Category: LGBTQ Rights

Will Republicans Ever Stand Up to Trump?

6/28/2020

I’ve had this thought for some time after earlier screw-ups, wondering how, not just our own Kansas Republicans, but almost all elected Republicans stick with the President regardless how obvious the mistakes. What purpose does that serve? I suppose the answer is an easier re-election. But, given all the problems we have (including the unfolding story about Russian bounties for killing for U.S. troops), wouldn’t it be a good time to speak up respectfully?

IF THE NFL AND NASCAR CAN STAND UP TO PRESIDENT TRUMP WITH BILLIONS AT STAKE, WHY CAN’T YOU?

Over the past several weeks, we have seen people of all colors and backgrounds take to the streets, not just in this nation but around the world, demanding action to solve the obvious racial issues we have. Police departments all across the nation are under (and rightfully so) close inspection for major long overdue changes. Social justice for now is at the top of most political agendas. But where are the Republicans who are actually standing up to the President? This is a time for Republicans to join Democrats to pass real sensible legislation that has large public support and will signal just maybe we are on the road to recovery and sanity and, if necessary, over the President’s veto.

Consider also COVID-19 in the early stages, when lessons from other countries should have been learned and turned into mitigation strategies for the United States. Why were the Republicans silent when it became clear that cutting the CDC budget was a huge mistake? Where were they when the cross-agency federal task force set up by President Obama to deal with such problems was abandoned? Democrats spoke up, but I’m sure the general public saw that as only politics. We needed Republicans to speak the truth, speak the truth to power, but they did not and here we are.

I think back to the Republicans who previously represented Kansas that I have known and in some cases worked with for the common good. This includes Senator Frank Carlson, Senator Nancy Kassebaum, Senator Jim Pearson, Senator Bob Dole, and Congresswoman Jan Myers. I can't imagine any of these Kansans not standing up to President Trump for the best interest of the country and even the future of the Republican Party.

It is not just our Kansas delegation but the Republican Party in general. We need a return to the days when we had two strong, competent political parties representing in general two different philosophies. Leaders from both parties were committed to work together in the end to get done what needed to be done for the best interests of the state and country. With the Republican Party now being so very far right and in so many ways anti-government, compromises are hard if not impossible to come by, and the result is needed action doesn’t take place.

This stalemate explains why issues like social justice, climate change and infrastructure needs have never been dealt with and very likely will not be addressed unless major changes take place in how our political system works. That will only happen, it seems, when the people rise up and demand change, demand respect for the rule of law, and a return to the democracy our founders created for us. This positive change starts at the ballot box.

Register and vote like our future depends on it, because it most certainly does.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell maintains a Republican shield, protecting the President's lawlessness and preventing needed legislative progress.

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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 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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Governor Colyer and the 2018 Election Year

5/8/2018

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On the surface, Governor Colyer is doing everything that is politically sound to distance himself from Governor Brownback. But he has to do it in such a way that he doesn’t upset the far, far right who will probably determine the Republican primary outcome one way or another. He will also focus on Kansas issues and try come across as reasonable and calming in contrast with Secretary of State Kobach. For example, he recently had a signing ceremony for an executive order that would allow recently released lawbreakers to apply for state jobs. Good move, if it does not upset the far right. On the other hand, moves like his intent to sign the controversial adoption bill—which allows organizations to refuse adoption placements to LGBT couples—make it very clear that his new-found “political courage” will only extend so far.

In other words, he will work hard to communicate he is not Brownback 2.0 but without making changes on major policy issues. He will stick with the Brownback tax cut direction but smooth over a few things to hopefully make voters see him as different. He is showing signs of wanting to reach across the aisle, meeting with a mix of legislators, including Democrats. But it seems like only the tone has changed, the photo ops being more friendly, but the positions do not waver. This makes me believe, if elected, he would still be ready with the veto pen to stop many of the changes we desperately need to put this state back on the right track.

One issue he can’t run away from is his leadership to establish KanCare. Governor Brownback gave then Lt. Governor Colyer the leadership responsibility to develop the KanCare program and put it into operation. Even some Republicans join Democrats in blasting this program and with good reason. It just hasn’t worked. But we shouldn’t be too surprised. The level of passion for helping folks in need does make a difference in the effort to have positive outcomes.

He continues to oppose Medicaid expansion, a program that generates much support across the state. This is particularly true in more rural areas where their hospitals are struggling to stay open. He will also need to learn about the costly side effects of neglecting health care for thousands of Kansans. Forcing folks in need to go to the Emergency Room is a far more costly choice.

So, from a political point of view, where is our Governor as it relates to this election year? In selecting Tracy Mann to be his Lt. Governor running mate, given his limited record, Mann can help lean whatever way seems to help the most. Kobach is not going to change. He now has a bank as a running mate (Wink Hartman) and will work to hold the hard core Trump voters. Jim Barnett is a fine man but too sane to get broad support in the primary, although he will draw from some of the reasonable voters who the Governor needs to win the nomination. I don’t know where the Insurance Commissioner fits but we do know every vote he does get could have gone to someone else.

The Democrats in general can not let Colyer and Company get away with his effort to be new and reasonable. He may have changed wardrobes, but underneath, it is the same old backward movement that has Kansas looking up at almost all states on key rankings that impact the future.

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The True Cost of Neglecting our Civil Service System

10/11/2017

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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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Not The Kansas I Came Home To

2/14/2015

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I was born, educated, and have spent my entire adult life (with one ten year exception in Washington D.C.) either in the private or public sector, working in, enjoying, and being proud of the state of Kansas. That was easy. That is, until the last few years--an aberration as far as I’m concerned--when the sun went under a cloud and we became fodder for late night comedians.

This reached a pinnacle this last week with the removal of a previous state executive order (signed by Governor Kathleen Sebelius in 2007) that gave legal protection from discrimination to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender state employees. In the last eight years, nationally, we have made huge progress on reducing discrimination, as witnessed by the growing acceptance and legalization of same sex marriages. It is no wonder that the rescinding of the ‘07 order got so much negative attention.

What makes this all the more hard to accept is when you put it into a historical context. We came into statehood bloodied up but a free state, and as you go down through our history, that progressive, sane conservative perspective continued. For example, Republican Governor Alf Landon supporting a Progressive Income Tax in the early 1930’s, Republican Governor Frank Carlson advancing Mental Health Programs in the late 40’s, Republican Governor Ed Arn, in retirement, leading the study that led to our Unified Court System in the 70’s, are but three examples of a history of leadership and progress which includes Democratic Governor Sebelius and others as well.

This will pass. We will return to sanity. There are too many good, solid, committed Kansans of all stripes that are going to turn this around. Let this be the call to action that helps make that happen. To those who are in despair, don’t be too quick to leave, and to those who might be looking to come, the sun will return and the state will shine once again. You just wait and see.

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Will Republicans Ever Stand Up to Trump?

Women Running for Office Will Save Our Country

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

Governor Colyer and the 2018 Election Year

The True Cost of Neglecting our Civil Service System

Not The Kansas I Came Home To

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