By Sherman Smith | Editor-in-Chief
Good morning! This week, we are rolling out a series of in-depth stories that shine a light on the ways legislative leaders advance their agenda by exploiting process. Today's story, from senior reporter Tim Carpenter, is about how legislators can mutter magic words — "call the question" — to immediately end debate and go straight to the vote on any bill, amendment or veto override.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Kansas Legislature’s GOP supermajority leans into rule that skirts debate, muffles dissent
TOPEKA — Republican leaders of the Kansas Legislature relied on an arsenal of parliamentary procedure that frustrated Democrats seething about a bill forcing transgender people to use public bathrooms and obtain driver’s licenses matching their sex assigned at birth.
A provocative manipulation of the legislative process, in terms of advancing the bill, was deployment of an opaque rule permitting any member of the House and Senate to terminate debate and immediately compel an up-or-down vote. The GOP’s partisan approach at the Capitol was especially irritating to Democrats accustomed to majority rule but eager to place their views into the record.
House Speaker Dan Hawkins and Senate President Ty Masterson, both crusaders against transgender rights, had already made certain the bill was abruptly assembled and a beneficiary of partisan shell games to hurry the legislation through the House and Senate. The veto by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly was anticipated. Two-thirds majorities, composed exclusively of Republicans, waited in the wings to override the governor and redefine the rights of Kansans.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
OPINION
Kansas Republicans go all in on defunding the police as exhausting 2026 session burns itself out
By Clay Wirestone
Forget Ad Astra per Aspera as the official Kansas motto.
Bring on Exhaustum et Stultus. Or if you want to translate the Latin into English: Embarrassing and Foolish.
That’s this journalist’s suggestion after watching the Kansas Legislature go out in a spasm of dysfunction early Saturday, with senators and representatives clashing over yet another doomed tax measure.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Kansas Legislature creates state capital-gains tax exemption for investors in gold, silver
TOPEKA — Republican Sen. Michael Murphy sold the Kansas Legislature on granting investors in gold and silver an exemption from state capital gains tax by noting the insightful allegory about monetary policy woven into “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”
Murphy, who represents the Sylvia area near Hutchinson, fought the past three years as a member of the House and now the Senate to pass a bill declaring gold and silver coin or bullion to be legal tender in Kansas. Under House Bill 2515, forwarded to Gov. Laura Kelly, future transactions conducted with the two precious metals wouldn’t be subject to the state income tax nor be eligible for assessment of sales or property taxes.
Kelly vetoes sports tourism program, allows religious freedom bill to move forward
TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed legislation that would have created a sports tourism grant program focused on expanding state investment in sporting events.
Trump picks fight with Pope Leo as Iran peace talks dissolve
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump lashed out at Pope Leo XIV Sunday night following the pontiff’s sharp criticism of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran and wider Middle East conflict.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Kansas Reflector staff will participate in the following free public forums.
6:30 p.m. April 14, McPherson College Mingenback Theatre. Opinion editor Clay Wirestone will join a panel discussion: "Write to Know: Law and a Free Press."
7 p.m. June 27, Park City Senior Center. Host: Park City Community Pride.
2 p.m. Sept. 27, Red Rocks Visitor Center, Emporia. Host: Red Rocks.
If you're interested in having us talk in your town, email Sherman Smith at [email protected].
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