June 8, 2017 By Anthony Hensley

RELEASE: Hensley: ‘Kobach is neck deep in the swamp’

The following statement is attributed to Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley:

“It’s pretty ironic that Kris Kobach would question my public service record when he has been nothing more than a part time Secretary of State who is the master of voter suppression. When he’s not using the state airplane to travel to political functions[1], he’s working with white supremacist hate groups[2] to intimidate minorities and immigrants. That is why I have called him the most racist politician in America.[3]

“Kris Kobach is the reason I introduced a bill to prohibit outside employment of certain state officials, such as the Secretary of State[4]. While he boasts his outside employment, his track record demonstrates that he has fleeced his clients for hundreds of thousands of dollars while leaving them nearly bankrupt from defending unconstitutional laws he drafted. [5][6][7]

“It is also politically convenient for Kris Kobach to be in favor of addressing the revolving door with legislators becoming lobbyists. Since 2007, I have introduced bills[8] to close the revolving door. On these bills, Kobach was nowhere to be found.

“Kris Kobach has proven that he is incapable of draining the swamp because he is neck deep in the swamp.”

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[1]Wichita Eagle. “Kansas official Kris Kobach uses state plane to speak at GOP events.” http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article87370122.html

[2] Southern Poverty Law Center. “What’s the matter with Kansas’ Kris Kobach?” https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2015/11/02/what%E2%80%99s-matter-kansas%E2%80%99-kris-kobach

[3] The Root. “The troubling history of ‘the most racist politician in America.” http://www.theroot.com/the-troubling-history-of-the-most-racist-politician-in-1795244984

[4] 2011 Senate Bill 166; 2013 Senate Bill 14

[5] The Pitch. “Kris Kobach’s Pennsylvania anti-immigration bill struck down by federal court.” http://www.pitch.com/news/article/20587000/kris-kobachs-pennsylvania-antiimmigration-bill-struck-down-by-federal-court

[6] Reuters. “Pennsylvania city must pay $1.4 million legal fees in immigration fight.” https://www.yahoo.com/news/pennsylvania-city-must-pay-1-4-million-legal-194717297–business.html

[7] The Pitch. “With Kris Kobach’s legal fees mounting, Nebraska town may raise taxes to defend illegal immigration law.” http://www.pitch.com/news/article/20577934/with-kris-kobachs-legal-fees-mounting-nebraska-town-may-raise-taxes-to-defend-illegal-immigration-law

[8] 2007 Senate Bill 168; 2009 Senate Bill 2; 2011 Senate Bill 172; 2013 Senate Bill 12; 2015 Senate Bill 163; 2017 Senate Bill 9

NEWSLETTER: Day 105: Capitol Comments from Sen. Anthony Hensley

Capitol Comments – June 2, 2017

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When Legislators returned Monday, May 1, for Veto Session all of the major issues remained: a budget, a revenue package, and a school funding formula. Today marked day 105, and the same items remain.

School Finance

After a long night of debate, the Senate passed a school finance plan Wednesday morning on a vote of 23-16. I opposed the plan as it is riddled with flaws both from an adequacy and equity standpoint, making it unconstitutional. In adherence to the oath of office that I take on the first day of every new term, I opposed the bill.

The House has also passed a school finance plan, establishing its position. Their plan has more money, but still contains flaws that make its constitutionality just as questionable. Negotiators from the House and the Senate are now meeting as a conference committee to work out the differences.

Taxes

The Senate passed a tax plan Tuesday night, but it was quickly defeated in the House. I supported the plan on Tuesday because it went a lot further in getting our fiscal house in order. The Brownback income tax cuts went entirely too far and resulted in a self-inflicted budget crisis. The Senate Democrats unanimously voted for this bill to reverse the damage that’s been done by the failed experiment. With the rejection by the House, negotiators have gone back to the drawing board. The House tax committee met this afternoon where additional tax bills were introduced. Needless to say, many options are being discussed.

Budget

Before we can finally adjourn the session, the Legislature must also pass a budget. As you may recall, the Senate passed a budget shortly before leaving for break. It’s not a perfect budget, but it’s a solid start. The House budget committee has been meeting, but nothing has been passed.

Art in the Capitol

On a positive note, a piece of artwork entitled, “Kansas Pictorial” is on display in the rotunda of the second floor. It was created by students at Shawnee Heights Middle School as part of their annual Earth Day project. The students used recycled homework from classroom recycle bins.

The art is a reflection of “historical events, people, and the unique Kansas landscape” and is to serve as a reminder of the “rich heritage of Kansas and the teamwork needed for the future of our state.” It serves as an excellent reminder, and I want to thank these art students and teachers for sharing this spectacular piece with us.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at 785-296-3245 or by email at Anthony.Hensley@senate.ks.gov. Or, stop by my legislative office located in room 318-E of the Statehouse. I also encourage you to follow me on Facebook.com/SenatorAnthonyHensley.

Thank you, again, for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Anthony Hensley

Senate Democratic Leader

May 15, 2017 By Anthony Hensley

EDITORIAL: Hensley: School funding clock is ticking

The following editorial is attributed to Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka:

Legislators have a constitutional obligation to adequately and equitably fund Kansas public schools. Yet, as we head past 90 days in the Legislative Session, we still await a funding formula and the current unconstitutional block grant system runs out June 30. In other words, the clock is ticking before we face yet another constitutional crisis.

Earlier this week, House Democratic Leader Jim Ward and I sent a letter to Republican leaders in both chambers identifying our interpretation of the trial panel and Supreme Court decisions in the school finance lawsuit. We believe that in order to satisfy the Court’s order, a new school funding system must include three key components.

First, it must be an actual formula structured to provide for the equitable and adequate funding of K-12 education. This includes base funding for all students with weightings for underperforming subgroups and indexed.

Second, the formula must be adequately funded by the state to ensure the “outputs” meet the Rose standards, the benchmarks the court has been using to make judgments for student performance. Multiple studies have found a direct correlation between funding levels and student achievements. There is no question that increases in funding will result in greater “outputs.”

Finally, the legislature must take action to structurally fix our budget to provide for sustainable funding for K-12 education into the future. Allocating funding for schools well into the future ensures we end the school finance litigation we have endured for entirely too long.

The latest numbers distributed by the chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Education Finance would only increase the base state aid per pupil to $4,080 through the inclusion of $175 million in one-time new funding.

We believe that any school funding plan that seeks to meet the Court’s approval requires no less than $4,500 per student, appropriately weighted, and indexed, by Fiscal Year 2020. It should be noted, though, that this is only $100 more than the “high water mark” we achieved under the previous formula in the 2008-2009 school year and is equivalent to a $12.50 increase each year over the last eight years.

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May 8, 2017 By Anthony Hensley

EDITORIAL: Congratulations, graduates; Now vote

The following editorial is attributed to Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka:

Congratulations to the Class of 2017!

As a high school government teacher for the past 40 years, I would like to give a word of advice to all graduates: VOTE.

There are elections every year. Mark your calendars: August 1, 2017, is Primary Election Day and November 7, 2017, is General Election Day. On the ballot will be local races for city council and local school boards.

Next year, all U.S. House, Kansas House, Governor, and other statewide offices are on the ballot. The Primary Election is August 7, 2018, and the General Election is November 6, 2018.

You may think that your one vote doesn’t count, but it does. You have the ability to determine the path your city, your county, your state, and even your country takes.

Let us never forget that many of the world’s great movements, of thought and action, have flowed from the dreams and work of a single person.

Thomas Jefferson proclaimed that all men are created equal. Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Elizabeth Cady Stanton organized the first event of the women’s rights movement, the Seneca Falls Convention. Rosa Parks refused to take her seat in the back of the bus.

Don’t be afraid to get involved, and don’t be afraid of rocking the boat. Moral courage is a rarer characteristic of the human experience than bravery in battle or great intelligence.

It is moral courage that led to the organized labor movement of the 1930s and 40s, and to the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s.

You have bright futures ahead of you. If you don’t like the way things are, work to change them. This starts by registering to vote and then voting.

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May 4, 2017 By Anthony Hensley

RELEASE: Hensley responds to purchase of St. Francis

The following statement is attributed to Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley:

“It is great news for Topeka that St. Francis has found a buyer with the University of Kansas Health System and Ardent Health Services. However, to ensure no other hospitals in Kansas face potential closure and to demonstrate our commitment to the 150,000 Kansans who don’t have access to healthcare, we must override Sam Brownback’s veto of Medicaid expansion.”

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