Kansas Democratic Party
TOPEKA — First, Senate President Ty Masterson (R-Andover) banned the free press from the Senate Chamber floor and now, as reported by the Kansas Reflector, his counterpart in the House, Speaker Dan Hawkins (R-Wichita) is doing the same and forcing the press off the floor of the House Chamber.
Reporters and other media will no longer be allowed access to a designated workstation on either chamber floor and instead must observe and report from the public gallery.
This move comes on the heels of Senate Democratic Leader’s Dinah Sykes’ recent op-ed highlighting Republican leadership’s efforts to hide their true priorities: “With their supermajority, Republican politicians have promised paybacks for the ultra-rich, big corporations and out-of-state interests trying to impose their will on our state.”
“Very few things that are good, right or well-intentioned are done in the dark,” said Kansas Democratic Party Chair Jeanna Repass.
“Our free press and media provide a light on our politics and our lawmakers. It is disgraceful and disrespectful to Kansans to have this assault on the free press in our state capitol. What are Republicans trying to hide from the people who they are supposed to represent?,” said Repass.
The Kansas Democratic Party calls on Speaker Dan Hawkins to reverse this disturbing measure to suppress the media and reporters immediately.
As the 2025 legislative session moves into its first full week, Republicans must allow the citizens of Kansas to have access to the people whom we have entrusted as our representatives as they make the laws that impact our lives.