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Date: 1/17/2023
Subject: LWVJoCo Update: Legislature News
From: LWV of Johnson County



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Hello ~~first_name~~:

In this issue:
☕️ Legislative coffees
⚖️ State legislatures and the balance of power
🗣 Happenings at the JoCo Commission 
And more!


Legislative coffees are back!

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. This series is presented in partnership with the Johnson County Library. Registration is not required to participate in-person. Click each link below to register for online participation and to view the participants. All events begin at 10:00 a.m. and include live streaming. Event recordings will be posted to YouTube after each event.
 
Saturday, Jan. 21 | Corinth Library
8100 Mission Rd, Prairie Village
 
Saturday, Jan. 28 | Monticello Library
22435 W 66th St, Shawnee
 
Saturday, Feb. 11 | Blue Valley Library
9000 W 151st St, Overland Park
 
Saturday Feb. 11| Kansas City Kansas Main Library
625 Minnesota Ave, Kansas City, KS
 
Saturday, Feb. 18 | Lenexa City Center Library
878 Penrose Ln, Lenexa
 
Saturday, Feb. 25 | Bonner Springs Library
201 N Nettleton Ave, Bonner Springs
Confirmed participants are: Sen. Pat Pettey, Sen. Jeff Pittman, Rep. Pam Curtis, Rep. Lynn Melton, Rep. Melissa Oropeza, Rep. Valdenia Winn
 
Saturday, Mar. 11 | Gardner Library
137 E Shawnee St, Gardner
 
All Senators and Representatives have been invited to participate. If you do not see yours listed, please encourage them to attend!

State Legislature Power & Voter Voice

The importance of Moore v. Harper

How much power do state legislatures have over elections? Join us virtually to learn about the Moore v. Harper case pending before the Supreme Court, independent legislature theory, and implications for election administration, voters' say, and free and fair elections.

 
Moderator: Dr. Donald P. Haider-Markel, Professor of Political Science, the University of Kansas
Panelists:
  • Jo Nicholas, president LWV of North Carolina (Moore v. Harper stems from redistricting in North Carolina)
  • Mark Johnson, attorney and expert on the First Amendment, Dentons
  • Greg Vonnahme, associate professor and department chair, University of Missouri-Kansas City - department of Political Science and Philosophy
 
State Legislature Power & Voter Voice: A Discussion of the Independent State Legislature Theory 
Saturday, February 4 | 9-10:30 a.m.
 
Register here.

DEIMoment-IntlDayofCommemoration

On January 27, 1945, the Auschwitz Concentration Camp was liberated by Soviet soldiers. In 2005, the United Nations designated January 27 as "International Day of Commemoration," a day to remember the Holocaust via Resolution A/RES/60/7. The same Resolution rejected any denial of the Holocaust as a historical event and condemned "without reserve" all manifestations of religious intolerance, incitement, harassment, or violence against any persons or communities based on ethnic origin or religious belief. View the UN's 2023 Remembrance and Education content here, and read the full Resolution here.

 
The Midwest Center for Holocaust Education in Overland Park has a library of video testimonies from Holocaust Survivors who moved to Kansas City after the war. Watch the testimonies here.
 

Stay engaged and informed

  
💲 Did you know?
The Johnson County Board of Commissioners accepted almost $4M in American Rescue Plan grant funds to assist individuals or households experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable populations. The County has ten years to spend the funds. Learn about this and other moves made by the Board and other elected entities in the county in November and December 2022 by reading the Observer Corp Reports here.
 
 🗣 New public comment rules
In other JoCo Commission news, new County chair Mike Kelly instituted new rules regarding public comments. These rules end live streaming of public comments at commission meetings and require residents to give their comments in person or in writing. Read more at the Shawnee Mission Post here.
 
🗳 KS election laws could change
Secretary of State Scott Schwab plans to introduce legislation to update state election codes and simplify state election laws this year. There are no details available yet, but the League will be providing updates as they become available. For now, you can read a bit more here, courtesy of the Kansas Reflector.
 
🗓 WyCo Lunch & Learn
Loud Light and a number of other sponsors are hosting a Legislative Lunch & Learn featuring elected officials' plans and strategies for serving the Wyandotte Community.
January 21, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Oakridge Missionary Baptist Church - Family Life Center
Register to attend virtually here and in-person here.


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