The analysis elsewhere on this page from Sherman Smith and the Kansas Reflector is a much longer story than we had space to print. However, the long version can be found on the Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter website at www.indyrepnews.com or on the Reflector site at kansasreflector. com/2022/05/08/analysis-how-the-kansas-legislature-avoids-public-scrutiny-by-hiding-in-darkness/?fbclid=Iw AR3yDyQ8QHYS2BFavg5TcFWvW6vUXJHpFP6Ec-3LW7g-KFmtsNo8Pp_IM0o

It’s a lengthy read, but that’s often the case with important topics. And make no mistake — this is an important topic. Like so many these days, holding our representatives accountable for their actions goes to the heart of where we are as Kansans, as Americans.

Transparency is not some crazy dream. It’s necessary to a properly functioning republic.

The Kansas Coalition for Open Government, a project of the Kansas Press Association, Kansas Association of Broadcasters and the Kansas Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, offer these changes in the way the Legislature does its business:

• Restrictions on the number of bills that can be bundled.

• A requirement that all bills must have had a public hearing in order to be considered by the committee of the whole.

• Limiting “gut and gos” to same-subject bills that have had a public hearing.

• Requiring the public be notified of a bill’s hearing 48 hours in advance of the hearing.

• Requiring all hearing testimony be posted online before a bill is considered by the committee of the whole, or within 48 hours of the end of a hearing.

• Requiring that each legislator have access to bill language before voting on a bill.

• Providing equal time to each person testifying before a committee, not equal time per side.

• Requiring the name of the legislator sponsoring a bill. Linda Mowery-Denning Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter