Brownback active in promoting agenda

It’s no secret that Gov. Sam Brownback and his staff have been twisting arms, especially in the Senate, to get their way.

Asked about whether Brownback has involved himself in legislative affairs more than other governors, Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton and a 20-year veteran of the Senate, said “significantly more.”

Morris said Brownback, also a Republican, launched an aggressive agenda for the session, and “he has been active promoting that.” While some senators have complained about the lobbying, Morris said his personal dealings with Brownback have “been very cordial.”

Morris is one of a group of Republicans that have been targeted for defeat in the GOP primary by Brownback’s allies, the Kansas Chamber of Commerce.

Quote of the week

“Keep your big boy pants on.”

— State Rep. Jim Ward, D-Wichita. Ward was urging the House to vote against sending a bill dealing with KanCare back to committee. Ward had been pushing for an amendment to the bill sought by advocates for those with developmental disabilities. Despite his pleas, the House, with only Republican votes, sent the bill back to committee.

Tax-cut proposals harmful, group says

The League of Women Voters of Kansas issued a news release critical of Gov. Sam Brownback’s tax-cutting plan as well as two major proposals in a House-Senate conference committee.

All three plans reduce income tax rates and eliminate income taxes on nonwage income for nearly 200,000 businesses.

The League of Women Voters of Kansas cites a study by the nonpartisan Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy that states the proposals will benefit the wealthy at the expense of low-income Kansans.

Meanwhile, the plans cut hundreds of millions of dollars in state revenue, which will hurt schools, social services and public safety, the league says.

Concerns arise over prayer room

During debate last week on whether to set up a room in the Statehouse for prayer and meditation, several House members expressed concern that members of the Westboro Baptist Church, who picket funerals of U.S. soldiers to protest against homosexuality, would use the room. Others said they were concerned about what kind of books would be allowed in the room and whether tax funds would be used to maintain it.

But state Rep. Joe Seiwert, R-Pretty Prairie, said he thought legislators were analyzing the issue too much.

“If that room offends anybody, just don’t go into it,” he said.

Later, when debate turned to a bill that critics said was aimed at nullifying Lawrence’s ordinance that protects people based on sexual orientation, state Rep. Barbara Ballard, D-Lawrence, referred back to Seiwert’s words. She said if the city of Lawrence’s ordinance offended anyone, just don’t come to Lawrence.

What’s next:

The Kansas Legislature is on break until April 25.