We follow the Kansas Legislature and keep track of their most ridiculous proposals. Below is an ever-expanding list of the 2013-2014 legislature's greatest hits:
Politicizing the Judicial System. For over 50 years, Kansas used a merit selection system to appoint judges to its appellate courts. This system was enacted to prevent corruption and to ensure that the judicial selection process was not politicized. At the urging of Governor Brownback, the legislature ended merit selection, and gave the Governor the sole power to pick judges for the Court of Appeals. Governor Bronwback then appointed his own attorney to the Court. Read more
Enabling Discrimination Against Gay People. Under the guise of religious freedom, the Kansas House passed HB 2453, which allows businesses and governments to deny services to gay people. The bill provoked unprecedented public outrage and subjected Kansas to national ridicule. Although legislators were repeatedly warned that the bill would be detrimental to both businesses and individuals, they chose to pass it anyway. Read more
Ultrasounds in the Capitol. On the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, anti-abortion demonstrations took place around the Capitol. That same day, a senate committee brought in a pregnant woman to have an ultrasound done in front of legislators. The chair of the committee, Sen. Mary Pilcher-Cook, said this was intended to "educate committee members about the science of what happens in the womb." Read more
Outlawing Surrogacy. A senate committee held hearings on a bill that would make surrogate parenting contracts illegal. During discussion, the chair of the committee said “With surrogacy, it’s a little bit different because you are creating a child purposely that you know is not going to have a biological mother.” Read more
Protecting Cable Companies from Competition. A group of telecommunications companies introduced SB 304, which made it illegal for cities to provide broadband internet services, and would have jeopardized new services like Google Fiber. The bill was scheduled for a hearing, but after a public outcry, the chair of the committee cancelled it. Read more
Nullifying Federal Gun Laws. In 2013 the legislature passed SB 102, which prohibits the federal government from enforcing certain federal gun laws. This law was so obviously unconstitutional that it prompted Attorney General Eric Holder to write a letter to Governor Brownback reminding him that a state cannot simply opt out of federal laws. The bill is expected to cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees. Read more
Nullifying Endangered Species Laws. In 2014 the senate passed SB 276, which prohibits the federal government from enforcing the Endangered Species Act. Like the gun nullification bill, this is an unconstitutional attempt by a state to stop the federal government from enforcing Congressional laws. If the bill becomes law, it could cost Kansas millions of dollars in federal funds, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees. Read more
Making Divorce Harder. A bill introduced by Rep. Keith Esau (R-Olathe) would eliminate no-fault divorce in Kansas. The bill would require a spouse to prove fault when petitioning for divorce, and eliminates incompatibility as grounds for divorce. No-fault divorce has been on the books for 60 years, and this bill would put an end to it. Read more
Stifling Free Speech. In 2013 the legislature passed HB 2162, which prohibits government employees from lobbying the legislature on issues related to gun control. For instance, if you work for a city or county, and you want to express your community's concerns to the legislature on a gun issue, you can't. In 2014, Rep. Brett Hildabrand (R-Shawnee) threatened a Wyandotte County employee with legal action for doing just that.
Repealing Educational Standards. In 2013 the legislature attempted to pass a bill that would have repealed existing math and reading standards in public schools. By doing this, the legislature attempted to usurp the power of the State Board of Education, whose constitutional duty is to supervise public schools. Having failed in that attempt, the legislature is trying again in 2014.
Promoting Conspiracy Theories. The legislature has introduced measures aimed at everything from water fluoridation (alleged to be a government plot to brainwash the public) to UN Agenda 21 (alleged to be a government plot to create a world government).
Banning Nudity in Strip Clubs. The "Community Defense Act" is a bill intended to drive strip clubs out of business, and has been introduced in the legislature repeatedly over the last six years. Each time, the legislature holds extensive hearings, featuring testimony from exotic dancers.
Spanking Children. HB 2699 would have allowed parents to spank their kids - or give permission to another person to spank their kids - to the point of redness and bruising. Like the "religious liberties bill," this story quickly became a national embarrassment
Putting Medicare at Risk. Having learned nothing about carefully vetting questionable legislation from the HB 2453 fiasco, a House committee passed HB 2553 "without debate" in 2014. This bill would allow Kansas to opt out of Obamacare with Congressional approval. Shortly thereafter, Insurance Commissioner Praeger warned that if the bill passed, it could put Medicare funding at risk, which would affect nearly half a million Kansans.
Enabling Discrimination Against Gay People. Under the guise of religious freedom, the Kansas House passed HB 2453, which allows businesses and governments to deny services to gay people. The bill provoked unprecedented public outrage and subjected Kansas to national ridicule. Although legislators were repeatedly warned that the bill would be detrimental to both businesses and individuals, they chose to pass it anyway. Read more
Ultrasounds in the Capitol. On the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, anti-abortion demonstrations took place around the Capitol. That same day, a senate committee brought in a pregnant woman to have an ultrasound done in front of legislators. The chair of the committee, Sen. Mary Pilcher-Cook, said this was intended to "educate committee members about the science of what happens in the womb." Read more
Outlawing Surrogacy. A senate committee held hearings on a bill that would make surrogate parenting contracts illegal. During discussion, the chair of the committee said “With surrogacy, it’s a little bit different because you are creating a child purposely that you know is not going to have a biological mother.” Read more
Protecting Cable Companies from Competition. A group of telecommunications companies introduced SB 304, which made it illegal for cities to provide broadband internet services, and would have jeopardized new services like Google Fiber. The bill was scheduled for a hearing, but after a public outcry, the chair of the committee cancelled it. Read more
Nullifying Federal Gun Laws. In 2013 the legislature passed SB 102, which prohibits the federal government from enforcing certain federal gun laws. This law was so obviously unconstitutional that it prompted Attorney General Eric Holder to write a letter to Governor Brownback reminding him that a state cannot simply opt out of federal laws. The bill is expected to cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees. Read more
Nullifying Endangered Species Laws. In 2014 the senate passed SB 276, which prohibits the federal government from enforcing the Endangered Species Act. Like the gun nullification bill, this is an unconstitutional attempt by a state to stop the federal government from enforcing Congressional laws. If the bill becomes law, it could cost Kansas millions of dollars in federal funds, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees. Read more
Making Divorce Harder. A bill introduced by Rep. Keith Esau (R-Olathe) would eliminate no-fault divorce in Kansas. The bill would require a spouse to prove fault when petitioning for divorce, and eliminates incompatibility as grounds for divorce. No-fault divorce has been on the books for 60 years, and this bill would put an end to it. Read more
Stifling Free Speech. In 2013 the legislature passed HB 2162, which prohibits government employees from lobbying the legislature on issues related to gun control. For instance, if you work for a city or county, and you want to express your community's concerns to the legislature on a gun issue, you can't. In 2014, Rep. Brett Hildabrand (R-Shawnee) threatened a Wyandotte County employee with legal action for doing just that.
Repealing Educational Standards. In 2013 the legislature attempted to pass a bill that would have repealed existing math and reading standards in public schools. By doing this, the legislature attempted to usurp the power of the State Board of Education, whose constitutional duty is to supervise public schools. Having failed in that attempt, the legislature is trying again in 2014.
Promoting Conspiracy Theories. The legislature has introduced measures aimed at everything from water fluoridation (alleged to be a government plot to brainwash the public) to UN Agenda 21 (alleged to be a government plot to create a world government).
Banning Nudity in Strip Clubs. The "Community Defense Act" is a bill intended to drive strip clubs out of business, and has been introduced in the legislature repeatedly over the last six years. Each time, the legislature holds extensive hearings, featuring testimony from exotic dancers.
Spanking Children. HB 2699 would have allowed parents to spank their kids - or give permission to another person to spank their kids - to the point of redness and bruising. Like the "religious liberties bill," this story quickly became a national embarrassment
Putting Medicare at Risk. Having learned nothing about carefully vetting questionable legislation from the HB 2453 fiasco, a House committee passed HB 2553 "without debate" in 2014. This bill would allow Kansas to opt out of Obamacare with Congressional approval. Shortly thereafter, Insurance Commissioner Praeger warned that if the bill passed, it could put Medicare funding at risk, which would affect nearly half a million Kansans.