From Barton County League of Women Voters...
League Day at the Capitol on Feb. 14 attracted 70 League of Women Voters of Kansas (LWVK) members to Topeka. Speakers had 15- 20 minutes each to share their concerns about important issues that Kansans face today. After lunch attendees were able to contact their legislators.
Great Bend League members Jan Stice and Janice Walker greeted House Representative Tory Blew from District 112. A note on her desk had been left listing our concerns regarding water, expansion of Medicaid, and redistricting. Later, we sat down and visited with Senator Alicia Straub, District 33. Concern about our state water issues was our priority.
Speakers during the morning session included the following:
Micah Kubic, Ph.D., Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) spoke to the need for us to maintain our democracy as everyone needs a seat at the table. It is important for us to increase access to voting in our counties. Dr. Kubic encouraged us to read the poem Democracy by Langston Hughes: “Democracy will not come today, this year nor ever through compromise and fear….” Democracy by Langston Hughes - Famous poems, famous poets. - All Poetry
Tabitha Lehan, Certified Election Administrator, discussed the fact that voting in Kansas is good as citizens can vote by mail and are able to get on the permanent advanced voting list. Ballots are mailed early and have a specific code for each voter. The counties own the secure drop boxes that are placed in well-lit areas with video surveillance. The thin opening allows only one ballot at a time. Votes are placed in secure bags by two election staff and taken directly to the election offices. Ballot boxes should not be reduced. There is no ‘ballot harvesting.’
Paul Johnson, Legislative Consultant for LWVK, expressed great concern about the water issues in Kansas. He feels it is at a breaking point. Our streams and lakes are impaired, and Cheyenne Bottoms went dry in 2022. Now that Kansas has set aside $1 Billion in the ‘budget stabilization fund (rainy day fund)’ and plans to add more in 2024 - $500 million to $1 Billion more – a portion of that – say $100 million – should establish a ‘water rights recovery fund’ to extend the life of the Ogallala aquifer and save key watersheds such as ‘rattlesnake creek’ just above Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. Policy Watch #7 - February 17, 2023 - [email protected] - Gmail (google.com)
April Holman, Executive Director of Alliance for a Healthy Kansas. Ms. Holman is part of a coalition that wants to expand KanCare (Medicaid). 70% of Kansans join her in this agreement. This expansion was part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA/Obamacare) which took effect in 2014. Kansas is one of the 11 states that have not expanded this health care, so our federal tax dollars are going to the other states that have expanded their Medicaid programs. This year Senate Bill 225 has been introduced to expand KanCare. If approved Ms. Holman states that Kansas would get a sign-on bonus of $300-400 million over a 2-year period. This money could be used at the legislature’s discretion, i.e., for water issues. Medicaid expansion in Kansas: What to know before lawmakers convene in January | KCUR 89.3 - NPR in Kansas City
Sherri Grogan, People Powered Fair Maps/Redistricting committee League member. This committee updated the LWVK position statement on legislative and congressional redistricting. In 2021 the committee conducted training sessions on the redistricting process, providing testimony to the Legislature and the Kansas Supreme Court. The updated position statement will be voted upon during the LWVK Convention on April 22, 2023, in Wichita. The LWVK believes that responsibility for legislative and congressional redistricting should be vested in an entity that is independent of the legislature. As such, the independent entity should be non-partisan, composed of individuals who reflect the diversity of the residents of the state, and guided by the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Richard Pund, League Committee Chair of the Election Administration Position Statement Update. Because this topic is so broad, the committee will take the rest of the year to study this position. There are many different election methods used in the United States, such as Ranked Choice, Approval, and Cumulative voting. Education on these methods will be needed. Plurality voting is mostly used in our state where a candidate who polls more (gets more votes) than any other counterpart is elected. A co-chair will focus on topics related to barriers to voting and voter registration.