Survey Questions

Below are a series of questions regarding issues we are facing in the Kansas Legislature and are expected to tackle in the upcoming session. Rather than a traditional multiple-choice survey, I am providing you extensive room to comment, as I would like to hear your detailed thoughts!  - Megan

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* 1. CONTACT INFORMATION.
I'd like to keep in touch with you via my regular constituent newsletter!  Please provide your information to verify I am your State Representative.  I do NOT provide my lists to any other entity.

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* 2. Marijuana
Last year, the House adopted legislation legalizing medical marijuana. While there is not much appetite in the legislature for recreational marijuana, some states have also taken that step. What do you believe the policy in Kansas should be regarding marijuana?

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* 3. COVID Policy - Vaccine Passports Imposed by Government
Last year, the Kansas Legislature included a proviso in the state budget - which the governor signed - banning any government entity from requiring a vaccine passport. This has, for instance, precluded public universities in Kansas from requiring vaccines of students. Because it was a proviso, making this ban permanent would require a law. Do you support that?

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* 4. COVID Policy - Vaccine Passports for Public Accommodations
Other states, such as Florida, are prohibiting private businesses which serve the public  (such as hotels, stores, theaters, restaurants, stadiums) from requiring a vaccine passport. What are your thoughts about passing a bill in Kansas to ensure people do not have to show proof of vaccination prior to dining or shopping for clothes or food?

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* 5. COVID Policy - Mandates Imposed by Private Businesses
There is a bill in Kansas that would prohibit private employers from mandating their current employees receive the vaccine. Others have proposed allowing private companies to require vaccines, but requiring an option of a weekly test as an alternative. Montana is an example of a state that has imposed such a prohibition. What is your position on this topic?

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* 6. COVID Policy - Mask Mandates in Schools
Some school districts in Kansas have imposed mask mandates, requiring all students to wear masks all day. Some other states have enacted laws allowing parents to opt out of having their children wear masks. What are your thoughts on this issue?

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* 7. Taxes - General Question
Kansas currently has a multi-tiered approach to taxes, as we tax income, property, and sales. With prices rising and family budgets tighter as a result, there will be efforts to reduce taxes in Kansas. Do you support that effort? If so, what should be the focus?

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* 8. Taxes - Standard Deduction
Last year, Kansas raised the standard deduction, but it is still well below the federal standard deduction. Would you support raising the standard deduction, so more income is protected from state taxes?

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* 9. Sales Taxes
The sales tax rate in Kansas is among the highest in the nation. With local sales taxes added on top of it, the sales tax rate in many communities in Kansas exceeds 10%. Recently, both Attorney General Derek Schmidt and Governor Laura Kelly proposed reducing or even eliminating food sales taxes.  Do you believe this should be lowered? Or, should it be lowered only on food? Or perhaps on school supplies? Provide your thoughts!

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* 10. Taxes - Higher Threshold to Raise Taxes
Do you support requiring a super majority for the legislature to adopt tax increases?  This would be 84 of 125 in the Kansas House and 27 out of 40 in the Senate. 

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* 11. Taxes - Spending Reductions
While Kansas currently has extra revenue, substantially reducing taxes would potentially require spending reductions, as well.  If you support reducing taxes to the point it would require spending reductions, where would you support cutting spending?  Where do you see the waste in government?

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* 12. Education - School Choice
Currently, education funding in Kansas is allocated directly to the school districts. While there is no widespread support for "vouchers", some have proposed policies that would have a portion of those dollars follow the child, allowing the parents to decide from an array of educational options, which could include another public school, a private school, or a mix of options that could include tutoring.  Some have proposed doing this in certain circumstances, such as when a child is at risk.

What are your thoughts regarding school choice?  

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* 13. Education - Curriculum
Across the country - and Kansas is no exception - we have seen a great deal of discussion about the type of curriculum that should be taught in public school, including civics & government and financial literacy.  Many parents are asking for more transparency from school districts regarding what their students are being taught.

What role do you think the Kansas Legislature should play in establishing curriculum guidelines and in ensuring parents have full access to classroom curriculum?

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* 14. Judicial Selection
In Kansas, the method of selecting justices to the Kansas Supreme Court is a frequent topic of discussion. Currently, a "nominating commission" of nine citizens, the majority of whom are attorneys selected *only* by other attorneys, to nominate three choices for the Kansas Supreme Court, and the governor MUST pick among the three. There is NO Senate confirmation. While some states have a similar system, only Kansas allows the majority of this commission to be controlled by those who are not elected by the people.

(NOTE - For our Kansas Court of Appeals, Kansas uses the federal model in which the governor can select anyone but that nominee is subject to Senate confirmation.  For District Courts, some areas use elections and some areas use a nominating commission appointed by various entities.)

There have been various proposals to reform this process for the Kansas Supreme Court:
  • One option includes the "federal model", where the governor would be free to select any nominee, but that nominee would be subject to Senate confirmation.
  • A second option includes tweaking the current model in some fashion, such as adjusting how the commission members are chosen.
  • A third option would be direct elections.
Any option would require a constitutional amendment, which would need 2/3 of both the House and Senate to send to the ballot for approval by Kansas voters.

Do you favor reform, and if so, do you have a preference?

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* 15. Additional Comments
Please use this to send any additional feedback you have.

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