Rather than face the music, Kansas Senate leaders ordered the arrest of nine protestors Wednesday morning and evicted members of the press to keep the mayhem from public view.
In so doing, the Senators violated state law, which provides for the publics viewing of legislative affairs.
Harrison Hems, an aide to Senate President Susan Wagle, said the media was taking advantage of that right by recording the event and providing the protestors an audience. When reporters balked at being ordered out of the Senate chamber, Hems threatened to take away their privileges altogether, saying, Im just telling you its a privilege to have a press pass to be on the floor.
No sir, its a right, covered by both the U.S. and Kansas Constitution.
We shudder to think how events would have played out had the press not been there in the first place.
What we do know is not pretty.
The day started off with the Rev. Sarah Oglesby-Duncan of Topeka leading the small group in protest chants and songs inside the Senate gallery.
Lord, hear our prayer. We want health care, they said.
Yes, it was disruptive to what lawmakers had hoped would be an uneventful last day of their legislative session.
But from our view, the harassment was minimal compared to the continued harm legislators are inflicting on up to 150,000 low-income Kansans who are being denied health insurance. According to a Harvard study, for every 239 people who receive health insurance, one life is saved. In Kansass case, that means an additional 627 lives could be saved with expansion.
Despite passage by members of the House, to its shame the Kansas Senate has yet to debate Medicaid expansion.
When the Reverend was asked to leave, she refused, giving the Senators an ultimatum: either take up the debate or have her arrested.
Rather than do their jobs, the Senate leaders took the easy way out and ordered the protestors be arrested.
When the Senate reconvened, its chamber doors were locked temporarily.
THIS IS HOW a democracy is destroyed.
Legislators, who feel emboldened by their continual re-election, shirk their responsibilities to represent all Kansans in favor of what they think will ensure their political survival.
And whose fault is that? Ours.
We must do better by holding our elected officials accountable each and every day. And if they fail to make the mark, give them the boot come Election Day.
Susan Lynn
