Week 2 Kansas Statehouse Recap: abortion, legislator complaint, judge rejected, upcoming hearings

Video Script

Hey I’m Davis Hammet with Loud Light. Here’s what happened in the 2nd week of the 2021 Kansas legislative session.

Abortion Amendment (HCR 5003)
Last year, Republican legislators pushed for the constitutional amendment on abortion to be on the 2020 primary ballot saying it was an urgent matter; however, during the House debate this Friday Republicans took the opposite stance and blocked an effort to move the public vote to the upcoming 2021 election. They also prevented the vote from being moved to the 2022 general election. Kansans for Life, the special interest group pushing to change the constitution, told legislators that moving the vote away from the Republican heavy low turnout 2022 primary election would be a poison pill. During explanations of vote, Several Republican legislators stated that the amendment would get the Supreme Court out of the way so that they could institute a total ban on abortion. (Journal Page citation). It passed the House with the required supermajority and is already set to be debated in the Senate on Monday.

Complaint Dismissed
Rep. Aaron Coleman (I) faces a variety of allegations related to abusing women and threatening legislators. Democratic legislators filed a complaint against him which resulted in an investigation committee. On Friday, that committee met and was tasked with either dismissing the complaint or moving it to the full House to vote to reprimand, censure, or expel Coleman. While Democratic lawmakers sought to at least reprimand him, Republicans on the committee prevented any further action choosing to dismiss the complaint, and write an informal letter to Coleman on how he should conduct himself. 

Baby Rhino
Fewer than one thousand eastern black rhinos are believed to exist in the world. On Wednesday, a new baby of the critically endangered species was born in Garden City, KS.

Folsom Rejected (Vote Breakdown)
In June, Senate Republicans rejected Carl Folsom’s appointment to the Kansas Court of Appeals claiming that he too zealously defended his clients as a public defender. Public defense is a constitutional right and defenders are bound by professional ethics to zealously advocate for the indigent clients they are assigned. The rejection was viewed as retaliation for the Governor vetoing Republican bills, and the politicization of the judicial process led Brownback appointed Supreme Court Justice Caleb Stegall to write that such rejection came out of either Senators ignorance of the justice system or cynical exploitation of ignorance. Other high profile conservative officials including the Trump appointed U.S. Attorney for Kansas supported a renewed nomination of Folsom to the Court of Appeals. Despite unanimous support from the legal community Folsom was voted down again by far-right Republican Senators on Thursday.

Emergency Powers (SB14)
The bill that extends the state of emergency until March, but further strips the Governor of executive powers passed the House and is now headed to the Governor’s desk.

Coming Up
Tons of hearings are coming up this next week including a bill to make it a felony crime to help a neighbor return their mail ballot (HB2054), a refundable food sales tax credit for low-income Kansans (HB2091), a change to the Constitution to prevent the Governor from filling vacancies of the State Treasurer  or Insurance Commissioner (HB2051), suspending Kansans right to a speedy trial for 3 years (HB2078), allowing military surplus vehicles to be used on roads (HB2014 & SB18), authorizing emergency medicine in schools (HB2086), changing Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day (HB2006), Regulating use of the herb Kratom (HB2056), out-of-state reciprocity for concealed handgun licenses (HB2058 & HB 2059), and a bill that would ban local governments from taking actions that “discriminates against” fossil fuels (SB24).

Thanks for commenting, sharing, donating, and talking to fellow Kansans about what’s happening. Stay tuned, stay engaged, and until next time thank you so much Kansas!