By Michael Glenn
As a newsroom, this past Tuesday’s election was the first presidential election cycle we had covered. For about five hours, Gina, Kate and I set up for the election, watched the results and tabulated the answers throughout the evening.
The Republicans won majorly throughout the country and won three additional seats in the Kansas Legislature House and two seats in the Senate.
One of the lost Democratic seats was right here in Hutchinson, causing the official supermajority of the Republican party to expand even larger.
The only elections I was really paying attention to that night were the local ones, as trying to pay attention to the national elections would have only made my head hurt worse.
What we have now as a state is a one-party legislature that does no longer have to work with anyone from the other party. The 88-37 lead in the House and 30-9 lead (with one race TBD) in the Senate further cements Republican dominance in the Sunflower State.
I get always wanting to have it your way, but politics is not Burger King. There always has to be honest and civic debate about issues to find out what are the best bills and actions for Kansas.
What’s important is from debate, we take ideas and put those together to come out with a policy that works for as many people as possible. Compromise is an essential part of how the way our government works.
That no longer has to happen, at least for the next two years. With the same party that has held both chambers of our state legislature for over 30 years, we shouldn’t expect any new ideas.
No Medicaid expansion debate. No medical marijuana reform. No honest debate.
I hope I’m wrong. Maybe the ruling party does want to have an honest debate to solve issues. To find what Kansans really want and support.
Always remember, the government works for us. We don’t work for them. Our legislators are supposed to represent our best interests, and contacting them and speaking about the issues is the first step in creating change.
Make your voice heard this upcoming legislative session, which will begin in January. While the seats have only slightly changed, Topeka will feel much different at the reigns of Senate President Ty Masterson and Speaker Dan Hawkins rather than the influence of Governor Laura Kelly.
ridgwkl@yahoo.com / November 10, 2024
I am still holding out hope for the next couple of years. One thing I believe we have ingrained in Kansans in common sense. Though I am also concerned, there are surely some in Topeka that will draw on theirs. The majority of our concern should be directed towards Washington, and the lack of common sense and compromise coming up on a national level.
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Sharon / November 10, 2024
Republicans in the Kansas legislature have shown no willingness whatsoever to engage on fair, honest, TRANSPARENT debate with democrats or in dialog with Gov. Kelly, nor have the shown any interest in doing what is best for ALL Kansans. They serve wealthy special interests…they always have but now they don’t even try to hide their disdain for the average hardworking Kansan who is just trying to put food on the table and shelter over his and his family’s head. Gov. Kelly has turned this state around and reversed the downward economic spiral we were left in by the last republican governor. But this legislature will put a stop to any kind of economic growth just out of spite. I don’t think Kansas voters even know what they voted for, but they’re in for a rude awakening.
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C lippert / November 11, 2024
Well said.
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