Opinion column
by Rep. Pam Curtis, D-32nd Dist.
The 2022 Legislative Session has started. Redistricting, Covid-19 relief, ending the sales tax on groceries, and cannabis reform are each on the agenda this session.
Your opinion matters to me. If you haven’t already, please take a few moments to answer my 2022 Legislative Agenda. Your feedback will help me formulate my votes in the coming weeks and months. Representative democracy doesn’t work without you.
The legislative survey is at https://www.curtisforkck.com/2022survey.
It is a special honor to serve as your state representative. I value and appreciate your input on issues facing state government. Please feel free to contact me with your comments and questions.
My office address is Room 452-S, 300 SW 10th, Topeka, KS 66612. You can reach me at 785-296-7430 or call the legislative hotline at 1-800-432-3924 to leave a message for me. You can also e-mail me at [email protected]
During week 2, legislators came together in bipartisan cooperation to extend Governor Kelly’s emergency declaration. House Democrats and Republicans released the first iterations of congressional redistricting maps. Additionally, three constitutional amendments were formally put forward to legalize marijuana and expand Medicaid.
Committees are beginning to get busy as bills are assigned and hearings scheduled to consider and advance legislation forward. My committee assignments include ranking member on the House Local Government Committee, member of the House Judiciary Committee and a nember of the House Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Committee. I also serve on the Joint Committee on Information Technology “JCIT” as well as the Information Technology Executive Council “ITEC.”
There have been several visitors making their way to the Statehouse this session. Please let me know if you are coming. It is always good to see people from home.
Responding to the COVID-19 surge with bipartisan cooperation
To kick off the week, Democrats and Republicans hastily passed HB 2477, a bill extending Gov. Laura Kelly’s emergency declaration following pleas from hospitals and nursing homes. It passed on emergency final action 106-5 without much fanfare in the House. She signed the bill into law on Friday afternoon.
Redistricting: Blue Stem, Ad Astra, Buffalo 2, and Sunflower
On Tuesday, Jan. 18, the House Redistricting Committee brought forth the first iterations of congressional redistricting maps. Redistricting Committee Ranking Member Tom Burroughs introduced a map in support of the League of Women Voters, deemed the “Buffalo 2” map. Three other maps were introduced by Republican Reps. Chris Croft and Kyle Hoffman.
In the “Ad Astra” map, presented by Redistricting Chairman Chris Croft, Johnson and Wyandotte counties are notably divided. This was a concerning map and ignored input from Kansans. People from all across the state submitted over 500 pieces of testimony during the Redistricting Listening Tour in August, and more than half were crystal clear: the 3rd Congressional District needs to keep Johnson and Wyandotte counties intact at its core.
Other maps that were introduced and considered are “Prairie Dog” and “Mushroom Rock.”
YesWeCannabis, expanding Medicaid
Three constitutional amendments, which I co-sponsored, were formally introduced. The amendments mandate the legislature to write policy to expand Medicaid and legalize marijuana, both recreationally and medicinally.
Kansans widely support legalizing marijuana and expanding Medicaid. However, Republican obstruction has for years delayed the adoption of these modern, quality of life policies. Kansas does not allow for ballot initiatives, and by introducing the legislation through constitutional amendment, the public is given the power to override legislative obstruction. If passed, Kansans would vote on these policies on the November 2022 ballot.
Overwhelmingly, those of you who live in House District 32 and who have answered my 2022 Legislative Survey have told me to work towards legalizing all cannabis for all purposes, recreational and medical. If you haven’t already, please take a moment to answer my Legislative Survey. Response has been good, but I’d like to hear from many more of my constituents on the most important issues in 2022.