Newsletter from State Sen. David Haley, D-4th Dist.
by Sen. David Haley
Americans continue to campaign for and ultimately elect our next president this year. But whether the majority of Kansans ultimately support one of today’s respective political front runners (Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump) or not, the microcosm of national party rhetoric and debates will launch and resonate in Kansas beginning Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, as the state Legislature commences for our 155th regular session.
Leadership and some media pundits are predicting a quick session this year. But I am not, personally, as optimistic.
Even after the record setting length (114 days where only 90 days are prescribed) and shameful results (implementing the largest and most regressive tax increase in Kansas history) of the 2015 session, Kansas’ financial woes and social prospects remain dim. Revenue projections yet falter; public school, highway, judicial funding lags.
Frankly, both political parties’ leaders now fault corporate income tax cuts instituted by Gov. Brownback for Kansas’ dismal economy and reduction in overall life quality. With no programs left to cut; no new taxes to raise; a ”quick” session?
As your senator, my record is a strong voice for individual rights; personal freedoms for all Kansans and advocacies that law-abiding citizens have rights to privacy and to remain unencumbered by government. We are entitled to the independence to make personal decisions and to insure that government plugs systemic gaps in income and social inequity so that every legal American is afforded basic quality of life standards; health care, public education, transportation, responsible elected representation, judicial and law enforcement.
Bear in mind that I remain committed to being fiscally responsible and of supporting inclusive priorities for all Kansas which means opposing new intrusive government legislation, protecting 2nd amendment rights, providing our children with good and safe schools, make wealthy entities contribute their fair share, securing real jobs to improve our state economy.. Again, in the vernacular: ”Do you feel me ?!”
Feel free to contact or come see us in the Statehouse as the 2016 Session commences after Jan. 11, 2016. Please mention this column to family members and friends, and feel free to keep me posted on your views of state issues. (You may contact me at 785-296-7376 ; [email protected]; #davidhaleyks ; kslegislature.org.)
Legislative forum
Concerned citizens packed a town hall forum held by the Wyandotte County Legislative Delegation last Tuesday at the West Wyandotte Branch KCK Public Library. For almost three hours, some of the issues raised included : Encouraging youth to be more civicly active in politics; an overview of the KCK Chamber of Commerce’s legislative agenda; reforming foster care policies which remove inner city children from parental or grand-parental custody, care or even contact; enacting medical marijuana ; abolition of the death penalty ; lowering Kansas’ sales tax (at least on food or grocery items, the highest in the nation) ;implementing certain gun control and stronger background check measures ; supporting public school funding to continue the progress in USD 500 (KCK School District) ; an announcement of candidacies for Wyandotte County District Attorney and 35th House District; supporting in state college tuition for undocumented children; reciprocity for Kansas-Missouri doctors and health insurance plans; prescription drug benefit managers and reforming payday loan percentages and comparables on real property appraisals … to name but a few.
Pension obligation bond initiative
I will call for a legislative post audit of the $1 billion pension obligation bond initiative to clarify who Kansas hired and how this worthwhile, but risky, further indebtedness is being managed.
Legislation on filling empty elected positions
I take pride in passing a measure in 2015 that insures the travesty and shame of the record that Wyandotte County holds in the state (of two years) for a vacancy not being filled to an elected position (UG 1st District-At-Large Commissioner / April 2013-April 2015) will never be repeated in Kansas. With my Senate district contained in the unrepresented 1st District-At-Large, I believed this travesty of underrepresentation created and perpetrated by Mayor Holland and the UG Commission was an insult to any voting Kansan. Now, any city or county government must fill an elected office vacancy within 60 days of the vacancy or hold a special public election. Seem obvious to you? It did to the majority of the Kansas Legislature, too. (Kudos again to Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Sly James who, on the first day confronted with a council member vacancy, set in motion procedures to have the elected seat timely filled.)
Proposed legislation on witness identification
Shouldn’t all “eyewitness” identification used to prosecute or convict a suspect have certain consistent benchmarks? Once again, legislation that will amend current law pertaining to eyewitness identification; establishing consistent procedures that ensure the reliability of any photo or live lineup will be introduced. Should the procedures not be followed (or there is any other contamination of the evidence), only the court would determine whether the eyewitness identification is admissible.
Law enforcement camera legislation
This session, I will enhance my previous “dash camera” and “video-taping of all felony interrogations” introduced bill themes now with a bill requiring all law enforcement officers to wear a functioning camera during their respective shifts. Many Kansas departments already detail cameras. Law-enforcement, prosecutors and defense counsel often all agree that an accurate depiction of an interaction between law enforcement and a citizen is often the best of evidence.(The President authorized and has partially awarded $75 million in federal grants available for such equipment. Although KCK Police Department was awarded a $350,000 matching grant from the U.S. Dept. of Justice, the UG rejected the money for concerns of privacy and storage. So, until the policy is perfected, Kansas, and America, must remain vigilant and reliant on avid cell phone camera videos to inform, secure and protect the rights of law enforcement and everyday people alike.