RYCKMAN RECAP, Ron Ryckman, 38th District Senator
When I arrived at the Statehouse early Monday morning on Week 3 of the Legislature, it was 3 degrees outside. Then I went on to have three meetings, three lunches, three receptions, and caucus on three bills. Sensing a pattern, I can hardly wait for Week 12.
We did manage to approve a Conference Committee Report, a Concurrent Resolution, and four bills, along with two votes against amendment germaneness challenges, but still, a total of just eight roll-calls in four sessions is considered pretty modest. I actually kind of hoped we would have had an additional one in lieu of a “standing” count on a proposed amendment to allow DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) immigrants to continue their eligibility for instate tuition at our colleges, but it went down 18-19. That was on a bill brought by the Attorney General, SB 254 — eventually passed 30-9, banning public assistance generally for anyone here illegally.
My guess is we’ll see that again after it gets subjected to a veto by the Governor. The same is true of the measure, H Sub SB 244, defining gender as the biological sex at birth and placing accordant restrictions on bathroom usage and driver’s license identification. That passed the Senate by a tacit “veto-proof” majority of 30-9 after similarly clearing the House 87-36, but I’m sure there’ll be a big push to change some minds. Not so on SCR 1615, declaring Oct. 14 of each year as Charlie Kirk Free Speech Day (again, agreed-to by a 30-9 margin), because concurrent resolutions are not submitted to the State Chief Executive. There were two interesting sidenotes to that debate: one, that his birth date happens to coincide with that of Dwight D. Eisenhower, and two, the resolution language was carefully crafted to say nothing about his views and beliefs, only his passion for our talking to one other rather than resorting to violence.
Our newest Senator from Abilene, Scott Hill — in his first remarks on the Floor, assured everyone that our 34th president would have been honored to share recognition with an inspiring young man of Kirk’s character. The Senate Vice-President, Tim Shallenburger, who was floor-managing or “carrying” the resolution, made the point about the care taken to leave both politics and religion out of the drafting in an implicit effort to achieve unity in its acceptance, but to no avail. Instead, those on the other side only mocked it by trying to include President Trump as a shared focus, an attempt that was interpreted as cynical and irrelevant. After a challenge to the Rules Committee’s finding it lacked germaneness only garnered 7 votes, our Majority Leader commented (without directly calling it a frivolous waste of everyone’s time), “We had more than 350 votes in last year’s Legislative Session, but if we keep doing this we’ll be set to exceed that this year.”
On a more positive note, we celebrated Kansas’ 165th birthday on Thursday by singing “Home on the Range,” though shockingly, I was not asked to lead it. I’m sure it was because my voice was still “syrupy” from having enjoyed too many “flapjacks” at our City of Liberal’s International Pancake Day earlier.
Happily, that event was entirely inside the Capitol building, whereas the previous day’s Kansans for Life Rally was outside on the south steps in uncomfortably frigid temperatures. Still, it was very well-attended and distinguished by some very meaningful and passionate speeches.
The same can be said about my attendance at the Republican State Convention in Wichita and the gubernatorial debates there, before heading to Seward County Conservation dinner and meeting, where I shareda few remarks of my own. No one ever said that the activities and events in the life of a Senator are limited or boring.
I always try to highlight good announcements that pertain to our area, so those who might be affected by the Domestic Violence Grants in Dodge City and Liberal should applaud the $55,892 and $53,775 just directed to the Crisis Centers there. Also noteworthy is the recent laudatory promotion of Travis Hearne, Bucklin, to KDOT’s Area 3 Maintenance Superintendent for District Six. I’m still waiting to extend similar congratulations to any student selected to serve as a Senate Page on our reserved dates of Wednesday, Feb. 18, or Thursday, Feb. 26, so give me a call at 785-296-7359 or email
To quote an old Proverb, (4:7), “Wisdom is the principle thing. Therefore, get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” Thank you, everyone, as always, for the wisdom I gain every day from being your “voice” in Topeka.
