In a legislative session marked by its brevity, Kansas lawmakers managed to pass an impressive 116 bills. This makes 2025 a productive year for the Legislature. But while this productivity could suggest functional governance, a closer look reveals a shift in the balance of power that raises ...

Underpaid for years, Kansas legislators finally received a substantial pay increase this year. Instead of a paltry per diem (per day) allowance, they now receive $43,000 per year and remain eligible for KPERS benefits. Normally, I would argue in favor of this. It takes courage for ...

Sixteen months from now Kansans will vote on a state constitutional amendment that will, if passed, institute popular elections for state Supreme Court justices. This possibility disturbs many Kansans, and it’s worth trying to understand why. Today, Kansas has a mostly merit-based system ...

As a first-generation college student who is now a professor, I know firsthand the vital role libraries play in providing access to knowledge and opportunity, especially for those from under-served backgrounds. At my university, nearly half of the student population is also first-generation ...

It’s not often the people of Kansas get to hold a “referendum” on state legislation. In fact, they can’t. At least not on their own. Under our state’s Constitution, we operate a representative democracy electing legislators to make decisions on our behalf and ultimately hold them ...

This is not a Republican illusion. The political leanings of academia are very real. Most professors identify as liberal and Democrats. University administrators skew left as well. It’s striking how few professors are conservative or Republican. The imbalance began during the Reagan ...