John W. Carlin Blog - John W. Carlin and Civic Leadership

An Unwelcome Twist on the 4th of July

7/3/2019

Happy 4th of July to all of you. Our Independence Day is the holiday we have traditionally celebrated, along with fireworks and food, the work of the Founding Fathers in declaring our independence from Great Britain. Combined with our Constitution and the Bill of Rights, we have our three Charters of Freedom that underpin our Democracy and have been a successful model that many countries across the world have followed. The celebration itself has always been about “We the People.”

This fundamental concept is truly being tested today with the current administration and their daily actions. For example, this year President Trump is turning the entire celebration on the National Mall into a partisan event with a political campaign speech at the Lincoln Memorial. When we lived in D.C., we attended and or always watched on TV as we do now, the special 4th of July patriotic non-political entertainment and messages.

Although the President has for sometime wanted a big military parade down Pennsylvania Ave to display military might, he plans to use this moment to take a step in his direction by including fancy flyovers and tanks to accompany his political speech. Just for some context, here is what former President Eisenhower had to say about such activity: “Absolutely not. We, the United States, are seeking peace, we are the preeminent power on earth. For us to try to imitate what the Soviets are doing in Red Square would make us look weak.”

The politicizing of our 4th of July should be a reminder of just how important the next year’s election is for our form of government. Out of respect to all those Americans who have served in the military or public service to protect and implement the fundamentals of our democracy, politics should not be any focus of this national holiday. Four more years of the current administration we have now could put our values in jeopardy.

Be safe. Enjoy. Have hope.

Service members preparing for the 4th of July celebration

Reaction to the First Democratic Presidential Debates

6/30/2019

Knowing the importance of polling to communicate how candidates are doing, and obviously not having the resources to poll nationally, I narrowed my polling pool to members of my immediate family. There is no consensus, but they clearly point to candidates that should definitely stay in the race and could win. They also gave a long list of the candidates they feel will likely not be around after the end of July debates.

My 15-year old granddaughter Nikki likes Mayor Pete because “of his unique and logical platform." She mentioned his plan on college affordability and his caution toward the idea of free tuition for everyone as an example of well thought-out policy. My grandsons, Jack and Joe, are 13 and like only the candidates who will make dealing with climate change a top priority. The adults, my wife, mother-in-law, daughter, son, and two sons-in-law, support ranges from Kamala Harris to Mayor Pete to Michael Bennet to whoever, in their opinion, can beat Trump. At least for now, that list did not include Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, or Elizabeth Warren. However, I know other polls would have those three showing pretty prominently. So, as the field begins to narrow, I plan to add an informal poll or two to my future blog posts about the presidential race. It will be good to hear and share more of your perspectives on this important election.

In general, I was very pleased. Although none of the questions I thought should be asked were asked, one thing for sure is that Democrats have a right to be proud of the quality of the entire field. They are not all ready for prime-time and many have little realistic chance of success. However, this field of candidates are all intelligent, motivated, and have a desire to help lead our country forward. Every single one of them could be a help to any Democrat who wins the Presidency, something that any objective person could not have said about Republicans in 2016.

Here is where we are now after two nights of debate. First, the debates start to sort out those who have a path to the nomination from those who do not. Second, the three front runners in the polls before the debate, Biden, Warren, and Sanders, are likely going to see their poll numbers drop. I suspect the fundraising numbers that will come out soon will give further evidence, particularly about who can really afford to stay in the race. After the July 30 and 31 debates, it will become clearer who are the candidates with realistic hopes to win.

Biden was the big disappointment. It is too early to set him aside, but he is clearly going to take a lot more hits between now and the next debate. Concerns about Biden include age, too much leaning on the past, and a debate performance that will cause a lot of Democrats to worry about his ability to debate one-on-one with President Trump. The likely silver bullet that the opposition now has against Warren and Sanders was their strong defense of eliminating private health insurance in their Medicare-for-all plans. Polls show that many supporters of Medicare-for-all assume they will have the option of keeping the private insurance they currently have. So this should be something to keep an eye on as the debates go on.

Candidates who I think helped themselves were: Kamala Harris with her debate style; Julian Castro successfully taking on of Beto O’Rourke; Amy Klobucher sharing why she can do well in the rust belt states; Pete Buttigieg for his candor on dealing with the police tragedy in South Bend, IN; and John Hickenlooper sharing his leadership success as Governor.

To say the least it will be an interesting five weeks until Detroit and the next debate.

Questions that Presidential Candidates Seldom Get Asked

6/23/2019

Debates for Democratic presidential candidates start this week, on June 26th and 27th. There will be major press coverage and follow-up interviews with many opportunities to ask key questions. What would really be helpful are some practical questions asked on just how each of these candidates intend to do the job of being President.

Today, all too often the questions asked are designed to create differences amongst the candidates on issues, and to stir the pot as best the moderators can. I would have less a problem with that if the pot was also being stirred with some questions that directly share how each candidate would accomplish their agenda. In many cases, candidate’s answers to policy positions are guided by very comprehensive polling.

The questions I have listed next are a sample of topics that get at the information we really need to make the best decision about whom to give our vote. Here is where the candidate’s candor and real experiences could genuinely inform voters on who might be best to get the job done.

What is the most significant crisis you’ve dealt with? What role did you play? What was a key lesson you learned?
In your executive experience, what one mistake have you made that has been most beneficial as a learning lesson?
What is your approach to putting a team together? Beyond talent, what are you most looking for as you assemble that team?
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make? What helped you most in making that decision? What did you learn?
What leadership experience are you most proud of and why, particularly as it might relate to the challenges ahead for our next President?

Perhaps more than ever, we are seeing the impact of poor leadership and management at the federal level in the current administration. In many ways, it has become a case study for how not to build and conduct a large organization or administration. From ethics concerns to mistrust and tense relationships with career civil servants, the next President will have their work cut out for them in terms of cleaning up, restoring trust, and truly “draining the swamp” in Washington, D.C. And I believe the gravity of that task should factor into how we evaluate and weigh the candidates for our country’s highest office.

I share with you the following article from my good friend Dan Glickman to further enforce these points. “Ideas are great,” he writes, “but...nothing can be accomplished without management expertise, knowledge of how the different federal government branches interact, and the ability to put together a high performance team of professionals that can actually get things done.”

Debate Podiums

Is Our News Coverage Helping or Hurting Democracy?

6/16/2019

There is no question that the role of the press is critical for our system of government to operate in the public interest. Our Founding Fathers made this very clear. A free press is a basic strength of our Constitutional Democracy. Exposing Watergate, for example, was driven by hard working reporters committed to getting the facts to the public and Congress. But things have changed not just nationally but particularly at the local level.

The job of the press in Kansas has become more and more challenging. Many of our newspapers here in Kansas have been bought up by wealthy and often right wing thinkers, with little or no interest in informing the public, and there is now less communication with citizens. These newspapers have smaller budgets and there are fewer and fewer quality investigative reporters doing research and writing on topics the public needs to know about. We’ve gone from a time when individual editors of Kansas newspapers were prominent, influential, and played a significant role in politics and civic life, to a time now where few, if any, have that kind of involvement at all.

I find it concerning how frequently one story totally dominates the national television news. This singular focus is understandable when an event like 9-11 occurs. But when a hurricane takes total—and I mean total—control of the daily television news, what all are we missing that could have made a difference? An informed electorate is basic to the workings of democracy. I know and understand that there will always be a lead story that does call for significant coverage, but we live in a very dangerous world with many major issues that should not be ignored.

The current effort to investigate our President should make the news and significant time should be spent on this, but not totally at the expense of coverage of other key issues. As an example of one concern that gets little or no coverage, I would suggest to increase reporting of our growing national debt, about why it has and continues to grow, as well as how close we are to a real catastrophe. Climate change is another. On those issues, the lack of coverage allows almost all of our elected officials to hide behind the American people’s unawareness that a crisis is looming. Coverage of such issues just might make a difference if the public was educated and then had the opportunity to press our elected officials for responsible action.

Only PBS and NPR cover a broad swath of the news as well as from an educational point of view. It is standard on each of these newscasts that several key issues of the day are brought to the American people in a balanced and very educational format. Naturally, this is the program that right wing Republicans want to try cripple by taking away all federal funding, which will make it more difficult for the public to be truly informed.

In fairness to the press, it is probably as much our responsibility as it is theirs. We, as responsible citizens, need to possess critical thinking, look for and be supportive of the variety of news sources available, and follow a mix that provides us with different points of view. No one media source has all the correct information, and seeing and hearing different perspectives only puts us in a much more informed position to truly be engaged, informed, and voting citizens of this great country.

4th Estate Cartoon

A popular political cartoon representing "The 4th Estate"

June is National Dairy Month

6/9/2019

For as long as I can remember, June has been Dairy Month all across the country. Growing up we were not just milking cows, but my Dad was for several years President of the Kansas Dairy Association. He took his role very seriously, best exemplified by his almost religious belief that one did not have to use the butter paddy on the dinner table, but you had to, "at least mess it up." Later, as Governor for eight years, I had the enjoyable experience of signing the Proclamation declaring June as Dairy Month in Kansas. I then got to enjoy the ice cream brought to my office by the dairy leaders of the state.

A lot has changed in the dairy industry in Kansas since those early days. When I still had the cows, our herd was one of over 30 herds in Saline County alone participating in official testing for milk production of each individual cow. Today, in most counties, I don’t believe any milking herds remain. Yet somehow Kansas is the 5th largest dairy state in the country. Obviously, the huge dairies in western Kansas make that possible. Which is why Trump’s tariff policies have been so damaging to not just those dairies but to the overall economy of Kansas. Mexico and China have been major purchasers of milk products from us, and their shift to other dairy sources may not just be temporary.

For this June to be really special, we need two things to change. First, our country’s trade policies need to more positively represent the interests of all who market internationally, and not just in the dairy industry. Second, development of a sensible immigration policy would really help. Why do I say that? Very simple: If you were milking 10,000 to 25,000 cows probably three times a day and depended on immigrants to do that work, you would see immigration policy in a totally different light. The tariffs and the need for immigrant workers make milking cows in Kansas a real challenge. And the Trump Administration is making it even harder on both fronts.

Obviously, I haven't milked a cow for a very long time. But I still have fond respect for those who do and wish them the very best for not only June but for the future. Just to stay in touch, I do still take the Hoard’s Dairyman- a magazine out of Wisconsin where one of my 4-H kids from the Smolan community, Steve Larson, served as chief executive for many years. I will toast the dairy industry this year by stopping at the nearest Dairy Queen on my way home for a Chocolate Cookie Dough Blizzard.

John Carlin and Dairy Cows in Smolan

Women Running for Office Will Save Our Country

6/2/2019

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

Memorial Day Weekend Always Special

5/25/2019

The long three-day weekend we commemorate Memorial day, initially set aside to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country, is much much more than a longer break from one work week to the next. Our military service men and women and their families, who sacrifice in many ways, should be remembered and appreciated for all they are and all they have done to serve and protect the United States of America. We should think about how important they were and still are to protecting this country and its founding ideals.

We all have family and friends buried in cemeteries that we try to visit, bring flowers, and at least for a moment, reflect on the past. Memorial Day is an opportunity to remember those who have passed on who made a real difference in our lives. We all have folks who provided us help and guidance, whether they were parents, siblings, teachers, or just good friends. We didn’t get to where we are by ourselves.

I want to recognize one community, which I know very well, that will have an additional celebration over the weekend. The Salemsborg Lutheran Church, located between Smolan and Lindsborg, will celebrate 150 years of continuous service to the community. With over 500 members, this weekend is not just a celebration of the past but an example of a rural church that today still has much to offer. Founded by Swedish families who came to the Smoky Valley (south of Salina to just beyond Lindsborg) in 1869, these immigrants and pioneers built churches in every small community. In addition they founded Lindsborg, Bethany College, and the famous Handel’s Messiah Festival, all in 1869.

I wish you a safe, enjoyable Memorial Day Weekend and encourage you to find a time to pause to reflect.

Salemsborg Lutheran Church on Memorial Day

A view of Salemsborg Lutheran Church, decorated for the annual Memorial Day recognition.

Glimmers of Hope in Unexpected Places

5/19/2019

Just when you’re about to throw in the towel, a glimmer of hope shines through. Here are a couple—one local and one national—that helped remind me that progress is possible.

I have known Art Loub from Manhattan for many years. Those of you who have ties to Kansas State University should remember Art as heading the KSU Foundation for many years, now retired from that position for over fifteen years I believe. We have been friends, not close for sure, but we certainly speak to each other as we frequently cross paths. Many people in this community know a couple things for sure about Art Loub: He loves to express his feelings with letters to the Manhattan Mercury and his political philosophy clearly is far right, particularly on any budget or tax issue or anything that looks Democratic.

Recently, on the editorial page of the Manhattan Mercury, this headline caught my attention: "Local Lawmakers Derelict as National Debt Skyrockets Out of Control." Immediately I assumed that my friend would be pushing for lawmakers to slash the federal budget, cutting back on everything but the defense budget. But that was not the case. Instead, what he was pushing for was to raise taxes on the very rich and big corporations that are making millions and paying little or no taxes. I don’t expect Art to change political parties, but a lot of Democrats would be very comfortable with that direction.

Maybe even more shocking to me were his ideas about Social Security. I assumed his policy direction would be cutting the program so it would stop contributing to the deficit. Again, I was wrong. My now closer friend suggested that the ceiling limit on being taxed for Social Security should be raised to a million dollars. I agree, but in this case I think both political parties in Washington need to hear this message.

Then, an even a bigger shock for me happened in less than 24 hours when the Chief Executive of the National Chamber of Commerce announced a major political shift to move their policy more toward the middle and develop a role larger than working solely with the very wealthy and huge corporations. He even talked about accepting the fact that there are Democrats they could work with to find common ground. “Now,” as another of my friends says, “if we could just get the State Chamber of Commerce off the far, far right way of thinking, we would be on our way to a better future.”

Maybe there is more hope than I often think. I’ve said to many folks recently that I worry about my grandchildren and their future. I’m still worried, but now I have a little more hope.

US Chamber of Commerce Building

Outside the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C.

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.

KS House Chamber

2019 Kansas Local Elections: Filing Deadline (June 3rd)

4/22/2019

As most of you know, I’ve been around for a while. I’ve had a chance to not just observe but occasionally have played a role in helping communities. From that experience, I can assure you there is a direct relationship between who is elected locally and where that community is headed. Lynn and I have lived in Manhattan now for 14 years, and there is no question that the quality of life and the high standards of public services, including schools, started with quality locally elected officials.

Counties all across Kansas will hold elections for local offices on November 5th, 2019. The filing deadline to be on the ballot in this November's election for local school board and city commission seats is June 3rd (at noon). By that date, potential candidates will have had to make a decision. And, because this will be only the second time we have voted for local elections in the fall of odd-numbered years, I suspect that deadline approaching in six weeks is not getting the attention it deserves.

Who local communities elect makes a huge difference for their future. Because of this importance, I urge civic-minded citizens to be looking for, encouraging, and ultimately finding quality candidates to run. This includes considering running for office themselves. In many ways, the future all starts locally and is dependent on quality candidates who are creative, can make good decisions, and have the skills to manage resources efficiently and serve not just the short-run but the future as well.

Why, more specifically, does who we elect locally mean so much? One important example would be the dollars from the state and federal government that flow to local communities, which are implemented at the local level and certainly impacted by locally elected officials. For instance, state school financial support is invested locally, but turning that investment into positive results is almost exclusively tied to local leadership. That leadership starts with the publicly-elected school board.

The future of Kansas will depend heavily on what we do to grow our population, build our businesses, and attract folks to work and invest here, raise a family, and be a part of a growing prospering state. For that to happen, we need to elect city commissioners and school board members that understand the importance of their role. I know the state will be doing their part to help grow, but they are going to need communities that have their act together and leaders who can carry that vision forward. And do not forget, quality schools are a huge factor in keeping what you have and growing and prospering.

That is why I am calling on those of you who read this blog to do your part in recruiting candidates and raising awareness for the fall local elections. And a great way to help a potential candidate who may be “on the fence” about running would be to offer them your help and support right out of the gate. Each candidate will need a team of committed folks doing what they can to help get their name and message out around the community. The larger the network around the candidate, the wider the reach, and the higher the chances of success in November.

But, obviously, success starts with quality candidates having filed. It is certainly in your selfish as well as community interests to make sure this happens, and you only have six weeks to work.

Riley County Courthouse

A view of the County Courthouse in Riley County, Kansas.

Engaging with Kansas Legislators on their Break

4/10/2019

Kansas legislators are now home and will be for the next three weeks, coming back to the Capitol on Wednesday, May 1st to wrap up the 2019 regular legislative session. This annual legislative break is a good time to communicate your frustrations, appreciation, interests, concerns, and whatever else is on your mind as the session draws to a close. Communicating well, particularly when you are not alone and have others with you in support, can have an impact. There is too much at stake on issues like Medicaid, to sit ideally by and hope that things turn out well for the state and our future.

One thing you need to remember is that most elected officials want to be re-elected. When they do not hear concerns from constituents, they understandably assume they are on the right track to re-election. But when you communicate another picture, it is possible that your influence can produce a different result, one you believe in and one that would help Kansas.

Here are some basics that, if followed, can also increase your chances for success. As important as anything is having your research done and making sure that you understand what it is you want to see happen and know the context of where the issue is at this point of the session. Medicaid expansion is an excellent example. It will take more than 21 votes in the Senate to get it out of committee and have it brought up on the floor. Do you know where your Senator stands on this issue?

One resource I would point to for learning more about the "nuts and bolts" of specific legislation in Kansas would be the State Library. They can be contacted by phone (through their toll-free legislative hot line, 1-800-432-3924, or via text message at 785-256-0733), email, or even a live chat with a librarian through their website. Reference and research librarians are available to answer questions on legislation, legislative procedure, state government, or policy issues, and your calls are confidential. It's a great way to learn more about the state of the issues that matter most to you.

Just as important as research is showing the elected official respect, even when you have very strong differences. After all, they were elected by your fellow citizens and are much more likely to listen if you respect them for performing public service. That doesn’t mean you share compliments that you really don’t believe. Almost all elected officials understand that many of their constituents differ with them and often strongly. But giving them their due, just might make a difference.

How you carry out this task can be done in a variety of ways. Direct conversation, scheduled or at a public meeting, is probably most effective. You know then that at least your message was heard. Most legislators have opportunities coming up, it will likely take a bit of research on your part to see when public meetings may be scheduled in your area or look up contact information to reach out to them directly and set one up.

But in person meetings may not always be possible, so a well-written letter, email, or leaving a voice message can be worth the effort. And it's very hard to ignore a strong personal story, supported by facts, with a direct call to action. What is usually least effective is signatures on a petition, unless the appeal has accepted credibility and numbers that simply blow one away. But often it takes a more sustained engagement over time to truly demonstrate strong support, the kind that could impact future elections.

Keep in mind that any elected official that is seldom-if-ever challenged with a differing opinion is one who not only will maintain his or her position but will likely run again and most often be re-elected. Potentially, a very valuable result of openly sharing your concerns could be to motivate yourself or a fellow citizen to seek public office. We need more citizens to run for office—more competition and a wider diversity of experience around the table can bring better ideas and results.

Kansas Capitol Building in Spring

The Death Penalty in Kansas

4/4/2019

As a result of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Gregg v. Georgia decision in 1976, states were permitted to reinstate the death penalty through state legislation. In 1977-78, the Kansas Legislature introduced and voted unsuccessfully to reinstate capital punishment. As a state legislator, I voted against these reinstatement bills. I was not a passionate opponent; I did not participate in the debates. I just did not feel it was right.

As a candidate for Governor, I kept my position of opposition but said if it passed that I would not veto it. I was comfortable letting the elected legislators by majority vote decide the outcome. Sworn in as Governor in January 1979, I gave little or no thought about the possibility of the death penalty coming up. But, as it turned out, the same voters that elected me also voted in enough change in the Legislature’s makeup that by late March, both Houses had passed and sent a death penalty bill for Kansas to my desk.

I had ten days to make a decision. My staff assumed I would sign the bill, so there was little discussion as there would have been on almost all other legislation passed. Thinking in depth for the first time, serious doubts about the rightness of the death penalty began to grow in me. As I share with students, there are times when ones values conflict. Yes, I had made a promise to the citizens, but now with the hard reality sinking in, my opposition became passionate and much more real. My staff warned me of the political consequences I would face, and I did not disagree. But on the tenth and final day—exactly forty years ago today—I made my decision.

Below, I share the full text of my Veto Message for legislation that would have reinstated capital punishment in Kansas. This message was submitted to the Kansas House of Representatives on April 4th, 1979, and it was the first of four times I vetoed this policy in my time as Governor (1979-1987). The death penalty was eventually passed into law on April 23rd, 1994. We have yet to see it used and often the costs of appeals, delays, and so forth have been much higher than simply "throwing away the key" when the circumstances suggest. Strong but unsuccessful efforts have been made in recent years to repeal that law, including during the current legislative session, but for now it will be up to the people to make it a priority for their legislators.

MESSAGE TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF KANSAS
April 4, 1979
Topeka, Kansas

Governor John W. Carlin

Life offers each person opportunities for decisions which are most profound and grave. For each such grave and profound decision, there is only one measure of choosing well. That measure is whether a person can respect what he or she has chosen. And for decisions which are most serious for all of us, it is not always possible to know in advance what one’s decision will be.

I believe that, in a civilized society, penalties applied by the state against those who break the law can only be justified for their rehabilitative, punitive, or deterrent value. I find that capital punishment fails all three of these standards.

I am an optimist. I believe that society can find a way to deal with violence without using violence. I am confident that the State of Kansas can protect its citizens without taking the lives of its criminals. It is for these reasons that I veto this bill.

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]

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.

Governors: Carlin and He

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.

Kansas Democrats and the Road to 2020

2/24/2019

March 1st and 2nd will be the Kansas Democratic Party’s annual Washington Days convention in Topeka. There will rightfully be much positive attention on the Kelly-Rogers administration and Congresswoman Sharice Davids who won the 3rd Congressional District. New officers for the Party will also be elected, decisions which will have a huge impact on the success of the Party in 2020. The entire Kansas Legislature will be up for election as well as four Congressional seats and the United States Senate seat being vacated by Senator Roberts.

Presidential election years provide impacts that, for the most part, we have no input into. The popularity of a Republican incumbent President and how much the Democratic candidate excites Kansas Democrats to get out and vote impacts the down ballot races. I’m convinced that Jimmy Carter's popularity with Kansas Democrats in 1976 was a key factor in gaining the majority in the Kansas House and the opportunity for me to become Speaker. Then there is the far right of the Republican Party remaining a force, particularly in Republican Primaries. Their successes in more politically balanced districts are our opportunities. But whether we take advantage will depend on several factors.

The Kansas Democratic Party needs to start with recruiting good candidates who will develop a well-thought out plan that has been tested and who will work really, really hard in their districts. I am observing signs that, more and more, younger Kansans are starting to see the necessity that they engage. This can have an enormous impact on the candidates we recruit and the voters we can work to mobilize. I see legislators like Tim Hodge, State Representative from Newton, as an excellent example of what is possible in very Republican districts with hard work and an efficient strategy. Now we need to find those candidates from a very diverse pool of possibilities that fit that mold and concentrate on where it is realistic we can win. That process, if not already in action, should start now.

It also requires us to understand the math issues. Democrats are a minority party in Kansas, and that will not soon change. This means we need to recruit candidates that not only appeal to the broad spectrum of Democrats but have the potential to reach out and attract the Independent and Republicans votes needed to win. Keep in mind, winning is important. We don’t just do all of this because we enjoy politics. Kansas has real problems that need to be addressed.

Certainly, Democrats need to stick together—understand and appreciate that a fractured party guarantees losing. This doesn’t mean we can’t have differences. We do, and that will not change. The point is, we can’t let those differences keep us from being united in our mission to help this great state. That is certainly true when the majority of Republicans vote with the far right because of either philosophy or fear.

On Saturday, March 2nd, the Kansas Democratic Party will select their leaders for the next two years. Although I am not involved this year and do not know who the candidates are, I do hope that what I have shared here represents the thinking of a majority of the delegates and the leaders they select. Achieving real success in 2020 is not just for our party but for the future we want for Kansas.

Laura Kelly Inauguration

Photo from the Inauguration of Governor Laura Kelly [Chris Neal/The Capital-Journal]

The Consequential 2020 Presidential Election

2/18/2019

When you think about where we are on climate change, the national debt, and international challenges like immigration and trade, as well as the possibility of four more years under the current administration, the reality is that this coming election will have more impact on our future than anything else. These issues, if not handled wisely, have the potential for devastating impacts not just now but will negatively alter the future for our children and even more so for our grandchildren.

So, with the 2020 election closer than we realize, where are we now? One thing for sure is that we are going to have plenty of candidates and possibly even more Republicans. Already several Democrats are out in Iowa with well organized beginnings of a national campaign. Several more are very likely to follow including an Independent candidate (one who usually negatively impacts the results). I hope the Democratic Party learned from the 2016 Republican Party mistakes dealing with so many candidates. Remember, they almost all initially thought Donald Trump was unqualified but they ended up splitting the votes and nominating the least qualified candidate.

So who is, for Democrats, the best nominee? It is obviously way too early to tell but I certainly have some criteria that I am using to evaluate the candidates. I am going to try avoid falling in love too early with any candidate that, upon further review, is unlikely to win in November 2020. That candidate might fit my personal agenda to be the one I want to work for in say a caucus fight, coming in about a year for Kansas. But that choice also might be one that has little chance in the end of winning.

So how do we pick a winner, one who can not just get the nomination but win and be our next President? First, it is remembering the Electoral College, not the popular vote, determines the outcome. Democrats have done well winning the popular vote, but that is not enough. What does this mean? Simple. The states Hillary Clinton lost but were very close need to be won. That means keeping in mind, as we evaluate the field, who will best appeal in states from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin? This is where we are most likely to pick up the electoral votes we need to win. It will be important to consider who is best at communicating a message that reaches the voters we need.

It is my hope we have a nominee who can run a creative campaign that doesn’t come across to voters in “red states” that they are the enemy. We need a candidate who brings people together, not further divides us. And, if done during the campaign, this will increase his or her chances of having success when elected. Having the right nominee will also give us a better chance of electing more Democrats to Governorships and more majorities in more state legislatures. Remember that it is not just “Winter is Coming” but the census and reapportionment that will be on the line in 2020.

Bottom line: Don’t rush to judgment. There is way too much at stake to get this election wrong.

presidential podium

Why Don’t We Hear About the National Debt?

2/7/2019

I remember when I was in leadership with the National Governors Association and taking our concerns about key issues to Washington, to the Congress and President. The focus was on problems that significantly impacted the states but could not be resolved state-by-state. Acid Rain, for example, where the states producing it were not impacted, made action at the national level a must. Another example, funding for emergency weather response, especially in states where their constitutions require the budget to be balanced. But the key message we always delivered was our concern about the national debt, the impact it could have if neglected, and the fact that all key parties had to be at the table to have any hope of making progress.

Why do we hear so little from our politicians on this issue of national debt? It is really quite simple. For one, very seldom does the press talk about debt. Both parties run away from the issue making it the so-called third rail in politics: the one that could kill you, or as in politics, throw you out of office. When Republicans are in power, they like to feed the very rich what they want. Recently, it was the major tax cut that was primarily focused on the ultra rich. They couldn’t pay for it through higher taxes from the rest of us, so they treated it like it was “off-budget” and didn’t really count. For the Democrats, protecting Social Security and Medicare is a must. They want to avoid opening a debate about debt reduction because, if done responsibly, proposed changes may not be liked by their loyal supporters. In both cases, doing nothing will be far worse than making responsible changes.

To underline the fact that neither party wants to deal with the national debt, and will not unless voters wake up and make it an issue, I share a couple experiences I had campaigning for responsible action. When I tried to meet with then Speaker Jim Wright from Texas, he met me at the entrance door and verbally threw me out. He did not want to hear our message and wished me to go away. The powerful minority leader in the Senate, Robert Byrd from West Virginia, called me at my hotel on one of my visits and basically read me the riot act. They had plans to attack the then President Reagan on some funding issue they wanted and our raising the issue of debt in a bipartisan way was counter to their interests.

Exploding national debt should be something that we as citizens understand. For most of us balancing our personal or business budgets, we know that debt can work for us but always with the understanding that it can go too far. If we go too deep into the red, creditors could start raising interest rates or we run the risk of simply borrowing more than we can afford to pay back. Remember the housing crisis a few years ago when suddenly far too many housing loans were under water? In agriculture, managing debt is always a huge challenge. And the basics of debt can be applied to government. When the financial crisis hit in 2008 and recession came, deficit spending was needed in order to account for declining government revenues and encourage economic investment. This was an example of a time the federal government utilized debt to help get through difficult times, and it worked. However—and most importantly—as the economy improved and revenues began to stabilize, that deficit spending began to decrease during the later years of the Obama administration. This is precisely the response you’d expect to see from a responsible household or business planning for the future. Because, as a country, one of our major bankers is China and at some point—just like with any creditor—if we borrow too much, the interest rates could go up. And we also risk saddling future generations with a national debt so huge they may never be able to pay it back.

Unfortunately, concerns over the national debt were totally overlooked by the Republican-controlled Congress and White House when they pushed through a huge tax cut for the rich, without any plan—outside of trickle-down fantasy—for how to pay for it. As a result, in just the last two years, our national debt has grown two trillion dollars. There are economists who believe we are close to the tipping point and, without responsible actions, that point could be as soon as three or four years.

Now, the good news. Responsible action can happen. In the late 90’s Democratic President Clinton and Republican Speaker Gingrich successfully worked together to not just balance the budget but start to pay down on the national debt. What stands out in this example? Bipartisanship, something we struggle to have in today’s politics.

Time to End Government Shutdowns, For Good

1/26/2019

The longest government shutdown in US history has finally come to an end, at least for now. But the pain this all has caused to our federal workforce and the damage done to our nation’s economy and image around the world cannot be undone. In the next three weeks, we can hope to see some movement on a compromise that satisfies both sides and leads to a longer-term funding bill. And I’m especially glad that we can have the debate the country needs to have, in the place where these decisions should be made (within the legislative process), and on the terms it deserves—without using federal workers and government services as pawns in the political negotiation. It’s also my hope that, after the immediate business is handled, this situation leads us to take a hard look at the practice of routine government shutdowns and take action to make this one the last of its kind.

Studies show that 80% of our families live paycheck-to-paycheck. Lack of savings leads to an inability to pay for much, which then impacts many small businesses who also live on an ongoing cash flow. You can’t spend what you don’t have. Federal workers and contractors suffer greatly every time a shutdown happens. And we cannot overlook the long-term damage to the federal workforce from the level of disrespect being shown towards government service and the further exodus of qualified employees who are forced to seek work (and more certainty) elsewhere. In total, the negative economic impacts will continue to pile up, as economists further assess the damage left behind and the total cost to the economy, all of which amounted to nothing but an unfortunate political stunt by President Trump.

The shutdown highlighted the mess we have in Washington. Key issues—climate change, the national debt, and ticking time bombs all around the world—are getting little or no attention. Instead, we fight over a 5 billion dollar wall the President wants that even many Republicans in Congress do not. I can assure you Presidents Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and “W” would have not pushed issues for which the public and even their own party had serious reservations.

And such actions certainly do not help our image around the world, when at the same time we have abandoned all other nations on dealing with climate change. Our approach to securing much needed trade deals seems to be “our way or the highway.” A win-win approach almost always goes into deals that get finalized, serving the best interests of both parties and the American people. Additionally, we are much better off economically when our world partners are prospering too. I fear the practice of shutting down government only emboldens those who support this kind of approach to deal-making, and we should all be wary of the precedent we risk setting by making hostage-taking a normal tool for negotiation in Congress.

In the end, this shutdown ended because the cost to the country finally became a substantive political cost to President Trump, to the point where the President himself began to take notice. The onslaught of concerns over the delivery of basic government services and the security of the American public began to pile up and, eventually, boil over—even among some of President Trump’s staunchest supporters. I’ve always said that, in the end, voters can have real influence but political leaders need to know their concerns and the facts around the issues. So maybe this was an example of that process finally playing out, and it might even help to make the scope and impact of government more real and tangible for more Americans. And, perhaps, we can all agree to view our public employees as the do-er’s of the people’s business and treat them with respect and confidence.

The past 35 days have clearly demonstrated that the practice of shutting down government serves no one. And, while it’s true that this shutdown has brought about no tangible gain, it may have brought an opportunity. It is my sincere hope that we can use this unfortunate event to find a bipartisan solution, legislatively or otherwise, to take future shutdowns off the table and seek better ways to resolve our political disagreements without inflicting such unnecessary harm on the country.

A Plea to Senator Roberts

1/19/2019

I think most observers of political races thought Senator Roberts would not seek reelection, but not everyone was so sure. There were frequent rumors and predictions that, given his stature, experience, and solid Republican support, he would run for another six year term despite his age. An open race would be hard to predict, and there is much less confidence of ending in a Republican victory. It is slam dunk for Republicans that he will finish his term. I say that because there were many rumors that he would step down and have Governor Brownback appoint an agreed upon replacement. I doubt Senator Roberts would work that deal with Governor Kelly.

Obviously, given my age and time frame of political involvement, I have been an observer of Senator Roberts’ career for decades. He certainly has been successful, never losing a race and a whole lifetime of work in Washington D.C. He started as staff support for Congressman Keith Sebelius. Leadership on agriculture has been a focus and he has played a very significant role on that budget, and most importantly, the once every five years renewal of the Farm Bill. I know he worked quite closely, in a bipartisan way, with then Congressman Dan Glickman. Back then, when earmarks were in practice, he was very successful at “bringing the bacon” back to Kansas. Right here at K-State, he was key in getting resources for the bioscience research facility (the Hall bears his name) and, in many ways, he was helpful in the bipartisan effort to secure support for NBAF, the National Bioscience Agro-defense Facility being built just off the K-State campus.

I write this blog not so much to recognize Senator Roberts. Others in widely covered editorials have been extremely positive and one can assume there will much more of that given he still has two years left to serve. But, since he does still have these two years to serve, I write this to make the plea for our Senator to now, free of reelection plans, step up and provide some much needed leadership on key issues not currently being addressed and also to speak out when the best interests of Kansans, or the values of our country, are not being served.

Senator Roberts’ lock-step loyalty to Mitch McConnell (who currently holds the power to end the ongoing government shutdown) and his 'look-the-other-way' approach to the words and actions of President Trump have set back the country and also hurt Kansans—even on the issue to which Senator Roberts has devoted the most time over the years, agriculture. Though he's finally shown the ability to speak at least some truth to the President and to Kansans on the issue of trade, I wonder what a difference it would make if Senator Pat Roberts would speak out on the challenges of climate change, for instance. His focus could be tied to the impacts we are already feeling with changing weather patterns that negatively impact production agriculture. Floods and droughts in the same year is a formula for disaster and in 2018 we got a taste of that in Kansas. I’m reminded the Time Magazine article sometime back on Durum wheat in North Dakota, and how rising temperatures have forced the growing of that crop further north. Another ten years and who knows what we might be facing, particularly if we do nothing to lessen the change.

The time has come for Senator Roberts to step up and, in the Kansas tradition, be a bellwether for common sense and decency in the country. If not now, we'll be left to conclude that blind party loyalty has won out, and it will put a lasting stain on a long and distinguished career in public service.

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.