April 9, 2024

KANSAS LEGISLATURE BUBBLES OVER WITH FURY AND FRUSTRATION AS LAWMAKERS BUCK KELLY, HAWKINS

Clay Wirestone, kansasreflector.com

And it’s over! For now.

The Kansas Legislature dragged itself kicking and screaming toward the finish line Friday night, working through a morass of tax and budget proposals. As I wrote this column Friday afternoon and evening, I honestly couldn’t tell you how everything was going to turn out. As it stands, a whole lot else happened this week, including Facebook declaring falsely that we were a cyber threat. Here are a few of the highlights. Read here.

WHEN FACEBOOK FAILS, LOCAL MEDIA MATTERS EVEN MORE FOR OUR PLANET’S FUTURE

Dave Kendall, kansasreflector.com

Read here.

‘FACEBOOK HAS NUKED OUR PAGE’: INSIDE KANSAS REFLECTOR’S CLASH WITH THE SOCIAL MEDIA GOLIATH

Clay Wirestone, kansasreflector.com

Read here.

KANSAS NEWSPAPER THAT WAS RAIDED BY MARION POLICE SUES OFFICIALS FOR ATTACK ON FREE PRESS

Sherman Smith, kansasreflector.com

Read here.

WOMEN FOR KANSAS HAS NEW BUTTONS!

It's Still About No! Show your support for women's rights when you vote in 2024 Kansas Legislature elections with these W4K buttons. To request your button(s), email womenforkansas.org.

Be sure to include button choice, quantity requested per button and name and address and someone will contact you.

FACES OF THE COVERAGE GAP: WHY IT’S TIME TO EXPAND MEDICAID IN KANSAS

In the Kansas Senate a motion was made to pull the Medicaid expansion bill, SB 355, out of committee and onto the floor for a debate and vote. Due to legislative rules, the vote will not happen until after the Kansas Legislature comes back from their break on April 25. This means there will be a vote in the Senate on Medicaid Expansion in about 3 weeks!

STEP 1: Sign the Call to Action

STEP 2: Attend a local Legislator Meeting

STEP 3: Write a Letter to the Editor

STEP 4: Organize a Local Postcard Writing Event

BONUS: Share on Social Media

More information available here.

A CLAIM THAT LAX REGULATION COSTS KS MILLIONS HAS TOP GOP OFFICIALS SCRAPPING

John Hanna, apnews.com

Read here.

DEMAND A FULL AND FAIR DEBATE ON MEDICAID EXPANSION

You demanded a hearing for Medicaid Expansion, and legislators heard you. Now we have to take the next step.

TELL LAWMAKERS –

TAKE ACTION NOW!

LATINO VOTERS ARE A TARGET FOR ELECTION MISINFORMATION

Christine Fernando and Anita Stone, pbs.org

Read here.

KANSAS GOP LAWMAKERS REVIVE A PLAN TO STOP GIVING VOTERS 3 EXTRA DAYS TO RETURN MAIL BALLOTS

Associated Press, kake.com

Read here.

KANSAS LAWMAKERS SEND ELECTION BILLS TO GOV.

Rebekah Chung, ksnt.com

Read here.

AMERICANS WILL FIND VOTING EASIER – OR HARDER – DEPENDING WHERE THEY LIVE

Patrick Marley, washingtonpost.com

Read here.

‘UNITED KANSAS’ PUSHES FUSION VOTING SCHEME IN SUNFLOWER STATE

Patrick Richardson, sentinelksmo.org

Read here.

THE CENTER FOR COMON GROUND: PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS NOW

The Center for Common Ground educates and empowers voters of color in voter suppression states. Together, we can build a democracy that prioritizes the voices of ALL people. To learn at centerforcommonground.org.

SUPREME COURT SLOW TO RESOLVE POTENTIALLY ELECTION-ALTERING CASES AS JUSTICES INCH TOWARD ARGUMENTS

John Fritze, kake.com

Read here.

TELL YOUR LEGISLATOR: PROTECT MY VOTE!

Loud Light

Contact your legislators to tell them to VOTE NO on Voter Suppression! Send your message here.

KANSAS HOUSE DEFLECTS BID TO REVISE STATE STATUTE DECLARING MARRIAGE AS UNION OF MAN, WOMAN

Tim Carpenter, kansasreflector.com

Read here.

DON’T LOOK, KIDS! ACCORDING TO KS LAWMAKERS, THIS IS PORNOGRAPHY

Clay Wirestone, kansasreflector.com

Read here.

KANSAS SENATOR MINORITY LEADER ON RECENT ANTI-LGBTQ+ LEGISLATION: ‘IT’S JUST FILLED WITH HATE’

John Casey, advocate.com

Read here.

ACLU BILL TRACKER

Learn more here.

KS ADVOCATES TALK FINANCIAL EMPOWER-MENT FOR WOMEN, GENDER PAY GAP

Rachel Mipro, kansasreflector.com

Listen here.

KANSAS LEGISLATURE SENDS 2-RATE INCOME TAX PACKAGE TO GOV.

Rebekah Chung, ksnt.com

Read here.

WILL LAURA KELLY SIGN NEWEST TAX CUT PLAN AFTER KANSAS LAWMAKERS IGNORED KELLYS ADVICE?

Jason Alatidd, cjonline.com

Read here.

HOUSE BLOCKS BILL ‘CYNICALLY’ BUNDLING BIG-BUSINESS TAX BREAKS WITH AID TO DISABLED VETERANS

Tim Carpenter, kansasreflector.com

Read here.

GOP-LED KANSAS SENATE, HOUSE SEND NEW STATE BUDGET BILL TO DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR

Tim Carpenter, kansasreflector.com

Read here.

KANSAS LAWMAKERS LEAVE TOPEKA FOR 3-WEEK BREAK. HERE’S WHAT THEY STILL HAVE TO GET DONE

Jason Alatidd, cjonline.com

Read here.

WHAT'S GOING ON IN #KSLEG?

Watch here.

SOCIAL SECURITY TAX RELIEF DESERVES RECOGNITION FROM KANSAS LEADERS

Glenda Duboise, kansasreflector.com

Read here.

GOVERNOR KELLY ANNOUNCES KMW TO INVEST $105M IN STERLING, TO CREATE 251 NEW JOBS IN KANSAS

KS Commerce, kansascommerce.gov

Read here.

KANSAS SENATE REJECTS K-12 SCHOOLS BUDGET CHANGING SPECIAL EDUCATION SPENDING CALCULATIONS

Katie Bernard and Jonathan Shorman, kansascity.com

Read here.

EDUCATION ADVOCATE: KS SCHOOL FINANCE BILL WOULD ‘PERMANENTLY UNDERFUND’ SPECIAL EDUCATION

Rachel Mipro, kansasreflector.com

Read here.

KOBACH LAWSUITS TARGET LOAN FORGIVENESS, YOUNG VOTERS

Alexandra Middlewood, ctnewsonline.com

Read here.

BIDEN PROPOSES NEW STUDENT DEBT RELIEF PLAN FOR MILLIONS

Ariana Figueroa, kansasreflector.com

Read here.

KNEA UNDER THE DOME: SCHOOL FUNDING UPDATE

KNEA, underthedomeks.org

More information here.

KSDE NEWSROOM

KS Dept. of Education, ksde.org

More information here.

More information available here.

More information available here.

HEALTHY KS ADVOCACY COMMUNITY MTG

WEDNESDAYS, 7PM

Via Zoom

APRIL 10 AND 24

MAY 8 AND 22

JUNE 12 AND 26

More info, additional dates, and RSVP here.

LOUD LIGHT

PHONE BANK

VIRTUAL ON ZOOM

ABORTION RIGHTS DEFENSE PHONEBANK

5:30-8:00 PM

APRIL 15 & 22

PROTECT TRANS KANSANS PHONEBANK

5:30-8:00 PM

APRIL 16 & 23

VOTING RIGHTS DEFENSE PHONE BANK #1, 2 & 3 – 6-8PM

APRIL 11, 17 & 25

LoudLight.org/events. More information, including additional event dates available here.

TUESDAY TOPICS

MAY 7, 2024, 11:30AM

Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library

1515 SW 10th Ave.

Sherman Smith, Editor of the Kansas Reflector will talk about their coverage of KS government and politics. Attend in person or click Zoom link here.

IT'S STILL ABOUT NO! REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND THE 2024 ELECTION

Reproductive rights are still on the ballot.

Watch here.