too often, taking actions that Congress would have stood up to in the past. He is brilliant at diverting attention with all his craziness, his tweets, and willingness to do about anything that, for previous presidents, would have at least raised the issue of impeachment.

Then we get to the real problems, like how we can make positive changes for the future. Expecting the President to change as his poll numbers go up will not happen. Leaders in Washington must speak up and do so in a dramatic way that gets the attention of the American people. Senators McCain and Corker are not enough. The Constitution that so many Americans have died to protect for future generations is at risk. We need a Women's March or March for Our Lives type movement across the country that a broad set of Americans can get behind and get activated. We need Democrats in Washington going beyond the usual political stands to reach out across party lines and clearly speak up for our American values. We desperately not only need bipartisan conversation and action but also new Democratic leadership that can communicate more successfully and rally support for a better way forward.

We have heard for example from Senators Moran and Roberts at least express concerns about immigration. But their response came across to me as a statement to protect their political interests without taking any chance to offend the President. The question for Kansans is who in our delegation will really stand up for what is truly in the best interests of our state and nation? Are there political risks? Yes. But given what all is at stake, wouldn’t it be wiser to do what is right, knowing from a legacy perspective you stood up for the United States Constitution and our American values?

Like never before, it is essential that citizens speak up and take action now. In that spirit, please share and use the number to the Congressional Switchboard, (202) 225-3121, to connect by phone with our delegation. Communicating can make a difference.
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National Press Impeding Progress

6/5/2018

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Watching national news on any channel has become too much for me. I rationalize that there is nothing I can do, so why waste my time when there might be something of value I can do right here in Kansas. The only things the media cover that you can count on are negative stories going after someone or something and giving blanket coverage to the current resident of the White House.

The media has for most of our history played their role as an independent viewer, reporting to the people on what was happening at the local, state, national, and international levels. Although somebody was always questioning one aspect or another of their reporting, generally the media, in most cases, provided the available facts so critical for a democracy to succeed. But this seems to have changed. Journalism used to be about getting the story out. Today it is tied much more to selling advertising, getting clicks, making money, and cutting staff—​particularly investigative reporters. The latter is particularly true of our newspapers here in Kansas.

We too often have news dominated by what is sensational and exciting versus what is of real importance for our future. Whatever brings in the most advertising dollars will garner the most coverage. In our current dog-eat-dog environment, I guess we shouldn’t be too surprised, but if you have grandchildren like I do, you kind of wonder what their future might be like.

As one plays with the TV remote on almost any given evening, flying through the channels just to see at a glance what might be happening, the odds are quite high that the subject matter will focus on tweets, outrageous behavior, investigations, self promotion, and the latest sensational revelation. The main question I always have is: What is going on that seldom, if ever, makes the news? Unless one takes in a lot of media—likely spending all day scrolling through the New York Times or Washington Post—​you can be sure you are missing every day critical actions by the federal government where transparency would likely have altered the outcome.

In particular, the television media's fascination with covering the then-candidate and now current President has had a huge impact. They certainly gave him an advantage in the primary over much more qualified candidates and then did likewise in the general election. But now, as blanket coverage continues and his approval ratings seem to rise, we will soon be faced with a second term possibility. Either the press grows a spine and starts reporting more again on substantive issues and not who tweeted what, and the Republican Party comes to their senses, or we have even more real trouble ahead.
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Oh, How Kansas Politics Has Changed

5/21/2018

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With the Legislature done for the moment and heavily-contested primary battles heating up in both parties, I pause to take a look at just how much politics has changed since my first plunge into seeking elective office. When I ran in 1970 for the Kansas House of Representatives against Gary Sherrer (who was later Lt. Governor for Bill Graves), as far as I know, there was no outside involvement. I don’t think either party even knew we were running. Republicans were controlling the legislature and had since 1912 with little or no organized effort. In addition, there were no issues or differences pushed, just two candidates asking for votes and letting the people decide. Contrast that with the current 69th district, which would parallel mine in 1970, and you have both parties heavily focused on the eventual outcome.

When I ran for Governor in 1978, the closest thing to anything negative was the Republican line attacking my plan to address the soaring cost of utilities. They thought it was nothing but misleading politics or maybe something more colorful. For the record, it included taking the sales tax off utility bills at a time when rates were soaring and Wolf Creek was coming on line. Also, at that time, there was no way for the Kansas Corporation Commission to avoid either bankrupting the builders of Wolf Creek or dumping all the cost on the users. Compromise was not possible. But with legislative support that was changed, the sales tax came off utility bills, and the law was changed so a compromise could be found between the Utility and customers.

As Governor, I vetoed the death penalty four times and it was never really used against me. In the 1982 race for re-election with Sam Hartage, the main dispute was over my Severance Tax versus his increase in the gas tax. I think we would all agree that would not happen today. In my 16 years—​eight in the House and eight as Governor—​aside from my two years as Speaker, Republicans dominated, and yet much got done. It wasn’t without politics, and I’m sure some would think of it as a contact sport then as well, but we got things done. My major achievements had to have significant Republican support, especially all the constitutional amendments (parimutuel gambling, the lottery, liquor by the drink, property tax reform, and allowing state support for internal improvements) all of which required a ⅔ vote from both Houses to send them to the public vote (all carried by close to two to one).

​In my opinion, the political change from a Kansas perspective started in the early 1990’s. Former legislator David Miller led successful efforts to install very conservative Republicans into leadership positions at the local level and then, in time, took over the state party leadership. It was the beginning of splitting the Republican Party into the Mods and far-right Conservatives. It also was the beginning of a big use of special interest money and not all of it focused on the truth.

So where are we today? For the second election in a row, Kansas has Democrats and moderate Republicans working under the banner of Save Kansas and backed by four former Governors (Hayden, Graves, Sebelius, and myself). The 2016 results were positive, electing enough new legislators to overturn the Brownback Tax Experiment and start the process of returning Kansas to the respect it has had in the past. In this election year, much of the big money will be with the far-right, playing loose with the facts. It will be up to moderate and sane Kansans to take a stand and help elect legislators willing to lead the state back to success. Oh, how much politics has changed.
Ross Doyan
Here's a throwback to an era of cooperation and bipartisanship in the Kansas Legislature. Pictured here is a lighter moment between Republican President of the Senate, Ross Doyen, and myself—the Democratic Speaker of the House.
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    John W. Carlin​—​61st Speaker of the Kansas House, 40th Governor of Kansas, 8th Archivist of the United States, and student of leadership

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