by Mary Rupert
Candidates for the state Legislature discussed issues during an election forum on Friday afternoon, July 24.
The virtual forum was sponsored by Business West and Kansas City Kansas Community College.
Candidates who had opposition in the primary election Aug. 4 were invited. Those who participated included Rep. Stan Frownfelter, D-37th Dist., Rep. Pam Curtis, D-32nd Dist., and Nelson Gabriel, a candidate for 35th District. Not attending were Oscar Irenia, a candidate for 32nd District; Aaron Coleman, a candidate for 37th District; and Rep. Broderick Henderson, incumbent in the 35th District.
It was thought before the 2019 legislative session that Medicaid expansion might pass in Kansas, especially after discussions between leaders. However, it did not pass during the session, which was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and Medicaid expansion may return as an issue in the 2020-2021 Legislature.
“It’s too bad this has become a political nightmare for us in Topeka,” Rep. Frownfelter said. Medicaid expansion is something that has to be done to serve all the people in Kansas, he said.
Rep. Curtis said she supported Medicaid expansion, and has voted for it twice.
“That was one of the biggest disappointments of last session, that we were not able to get Medicaid expansion passed,” she said. Medicaid expansion would have helped hospitals greatly during this pandemic, she said. She hopes they will get it passed next year.
Gabriel said he talked to a woman who had to wait a two-year period in order to get necessary care, who would not have had to wait if Medicaid expansion had been in place.
“Expanding Medicaid would mean 8,736 individuals in Wyandotte County would have access to health care,” Gabriel said. “That would bring new jobs, expand our community economically.” He definitely would support Medicaid expansion, he added.
He said there needs to be better relationships and education to get the bill passed. There can be a consensus built in Topeka, he believes, in order to expand Medicaid.
Rep. Curtis said last year, they thought they had the best chance ever to pass Medicaid expansion, as the governor and majority leader struck a deal to pass it. Unfortunately, Medicaid expansion was held hostage for something else that was not achievable, Rep. Curtis said.
While they removed some of the obstacles, she said, it just came down in the end to holding the bill hostage to something else. She said she hopes with a different Legislature next year, there may be some who are more open-minded.
Rep. Frownfelter said it was politics. “We’re too busy trying to make the person in office look bad and not give them anything as opposed to doing what’s good for Kansas,” he said.
When he first started, there were 48 to 50 Democrats in the House, and there were moderates who would vote with them sometimes. Currently, there are fewer Democrats, and they don’t have enough votes to win.
On the topic of Gov. Laura Kelly’s authority and executive orders, Rep. Frownfelter said again, it’s all politics.
He said when former Gov. Sam Brownback was in office, they gave him all the leeway he wanted, and now that a Democrat is in office, they’re doing everything they can to limit her power.
Rep. Curtis is opposed to limiting the governor’s powers.
“Now’s the time that we need to empower her to do whatever is necessary to keep our citizens safe,” she said. “I think we’ve tied her hands too much with what we’ve done. I’m real concerned about that. I’m real concerned about how going forward that works out with us dealing with the pandemic.
“Now’s the time that we all come together, we’ve got to put politics aside,” Rep. Curtis said. “When you’re talking about people’s lives, and people’s health, that’s the time.”
Gabriel agreed that they were playing politics with people’s lives and that shouldn’t happen.
With a potential shortfall in the hundreds of millions for schools this year, it will be tough, Rep. Frownfelter said, because they don’t know what they have to spend.
There is a lot to deal with right now, and with the pandemic hitting, the revenues are coming in later from income taxes, and sales tax revenues have been affected, he said.
“I hope we don’t have to cut education, especially K through 12,” Rep. Frownfelter said.
Rep. Curtis said it’s going to be very challenging if the federal government doesn’t come through with some kind of relief for states and cities. They’re going to have additional demand as they open up, with providing personal protective equipment and resources.
“We’ve finally gotten to where we wanted, constitutionally we’re funding schools, and then this hit, the rug pulled out from under you,” Rep. Curtis said. “We have to protect the funding if at all possible. Number one, we don’t want to get out of whack with funding schools under the state constitution again, and number two, it’s just needed there. Hopefully we’ll be able to figure out a way and just keep our fingers crossed the federal government provides some relief to states.”
Gabriel said he agreed, and wanted to make sure that at least kindergarten through 12th grade are adequately funded.
Rep. Frownfelter, a small business owner, said he was able to attain the highest minimum wage increase in Kansas during his years in office, also got a property cleanup bill passed and was able to get child care tax credits to Kansas families.
He said he also wants to get prescription drug costs lowered, medical marijuana passed and make sure employers pay a livable wage of $15 to $20 per hour to bring back the middle class.
Rep. Curtis said she has tried to increase communication while serving in the Legislature by sendng out a newsletters and also by participating in forums and meetings. She said she was proud to be part of the coalition that ended the Brownback tax cut and part of the coalition that restored funding to the public schools.
Once COVID-19 surfaced in the past session, everything changed, she said. She serves on the House Judiciary Committee, that did a lot of work crafting legislation to keep government operating. She said she would continue to support the governor’s measures, based on science and recommendations of health officials.
Next year, they also will tackle redistricting and there are critical issues that need to be looked at, she said. She also supports prevailing wage, and last year she partnered to sponsor a measure on domestic violence. Last year they also were able to get additional funding for arts organizations.
Rep. Curtis said she loved serving in the Legislature, and is looking forward to continuing to serve. The experience of the past six years makes her a better legislator and puts her in the position to do some things for the community, she said.
Gabriel said he has lived in Wyandotte County more than 20 years. He said the 35th District needed a representative who would be visible and bring ideas from the district to Topeka.
He is concerned about health care, education and services for children. Gabriel is president and CEO of Made Men Inc., and the former president and CEO of Unity in the Community. He is a former Louisiana state representative.
A questionnaire from Rep. Broderick Henderson, incumbent, stated that his 26 years of experience in the Legislature gives him an advantage.
Rep. Henderson stated that he has always voted for increasing minimum wage, the reinstatement of prevailing wages, expansion of housing opportunities, providing more funding for public education, and policies that would help the businesses in the Fairfax Industrial District. In the House of Representatives, he voted to expand Medicaid, However, it failed in the Kansas Senate.
In the questionnaire, Rep. Henderson stated his top three issues: “The first issue is the impact of the coronavirus. I will work for Medicaid Expansion so that members of the 35th District will have access to health insurance.
The second issue is public education. I have in the past and will continue to support quality public education and adequate funding.
The third issue is employment. I will continue to work with the small businesses in the 35th district and the businesses in Fairfax Industrial District to help prepare workers for employment. I will also work to help create new businesses.”
The primary election is Aug. 4.
The candidate forums are online at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfeRPiOepX1DVWc9Tz2RISP4a-Hmxnpq.
To see a questionnaire from Nelson Gabriel, visit https://wyandotteonline.com/questionnaire-gabriel-seeks-election-to-35th-district/
To see a questionnaire from Rep. Broderick Henderson, visit https://wyandotteonline.com/questionnaire-rep-henderson-seeks-re-election-in-35th-district/.
To see a questionnaire from Rep. Frownfelter, visit https://wyandotteonline.com/questionnaire-rep-frownfelter-seeks-re-election-to-37th-district/.
To see a questionnaire from Oscar Irenia, visit https://wyandotteonline.com/questionnaire-irenia-runs-for-32nd-district-house/.
Information about Aaron Coleman is at https://wyandotteonline.com/coleman-on-ballot-for-37th-district-house/.
Rep. Pam Curtis’ webpage is at https://www.curtisforkck.com/.
For information about Rep. Henderson, visit http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/members/rep_henderson_broderick_1/.
For information on how to vote, advance voting and when the polls are open, visit www.wycovotes.org.
