Day 90: Legislature attacks Sharia law, United Nations Agenda 21, but no resolution on budget, redistricting

? State legislators Friday approved bills taking aim at Islamic Sharia law and United Nations Agenda 21.

Meanwhile, legislators remained far apart on reaching agreement on the state budget, taxes, redistricting and other issues as the deadline for the 90-day session was set to end.

Leaders conceded that the session would extend into overtime next week.

The Senate approved a bill that bans Kansas courts and administrative agencies from basing rulings on foreign laws or legal systems.

The measure doesn’t mention Sharia law, but several senators said that was their concern.

“They stone women to death in countries that have Sharia law,” said state Sen. Susan Wagle, R-Wichita. “If you vote to not adopt (the bill), it’s a vote against women,” she said.

But state Sen. Tim Owens, R-Overland Park, said the bill was unnecessary because courts already are ruled by United State laws and the U.S. Constitution. He said the bill was based on intolerance and fear and would make people think only those with a Christian, religious-right perspective were welcome in Kansas.

The measure easily passed, 33-4, after winning approval in the House, 120-0.

Earlier Friday, the House gave final approval to a resolution that recognizes “the destructive and insidious nature of United Nations Agenda 21.”

The House approved the resolution 76-41.

The measure criticizes U.N. Agenda 21 as a covert plot to destroy the

American way of life through extreme environmentalism, social engineering and global political control.

Critics of the resolution described it as a right-wing conspiracy theory. Agenda 21 states its purpose as seeking global cooperation to improve the environment and reduce economic disparities between countries. It came out of discussions on sustainable development at the U.N. Conference of Environment and Development in 1992.