
KFL’s lobbyist, Jeanne Gawdun, thanks Speaker Pro-Tem Peggy Mast (right) for 20 years of service and pro-life leadership.
The upcoming 2017 legislative session in Topeka will open with our staunchly pro-life Governor and pro-life majorities in the House and Senate, but without 50 familiar faces.
23 pro-life lawmakers are retiring this year: 16 pro-life state reps and 7 senators. Add to that the 21 pro-life reps and 6 pro-life senators who did not win re-election. That’s a challenging loss of the experience of nearly one-third of both chambers.
There is an “institutional knowledge” of how successful laws get accomplished and how to avoid pitfalls. Veteran pro-life lawmakers:
- are quick to catch dangerous amendments that would harm good pro-life bills;
- advise new legislators against unwise concessions;
- discourage bad proposals before they even become formal bills;
- know the parliamentary procedures and when to press leadership for action;
- are experienced at responding to constituents and pro-abortion lobbyists.
Kansas has passed great pro-life laws although it has been discouraging to have some jammed up in court. And soon, the Kansas Supreme Court will be ruling on the abortion attorneys’ proposed state right to abortion– with more extreme consequences than what we were given in Roe v Wade.
But at this juncture, we want to express our appreciation to the exiting lawmakers who stood up for the unborn, including being the first in the nation to pass the Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act. They deserve our gratitude– please send them a note of thanks! House contacts and Senate contacts.
Exiting Senators:
Steve Abrams, Tom Arpke, Terry Bruce, Les Donovan, Mitch Holmes, Jeff King, Forrest Knox, Garrett Love, Jeff Melcher, Michael O’Donnell, Ralph Ostmeyer, Larry Powell, and Greg Smith.
Exiting House Reps:
Steve Anthimides, Tony Barton, Sue Boldra, John Bradford, Rob Bruchman, Will Carpenter, John Edmonds, John Ewy, Mario Goico, Ramon Gonzalez, Amanda Grosserode, Dennis Hedke, Lane Hemsley, Jerry Henry, Brett Hildabrand, Becky Hutchins, Mark Hutton, Dick Jones, Mark Kahrs, Kasha Kelley, Jerry Lunn, Charles Macheers, Peggy Mast, Craig McPherson, Ray Merrick, Tom Moxley, Connie O’Brien, Jan Pauls, Virgil Peck, Marty Read, Marc Rhoades, John Rubin, Ron Ryckman, Sr., Joe Scapa, Sharon Schwartz, Chuck Smith, and James Todd.