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Category Archives: Kansas
Kansas GOP Chair issues statement on Israel’s preemptive strikes on Iran
In response to the Israel’s strikes on Iran, Kansas GOP Chair Danedri Herbert issued the following statement:
“The Kansas GOP stands behind our closest ally in the Middle East, Israel, in its preemptive strikes against Iran. It was an act of self defense, and Israel was well within its rights to protect its citizens by destroying Iran’s nuclear capability.”
Paid for by the Kansas Republican Party, Roger Lomshek, treasurer.
KS Governor Supports California’s Request To Block The Federalization/Deployment of National Guard
Governor Kelly Joins States Opposing Trump’s Military Deployment Without
Gubernatorial Coordination
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly joined an amicus brief with leaders from 20 states supporting California’s request for a court order blocking the president’s unlawful federalization and deployment of that state’s National Guard.
“The United States of America is founded on the rule of law, including respect for states’ rights. The federalization of the California National Guard by President Trump, without the coordination of the Governor of California, is a violation of states’ rights,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “President Trump’s actions constitute a threat to the authority of the nation’s governors to command their National Guards. I joined this brief to preserve state sovereignty and halt federalization of state National Guards without the coordination of their governors.”
The amicus brief outlines how Trump’s action is wholly inconsistent with our nation’s founding principle that freedom depends on the subordination of the military to civilian authority.
“By calling forth troops when there is no invasion to repel, no rebellion to suppress, and when state and local law enforcement is fully able to execute the laws, the President flouts the vision of our Founders, undermines the rule of law, and sets a chilling precedent that puts the constitutional rights of Americans in every state at risk,” the brief reads.
The president’s memo federalizing the Guard does not restrict these actions to just Los Angeles, California, or any specific U.S. region. Instead, it is an unlimited claim of presidential authority to deploy the National Guards of any state for the next 60 days. The states have an interest in standing up against this unnecessary and legally unjustified military call-up.
The states also have an interest in ensuring their National Guards are available to perform the essential services they provide the states on an ongoing basis. They provide critical services responding to natural disasters, counter-drug operations, and cybersecurity support, among other daily contributions to public safety. This unlawful federalization pulls volunteer service members away from performing vital services, and states are not in a position to replace them.
The president’s unlawful and unconstitutional use of the military has exacerbated safety issues and threatened constitutionally protected activity under the First Amendment. Every state has an interest in protecting their residents from these threats.
The brief is led by Washington Attorney General Nick Brown and Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings. Others joining are the state attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
A copy of the amicus brief is available here.
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Give Your Comments To KS Supreme Court on Rule 1204
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New virtual self-help center connects Kansans with legal information, resources
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KS Tax Collections Up 32% in May
May Total Tax Collections Over $657M;
31.7% Above Estimate
TOPEKA – The State of Kansas ends May 2025 with total tax collections at $657.7 million. That is $158.3 million, or 31.7%, above the estimate. Total tax collections were down 0.2% from May 2024.
“Surpassing estimates this month is a positive indicator, but we remain diligent and focused on maintaining long-term financial health,” Governor Laura Kelly said.
Individual income tax collections were $314.7 million. That is $144.7 million, or 85.1% above the estimate, and up 3.1% from May 2024. Corporate income tax collections were $29.2 million. That is $840,880, or 2.8% below the estimate, and down 26.8% from May 2024.
Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $282.1 million, which is $11.1 million, or 4.1% above the estimate, with no change from May 2024.
Click here to view the May 2025 revenue numbers.
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KDOT to begin Bridge Repair on U.S. 69 June 9
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) plans to begin a bridge repair project on the U.S. 69 bridge over Wall Street in Fort Scott the week of June 9.
Project activity includes patching and resurfacing the bridge deck.
One-lane traffic will continue through the work zone. Drivers can expect delays of no more than 15 minutes, weather permitting, through the end of December 2025.
KDOT awarded the $1.5 million construction contract to PCI Roads, LLC of St. Michael, Minnesota. People with questions may contact Construction Manager Warren Ebberts at (620) 901-6549.
KDOT urges motorists to stay alert and follow posted signs in all work zones.
For current road conditions, visit kandrive.gov or call 5-1-1. For updates on construction projects in Southeast Kansas, visit ksdot.gov/projects/southeast-
Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson
May 23, 2025
Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer and can be a busy weekend, especially with all the cemetery services, decorating graves, picnics, and other events. It is a time to remember and pray for those brave men and women who sacrificed by laying down their lives for our country. They inspire us to live with courage and gratitude, never forgetting the sacrifice they made for our freedom.
One Big Beautiful Bill is working its way through the U.S. legislature. Kansans need the “One Big Beautiful Bill”, not only to keep our federal taxes lower but to also keep us from a massive state income tax increase. Our state income taxes start with the federal adjusted gross income (AGI). It’s not hard to see, a higher AGI means a higher baseline for state income taxes. If this bill doesn’t become law, it will be a drastic tax increase.
There are other items in the One Big Beautiful Bill besides tax policy, including Medicaid work requirements for able bodied individuals without children under 7. Dr. Oz recently reported over $14 billion in Medicaid fraud. The changes in the bill are an attempt to stop fraud and abuse. The bill also has funding to build the wall and increase border security. The legislation is posted at https://www.congress.gov/bill/
K-12 Funding has been a topic discussed for years. With spending increases over the years, the money still doesn’t get to the teachers and classrooms. From 2020 to 2024, it was reported the statewide average spending per pupil increased $3,476, from $14,848 to $18,324. It is the largest expenditure in the state budget and increasing spending isn’t helping. An Education Funding Task Force has been established to do a deep dive on K-12 funding. The task force is made up of legislators and lay people. A post-audit report completed in 2022 by a non-partisan group reported that only about 1/3 of students met state standards in three major subjects. It’s also been reported that school districts have over $1 billion in cash reserves. Hopefully, the task force will consider how the money is being spent and managed.
Property Taxes are too high. The valuation process is broken and subjective. The burden to prove the valuation is not accurate is on the taxpayer. Many say the valuation is based on fair market value. How fair is it that you are paying a tax on unrealized gains? You don’t pay income tax on estimated future earnings or sales tax on what you think the product will sell for, but you pay property taxes based on an estimated value. The Senate passed a Constitutional Amendment to limit taxable valuation increases to a maximum of 3% each year (SCR 1603), but it stalled in the House. This would help stop the bleed on a broken system. It needs to pass next session so we can get it on the ballot for voters to pass it to become law.
Have a good summer.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn
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Public Health Advisories for Kansas Lakes Due to Blue-Green Algae
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Sunflower Summer Program Wins National Award for Tourism Impact
TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced Kansas Tourism received national recognition for its work on the Sunflower Summer program, which was named the Best Local Impact Campaign at the 2025 eTSY Awards. The honor was presented during the eTourism Summit, held April 22-24 in Las Vegas.
“The Sunflower Summer program is an investment in our young Kansans, highlighting for them all the great and exciting things to love and experience across our state,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “This program not only encourages exploration; it supports Kansas residents vacationing right here at home while showcasing our many quality attractions. We are grateful to be recognized on a national level and are excited to build on last year’s success.”
This award recognizes the outstanding success of the 2024 Sunflower Summer program, which provided Kansas families with school-aged children complimentary access to more than 200 attractions statewide. Nearly 500,000 tickets were redeemed – a 55% increase from the previous year. Tickets are claimed through the free Sunflower Summer app and redeemed at participating attractions upon arrival.
“The Sunflower Summer program has been extremely successful since its conception. It entices Kansans to travel around the state of Kansas and it promotes venues throughout the state on what Kansas has to offer,” Representative Troy Waymaster said. “This award only intensifies the success of the Sunflower Summer program, and I will always advocate for its continuation and the service it provides for our points of interest and Kansans.”
The eTSY Awards, organized by Informa Connect, celebrate excellence in digital tourism marketing by highlighting campaigns that demonstrate creativity, engagement and effectiveness in promoting travel and tourism. Presented annually at the eTourism Summit, these awards honor the most innovative and impactful digital marketing campaigns in the tourism industry.
“This award is a testament to the creativity, dedication and passion of the hardworking team that has brought this program to life for our residents,” Kansas Tourism Director Bridgette Jobe said. “Kansas is the only place in the nation with a program like Sunflower Summer, and while we were proud of what we accomplished in the 2024 season; we are looking forward to what the 2025 season will bring for our partner sites across Kansas.”
Thanks to bipartisan support from the Kansas Legislature, the popular Sunflower Summer program will return July 12 to August 3, 2025. For more information, visit the webpage here or download the Sunflower Summer app.
About Kansas Tourism:
The mission of Kansas Tourism is to inspire travel to and throughout Kansas to maximize the positive impacts that tourism has on our state and local communities. Kansas Tourism works hand in hand with other Commerce community programs to elevate and promote Kansas as a tourist destination. Kansas Tourism oversees all tourism marketing and PR for the state, produces travel publications and advertising, manages state Travel Information Centers, manages both the Kansas By-ways program and the Kansas Agritourism program, approves tourist signage applications, produces the KANSAS! Magazine, and provides financial and educational support to the tourism industry in Kansas through grants, education and support.
About the Kansas Department of Commerce:
As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.
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Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson May 16
Kansas Supreme Court Justice Wilson has resigned. You will get to see how broken the current system is for selecting a replacement. It has been reported that 15 people have applied for the position. The names are public. The State Supreme Court Nominating Commission will interview applicants in June. The Commission is accepting written comments from the public. All of the information can be found at https://kscourts.gov/Newsroom/
The current system to select a new justice may sound good, but let’s take a closer look. There are 9 members on the Commission, two from each congressional district and one chairman. Four members, one from each district, are elected by members of the bar (lawyers) from that district. The other four members, who are not lawyers, are appointed to the Commission by the Governor. The chairman of the Commission is a statewide election by members of the bar. The Commission interviews justice applicants and presents three names to the Governor to select a replacement. Yes, the interviews are public, and the Commission is accepting comments from the public. However, the public has no say. But the good news is you will have a say as to changing the process with a Constitutional Amendment that will be on the ballot August 4, 2026, allowing the option to elect justices. Some say that electing justices makes it political. Isn’t the Commission selection process political? From 1861 to 1958, Kansas elected State Supreme Court Justices. It was changed after Governor Hall resigned in January of 1957 and his Lt. Gov, who become Governor, appointed Hall to the Kansas Supreme Court. Hall had lost a primary challenge, and before the end of his term, the maneuver was executed. Talk about political. After that happened the process with lawyers and a governor in control was put in place. The powers that be in the late 1950’s felt that Kansas voters were not smart enough to select their supreme court justices. This process has failed Kansans. You may have heard, the U.S. Supreme Court has allegedly overturned more Kansas Supreme Court rulings than any other state per capita.
Wind and Solar inverters and batteries have “mysterious, undocumented communication devices in some Chinese-made” equipment. It’s been reported the devices could be remotely accessed, bypassing firewalls. “The devices were designed to connect solar panel arrays and windmills to power grids.” The devices can do more than “spy on the U.S. power grid… [it] could allow an attacker to shut down power grids”. To protect the people of Kansas the legislature passed language that bans government purchases of drones and drone technology from foreign adversaries. There are also restrictions of land purchases and oversight of foreign land ownership by requiring registration. The language didn’t go far enough, but I am hopeful that people will realize the threats to our nation, and we can strengthen Kansas laws for our safety.
Legislative Post Audit presented a report last week on the selection process the Department of Commerce used to distribute Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) COVID-19 grant money. The report states, “The Department of Commerce evaluated BASE 1.0 grant program applicants using a standardized scoring rubric, but it didn’t consistently follow its process or document the Secretary’s final award decisions.” The report is disturbing, and it is not the first report to point to problems with the Department and how they are distributing funds. Another report (audit results) of a BASE 1.0 grant of $3 million was awarded to a Johnson County Company, SOFTwarfare, who was suposed to open a facility in Barton County. The Department issued grant money even though the company’s “matching fund expenses also differed from the specifics of the award agreement”. The Department and the business denied the report, but the two reports do not bode well.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn
Public Health Advisories for Kansas Lakes Due to Blue-Green Algae
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