As a former state government reporter and political aficionado, what’s happening inside the State Capitol often interests me. But I’ve found this year’s session of the Kansas Legislature particularly intriguing for studying civic leadership.
Lawmakers began their annual 90-day session in early January with many difficult issues on their plate. Not only must they redraw the state’s legislative and congressional district boundaries, but Gov. Sam Brownback has laid out an ambitious agenda that includes flattening the tax code and revamping how we fund schools.
These issues represent deep, daunting challenges for lawmakers. Making progress on them will require skilled leadership, the kind that helps people navigate uneasy change and figure out what’s essential and what’s expendable.
