E-Newsletter: Shawnee County Democrats, February 14, 2017 Reminders

A Letter from KS04 Congressional Candidate, James Thompson Kansas Democrats, I am humbled and honored to have been selected to be our Democratic Candidate for the Kansas 4th Congressional District. This election is the first in the nation where we can fight back at the ballot box against the disastrous Donald Trump agenda. We are already canvassing, making phone calls, and hosting events across south-central Kansas. But with only 56 days until the election on April 11, and 36 days until advanced ballots go out, we need your help now. Go to www.VoteJamesThompson.com today to sign up to volunteer. From across the Kansas 4th Congressional District, the State, and from the surrounding region of the country, volunteers are coming to Kansas to fight for our Democratic Values. This race will be decided by those that show up. An April special election will be an opportunity where together we can stand up and elect a Democrat from Kansas to Washington for the first time in 7 years. Together, we can fight for our Kansas Democratic values in Washington. Thank you for your support, and all that you do. James Thompson Standing Room Only Last Week! More Hearings This Week! Wednesday, February 15 - 9:30 am, 548 S, hearing on SCR 1604, sales tax on food - 10:30 am, 144 S, hearings on SB 157 and SB 158, immigration policies - 1:30 pm, 346 S, hearing on HB 2270, new school finance plan - 1:30 pm, 281 N, hearing on HB 2257, election offenses Thursday, February 16 - 9:30 am, 548 S, hearing on SB 175, a tax plan Kansas Senate and House committee bill hearings scheduled for a given day can be found at www.kslegislature.org.  Click on COMMITTEES and then on COMMITTEE BILL HEARINGS to reach the page and type in the day you want. The page will display a list of Bill Hearings that includes the Committee Name, Chamber, Bill Number, Bill Short Title, Committee Meeting Time, and Room Number or go directly to: http://kslegislature.org/li/b2017_18/committees/hearings/ A Rally - Thursday, February 16, 10 am, join the Interfaith Action Network at the Statehouse to oppose campus carry. Thursday, February 16, 5:30 pm, Democratic Action Committee monthly meeting at McFarland's Restaurant (4133 SW Gage Center Dr). Guest speaker will be Nathan Schmidt. For more information, contact Debbie Snow at 785-266-4185 or email her at d.snow@sbcglobal.net. Also, Thursday, February 16, 7:30 pm, KTWU (11.1) is airing the Community Conversation on Race & Social Justice that was recorded live at White Concert Hall Friday, February 10, as Tim Wise: A Minds That Matter Presentation. Later that evening at 10:30 pm, it will be aired again (11.3). Additional airings are Sunday, February 19, 2:30 pm (11.1); Tuesday, February 21, 10:00 pm (11.3); Thursday, February 23, 10:00 pm (11.3); Sunday, February 26, 4:30 pm (11.3); Tuesday, February 28, 1:30 am (11.1); Thursday, March 9, 9:30 pm (11.3); Wednesday, March 22, 9:00 pm (11.1); and Sunday, March 26, 10:30 pm (11.1). From the Women's March:; #HearOurVoice Wow. Can you believe it’s been over three weeks since we marched five million strong on January 21? We didn’t stop there, though. Hundreds of thousands of us have gathered at over 4,750 community meetings, or Huddles, across the world to strengthen our local networks and nail down a plan to win back the world we want. All of us, together, have built the Women’s March into a powerful global movement. Now, it’s time for us to mobilize and demand that our elected officials Hear Our Voice. As the third action in our 100 Days campaign, we’re going to collectively generate a wave of thousands of grassroots-led protests, actions, and meetings directly engaging members of Congress when they're back home for the President’s Day Week. Sign up to join our Tele-Town Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 15th at 7 PM ET announcing the Hear Our Voice campaign to the world. Thursday, February 23, 5:30 pm, Shawnee County Dems Night Out at the Celtic Fox, 8th and Jackson. Friday-Saturday, February 24-25, Washington Days, Ramada Inn, downtown Topeka - Join the Kansas Democratic Party at the largest gathering of Democrats in the State. Washington Days is free to attend! Registration opens Friday at 3 pm. Friday events include the Kickoff Rally and Opening Ceremony at 6 pm; the auction at 8 pm; and the dance at 10 pm! For more information, go to: https://www.kansasdems.org/washington-days-2017/. NEWS! - This is some of what happened in Kansas politics this last week! Tax plans. Senate halts debate on spending cuts, tax package; Kansas’ credit outlook revised to ‘negative’ - Lawrence JW Senate budget, tax debate axed after votes melt away; GOP leaders halt other business until new deal found - Topeka CJ GOP plan to fix Kansas budget collapses amid pressure from educators - Wichita Eagle Kansas House committee signs off on tax increases, repealing LLC exemption - KC Star The Contentious Tax Plans In The Kansas Senate - KCUR School finance. A look at 3 school finance plans garnering debate at the Kansas Statehouse - Lawrence JW KanCare health care expansion. Huge crowd turns out for Medicaid expansion hearing - Lawrence JW KanCare Expansion Advocates Stage Statehouse Rally And Pack Hearing - KCUR Libertarian think tanks, Kansas health secretary testify against expanding Medicaid - Topeka CJ Kansas health committee to vote on Medicaid expansion - AP via KC Star Other news Kansas bill requires more details about abortion providers - Lawrence JW Could This Be The Year Kansas Abolishes Capital Punishment? - KCUR Democrats elect civil rights lawyer as nominee for US House - Topeka CJ Kobach Cites 115 Potential Non-Citizen Voters - KCUR Johnson County Moderate Republicans Stand Firm Against GOP Leadership - KCUR Stirring the Coffee: Q&A with Annie McKay, Kansas Action for Children - Topeka CJ Border War takes to the skies: Brownback wants to build an airport in Johnson County - KC Star Nine in Somali refugee family arrive in Kansas City to launch new lives - KC Star Kansas board in lengthy legal dispute over abortion case - Wichita Eagle Thank you to our office supporters who with their financial support keep our doors open. As Governor Carlin has stated, "This is the most important election...because it is the next election." And, the 2017 election will be the next 'most important election.' Help us be ready for that election by contributing to keeping our doors open. It costs $50 per day to do that. Please send checks with "office" in the memo line to Shawnee County Democrats at 5350 SW 17th or drop by and see us. During the winter months, office hours are 10 am to 4 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 1 am to 4 pm on Fridays. Our website is www.sncodemocrats.org; our Facebook page is www.facebook.com/SnCoDems/, and you can follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/snco_dems.