Local lawmakers covered a variety of topics while meeting with local constituents Saturday morning for the first legislative dialogue of the year as organized by the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce Government Matters Committee and League of Women Voters.
Just ahead of Saturday’s activities, KVOE spoke with several local legislators to get their thoughts on the progress of the ongoing legislative session. 17th District Senator Jeff Longbine of Emporia says many may feel this session has been slower than in previous years, however, there has been a lot of work in committees and there has been a lot of development on various topics as a result of those efforts.
However, one area that appears to be at a standstill for the time being is the matter of tax policy according to Longbine. In late January, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly vetoed House Bill 2284, the Republican tax reduction plan saying the plan, what she calls a flat tax, “overwhelmingly” benefits the rich while doing “next to nothing” for middle-class residents.
The governor’s alternative plan, she says, has more impactful adjustments to standard deductions than the plan developed by Republicans with the governor saying the state cannot afford a flat tax. Longbine believes either plan is “doable” but their success is dependent on several variables.
While the majority of lawmakers identified tax policy as an item likely to see a significant amount of attention throughout the session, one item that may see more conversation in the coming weeks has to do with an alternative death penalty method. Both Kansas House 60th District Representative Mark Schreiber of Emporia and 76th District Representative Eric Smith of Burlington, both of whom serve on the Judiciary Committee, discussed the topic of Hypoxia as a new form of execution for death row inmates.
According to Schreiber, the topic became a talking point for Kansas lawmakers following the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith in Alabama last month, marking the first time in history the method has been used. Schreiber says he does not personally believe the issue needs to be taken up, however, there are many in the statehouse who want a closer look at if the new method could help traverse some of the “roadblocks” related to the traditional execution method of lethal injection.
The death penalty was not the only controversial subject KVOE broached with local lawmakers as Saturday’s dialogue came just three days after the mass shooting in Kansas City that injured more than 20 individuals and left one dead. With this in mind, KVOE asked if Schreiber and Smith felt this would garner more conversation on the topic of gun violence and control in the coming weeks.
Schreiber says he does not believe it will lead to significant debate, although he feels it should. Smith, however, believes it will see a high level of conversation as incidents such as this past Wednesday often serve as a “springboard” for such discussions that almost always become highly “politicized.”
Schreiber, Smith, Longbine and 13th District Representative Duane Droge all attended Saturday’s dialogue. The next dialogue is scheduled to be held Saturday, March 16.
