Recent Kansas editorials

The Topeka Capital-Journal, Jan. 31

The Kansas Highway Patrol had a big ask for lawmakers last week - $16.4 million to pay for two new helicopters, a new airplane and operating expenses.

But the request appears reasonable and with Wichita being the Air Capital of the World, our law enforcement officials should have access to quality aircraft. It’s not about the bells and whistles, of course. It’s about keeping the people of our state safe.

“We’re the sole provider of airborne law enforcement in the state,” said KHP Capt. Jason Vanderweide, according to The Topeka Capital-Journal’s Tim Carpenter. “So, when the call comes in, we are it. In the past it was traffic enforcement. Those days are few and far between. We’re always getting called to the manhunt, the car chase, the surveillance.”

With such needs, and with a statewide footprint, it just makes sense for lawmakers to invest in the highway patrol’s proposal.

There have also been unfortunate recent failures. A chase in Ellis County last year saw a KHP aircraft camera fail three times, Vanderweide said. Problems like that don’t just frustrate troopers. They can also put law-abiding Kansans at risk.

The highway patrol would help offset costs, too, by trading in two old airplanes and a helicopter for some $2 million. It’s a good-faith gesture that shows the budget request is truly about making keeping service at a high level, not adding bells and whistles.

We understand. Lawmakers want to save money and, if possible, reduce spending. But Kansas has been through the budget wringer over the past decade.

In a futile search for growth through ruinous tax policy, damaging choices were made. Requests were denied. Cuts were made. Funds were swept. And agencies throughout state government bore the brunt, in some cases becoming less effective and less efficient as they were forced to do more with less. Our highway patrol has continued to do great work, but this request shows that even higher profile state agencies require ongoing, proactive investment.

It’s not about spending money for the sake of spending money - it’s about spending money to make sure that Kansans are safe and secure.

We urge lawmakers to bear these facts in mind as they consider adding funds to purchase the aircraft. Planes and cars and computers wear out. To provide the best service, they must be periodically replaced. It’s that simple.

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The Wichita Eagle, Jan. 30

A new bill in the Kansas Legislature would require every public classroom, library and municipal building in the state to display the national motto, “In God We Trust.”

The proposed measure is overbearing, unnecessary and likely unconstitutional.

But besides that, it’s yet another example of the “insert-state-here” brand of legislation that’s too frequently finding a foothold in the Kansas Statehouse.

A national effort called Project Blitz, founded by a coalition of conservative Christian groups that includes the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation, has persuaded numerous state legislatures to introduce laws restricting same-sex marriage, establishing Bible classes in public schools, or allowing adoption agencies to deny placements because of religion.

A primary element of the coalition’s agenda - detailed in a 2017 talking points sheet - focuses on laws that “recognize the place of Christian principles in our nation’s history and heritage.” Such laws “are likely to receive the least opposition,” the document says, but “can have enormous impact” and “a significant ripple effect.”

One of the coalition’s most successful efforts has been to plaster “In God We Trust” on school walls. Over the past few years, seven states - Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, South Dakota and Tennessee - have approved legislation requiring or encouraging public schools to post the motto.

Now the group seems to have found another ally in Rep. Michael Capps, the embattled Republican lawmaker from Wichita who has been accused of emotionally abusing children and linked to a false smear campaign against Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple.

Capps said he isn’t familiar with Project Blitz and that he “worked with colleagues directly, face to face” for more than two months to draft his bill. Other sponsors include Rep. Ron Howard of Wichita, Rep. Cheryl Helmer of Mulvane, Rep. Emil Bergquist of Park City and Rep. Bill Rhiley of Wellington.

Capps says he reviewed legislation from several states as part of his research, but also looked at court cases and read judges’ opinions. Even so, the overall concept and language of the Kansas proposal closely mirrors efforts elsewhere.

This isn’t the first time Kansas lawmakers have served as enthusiastic mouthpieces for questionable agendas.

Last year, anti-gay extremist Chris Sevier successfully lobbied Republican legislators to introduce bills that would have declared same-sex marriages “parody marriages” and mandated an anti-porn filter on all new phones and computers sold in the state.

Back in 2012, controversial tax-reform proposals spearheaded by former Gov. Sam Brownback were closely linked to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a corporate-funded group that provides “model” legislation to states.

If lawmakers approve the “In God We Trust” motto proposal, it would join other legislative directives aimed at Kansas schools. In 2013, the legislature passed a requirement that schools recognize “Celebrate Freedom Week” in mid-September and that religious references in writings not be censored.

Kansas lawmakers in 2018 agreed to end the longstanding practice of anonymous bills, which kept the public from knowing who is behind a particular proposal. But obviously, that hasn’t stopped Mad Libs-style legislation.

Kansas representatives should spend their time crafting meaningful proposals, not cutting and pasting special-interest laws into the legislative agenda.