Category: Infrastructure

When we experience a challenge or crisis—like we’re seeing with the COVID-19 pandemic—it reveals what we’re made of. This comes with a recognition that previous actions and decisions have consequences, and they ultimately lead us to the norms, systems, and structures we currently have in place. Unfortunately, we cannot change the past events that have led us to this disastrous point with the Coronavirus crisis, but we can most definitely learn from these events in ways that better prepare us for the future. There are many aspects to cover and many things to learn, and I plan to continue exploring other lessons throughout the crisis and further down the road on my blog. But I want to start with the area that is perhaps the most glaring vulnerability that has been exposed by this crisis: the failure of federal leadership to respond to and address the immediate public health risk that all Americans now face.

Here are some of the governance lessons that stand out to me from the federal level:

First, it’s clear that, with something as big and complex as the current crisis, there is not and can not be just one Federal level agency with the budget or capacity to fully deliver. Over four years ago, President Obama recognized this and put in place a coordinating mechanism that could reach across agency lines to better assure that the response to a major crisis would have the best chance of success. President Trump abolished the Obama-created White House National Security Council Directorate for Global Health Security and Biodefense, consistent with his philosophy of small government being best. In my opinion, that was a short-sighted decision and the current crisis is clear evidence there are challenges where every resource of the Federal government needs to be brought together in a coordinated way to be the most effective.

Second, if a small government approach is the path a President takes, it becomes even more important to have better coordinating and operating systems in place. In any crisis affecting multiple states, there will always be some resources and involvement from the Federal government. For example, the Department of Defense resources for working with state and local governments to deal with the health crisis should always be an option. And, in terms of engagement with the private sector, it should be done in a coordinated, mission-oriented fashion, rather than the “everyone for themselves” approach we’re currently seeing. The private sector has expertise and a huge capacity for innovation and production, but this needs to be leveraged more effectively—which requires strong leadership making specific directives and implementing smart, strategic policies.

With this pandemic, we were simply not prepared. The Federal government was not ready to deal with the challenge and certainly had no coordinated system worked out with state and local government. The fact that our government and infrastructure at the national level and in many states was so woefully under-prepared to deal with this pandemic is linked to successful right-wing moves at all levels of government and across many areas, like health care, the social safety net, and more. They have been able to cut necessary programs at every opportunity, without thinking about the real results including loss of lives.

The other clear lesson in this crisis is that choices made in selecting leadership across all levels of government can and does make a huge difference in the capacity of government to respond with clear, accurate information and decisive action. In making appointments, President Trump emphasized family, business, and political connections much more than whether the person had the capacity to deliver. And, perhaps worst of all, those folks are now in positions where they can effectively shut out or, worse yet, actively ignore or deny the advice of the scientists and experts we do have within our government.

And, when it comes to leadership at the very top—from the President himself—it pains me to see just how far we've fallen from President Truman's "the buck stops here," to President Trump's "I don't take responsibility at all" stance. Deflecting any blame and trying to rewrite the history of his administration's response is a sign of weakness, not strength, in a time of crisis. And it's certainly not the way to actually solve problems or gain trust and credibility with the American people.

Hopefully, out of this crisis, we learn something. Government should be at the size and quality to serve the legitimate needs of the public. Whether that be Federal dominated or heavily led by the states, the response to a crisis like Coronavirus must be well-planned in advance, with the correct systems in place, and the leadership needed to carry out the mission.

I’ll have more “Lessons from Coronavirus” in the coming weeks, including some positive notes on the leadership we’re seeing across our state and country, so I hope you’ll continue to follow along. And keep in mind as we go through these difficult days and weeks: There is always more we can learn. These challenging times will require all the dialogue and lessons we can possibly generate in order to help us all emerge from this crisis stronger. It’s something we can all contribute to and participate in; whether it’s changes to large, complex systems or in our everyday activities, we can always improve, and creativity will be key. Good ideas and leadership can come from anyone, anywhere, at any time. Remember: Challenges simply reveal what we’re made of.

Wearing his campaign hat, President Trump visited CDC Headquarters on March 6th. It was the day he promised that, "everyone who needs a test gets a test...they have the tests and the tests are beautiful." With a group of experts standing behind him, he utilized his press conference to talk at length about his own intelligence and how much he understands about science and public health. As several states were reporting their first cases, including Kansas the day after this visit, he also utilized the opportunity to spread misinformation about the virus being "under control" and mischaracterizing the timeline for possible vaccines and treatments. He then took to attacking the media and smearing Governors of the opposing party, calling Gov. Jay Inslee, "a snake" and telling Vice President Pence not to be complimentary of him. And, of course, when asked about taking in Americans from the Grand Princess cruise ship, he explained that he'd rather not because, "I like the numbers being where they are." All of this happened at a time when Americans desperately needed correct, clear communication about the spread of COVID-19 and the enormous challenges facing all of us.

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Best and Worst from the 2010s

1/4/2020

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:

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.
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.
Governor Kelly defeating Secretary of State Kris Kobach in the 2018 election.
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.
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:

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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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2019 Kansas Legislative Session Wrap-Up

5/9/2019

The 2019 Kansas Legislative Session is now complete, leaving only Sine Die on May 29th at 10:00 A.M. My general overall observation of the session is that we’ve had worse for sure. The fact that the Legislature got their work done on time has to be marked up as a general positive. Also on the positive side is the almost total bipartisan support for resolution of the KPERS payback issue and passage of public school funding that hopefully satisfies the Supreme Court. This Legislature also got the budget done earlier than in recent years, which is also positive. It helps agencies and institutions get off to a much better operating start for fiscal year 2020 which starts July 1st.

Failure to expand medicaid funding was the biggest loss of the session. As a result, thousands of Kansans will continue without any form of health care support. The Administration and Democratic-Moderate Republican coalitions in the House and Senate certainly made every effort to get it done. I also think the Administration worked quite well to educate the public and gain support, which I am sure increased overall public support for expansion to even higher levels than before the session began. In the end, it was Republican Senate leadership that would not even allow a final vote.

The slowness of the legislative confirmation process made it difficult for the new Administration to get off to a fast start, but some of the delay was due to the lateness of the nominations being submitted. The very partisan battle over confirmation of the Secretary of Commerce certainly didn’t help that department move quickly on rebuilding and setting a sound direction for the agency, which was totally lacking in the Brownback Administration. And the confirmation process for Secretary Toland may also set a bad precedent for future hearings that, until now, were very seldom partisan.

Progress was made in reducing the infrastructure taxes you pay in dedicated sales taxes, being taken from highway maintenance for support of education and other general fund responsibilities. This was started in the Brownback Administration to minimize underfunding of key programs at the expense of taking care of our highway system, which negative results would not show up until a new administration was in power. The Governor’s recommendation to reduce that transfer helped but at some point we need to stop that practice or it will become a standard way to help fund the general budget.

There are a few issues remaining before final adjournment of the Legislature on May 29th. Focus will be on any vetoes the Governor makes on passed legislation or line items in the budget. To override vetoes, it takes a ⅔ vote in each House. I doubt there will be much if any success given a number of the override votes will not come to Topeka for such a limited agenda, but it will be something to keep an eye on.

For the future of Kansas to be bright, we must restore the civil service to the quality Kansans need and deserve, fund our infrastructure at an investment level that makes good sense, and fill back in the many funding gaps of the many agencies and programs hurt by Governor Brownback and the far-right legislators. In dealing with these needs next year, given we will have the same Legislature and in an election year, it is not realistic to expect too much progress. Although, the time back in their respective districts will provide opportunities for citizens to speak up on the many key issues facing our state.

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Turning the Page on Reckless Tax Policy

3/25/2019

When I left office in January of 1987, there was a very balanced tax structure in place for Kansas. That system was passed and supported by a Republican-led majority in the Legislature. At the time, the understanding was that this tax plan would fund future needs and, during good years, allow the state to set aside funds for when the economy declined. Then, in the 90’s, the popularity of tax cuts started, and it's tied to the beginning of the Republican Party shift from Eisenhower’s sane, well-thought-out conservative investments to an anti-government and tax-cut philosophy at every opportunity.

Today's Republican Party has gone from one that supports making investments, like education and infrastructure, as carefully and conservatively as possible, while still getting done what needs to be done, to no longer caring at both the state and national level. For the far-right Republicans, which include true believers as well as those just afraid of a primary at the next election, it is as much as anything an anti-government philosophy. Working nicely with that thinking is of course tax cuts, particularly for the rich who fund politics in this direction.

Sound conservative thinking used to include wisely investing in key areas necessary for the good of the people and solid commerce. In the end, underfunding costs the taxpayers more. Why? Getting behind on road and highway maintenance just guarantees higher costs. Not investing in our children at an early age only leads to lives under utilized and more expenses. Communities that do not find or have the resources for dealing with legitimate human needs are not where people who have options want to live, which leads to higher taxes and less in return for those who have to stay behind.

And now in the current Kansas Legislature, some Republicans are trying to take advantage of a new national tax law to pass along another state tax break that primarily benefits the rich. We need to fund public education at a responsible and constitutional level, at least avoid further cuts to higher education to limit tuition increases, and get back to taking care of our infrastructure. On top of this, we continually turn down federal money for Medicaid expansion, something so desperately needed and wanted by many.

How did this happen? As I stated earlier, the shift started at the beginning of the 90’s. One thing for sure, you have to give credit to these early movers and shakers. They knew what they were doing and they started at the grassroots of Republican politics. They were patient, knowing this seismic shift would take time. But, most important, they were great at framing their message, using the right words to be most effective. To turn this around, some of these same skills need to be used by Democrats and moderate Republicans to patiently return Kansas to wisely investing in the future, and it must start now to make sure 2020 results in more steps in the right direction.

And, knowing the many issues and priorities we have as a state, Governor Kelly rightfully vetoed the latest attempt to take Kansas back down the road of reckless and ineffective tax policy. Now it’s up to us—the people of Kansas—to make clear to legislators that we’re ready to turn the page on these policies for good and move towards a stronger, more stable future for our state.

Kansas Senate Chamber [KPR]

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China: Yesterday and Tomorrow

3/12/2019

January 1979 and my first day on the job as Governor of Kansas, I found on my desk an invitation for my predecessor Governor Bennett to go to China. He chose to wait to respond until he thought he would be re-elected in November 1978. That didn’t work out for him but it gave me a huge opening, and I quickly saw it as an excellent opportunity for Kansas and our future. The decision was made possible because Presidents Nixon and Carter made decisions to take advantage of China’s interest in opening up to the outside world. Kansas was the third state to take advantage.

So, in August 1979, I led a Kansas Trade Delegation to China to take the first step in promoting business opportunities. Some of the time was spent enjoying the things they wanted us to see, like the Great Wall. It too was built to keep invaders out, the difference being Chinese built it, paid for it, and from their perspective had a real purpose in keeping a real enemy out. Because of its massive depth, it not only served as a path to move troops and supplies but is one of the very few world objects that can be seen from the moon.

To describe where China was in 1979, a comparison on infrastructure and technology might best make the point. Here in the United States, we were finishing the Interstate Highway System proposed by President Eisenhower. In China, I was riding on dirt roads from one major city to another. Our space program was well underway while they were still recovering from years of backward Communist Leadership where much of the talent was put into restrictive camps to limit their possibility of leading change.

But there were many positives to see as well. Their wheat varieties were pretty amazing, as timing allowed us to see the crops shortly before harvest. The Chinese were creative to say the least. Gas from human waste was piped back into the living area for cooking purposes. I saw chickens fed and grown out on concrete covered with sawdust, which was along with the chicken feces collected, put in what looked like glass milk bottles, and used to produce a very special mushroom. The spirit of cultural exchange and discovery during those trips fueled an unforgettable engagement that I hope came to benefit all parties involved.

The video above features media coverage from the trip. Special thanks to Larry Hatteberg, the reporter covering the delegation, for providing archived footage from 1979 and the follow-up visit in 1984.

Forty years have passed since my first trip to China, and the view of China on later visits (I went back in 1984, '86, and '88 as a private citizen) to now, as well as their projected path forward, are difficult to believe but certainly true and should be alarming for our elected leaders. David Brooks in a recent article in the New York Times wrote, “China aims to dominate high-tech by 2025,” and from my experience, that seems realistic. Brooks’ article points out their aggressive plans that, yes, include stealing some of our technology but outlines the overall reality we must address. As an example, we struggle to have any mass transit in the United States, while they have a 200 mile-an-hour Bullet Train from Beijing to Shanghai. China has also taken significant action on climate change, an area where U.S. vision and leadership is sorely lacking. If only we spent less time stoking the flames of a harmful and ongoing “trade war” and more time on level-headed engagement, we may find better relations and improved outcomes for both countries.

Meanwhile, if we don’t—as a country—learn soon that we cannot borrow our way to prosperity and that we must wisely invest in the research, technology, and infrastructure we need to compete, it will be China who is in the position for the 21st century that the United States held throughout the 20th century. Smart conservatives invest wisely. That is true in Kansas as well, as education and taking care of our infrastructure will dictate our future.

This is a photo of myself and Governor He on our follow-up visit to China in 1984, where we visited Henan Provence. Kansas and Henan Province established a sister state relationship in 1981.

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Governor Kelly Will Take on a Long List of Challenges for Kansas

1/10/2019

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

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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Final Stretch of the 2018 Legislative Session

4/26/2018

The tentative positive outcome on both school funding and the overall budget (which could have seen more cuts to Higher Education and additional robbing from the highway fund beyond the existing $450+ million) is the direct result of many successful efforts in the 2016 legislative races. The results changed the makeup of the legislature to one that is more likely to invest wisely in public education and eventually address our serious infrastructure issues. This is the best realistic outcome for 2018. But as it has been said, it ain’t over ‘til it's over, and we are not yet there.

The bill correcting the $80 million error on school funding should be treated as simply a technical correction. But, like it or not, it is an opportunity for amendments and a rehash of the original bill passed and signed by the Governor. The wildcard here is over the three week break, what did legislators hear from constituents and/or lobbyists with money for the fall election? Were they complimented for doing what was right or castigated for over funding and bowing to the Supreme Court? As votes are taken on amendments, we will quickly know which way legislators were successfully directed.

Opinions differ on whether the school funding bill might need tax increases sometime soon. But for now, not having to make any tax increases in an election year made the most legislators happy. Unfortunately, they are working a possible tax cut for Kansans tied to the changes nationally on deductions. I understand the politics. But this is a missed opportunity to take a modest step in putting together the resources for next year that are going to be needed if we want to make further progress on getting the State of Kansas back on track.

So what is the Court’s next move? Will the legislative funding number be enough? At this point, I hope so for the sake of the court system and the positive step taken to fund education. Shooting down what the Legislature has done could set off a constitutional crisis. For sure, there would be another push for changing the Constitution and further movement to throw Judges out of office. Neither of these actions, if successful in the broader sense, would be good for the State of Kansas. It would signal a declining support for public education, a movement away from the three equal branches of government that our founding fathers knew was necessary, and it would leave partisan politics playing a much stronger role than ever.

Sine Die, final adjournment is set for May 4th. If things don’t go as hoped, there will very likely be a special session of the legislature this summer.

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Potential NBAF Move to USDA is Alarming

3/7/2018

Just when you think nothing more crazy can come from the Trump Administration, you learn of something that is truly dangerous, and this one hits close to home. Through the budget sent to Congress, the Administration is recommending moving operation of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) from the Department of Homeland Security to the Department of Agriculture. Please don’t think of this as “inside baseball” that does not impact you or the state, or the country for that matter. It does. What makes this move particularly scary is the apparent interest in shaving some money from the operation of NBAF to help fund the Wall. Yes—the Wall. The one along our southern border. This should be a cause for great local concern, and I know from experience it will take a very united Kansas front to turn this decision around.

As a reminder, NBAF came about as a result of 9/11 and the consensus agreement that the United States had to take Homeland Security much more seriously. This was especially true in areas where much more advanced research would be necessary. For example, the unbelievably dangerous zoonotic diseases—the viruses that can move from animals to humans—need much more attention. In 2001, the research being done in this area was happening at Plum Island off the east coast, under the control of the Department of Agriculture, with a focus only on animal disease research. At the time, that structural organization made sense. But, after 9/11, decision makers focused on the new national security threats (particularly bioterrorism and attacks on our food systems) wisely decided to build the new facility under the leadership and management of the newly-formed Department of Homeland Security. In substance and common sense, the location decision has not changed since.

Just think for a moment about the problems that will likely evolve. The current facility construction is handled through private contracts but closely watched by Homeland Security staff. Many of whom, one would assume, will continue to work at the facility to help wisely and safely oversee the many incredibly dangerous research projects that will follow. Now, one can say that is not a real problem. Just move the staff. Yes, but how many will follow and how well will Agriculture manage and fund them? Keep in mind, Ag has crop insurance and food assistance programs that always generate intense interest and questions when it comes to budgeting. Will NABF face operational cuts in order to satisfy those other legitimate needs? And remember, it looks pretty clear that the Administration is moving to get their money for the wall by shifting the dollars from existing current needs within Homeland Security to fund wall construction.

I have yet to talk to anyone who thinks this makes sense. There is very little public awareness or much communication coming from any Kansas elected official. At the very least, we should—in a united fashion—push back, ask the tough questions, and insist upon full disclosure of all the facts. I’ve tried to think of a comparison that could help put this into perspective. For me, this would be akin to moving the K-State women's basketball coaching staff to the football program to squeeze money for something totally unrelated and ill-fated—like building a wall along the Colorado border as a way to keep the drugs from coming our way.

This decision merits serious discussion at all levels—local, state, and federal. The strategy that helped Kansas successfully attract the NBAF facility was based on a strong, united Kansas voice on the matter. Elected officials from both parties and all levels of government agreed that this facility was in the best interest of the state and the region, and their support was backed by strategic investments in things like the Kansas Bioscience Authority (which was dealt its final blow by the Brownback Administration in 2016) to help spur the growth of a new industry around this important area for research and development. All together, this helped prove that Kansas was serious about the prospects of the federal facility and also that we were ready to make the necessary decisions to ensure its future safety and success. That Kansas voice must, once again, be raised on the issue—this time, in support of a sane way forward for NBAF.

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Deficit Concerns Won’t Slow the GOP’s Trickle Down Trainwreck

12/18/2017

While still absorbing the devastating tax changes from the Republicans in Congress, we are now seeing the next low blow to the working class of America. Remember how the tax bill over time added to the deficit in the trillions? This raised questions on where the so-called “deficit hawk” Republicans have gone. But now we are learning what they are really up to. With the votes apparently in hand on the tax issue (providing the rich huge benefits), they have developed a new concern about the deficit. And, when the bill they're working to pass doesn't generate enough revenue in economic growth to pay for itself—which is the classic defense used in Kansas and other places to justify implementing these trickle down trainwrecks—their answer will be to go after the entitlements, the so-called “give away” to Americans who “won’t work and/or save for their future.”

Medicare, Medicaid, and eventually Social Security suddenly now become serious targets for those who, for a long time, thought the government was doing too much for the people. Particularly now that their fiscal nightmare of a bill seems in line to pass, they say they have real concerns about the deficit. If young and extended families, particularly with children, don’t start making their case, their future becomes much more dicey. These young families face expensive child care (in most cases they both have to work to make the family budget), exploding health care costs, and student loan payments or other costs to educating themselves for the future. At the same time, salary increases are in no way adequate to cover these realities. On this one, both parties share the blame. Republicans want to privatize entitlement programs to cover up their real goal: to shut them down. Democrats defend the programs as is and have yet to address the challenges demanded by demographic reality. With folks living longer and the balance between retirees and workers changing, without changes to these programs, the end comes at some point down the line.

This is also what you get when you have a Supreme Court deciding that the very rich should have no limit as to how much they can spend to elect who they want and to get from them what they claim they need. They certainly should have a right to contribute and make their case, but it should be done on the merits, without the big-money artillery pointed directly at the elected person’s future. As a result, we now have relatively few Billionaires basically running the country into the ground, with only them benefiting from their trickle down philosophy.

So what do rank-and-file Americans do? Yelling and screaming to our family, friends, and anybody within shouting distance will not get it done. Giving up, ignoring what is going on, certainly will not help. Not registering to vote and/or not voting works right into the hands of those who are currently benefiting from the system as it is. We must, as I’ve said before, take our frustration into action.

Therefore, find forward-thinking candidates who understand the value of wisely investing and responsibly taking care of those in need, and help them get elected. Doing that begins the process of shaping tomorrow into the future we all want and need.

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The True Cost of Neglecting our Civil Service System

10/11/2017

In my last blog, which reviewed the six plus years of the Brownback Administration, the final major point was the damage done to the civil service system. I want to follow up on that because there is more to the story, and understanding this in some depth is very important as we move forward with efforts to restore our state in the wake of these damaging years for Kansas. Without a clear comprehension of what happened with the civil service system and the consequences of those decisions, there will be little opportunity to gain the support necessary for positive action.

This problem was underlined recently when I was helping Lynn’s mother get her handicapped license renewed. We got her a handicapped parking permit when she moved here to Manhattan three years ago. In reality, she has done so well she has almost never used it. But when renewal time came, we decided to re-up, and I was given that responsibility. My first move was to go out east of town to the State Motor Vehicle License facility. I made it no further than just inside the door to learn, with the room packed at mid-afternoon, that there was no way they could take care of me that day. I came back earlier the next day to another jammed room, but lucky for me, I thought when I signed in I should make sure I was in the right place. I wasn’t. I needed to go to the county treasurer’s office at the courthouse, which I did. Now, stick with me, for I’m about to get to the point.

At the state facility, it was obvious that one needed to allow plenty of time, hours not minutes, to get a driver's license new or renewed. This was not because of state employees not doing their job, but because with the budget cuts from the Brownback administration, they were short the staff they needed to serve the public in an efficient way that was respectful of Kansans’ valuable time. At the county courthouse, service was efficient and professional, and I was in and out in no time. It appears that our local officials fund services conservatively but adequate to do the job in an effective manner. And I know this is but a small, personal example of what happens to countless Kansans on a daily basis.

The key message here is that getting the state back to quality service will not be easy, and it will take time. It is not just restoring professionalism by repealing the Brownback spoils system, providing stability to the state employee retirement system, and opening up our state workforce to a wider and more diverse talent pool, but also finding resources to better staff needed functions. Examples include twelve hour shifts at state prisons, way under-staffed Children Services, and just recently, the Kansas Bureau Investigation reports they are 25 staff members below what they need to efficiently work with local officials investigating crimes. Unfortunately, for far-right conservatives, starving the government is a key strategy because the underfunded agency will perform at a lower level of quality, providing the evidence they'll use to make the case for privatization or more tightening of the budget.

Again, a reminder to all the folks who love tax cuts. Yes, it appears you are paying lower taxes because of decisions made, but are they really lower? You still pay taxes (and an increasing amount of fees for government services, which is also a form of taxation), and the declines in service do have an impact—in many cases, far greater than if the services would have been properly funded from the beginning. Whether that is addressing maintenance needs in a timely fashion or seeing that a vulnerable child is taken care of, not doing these things will ultimately cost much, much more.

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Reflecting on Governor Brownback's Six Plus Years

9/28/2017

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With the date set for Governor Brownback’s confirmation hearing (October 4th), we in Kansas have the opportunity to look back on his six plus years as Governor. Below are my reflections on the lasting impacts of his time in office and some thoughts on where we, as a state, go from here.

What we got from Governor Brownback was not quite what we expected. Much changed between the time he was Secretary of Agriculture and Governor. He went from being quite likable and non-controversial to being a very polarizing figure. His leadership approach was certainly not built on bringing people of different persuasions together. Not only did he change religions but, philosophically, he went from reasonably moderate to extreme right.

His policy mistakes were many but none more puzzling than his systematic destruction of the Kansas Bioscience Authority (KBA). What was at one time the darling of legislators across the board (created with bipartisan support in 2004) was now being trashed. Truth was not important and philosophical positions were often quite bizarre. None was more puzzling than his stance against picking winners and losers. He disliked that the KBA worked hard to make the wisest investments for the best interest of Kansas. He preferred that we invest the money without considering the likelihood of success. I think the Bible talks about putting the seeds where they can grow and not on the rocks.

His lack of support for all levels of public education is another example of his move to the far right, which favors private education. This dramatic change of position was totally new for Kansas. Proud of our public school system, most Kansans took for granted that the support from most public officials would be strong. With big money from private donors and other public school opponents, a push to support private education took place—more often and in new, different ways. This includes an assault on our judicial system to change the way we select judges in Kansas, in order to push the policies that these monied interest groups favored.

In his run for re-election, he loved to promise of his support for very much needed highway improvements. He was comfortable endorsing specific projects but never sharing on how they might be funded. Given he robbed extensively from the highway fund to avoid Kansas going broke, maybe that is understandable. Historically, highway maintenance and improvements had strong support from both sides of the isle, but not under this Governor.

As puzzling as anything was his adamant opposition to Medicaid expansion. Kansans were paying for it but not getting it. Despite many Republican Governors accepting the dollars and significant support from Kansas citizens, he stood his ground. The result was pain inflicted on large numbers of Kansans as well as the financial viability of many, particularly rural, community hospitals and nursing homes.

But maybe the most damaging mistake over time will be his lack of support for, and his meat ax approach to, the civil service system and public service in general. I say that because it may take a generation or more to restore the quality state workforce we once had. With the Governor's recommendation and the Legislature’s support, now when a civil service employee leaves the system the position automatically becomes political, bringing back in essence the spoils system that most of us thought was a thing of the past.

The story of the past six years will be about a Governor who sowed the seeds of political division in Kansas. From his all-out attacks on members of his own party, to his blatant disregard for opposing views of any kind, Governor Brownback leveraged a big money machine to turn our state into a petri dish for far-right policy and an extremist approach to governing. This is a far cry from the Kansas that many of us have known and loved.

What will happen to our state as a result of the Brownback years remains to be seen, and it will largely be up to us to decide. Kansans of all political stripes have certainly been activated. And, so far, there are signs that we may learn our lessons from these divisive and damaging years for our state and begin to put Kansas back on the right track by bringing people together around the solutions to our largely self-created challenges. The path forward will not be easy, and there is certainly a lot of work to do. But perhaps the next chapter can be the most exciting and impressive one yet: a state turning the page on division and building a model for how to come together, engage, and overcome the disastrous results left behind by these difficult years for Kansas.

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Taxes Likely to be the Big Issue in the 2018 Kansas Elections

7/6/2017

With Sine Die adjournment of the 2017 Kansas Legislative Session, it is only natural that many turn their interests to the 2018 election, particularly regarding legislators and how they voted on the tax override. Set aside for now the pending Supreme Court ruling that the existing funding for education is likely inadequate. My interest here is reminding voters of two things. One: past tax cuts, started before Governor Brownback but taken to off the chart levels under his leadership, have seriously eroded our capacity to fund key investments. Two: the objective should always be finding the right level of taxes and funding that make the best investment for the state and the taxpayers.

The Koch operation held their annual planning meeting a few weeks back in Colorado to brainstorm strategies for 2018, which is a clear sign that the politics of these decisions will soon be front and center in the discussion. And you can be assured they weren’t focusing on helping supporters of proper funding levels for education and wise investments in infrastructure and other state services. They are looking for ways to not just slow the erosion of far-right support but return it to the strength of earlier years, when these special interests had their way in Topeka and other state capitals across the country. Keep in mind they are big backers of the Kansas State Chamber of Commerce who, under current management, think much like the Koch’s think and are still bought in to the idea that somehow, despite all the evidence, trickle down economics works.

My advice to those who voted for the taxes, including the motion to override Governor Brownback's veto, is to embrace what you did and the action taken to return the state to a more solid financial footing. For some legislators who promised in their campaign that they would support more dollars for education and highways, remind voters that you delivered. Not bringing up the issue will just not work, and you end up losing from both sides. Key to your message is further educating voters on the wisdom of finding the right level of support for quality public education, plus the dollars needed for highway maintenance. The negative tax impacts will always be greater when investments do not meet the state’s needs.

Because the need to find a productive level of funding seems so natural, one wonders why so many very conservative legislators can not bring themselves to ever support a tax increase. They have to know, given their agriculture and business backgrounds, that cutting too far makes no sense and leads to poor outcomes. One explanation that may answer some of this puzzle on the issue of education is that many conservative legislators are strong supporters of private education and homeschooling and would support public tax dollars going to these sources. Not properly funding public education leads to declining quality, which can encourage families to consider private education options. Maybe those ulterior motives explain their lack of support for public education. However, that approach to public budgeting only devalues the investments that the state has already made in its public school system, infrastructure, and many other areas.

And to those who very much wanted the results we got from the Legislature, now is not the time to assume the issues we’ve experienced are resolved. We need to make it clear that we very much support the courageous legislators who voted to override the veto and that we will be there with resources and help to support their reelection. It would be a huge setback for Kansas to have made this giant step forward and have it reversed as a result of the 2018 election. That could happen if common sense, moderate legislators are not successful, which will allow very narrow, backward special interests to prevail at the expense of Kansans.

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A Great Night for the Future of Kansas

6/7/2017

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Last night, the Kansas Legislature overrode the Governor’s veto of Senate Bill 30 on taxes and, in so doing, restored credibility to the funding of state government. This tax bill will have a huge positive impact on the future of the state. The flawed Brownback experiment is over. It is very hard to overstate this fact. This bill includes a significant step in funding public education (more on this later). It should eliminate any need to continue to rob from the Department of Transportation, which will help restore funding of maintenance for our highway system. It will restore credibility to our state finances and should help the state’s credit rating. It will put a stop to the steady decline of support for funding state government and, to the credit of the Democrats who held out for a tax credit for Child Care, many young families will be helped.

At long last, the road to recovery begins, but it’s important to remember that this didn’t just happen by chance. It was possible because in 2016 the citizens of Kansas elected a much better legislature, and then they stayed engaged throughout a long and challenging session. It also happened because key leaders in both parties listened to their constituents, stepped up, and made the future of Kansas a top priority. That is why the votes were there to override the Governor’s veto. Raising revenue is never easy, and for some Republicans, going against their own Speaker and their own Governor was difficult. However, for the benefit of the entire country, the case of the failed Kansas fiscal experiment has proven (once again) that trickle-down economics does not work, and when voters are aware of the facts and realities, common sense and reason can prevail over rigid ideology and political entrenchment. In other words, facts matter. And, in the future, Kansas can continue to be a model for how to engage and overcome regressive policies and the “alternative facts” used to sell them.

The key leaders in the Senate were Senator Jeff Longbine, the elected Vice President of the Senate, and Minority Leader Senator Anthony Hensley. Very early in the process, they set aside partisan differences and openly worked together getting the necessary support in the Senate. In the House, I start with calling attention to the leadership of the tax committee, where much of the specifics were worked. Chair Steven Johnson and Ranking Minority member Tom Sawyer respected each other and closely worked together from the start, not always agreeing but always committed to a good final result. I also salute Majority Leader Don Hineman and Minority Leader Jim Ward. Don had the challenge of leading the Republicans with the Speaker who, except for the final vote, was against him. For Jim, keeping (for the most part) the 40 Democrats together (they all voted to override) was a challenge but key in getting 63 votes initially and 84 in the end. And the final critical component was the bipartisan Women's Caucus, who came together to work on a compromise that significantly influenced the bill that is now law. All Kansans can be grateful for and proud of their leadership.

I share this knowing many important decisions remain. But last night has made it possible for those decisions to be good for Kansas. I will close with this point. As I have shared many times, elections do have consequences. This great achievement would not have happened without the voters electing who they did in 2016. Keep that in mind as we move forward with the elections coming up in 2018 for both Governor and the House of Representatives.

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Solving the Kansas Budget Crisis

5/9/2017

Well the Legislature is back in Topeka, and surprise, surprise there is much talk about taxes and the budget and how to resolve these two key issues that will impact the state going forward. I made it clear in a previous blog, which assessed this Legislative Session up to the first adjournment, that it was not surprising that the major issues would still be around for the month of May. And here we are now, and the pressure is on.

Yesterday, a message went out from four former Kansas Governors. The message sums up very well the challenge and importance of getting the tax and budget resolutions done in a way that best addresses the real problems we face. As stated, ”half measures and quick fixes won’t get the job done.” There will always be political hurdles to raising taxes, even when done part-way. So why not have something very positive to show for the effort and the risk taken? Not going far enough will, for example, lead to continued robbing of the highway fund to get by and will guarantee even more negative results for the state. Truly solving the budget crisis will require bipartisan cooperation and courage to do what is in the best long-term interest of the state, and I hope that this experienced perspective from our former Governors of both parties can help encourage legislators to govern the state not just for the next election but for the future of all Kansans.

What I want to add is this: A big problem in underfunding key services is that the taxpayer in many ways will, over time, find themselves in an even worse financial situation. You can read more about this in my blog post, “Lower Taxes Aren’t Always Lower.” But the bottom line point is that properly funding schools and taking care of our infrastructure are wise investments for communities and the State of Kansas. When not adequately done, the quality of public school declines and highway maintenance gets far behind—which only leads to even higher costs to repair and replace that neglected infrastructure down the road. All the while, the tax burden remains (or even increases) while communities and the state decline. You find businesses not wanting to stay or expand in Kansas, and your best talent looks elsewhere to raise a family and serve their economic needs.

What surprises me most is who some of the opponents of properly funding education and infrastructure are. They present themselves as sound conservatives who look at these issues through a business investment perspective. But, for some reason, they don’t make the transfer of sound investment in business to funding our infrastructure and public education. Until recently, the modern state has always played a very important role in funding these two key needs. To fail now will severely harm our future, and the negative impacts will only multiply over time.

Please join us former Governors and many other responsible leaders in both political parties in expressing support for both the repeal of the LLC exemption and amending the tax structure to raise the money that will fund the budget deficit. Write, call, email, visit, post, whatever you can do to engage legislators who may be on the fence and thank those who are working cooperatively and courageously to solve problems in the best long-term interest of the state. Let the legislators know there is strong support for wisely investing in education and infrastructure; your persistence could make the difference.

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The Last of Laffer: Learning From the Failed Kansas Experiment

4/26/2017

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According to a story today in the New York Times, the President’s tax proposal being informally presented today brings back the Laffer Curve—first shared by Arthur Laffer to key Republicans in 1974, including Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld. But most important to Kansans is the Laffer-Brownback partnership on tax reform that has brought us the financial disaster of the last five years.

That brilliant move has wrecked school finance funding, cut highway maintenance to a bare minimum, and in general put many very needed state programs in financial stress. As William Allen White once said: “When anything is going to happen in this country, it happens first in Kansas.” In this case, it is the blowback from our trickle down experiment that ought to send a message to Washington policymakers that this dog just won’t hunt. For more on this idea, you can read my blog post about the next story to “happen first in Kansas.”

It will be interesting how the Kansas Congressional delegation reacts. They not only have the benefit of knowing how the curve didn’t work in Kansas but also the election results of 2016, which made it clear that voters are also aware of its failures, and they acted accordingly. Tax reform should be on the Washington agenda. What we need is the President bringing together key members of Congress of both parties with different approaches and challenging them to work for real and sane reform. I know how unrealistic that might be, but we as citizens need to be pleading for that direction.

In the coming years, I believe the Kansas Legislature—and our state in general—could become a model for needed change in this country, by showing how to engage and overcome these failed policy ideas and deal with their disastrous results. And so, with a little encouragement from the people of Kansas, we have the opportunity to make William Allen White right again.

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State of the State: Didn't Someone Tell the Governor?

1/12/2017

Hasn't someone shared the real "state of the state" with the Governor or told him that the 2016 Kansas election results were about change?

As I learn about the release of the Governor’s budget on Wednesday and reflect back to what he said in the State of the State on Tuesday evening, I can’t help but think he must have been out of the state during the 2016 elections. Everyone who knows the true state of our state, or followed the happenings of the campaign, knows it was a change election. People want fiscal and other key issues addressed, and they elected a large number of new legislators for that reason.

So what do we hear from the Governor? Well, first of all, he says the entire world envies Kansas, using our sunrises and sunsets as his lead example. I must agree, they are one of our real attractions. But they don’t take care of the roads, make sure our public education system is best serving the needs of our younger generation, nor do they help balance the state budget.

As I watched his presentation, I got the feeling that Republicans in the legislature want more from him—as in, true leadership on the budget. There were key sections of his speech that got no applause, even from Republicans. Moderate Republican legislators certainly know the concerns of the public, because they heard them from their constituents throughout the election, and I think they are ready to help chart a new, more responsible course.

Even on some of his more substantive comments, there were real problems. Tuesday night he tried to convince us his 2017 and 2018 budgets were structurally balanced, meaning that not only was everything paid for but was on a solid path going forward. When the budget was released Wednesday, the truth is basically the administration hopes that by 2019 this statement will be accurate. It is no wonder why many Republicans are very concerned about the mess he and his very conservative legislative friends have made. Unfortunately, with his staying the course and the Senate unlikely to override vetoes, immediate corrections are not likely.

What this reinforces is the likelihood that really addressing the challenges we face may have to wait until after the 2018 election. Hopefully then a new Governor will be ready to provide real leadership, and we will have an even stronger House to achieve needed changes. For us now, the focus should be on re-electing successful 2016 candidates, supporting additional new candidates for the House (the Senators are not up for reelection in 2018), and having Gubernatorial candidates who are willing to make it clear that they support a moderate direction that wisely invests in our future.

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The "Home Stretch" Before November 8th

10/3/2016

In the coming days, our efforts or lack thereof will determine the future of Kansas for decades to come. After years of frustrating, unfair, and short-sighted policies from Topeka, the people of Kansas have only a few days left to make their point and have their voices heard on the direction of the state. There are key decisions to be made in both the legislative and judicial branches of government on this year’s ballot, and voters statewide will need to know their alternatives and realize just what’s at stake in each race. In many cases, it comes down to voters deciding whether to approve or reject the current actions and direction of each branch. With the help of the executive branch—the administration of Governor Brownback—the Kansas Legislature has been the source of extreme and experimental policies that puzzle the common sense voter, defy our long history of balanced policy and consensus-building leadership, and make a laughing stock out of the state that many of us know and love. Meanwhile, the Kansas Judicial Branch has been working to uphold the Kansas Constitution and, despite the best efforts of the other two branches, maintain their standing as an independent third branch of government, separate from partisan politics. From looking at the direction of each, I believe it’s easy to see why we need to bring change to the legislative branch and keep the judicial branch exactly the way it is.

Here is where you come into play. It starts with sorting out the good from the bad and deciding who to support. There are many ways to make your choice, but first do your own investigation. You can look into the candidates through local news media or events in your area where you can hear from the candidates directly. You can also check out a number of organizations partnering with the Save Kansas Coalition who have published questionnaires or made endorsements (such as Game on For Kansas Schools and Women For Kansas), and you will likely find them agreeing on which candidates would work towards solving problems in a cooperative, bipartisan way. Or you could look for the candidate who favors the status quo and the current direction, by investigating who the State Chamber endorses, and then I’d advise you to give strong consideration to their opponent. This special interest group backed all the legislators who partnered with the Governor to damage our schools, our infrastructure, our rural hospitals, our judicial system, and unfortunately, the list could go on. Now they're working to lead a barrage of false and misleading attacks on quality candidates and the qualified Judges and Justices of the Kansas Judicial Branch.

After determining who to support, what can each and every one of us do to help quality candidates win on November 8th? Whether through valuable volunteer hours, financial support, or other voter outreach and education, there are a number of ways to get involved, and there is a role for everyone in this process. First, candidates always need good volunteers in order to have an army of support in the closing weeks that will help offset the overwhelming money advantage the opposition has. Just a few hours spent contacting voters, knocking on doors, or attending events can help reach people and get everyone out to vote. Go out and enjoy the camaraderie of being with others and supporting a cause you care about; it’s a great example of civic engagement wherein each and every citizen can make a real difference. If you’re able to provide it, monetary support is also something that candidates will need to help offset the millions coming from special interests, much of it from out of state. In this internet age, it is easy to find where to donate online, send a check, or attend an upcoming fundraiser. And, as proven recently by the Bernie Sanders campaign, even small contributions can make a big impact. Finally, as you make your decision on who to support, it is important to help others along in this process. For those who have followed the recent events at the statehouse, the decisions are often very clear, but people are busy and there are many eligible voters out there who may be looking into these issues for the first time. This makes any efforts to reach family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors with information on these important decisions absolutely critical. Remember: many of these races will come down to each and every vote.

Important Dates to Know:
October 18th - The final day to register to Vote in Kansas. Check your registration status here, and make sure everyone you know is registered by this day!
October 19th - Most Advanced Ballots are mailed if you've already submitted an application to your County Clerk. Early voting in-person will also begin in many Kansas counties, check with your local County Clerk for details about early voting in your county!
November 4th - The final day to register for an Advanced Ballot by Mail. The application form is due to the County Clerk in the county you'll be voting in (see the second page of the form for their contact information).
November 7th - Advanced voting in-person ends on this day. Check with your County Clerk to find information about in-person opportunities to vote early before this day!
November 8th - Election Day! Most polls are open from 7am to 7pm at your local precinct location, find your polling place here. All Advanced Ballots by Mail are also due by the close of polls on Election Day.

We have reached the “home stretch” of this election year, and your engagement can make all the difference. The future of Kansas depends on it.

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"Lower Taxes" Aren't Always Lower

8/9/2016