Cutting Down the Rotten Tree of Reverse Racism

As far as I'm concerned, DEI, CRT, and SEL are all branches of the same rotten tree that stokes division. Requiring applicants for university positions to swear their allegiance to DEI amounts to nothing more than an ideological loyalty oath. 

This week, I offered - and the Senate Ways and Means Committee adopted - an amendment to insert provisio language into the budget bill that will ban public post-secondary institutions in Kansas from asking employment applicants about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). These questions are used to specifically exclude applicants who believe all people should be treated equally, regardless of their race or gender. They’re designed to solicit an equity-type statement that promotes perpetual victimhood, resentment and division.

DEI and its siblings CRT and SEL are divisive ideologies that promote a toxic woke culture in our schools. Imagine being told an outside force is working against you in life and you have no control through your choices to be successful. That’s DEI...

WEEK 8 |  February 27th - March 3rd, 2023

LET’S START WITH THE FACTS

Shawnee won’t enforce future county mask orders or vaccine rules. Nearly three years after the initial onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city of Shawnee has adopted new rules saying it will not enforce future Johnson County health orders having to do with masks, vaccines and social distancing. (Source)

Educrats fear the coming of ESAs, educational freedom. At this time, the Kansas legislature is considering an ESA bill that would give money directly to parents to choose education alternatives for their children, including private school tuition. The education establishment is vehemently opposed to this and they use all kinds of spurious, fear-inducing arguments to make their case. (Source)

Kansas school district: gender identity can be kept from parents, avoiding preferred pronouns can cause death. A school district in Kansas published a gender support plan that appears to show that a student's gender identity can be hidden from their parents, and teachers are told that avoiding the use of preferred names and pronouns can lead to a student's death. The Wichita Public Schools' gender support plan asks several questions to learn about the privacy of a student's gender identity and their access to certain facilities. (Source)

Big pay increases for bureaucrats mean tax hikes for residents. While the “pronoun pins” the Johnson County government recently purchased are a fairly minor cost to the taxpayers, the big raise Johnson County wants to pay will be in the millions. A salary study contracted with Salary.com (formerly CompData), which conducted prior surveys, suggested a more than 6% average salary increase across the board — which would mean a cost for Johnson County taxpayers to the tune of some $18.3 million. (Source)

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Freedom can exist only in the society of knowledge. Without learning, men are incapable of knowing their rights.” - Benjamin Rush

DICKINSON COUNTY FIRST RESPONDERS VISIT STATEHOUSE

LEAVENWORTH HIGH SCHOOL JR ROTC VISITS THE SENATE GALLERY

This week, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Leavenworth High School Jr ROTC program to the Senate Gallery. Founded in 1897, it was one of the first in the nation and in 1961, they were the first in the nation to establish the Ranger program. This program has grown to an average of 300-400 students a year. From that group, an elite few have been awarded the National Title for the 3rd year in a row. The men placed 2nd and the women came in 1st! Congratulations to this fine group of young men and women!

REPUBLICANS ARE THE ONLY PARTY AXING ANY TAXES

Given all the campaign rhetoric about axing taxes, one would think that Governor Kelly and her Democratic allies actually want to eliminate the sales tax on food. Thus, Kansans are rightfully expecting sales taxes on food to go to zero in 2025. However, that is not the case.

Current law – and the governor’s plan -- only eliminates the state sales tax on food - but leaves in place local taxes on food, which are typically in the 2-4% range, depending on the local jurisdiction.

That’s not zero.

The reality is that Republicans are the only party that is serious about axing any taxes. If we’re going to be serious about truth in taxation, we must match up our rhetoric with results. Last week, the Senate adopted three bills that eliminate taxes for every Kansan.

That starts with taking food taxes to true zero. The legislature sets what items are subject to sales tax, and SB 248 would exempt all non-prepared food and food ingredients. This means Kansans’ grocery bill would have no sales tax added to it at all. Republicans are working on a plan to alleviate the impact on local budgets and in doing so, ensure Kansans’ property taxes do not go up.

It also means we must reduce and eventually eliminate the tax on retirement income, with the priority being social security, as is done in SB 33. The state should not rely upon promised federal benefits for revenue.

Finally, SB 169 enacts real structural reform that creates an income tax system that is fairer, simpler, and lower, and eliminates income taxes for some low-income Kansans. The governor is perfectly fine with taxing the first dollar of income at 3.1%. Under the bill, the first $5,225 and $10,450 of taxes are not taxed.

While revenue calculations are an important aspect of policy - our primary interest is with citizens, not governments - and ensuring as much revenue remains in the pockets of Kansans.

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Senate Votes to Block Biden Rule Allowing Retirement Fund Managers to Prioritize Social Causes. On Wednesday, the Senate voted 50-46 to block a Biden administration rule that allows retirement plan fiduciaries to consider environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in investment decisions. (Source)

Senate unanimously passes bill to declassify intelligence on COVID-19 origins. The Senate passed legislation Wednesday evening that would require the Biden administration to declassify all intelligence related to the Wuhan Institute of Virology and possible links to the origins of the COVID-19 virus, in light of the weekend report that concluded the coronavirus pandemic likely stemmed from a lab leak. (Source)

McCarthy says government must butt out of kids' education, pushes federal 'Parents Bill of Rights.' Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said the government must stay out of children's education, which he called the "great equalizer," at a press conference to reintroduce the "Parents Bill of Rights Act." "It doesn't matter if you're from Louisiana, Florida, Indiana, New York or North Carolina or even California. It doesn't matter, the color [of] your skin, your wealth. When you have a child that is the most important thing in your life," McCarthy said at the press conference. "And one thing we know in this country is education is the great equalizer." (Source)

Make America Florida: DeSantis Proposes Digital Bill of Rights. The new "Digital Bill of Rights" will enshrine rights for those who use certain online platforms to better "protect Floridians from Big Tech harm and Big Tech overreaches. We want to protect your right as a Floridian to have private, in- person conversations without Big Tech surveilling you. If you want to consent to let them have this information so they can fashion advertising based off of it, it’s your right to consent to do so but it should only be if you consent,” DeSantis said. (Source)

Stock Market At ‘Critical’ Level And Braced For ‘High Risk’ Of Collapse In March—Here’s What Investors Should Know. After a slew of data showing the economy in a much more precarious position than previously believed, the stock market could be poised for another forceful plunge in March, according to Morgan Stanley’s investment chief, who notes that the last month of the quarter has been difficult for stocks over the year, as investors gear up for a fresh round of negative earnings reports. (Source)

Midshipmen warn left-wing politics are infiltrating Merchant Marine Academy: 'Last frontier for  woke ideology.' Multiple current and former midshipmen at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York, told Fox News Digital that "woke" ideology has been seeping into the school in recent years and has accelerated under the leadership of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. (Source)

Here are links to help you stay connected with and follow the Kansas Legislature:

• Kansas Legislature YouTube – Here you can follow the legislature live as it happens, or access archives of past sessions and committee meetings.
• Kansas Legislature Audio – Here you can listen in on session or committees when they are in session, or access prior committee meetings, as well.
• Kansas Legislature Website – Find extensive information on legislators, committees, bills, and past sessions.

A new feature, I am going to include this section to provide information from government agencies that may be helpful to you. When timely, these will be in each week’s newsletter. 

Kansas KEEP

Qualifying Families Can Now Apply for $1000 per Student For Learning Recovery

The Kansas Education Enrichment Program (KEEP) is now open to applications from qualifying parents and guardians of Kansas students. KEEP provides a $1,000 award per student to pay for various educational goods and services that promote learning recovery and facilitate academic enrichment opportunities.  

KEEP funds may be used on various enrichment and educational activities, including:  

• Day and overnight camps with academic-related curriculum such as music, arts, science, technology, agriculture, mathematics, and engineering  

• Curriculum and educational materials, including certain technological devices  

• Language classes 

• Musical instruments and lessons  

• Tutoring  

The funds are not eligible for private school tuition. 

Eligibility for KEEP funds is determined by financial need, and funds will be distributed to actively enrolled K-12 Kansas students between the ages of 5-18. Students whose household income is less than 185% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines are eligible. 

Property Tax Relief

During the 2022 session, there were several changes to tax law. One change is the first step in a property tax freeze for low-income seniors and disabled veterans via a rebate program administered by the KS Department of Revenue (KDOR). 

Applications for property tax relief must be submitted by April 18, 2023, and can be found at https://www.ksrevenue.gov/pdf/k-40svr.pdf

Please note that to qualify for the “freeze” a household's annual income must be $50,000 or below, a homeowner must be 65 years or older, and the value of the home cannot be above $350,000. A disabled veteran must be at least 50% disabled. Property taxes are still paid to the county and then a homeowner may apply to KDOR for a refund on their increase, resulting in a freeze. 

Helping Main Street Emerge from COVID Lockdowns 

To help small storefront businesses that shut down or have been negatively impacted by the governor’s shutdown during COVID, the legislature established a program to provide some property tax relief. 

• Details of the program can be found here.

• Applications can be found by clicking here.

Insurance Help  

Having trouble with your insurance company? Please contact the Kansas Department of Insurance—consumer assistance representatives are always standing by to help! File a complaint or seek assistance online at insurance.ks.gov, by phone at 785-296-3071, or by email at KID.webcomplaints@ks.gov.