KARL: State of the State...

A class XII group photo in front of the Capitol.

As the Kansas legislature opened for business KARL Class XII got face time with leaders in Topeka, like Governor Sam Brownback, and Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

This session was not only a great opportunity to discuss policy, it was an opportunity to throw out ideas for solutions. I doubt we made any real policy impact, but that doesn't mean this class won't have an impact on the future of Kansas politics. 

One of our topics this session was civil debate. So many times we witness two or more parties that can't seem to play fair. We see personal attacks, threats, and petty behavior when someone doesn't get their way. What happened to listening to both sides, weighing arguments, checking facts, and sometimes just agreeing to disagree. Civility often is the last thing on the minds of leaders. That is the unfortunate state of politics today.

I learned a lot from my classmates in Topeka due to our dynamic, varied political association, and varied experience levels. We had insight on lobbying, insight on running for an elected office, and event a different view on civil debate. The Mennonite church requires members to study and learn civil debate. They teach the value of discussion, listening, and working through issues with communication. This is something we could all take a lesson in.

One of the more interesting sessions we had was with Governor Sam Brownback two days after his State of the State address (which we watched on a large screen at the Kansas Museum of history). It was a rare opportunity to have one-on-one time with Brownback, and the questions we tossed were not soft. He discussed in detail his income tax cuts, he talked at length about water, and his 50 year vision. He even addressed education, which was important to me. I have to admit that I wasn't sure what to expect. The speech was generic, and all we had heard up to that point was negative reviews. wabout Brownback's policies and how they had been handled. However, when you heard him explain. - in detail- the reasoning behind the decisions. It made more sense, or at least seemed more logical. That doesn't mean I agreed with everything, but hearing his side made me look at things with a wider lens.

Shadowing Sen. Bowers.

Speaking of a wider lens. I got the opportunity to shadow Senator Elaine Bowers from Concordia. Senator Bowers has the second largest senate district in the state, and as I talked to her I realized that this job is not something she takes lightly. She knows her district well, and is a self-proclaimed "non boat rocker" who likes to gather information before making decisions on how to vote. What impressed me the most is that she knew everyone from the elevator operator, to the janitor, and people in between. She is genuinely a nice person. You don't see that often anymore, especially in politics. She was more than hospitable, and gave me a new appreciation for our state leadership. 

Our seminar also included a visit to the Judiciary Building and the Supreme Court, a private tour of the Kansas State Historical Museum, trips to the gift shop at the Capitol (buy up that copper!), talking with numerous Senators, the Secretary of State, and agriculture lobbyists and leaders representing rural Kansas.

This seminar produced opportunities that many Kansans will never get, and it was something that each of the 30 Class XII members were excited to participate in.