THE TRUTH REPORT
A Weekly Rundown of Important Activity in Topeka, from a Principled Perspective
Week Five -- February 18, 2019
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
This is a child we can see, that we can hear, that someone can hold, that someone can love. This is a child who can feel pain. This is a child can feel love. Killing that living child by leaving them to die is depravity.
- State Senator Mary Pilcher Cook during debate on SCR 1606
FACTS OF THE MATTER
The Facts of the Matter is a feature in The Truth Report each week, highlighting important information, some of which is not always reported or emphasized in the mainstream press:

  • Job openings hit record high of 7.3 million in December. The number of job openings hit a record high of 7.3 million in December, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday in a sign of the labor market's strength.The previous high was set in August. Data goes back to the year 2000. The private sector drove the new record, with private entities accounting for 6.7 million job vacancies — also a record high. The construction industry recorded 382,000 new posts, far more than ever before. (Source)

  • Kelly Flip Flops - Proposes KPERS Plan She Recently Opposed. Governor Kelly’s KPERS re-amortization plan, which was defeated overwhelmingly in the House this week, is similar to a plan proposed by the Brownback administration in 2017 that then Senator Kelly opposed and said, “would unravel all the work done to ensure the financial stability of KPERS.” Senator Kelly also went on to criticize Governor Brownback for “short-term thinking.” (Source)

  • Medicaid Expansion States Considering Measures Restricting Program. Medicaid Expansion proponents often discuss the fact Kansas is one of 14 states not to expand. What they never mention is that some of the states that have expanded are considering measures that would remove them from the program under certain conditions (See Idaho - Source) or refuse money from the program (see Utah – Source). The reasons in these cases revolve around cost or potential cost.

NEWS & VIEWS
News & Views is a weekly collection of relevant news items and editorials regarding what's going on in Topeka and around the State of Kansas.
Big News from the Kansas Capitol This Week
( Source)

This week, the Kansas Senate debated SCR 1606, an important pro-life resolution condemning the recent “Reproductive Health Act” passed by the State of New York. That bill was carried by Sen. Mary Pilcher Cook. In addition, an important religious liberty bill was introduced by Rep. Renee Erickson in the House. The Family Policy Alliance covered both items in a column by Brittany Jones.

Key Excerpt:

The good news is that  today , the Kansas Senate  became the first legislative body in the country  to officially condemn New York’s outrageous abortion law. Kansas is a state that cherishes life, and we are appalled that any state in the United States would believe that New York’s law is acceptable – much less something to celebrate. This was a monumental day for the state of Kansas as we lead the discussion in the nation on the value of human life!

We are extremely grateful for the leadership of Senators Mary Pilcher-Cook, Susan Wagle, Ty Masterson, Caryn Tyson, and Julia Lynn in cherishing life. Now the resolution heads to the House of Representatives, where Statesmen Academy alum, Susan Humphries, will lead the discussion.

In other positive news from this week, another Statesmen Academy alum, Renee Erickson, introduced H.B. 2288 that will clarify and enshrine in law the religious speech protection for all students and educators. This bill protects students’ rights to voluntarily express their faith and to pray on school grounds. It further clarifies a grey area of the law regarding the protections that faculty and coaches have when it comes to their religious beliefs. This bill simply reinforces that schools cannot discriminate against a student or an educator for holding and living out their beliefs in a public school.
Transparency Center: Follow the Kansas Legislature
You can view video streaming of both chambers via the Kansas Legislature YouTube page. In addition, many committees are now audio streamed. Finally, the Kansas Legislature website remains a great resource. Here are the relevant links:


YouTube Streaming: http://bit.ly/2CZj9O0

Giving a Voice to the Voiceless: Standing Up for the Right to Life 
The first part of 2019 has been discouraging if you believe in the right to life. From the ghastly Reproductive Health Act in New York to similar bills in Vermont and New Mexico to a shocking comment by the Governor of Virginia essentially defending infanticide, it would be easy to be discouraged.

This is all the more reason why it was imperative pro-life leaders stand up and call out evil when it is occurring, while simultaneously signaling that in Kansas, legislators will stand for life.

On Monday, a large array of legislators in both the Kansas House and Senate held a press conference announcing the introduction of SCR 1606 , an important pro-life resolution condemning the recently enacted Reproductive Health Act in New York. Led by pro-life women such as Senator Mary Pilcher Cook, Senate President Susan Wagle, and Rep. Susan Humphries, the press conference demonstrated the unity Kansas legislators have in giving a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves.

While some may question why the actions of another state are the business of Kansas, in truth this should be a call to action for all Kansans and all Americans – we must reaffirm our commitment to the unalienable right to life. We will be judged for how we treat the most vulnerable among us – it is unconscionable to sit by and do nothing.

On Wednesday, the Senate debated the legislation, and Senator Mary Pilcher Cook carried the bill. You can watch the debate by clicking here – the debate begins at the 1:03 mark.

During her advocacy for the legislation, Senator Pilcher-Cook made a number of powerful statements in defense of the bill:

When extreme injustice is done on living human beings, it is incumbent upon Kansas leaders to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. This is a civil rights issue. We need to let the Kansas Supreme Court know that we find this mentality unacceptable.
 
This is a child we can see, that we can hear, that someone can hold, that someone can love. This is a child who can feel pain. This is a child can feel love. Killing that living child by leaving them to die is depravity.

Infanticide used to be unthinkable but abortion advocates have made it debatable; and are now saying it is justifiable. If our society refuses to recognize human life is sacred, all moral worth is dependent on those in power and each human life is at risk.

During the debate and the ensuing explanations of vote on Thursday, a number or Senate Democrats actually defended the Reproductive Health Act. Thankfully, the bill passed with an overwhelming margin of 27-13.
House Delivers Resounding Defeat of KPERS Reamortization Proposal
A few weeks ago, many were surprised when Governor Laura Kelly announced that reamoritizing KPERS was a cornerstone of her budget and her agenda for the state of Kansas. This was particularly stunning in light of the fact that Senator Laura Kelly had vigorously opposed a similar plan when it was proposed by Governor Brownback.
Kelly’s short-term KPERS budget gain would save $143.0 million but would end up costing the state $7.0 billion.

This is why the KPERS Board described the idea as “terrible’ and “unwise.”

This week, the Kansas House echoed those sentiments in rejecting the plan on a lopsided vote of 87-36. Passing a budget is the foremost task of any legislative session and so it was important that the governor’s proposal be given its day to consider. During the consideration of the bill, rather than keeping her proposal clean, Democrats tried to pass a number of amendments, which were rejected.

Ultimately, every single Republican present voted against it, as did four Democrats.
Tax Increases Slowing Consumer Confidence in Kansas
Michael Austin, an economist with the Sandlian Center for Entrepreneurial Government, indicated this week that economic statistics in Kansas could be sending a signal that consumer confidence in spending is slowing – and it could be the result of tax increases.

The concerning figure was sales tax receipts, which were down over the Christmas season from last year. The December number is particularly telling, as Kansans apparently had a little less Christmas in 2018. “What we are sure about is, in the latest tax report, sales tax dropped by $9 million. If you reverse engineer that, it means holiday shopping in Kansas dropped a whopping $85 million.”

WIBW covered his comments in this story .
Religious Freedom on Campus – Protecting the Right to Free Exercise
Across the country, threats to the constitutional right to the free exercise of religion are under threat. Students and educators alike are being pushed to keep their faith under wraps, which is contrary to the very purpose of the First Amendment.

Here in Kansas, Rep. Renee Erickson is taking the lead to protect the right to free exercise in the form of HB 2288 , which according to the Family Policy Alliance of Kansas, “protects students’ rights to voluntarily express their faith and to pray on school grounds. It further clarifies a grey area of the law regarding the protections that faculty and coaches have when it comes to their religious beliefs. This bill simply reinforces that schools cannot discriminate against a student or an educator for holding and living out their beliefs in a public school.”
You can read more about the legislation in the release from the Family Policy Alliance of Kansas by clicking here .
Truth Caucus Adopts Principled Priorities; Hosts Booth at Kansas Republican Convention
The Kansas Truth Caucus is devoted to promoting principles such as limited government, individual liberty, free enterprise, and traditional values. These principles can be found across the myriad of issues the Legislature tackles year to year, from the right to life (as seen in SCR 1606) to health care freedom to ensuring money remains in the pockets of the people of Kansas.

At the start of the 2018 session, the Kansas Truth Caucus membership adopted “Principled Priorities” – establishing a foundation from how we will approach specific issues and legislation. Recently, the membership voted to renew these Principled Priorities, which can be found in the graphics below:
For the second year in a row, the Truth Caucus had a booth this weekend at the Kansas Republican Convention, where we promoted our Principled Priorities and encouraged people to sign up to receive our Grassroots Alerts. It was successful and a great time. Thank you to all who came by and signed up!  Here is a photo of our booth: