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State Legislature Power & Voter Voice: A Discussion of the Independent State Legislature Theory
How much power do state legislatures have over elections? Come and learn about the Moore v. Harper case pending before the Supreme Court, independent state legislature theory, and implications for election administration, voters’ say, and free and fair elections.
Moderator:
Dr. Donald P. Haider-Markel is a professor of political science at the University of Kansas. His research and teaching is focused on the representation of group interests in politics and policy, and the dynamics between public opinion, political behavior, and public policy.
Panelists:
• Mark P. Johnson is a founder of Dentons Kansas City Office. He teaches First Amendment law at the University of Kansas Journalism School and election law and Campaign Finance at the Law School. Mark represented Lawrence in the recent redistricting case.
• Jo Nicholas, from the League of Women Voters of North Carolina, is a retired elementary school principal. She has held many league positions at the local level and five terms as President of the State League. This is her final year as President of LWVNC.
• Greg Vonnahme, Ph.D. is the Associate Professor and Department Chair of the Department of Political Science and Philosophy at UMKC. His research interests include voting and elections, state politics and policy, and civic engagement. He's a frequent guest on Steve Kraske's Up to Date radio show on KCUR.
Participate on-line:
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League Day At The Capitol
On Feb. 14, the League of Women Voters is turning 103! LWVK is celebrating with League Day at the Capitol. All nine state Leagues are encouraged to participate.
Here is the schedule:
8:30 a.m. Registration and check in
9:30 - 11:00 a.m. Programs and Speakers
11:30 - 12:30 Group lunch - boxed lunches provided if ordered in advance
12:30 - ? Visits to legislators. Make appointments with legislators from our districts in advance.
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There is NO COST to members for this event.
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Please sign up for Day at the Capitol and choose your lunch HERE.
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Here is the Agenda for Day at the Capitol. Copies will be provided at the event.
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Annual Meeting - Officer Elections
Members will vote on the proposed budget and the board/officer nominations. For details on the agenda and votable items, watch for the digital Annual Report. It will be sent to members in mid-February.
Saturday, March 4, 2023 | 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Johnson County Library - Central Resource
9875 W 87th St, Overland Park, KS 66212
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Legislative Coffees
Discover what's percolating in the Kansas Legislature. Representatives and Senators with constituents in Johnson County will discuss the new legislative session, followed by Q&A. You bring the questions! This series is presented in partnership with the Johnson County Library.
Registration is not required for in-person attendees.
Use the links below to register for the online option, and to view the participants for each session. Elected officials from both parties have been invited to participate.
Recordings of the legislative coffee events will be posted to our YouTube channel.
Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, 10:30 a.m.
Blue Valley Library
9000 W 151st Street
Overland Park, KS 66221
Online Event Registration
Kansas City Kansas Legislative Coffee
Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, 10:00 a.m.
Kansas City Kansas Main Library
625 Minnesota Ave.
Kansas City, KS
Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, 10:30 a.m.
Lenexa City Center Library
878 Penrose Lane
Lenexa , KS 66219
Online Event Registration
Bonner Springs Legislative Coffee
Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, 10:30 a.m.
Bonner Springs Library
201 N Nettleton Ave
Bonner Springs, KS 66012
Confirmed participants are:
- Senator Pat Pettey
- Senator Jeff Pittman
- Representative Pam Curtis
- Representative Lynn Melton
- Representative Melissa Oropeza
- Representative Valdenia Winn
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Aaaannnddd...Action!
It was wonderful to interact with fifty LWVJoCo members and guests at the Jan. 7 Annual Planning Meeting! Conversation was animated and plentiful as we discussed League priorities. And we are grateful to all who signed up to help with important League work. Many thanks to the board members who staffed information tables and to all leaders who facilitated small group discussions. A special shout out to Debbie for setting up the video, and to Marie, Connie, and Debbie for their help in setting up the room on Friday evening. Wasn’t it a wonderful meeting space?
Jan. 17 was the National Day of Racial Healing. The WK Kellogg Foundation partnered with MSNBC to host a series of important conversations. I hope many of you tuned in to hear knowledgeable advocates and educators speak on the continued need for healing in this country. Speaker Minnijean Brown-Trickey was one of nine African American students who courageously enrolled in segregated Central High School in Little Rock Arkansas. That was in 1957, five years after LWVJoCo was formed.
Ms. Brown-Trickey reiterated that “activism is a life sentence” – there is always work to be done. Watch the program here.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are so important to the LWVJoCo, that we devoted one fourth of our 5-Year Strategic Plan to focusing on it. We dedicate time each month to learn about people who have suffered from discriminatory laws and provide programs on Critical Race Theory, lack of affordable housing, and the need for Juvenile Justice Reform, just to name a few. But we must do more!
I recently read that “knowledge is power, but knowledge without action is useless.” That is why the nine Leagues of Kansas will be convening in Topeka on Tuesday, Feb. 14 from 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. We’ll begin the day hearing from speakers familiar with the legislative landscape in Kansas and will then make visits to our State Senators and Representatives to speak with them about what is important to the League.
Here are some action steps we encourage you to take!
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Participate in the League Day at the Capitol on Feb. 14.
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Call your state Representative and Senator to make an appointment to meet in person on Feb. 14 between 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Find the contact info for your legislators here.
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Review the state 2023 Legislative Priorities Brochure.pdf to familiarize yourself with key League issues.
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Talk about how the voting laws passed in the 2021-22 Legislative session are negatively impacting our work. Share personal stories.
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Focus on establishing a rapport and building a relationship with your elected officials. Thank them for their service.
League members are not, by nature, complacent. But we all need to be reminded that “activism is a life sentence” and recommit to doing the necessary work to empower voters and defend democracy.
I’m looking forward to seeing you in person on Saturday, March 4 for the Annual Voters Meeting to elect new officers. We’ll once again gather at the JoCo Library Central Resource Center at 9:30 a.m.
And please join us virtually on Saturday, Feb. 4 for an important program about the Independent State Legislative Theory and its potential impact on democracy and elections.
I am grateful for the experience of working alongside you to empower and defend democracy. Thank you!
Janet Milkovich
President
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Black History Month 2023: Black Resistance in the Past, Present and Future
Black History Month was begun in February, 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) as a week to raise awareness of the contributions of African Americans to the global community. This year’s theme explores how “African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression, in all forms, especially the racial terrorism of lynching, racial pogroms and police killings since our arrival upon these shores.” (ASALH)
Important Facts:
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The teaching of “certain concepts regarding race and sex/gender” has been legally banned in nine US states: Arizona (though AZ Supreme Court invalidated), Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Carolina.
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The NAACP was founded on Feb. 12, 1909. Its Legal Defense Fund continues 114 years later to resist racism in education, criminal justice, voting rights and more.
Do you know about the resistance efforts of Mary McLeod Bethune, Claudette Colvin, Elizabeth Ann Eckford, Medger Evers, or Colin Kaepernick?
To Learn More?
Johnson County NAACP
Why are states banning critical race theory?
2023 Black History Theme Executive Summary: Black Resistance
Black History | National Archives
We all have implicit (or unconscious) bias. The DEI Committee would like to invoke our members’ curiosity to explore implicit bias in the comfort of your home. Project Implicit thru Harvard University provides implicit bias “tests” on many issues. We can use the information we gain to increase our awareness and learn more.
Harvard | Implicit Bias
|  | Observer Corps Reports
Catch up on the actions, decisions and proposals of our local public officials.
Following local politics as a League Observer is a great way to stay informed on the issues you care about. Contact Eileen Marshall to find out where you might plug in, and read our latest reports.
In this issue:
- BOCC meeting procedure changes
- Affordable housing
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Keeping Up With The Kansas Legislature
| Board and Committee Briefs
🌧️ Kansas' Water Challenges: See this Kansas Reflector article. If you missed our program on The Pivotal Role of Water, you can watch it here.
 Help wanted!We know it can be hard to sign up for a recurring commitment, but do you have a few hours to spare? Our programs, events, planning, communication, and more take time, and we could use a little help. We are looking for 25 members who aren't currently serving on a committee to help with specific, finite projects - such as planning a single event or helping in other key areas. Please contact Janet Milkovich, Connie Taylor or Andrea Vieux if you are willing to invest a few hours in our work. Their contact information can be found in the member directory on the website.
📰 Stay current: Read about latest work of Leagues throughout the state in the latest issue of LWVK’s VOTER Notes newsletter. | Stay Connected
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Find out more about what the Kansas League is doing.
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