Topeka Capital-Journal. January 5, 2024.
Editorial: Here’s what we want to see Kansas lawmakers accomplish in 2024
The 2024 Kansas legislative session is about to begin.
With the start of each session, there’s a hope that these leaders will come together and provide for a better future for Kansas. Keeping that in mind, several issues come to mind that we hope the Legislature will address this year.
Medicaid expansion: Are we beating our heads against the wall in futility? Probably. Is this too important an issue to quit talking about? Definitely. Expanding Medicaid will help too many Kansans to disregard yet again.
Water conservation: Gov. Kelly told The Capital-Journal this will be her top issue. It should be the top issue for many lawmakers. Water rights and conservation efforts are complicated subjects but critical to the success of farmers, conservationists and, well, everyone else in the state, not to mention those generations to follow.
Tax cuts: Republicans and Democrats need to think about everyday Kansans when deciding what to do with the state’s surplus in the ending balance. We hope the Legislature will be good stewards of our money.
Education: The big three topics for the year are funding public schools, funding special education and school choice, especially vouchers for private schools. We hope legislators will focus on supporting public teachers and schools.
Homelessness: There seems to be a bipartisan desire to do something but no real clear direction on what to do. We recommend lawmakers listen to experts (those without agendas) and take decisive steps.
Child care: Most of the talk has been on the proposed reorganization of state programs, which faces uncertain prospects mainly because Republicans don’t like the idea of adding a new state agency. But there’s also a push for some deregulation, particularly from Republicans, especially after last year’s bill failed.
Social hot-button issues: These aren’t expected to be as big of an issue this year, mainly because lawmakers got a lot of their goals accomplished last year. But abortion will likely see action on state funding, as well as tax breaks for crisis pregnancy centers. Transgender issues will likely be discussed, especially banning gender-affirming care for minors, but we doubt if anything advances beyond a committee hearing.
Legislative pay: Legislators will be in line for a big pay raise unless they reject it in the first 30 days. Right now, the question is less about whether the pay raise is the right amount, but whether legislators will even discuss disapproving it.
We hope legislators will give these items mindful consideration. We realize this is an election year. As such, we’re less likely to see focus on a particular issue and more just on politics. We’d be remiss if we didn’t remind legislators they need to prioritize their constituents over their reelection campaigns.
Finally, we wish all of Kansas good luck during this session. If the session is a success, that will translate to the rest of the state.
END
