One of the most important votes in the Senate, for this session, happened this week on the pro-life amendment. In 2019 the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that the Kansas Constitution contains the right to an abortion. With a vote of 28-12 the Kansas Senate passed the Value Them Both Amendment to reverse the Supreme Court ruling that threatened to destroy all abortion regulation in Kansas. The Value Them Both Constitutional Amendment is needed to protect current Kansas abortion regulations such as parental consent, informed consent, the late-term abortion ban and clinic regulations. While this constitutional amendment protects life and safety of Kansas woman, it should be argued it also does more. It is about preserving three separate branches of government. The legislative branch was designed to create laws. Legislators are held accountable and elected by voters. Effectively removing laws voters already approved is an overreach of the judicial branch of government. A “yes” vote on the ballot for the Value Them Both Constitutional Amendment keeps regulations and laws already in place and approved by voters, on the books. Abortion regulation allows us to value both the mother and the child and regulate a health care industry in the same way all other industries are regulated for public safety. Passing this resolution out of the Senate is step one of three steps. Next this resolution will need to pass out of the House with two-thirds vote. The last step is the Kansas voter’s decision to pass or not pass the constitutional amendment as part of the primary election in August 2020.
Members of the Senate’s Federal and State Affairs Committee are working out details on a bill that would allow licensed casinos to conduct sports wagering on their premises and some online betting. Under the proposal this bill, SB 283, will create a separate Sports Wagering Receipts Fund in the State Treasury. Under the plan, the state would levy a 7.5% tax on revenue from in-person bets and 10% on online bets. My hope is that this additional revenue from gaming can be used for property tax relief. According to the Kansas Department of Revenue property taxes in Kansas increased 164% from 1997 to 2018. The rate of inflation during that time period was 49.5%.
Property tax collections have risen by more than $1 billion over the past decade. Kansans now pay more than $5 billion in property taxes each year, according to the 2019 analysis by WalletHub.
Starting this week the Senate Ways and Means Committee will start on individual agency budgets. As last year, I serve on six of the budget subcommittees and chair two of these committees.
We have opportunities for students (12 years and older) in middle school, junior high or high school to come to Topeka to be a page. It is a great learning experience about the legislative process and an opportunity to see Kansas’ beautiful Capitol building. The dates available to page are February 10, February 17, February 24 and March 9. If you are interested, contact my office assistant at 785-296-7399.
It is an honor and pleasure to serve the 40th Senate District of Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact me by e-mail at [email protected] or you may call me with your questions or concerns. My office number is 785-296-7399 or my cell number is 785-899-4700. If you are in Topeka, stop by my office at 236-E.