Walking down a street’s yellow line in a video ad for her last gubernatorial run in 2022, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly promised, “Like most Kansans, I’m not too far right or too far left.
“I’ve always been pretty middle of the road. And that’s how I’ve governed.”
The proof of that particular pudding will be whether the Democrat vetoes new legislation requiring the use of biological sex in the state’s public documents and accommodations – a landmark, though elementary bill that swept through the House and Senate last Wednesday nearly as quickly as lawmakers descended on Topeka.
Given that half or more of the U.S. population supports birth-sex bathrooms and sports, one would think that’s a middle-of-the-road issue.
So, what will Kelly do with the just-passed House Substitute for Senate Bill 244, which requires the use of biological sex in public accommodations and such documents as birth certificates and driver’s licenses?
“I do expect her to veto it,” Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, tells The Heartlander in an exclusive interview, “because she has never been in the middle of the road, particularly on any items like this.
“She is radical on the issues, like abortion, gender ideology, DEI. She has been nowhere near the middle of the road. She’s closer to the fence off the left side of the ditch.”
Other than helping expose Kelly’s radical nature, Masterson says her veto of the bill likely would have no impact – since it passed the Senate 30-9 and the House 87-36, both by majorities that should easily be able to override a veto.
Masterson felt good enough about its prospects to pose for a bill signing with House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita.
“Yesterday,” Masterson posted on X Tuesday, “Speaker Hawkins and I signed SB 244 with Attorney General Kobach to protect women and girls across the state from men in their private spaces and to ensure driver’s licenses and birth certificates accurately reflect the truth.
“After six hours of obstruction by the Democrats in the House, and a prompt motion to concur in the Senate, the bill now heads to Laura Kelly’s desk where the obstructionism is expected to continue with a veto.
“The Senate and House stand ready to override that veto as soon as possible, so these protections can be enshrined into law.”
Much of the media have smeared the legislation as “anti-trans,” or a “bathroom ban.” In emotion-laden, slanted verbiage, the Google AI bot even alleged it is “effectively targeting transgender rights.”
“Well, that’s completely false,” Masterson says. “It has nothing to do with anybody who’s struggling with gender dysphoria, and everything to do about our women and young girls. It’s a protective bill, right? I don’t know where common sense has gone.”
