With open government on the line, we’re calling Kansas legislators to account – Kansas Reflector
The Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Max Kautsch is an attorney whose practice focuses on First Amendment rights and open government law.
Following one of the more contentious and veto-heavy legislative sessions in recent memory, our states legislators and their constituents have had a few weeks to reflect. Hopefully, we are all thinking about more than just why some bills passed and some didnt. Closely examining that question has become increasingly frustrating because of the way the Legislature operates.
Perhaps we should be thinking more about how those legislative outcomes are the result of a deeply flawed legislative process in desperate need of reform.
I began my post as president of the Kansas Coalition for Open Government at the beginning of this month. The coalition, previously known as the Sunshine Coalition, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that, since its inception in 1999, has helped make Kansas government more transparent.
As the legal hotline attorney for the Kansas Press Association and Kansas Association of Broadcasters, Ive been on the coalitions board of directors since 2015. The organization serves as a resource for Kansans with questions about the transparency of their state and local government.
Most recently, the coalition put together eight basic ideas for legislative reform that were included in an article published on the Kansas Reflectors website May 8. Those eight proposed reforms involve streamlining and making more transparent the process by which bills become laws. Those suggestions were:
The coalition put together eight basic ideas for legislative reform that were included in an article published on the Kansas Reflectors website May 8. Those eight proposed reforms involve streamlining and making more transparent the process by which bills become laws.
The Reflector tells me that according to its metrics, the May 8 article has been widely read, and it led to a column from the Reflectors Clay Wirestone on May 17 focusing on the eight reforms. But feedback from the legislators themselves?
Crickets, reports editor in chief Sherman Smith.
Kansas voters cannot allow our elected leaders to avoid this crucial issue. Indeed, to achieve the best government possible for the people of this state and prove that our legislators act in the public interest and not their own, they must, at minimum, show a willingness to entertain the suggestions from the May 8 article to improve the legislative process.
After all, if elected leaders are not sensitive to the concerns of their voters, why should they remain in office?
The coalition will be sending an email this week from [emailprotected] to each of the legislators asking: Do you support any of the eight legislative reforms suggested in the Reflectors articles published May 8 and May 17? Why or why not?
To make sure all the legislators receive the email, the coalition has contacted the Legislatures information technology department, and I am reasonably certain that the messages will not go to legislators spam folders. At the very least, we ought to find out whether they are checking their email when not in session.
You can expect a report about the responses a month or so from now in this space. Until then, give some thought to how the Legislature passes these bills, not just why.
Ask yourself: Would I be better off knowing more about how laws are made? If the answer is yes, encourage your legislator to answer the coalitions email. And keep their responses in mind when you vote in August and November.
Through its opinion section, the Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary,here.
Read more:
With open government on the line, we're calling Kansas legislators to account - Kansas Reflector
- News organizations sue Tennessee over police buffer law, citing First Amendment - Knoxville News Sentinel - July 30th, 2025 [July 30th, 2025]
- The ACLU says a New York official violated the NRA's First Amendment rights. They still can't sue her. - Reason Magazine - July 30th, 2025 [July 30th, 2025]
- Forced Labor and the First Amendment - The American Conservative - July 30th, 2025 [July 30th, 2025]
- Chris Hedges: Abolishing the First Amendment - Scheerpost - July 30th, 2025 [July 30th, 2025]
- Chronicle Editorial: Croton-Harmon school district's disdain for the First Amendment costs staff time and taxpayer money. - The Croton Chronicle - July 30th, 2025 [July 30th, 2025]
- Is AI a Horse or a Zebra When It Comes to the First Amendment? - Cato Institute - July 28th, 2025 [July 28th, 2025]
- First Amendment and immunity - Courthouse News Service - July 28th, 2025 [July 28th, 2025]
- Legal Case of Navy Diver Who Sued Newport Beach for First Amendment Violation Advances - California Globe - July 28th, 2025 [July 28th, 2025]
- News organizations sue TN over police buffer law, citing First Amendment - The Tennessean - July 28th, 2025 [July 28th, 2025]
- AFPI Sues Oregon School Activities Association for Silencing Female Athletes First Amendment Rights - America First Policy Institute - July 28th, 2025 [July 28th, 2025]
- NEWTON: Battle between Trump and the First Amendment continues - The Covington News - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- That eerie sound youre hearing is the First Amendment falling - rawstory.com - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- TRUMP GOES TOO FAR: Colbert cancellation puts spotlight on Trump war on the First Amendment - MSNBC News - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- First Amendment doesnt provide the right to be heard, Fourth Circuit finds - Courthouse News Service - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Pennsylvania officers face First Amendment lawsuit for trying to criminalize profanity and using patrol car to chase man who recorded police - FIRE |... - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Ninth Circuit Reinforces First Amendment Protections of Parent Banned from School District in Response to Speech the District Found Offensive -... - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Press Release: Reps. Hank Johnson and Sydney Kamlager-Dove Propose Bill to Safeguard Artists' First Amendment Rights - Quiver Quantitative - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- What the GOPs Epstein revolt says about the First Amendment - Claremont COURIER - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Protesters and demonstrators voice their first amendment right along the street of Canton - 25 News Now - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- First amendment vs. first-person shooter: Uvalde parents battle with 'Call of Duty' maker in court - Fortune - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Columbia University Says It Has Suspended and Expelled Students Who Participated in Protests - First Amendment Watch - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Stephen Colberts Late Show Is Canceled by CBS and Will End in May 2026 - First Amendment Watch - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- US will appeal decision finding punitive executive order against Jenner & Block violates First Amendment - ABA Journal - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- NPR loses. The First Amendment wins. - The Boston Globe - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Trial in AAUP Lawsuit Concludes With Clash Over First Amendment Rights of Noncitizens - The Harvard Crimson - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Harvard argues in court that Trump administration's funding freeze violated First Amendment - CBS News - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Harvard argues the government is in violation of the First Amendment. Trumps team frames the lawsuit as a contract dispute - CNN - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Standing up for Elmo and the First Amendment - Westerly Sun - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Why the Iowa Senate finally approved enhanced First Amendment protections - Bleeding Heartland - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- First Amendment advocates urge open hearing for San Mateo County sheriff facing removal - The Mercury News - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Defeat the Press: How Donald Trumps Attacks on News Outlets Undermine the First Amendment - Variety - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- An assault on the First Amendment? Yes. But also a lesson in the ethics of reporting police news. - Media Nation - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- How Donald Trumps Attacks On News Outlets Undermine The First Amendment - TV News Check - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Who are First Amendment auditors? Encounters with them prompted police calls in California - Scripps News - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Greene County staff permitted to speak to press after pushback from First Amendment groups - The Daily Progress - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Death Threats Over Texas Flooding Cartoon Force Museum Journalism Event To Be Postponed - First Amendment Watch - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Its the right thing to do: Defense attorney picks up Shasta protester case pro bono, citing First Amendment concerns - Shasta Scout - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- The First Amendment Protects Ideologically Based Ad Boycotts - Cato Institute - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- IRS Finally Recognizes That the First Amendment Permits Pastors To Speak From the Pulpit - The Daily Signal - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Pocahontas Mayor Reacts Aggressively to Viral First Amendment Auditor - NEA Report - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- ACLJ's Decades-Long Fight Leads to IRS Recognizing Churches' First Amendment Rights To Speak About Political Issues and Candidates From the Pulpit -... - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Central Piedmont fulfilling requests that would lead to First Amendment lawsuit being dropped: Plaintiffs - Queen City News - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- How Tempe debate over feeding homeless at parks is becoming a First Amendment conversation - KJZZ - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- IRS: Pastors and Politicians Dont Lose First Amendment Rights in Pulpit - Focus on the Family - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Trump admin waffles in court on whether pro-Palestinian foreigners have full First Amendment rights - Politico - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Airlines deportation deal with ICE sparks protests and boycott campaign, leading to First Amendment battle - The Free Speech Project - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Trump Judges Find No First Amendment Problem With Florida Forcing Teachers to Misgender Themselves - Balls and Strikes - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- High Court To Hear Street Preacher's First Amendment Case - Law360 - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- The Columbus Connection First Amendment, Independence Day Thoughts, and Happy Birthday CCN - Columbus County News - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Paramounts Trump Lawsuit Settlement: Curtain Call for the First Amendment? (Guest Column) - IMDb - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Fourth of July is a reminder to understand your First Amendment rights - The News Journal - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Big Tech Can't Hide Behind the First Amendment Anymore | Opinion - Newsweek - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- FIRE amicus brief: First Amendment bars using schoolkid standards to silence parents' speech - FIRE | Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- The First Amendment Protects CNN's Reporting on ICEBlock and Iran - Reason Magazine - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- MCPS to pay $125K to two county residents who sued over alleged First Amendment violations - Bethesda Magazine - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Commentary: Winter Garden arrest threat violated First Amendment rights - Orlando Sentinel - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- First Amendment Expert Responds To BHUSD Policy - Hoover Institution - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Donald Trump: the surprise force who saved the First Amendment - Washington Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Paramount Will Pay $16 Million in Settlement With Trump Over 60 Minutes Interview - First Amendment Watch - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Trump Judges Reject First Amendment Challenge and Uphold Florida Law Requiring Teachers to Use Only Pronouns that Align with their Gender at Birth -... - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Justice Thomas sounds alarm on courts misapplying First Amendment in political speech cases - Courthouse News - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- 'The full rigor of the Court's resources': Judge warns Trump against witness 'retribution' in First Amendment case over threatened deportations - Law... - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Federal Appellate Court Finds that School Board President Violated First Amendment in Restricting Followers on Social Media - JD Supra - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Protecting Kids Shouldnt Mean Weakening the First Amendment - Public Knowledge - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Opinion - Jesse Green: Congress must not violate First Amendment in fight against anti-semitism - Northern Kentucky Tribune - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- VICTORY: New York high school to strengthen First Amendment protections following FIRE lawsuit - FIRE | Foundation for Individual Rights and... - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- FCCs First Amendment Tour Arrives in Kentucky - The Daily Yonder - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- ACLU of Pennsylvania Applauds Passage of Legislation to Expand First Amendment Protections in the Commonwealth - ACLU of Pennsylvania - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- FIRE to court: AI speech is still speech and the First Amendment still applies - FIRE | Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Podcast: Broadcast Journalism, First Amendment, and the Future - Wisconsin Broadcasters Association - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Advertising Companies Cave to the FTC. Media Matters Sues To Defend the First Amendment. - Reason Magazine - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Punishing Universities for Their Viewpoints Violates the First Amendment - Cato Institute - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Palestinian Student Sues Michigan School Over Teachers Reaction to Her Refusal To Stand for Pledge - First Amendment Watch - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- CDT and EFF Urge Court to Carefully Consider Users First Amendment Rights in Garcia v. Character Technologies, Inc. - - Center for Democracy and... - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- University of Oregon ordered to cover legal fees after settling First Amendment lawsuit - Campus Reform - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- City attorney cites First Amendment rights in allowing rally; Third Street to open soon - Northern Wyoming News - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Guest column: 1,000 gathered in Oak Ridge to defend First Amendment - Oak Ridger - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Fighting Antisemitism Should Not Come at the Expense of the First Amendment - Reason Magazine - June 18th, 2025 [June 18th, 2025]
- How Hawley, Marshall choose Trump over the First Amendment | Opinion - Kansas City Star - June 18th, 2025 [June 18th, 2025]
- FARRAND: Saturday was a day we exercised three of our First Amendment rights - thenewsherald.com - June 18th, 2025 [June 18th, 2025]