Topeka — The House budget-writing committee Monday decided to postpone action on what to do with the Kansas Human Rights Commission until later in the session.
Gov. Sam Brownback has said he wants to move the commission into the attorney general’s office. Brownback says the proposal would save the state $231,000 in the next fiscal year, which starts July 1.
Commission officials and numerous advocates, however, oppose that plan.
State Rep. Barbara Ballard, D-Lawrence, and a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said the commission should remain an independent agency.
“They have become a model for other agencies around the nation,” Ballard said.
The commission investigates complaints alleging discrimination in the areas of employment, public accommodations and housing, as well as racial profiling in conjunction with traffic stops.
Commission officials have said moving the agency into the attorney general’s office would set up conflicts because sometimes the commission investigates complaints against state agencies, and it is the attorney general’s office that defends those agencies.
But Appropriations Chairman Marc Rhoades, R-Newton, said he supported Brownback’s proposal. Rhoades added that he once had an unpleasant interaction with the commission.
A constituent of his who owns a restaurant was subjected to a long investigative process by the commission based on a bogus complaint, he said.
Ballard suggested that Rhoades may have been dealing with a commission employee who wasn’t doing his or her job properly, and that he should follow up and make sure that behavior is corrected.
The committee decided to wait until later in the session to determine whether to adhere to the governor’s plan. So far, no legislation has been considered to move the commission to the attorney general’s office.
Comments
Jan Rolls 2 years, 9 months ago
If bogus is all Rhoades is worried about all he and the other republicans have to do is look at what they have done so far this session.
barlowtl 2 years, 9 months ago
It is very worrisome that almost daily the Governor is moving more citizen safeguards under his direct control. He wants conplete control of appointment of the judges & now this. Kansans will wake up one day & find they have no recourse at all except thru the Governor's office. So much power in one man can be frightening. I have never heard of a leader voluntarily relinquish power once he acquires it. Yes a Human Rights Commission can be a pain sometimes unless of course it is you who has nowhere else to turn for a fair hearing. Yes, the Governor's office may be able to move more swiftly & efficiently after he gets rid of all these obstacles. We all know a Dictatorship is more efficient than a Democracy but is that what we really want?
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