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Ignorance of constitution is not bliss

“We don’t believe the Constitution can be read any other way. Only the judiciary is empowered to ensure the citizens’ rights are upheld, and only the judiciary is capable of determining whether laws passed by the Legislature are valid by that same Constitution. “So why would lawmakers threaten to cut off all funding if a Shawnee County District Court strikes down last year’s law that says chief judges in district courts need to be elected by other judges instead of being appointed by the Supreme Court? “We would suggest it’s because these lawmakers believe themselves above the law,...
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Bill to move local elections passes the House and Senate

On May 22, 2015, the bill to move local elections passed by two votes despite being opposed by school boards and patrons. The count was 64-58. The Senate had already passed it so now it goes to the governor for signature. Here are the votes in the House. Did your Representative represent you and your school district? Yea – (64): Anthimides, Barker, Barton, Bradford, Bruchman, Brunk, B. Carpenter, W. Carpenter, Claeys, Corbet, Couture-Lovelady, Davis, DeGraaf, Dove, Esau, Estes, Garber, Goico, Gonzalez, Grosserode, Hawkins, Hedke, Hemsley, Highland, Hildabrand, Hoffman, Houser, Huebert, Hutchins, Hutton, Johnson, D. Jones, K. Jones, Kahrs,...
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Kansans be wary of challenge to courts

“In Kansas, the Legislature reigns supreme, and any branch of government that fails to recognize the supremacy of lawmakers will learn to bend a knee to those who sit under the Statehouse dome. “And right now, the Kansas Legislature is talking to you, judicial branch. Under a bill that emerged from the Senate this week to fund the state’s legal system, a small provision at the end of the bill – Senate Substitute for House Bill 2005 – dictates that the judicial branch will rule the Legislature’s way or risk undoing its funding. “When two branches of government...
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