Liberty. Freedom. Independence. We take pride in these words, as Americans. We celebrate them on the fourth day of July, reminding ourselves that we once overthrew a tyrant who sought to deny us those words. In 1776, we fought together for the right to be independent.

It is time. We need you to help us get out the vote in the 2019 elections. We're not asking you to attend a phone bank, or to sign up to walk in the heat, knocking on the doors of strangers. No, we just want you to call your friends, your family, or your co-workers. People you already know. We want you to talk to them about how important it is for them to vote.

The Kansas Supreme Court ruled on Friday that Kansas is finally in compliance with their order to provide Constitutionally-mandated funding for public education. For the first time in at least a decade, Kansas is spending what the people expect, and can provide adequate and equitable public education for ALL Kansas children. But Kansas kids still need you.

Who are we talking about? Who is the next Kris Kobach? To tell you the truth, we don't know, but if you'd known what his future held twenty years ago, when Kris Kobach won his first elected position, do you think you would have voted, worked, and donated to his opponent?

Let’s give some context for that number, 82% turnout. In the last three Presidential elections, less than 60% of voters cast a ballot. Even fewer people vote in non-Presidential years, however the 2018 midterms recorded the highest voter turnout of any midterm election since 1966! How many turned out? 47%. That's right. Not even half of registered Americans voted in the most hotly contested midterms in fifty years.

At MainStream, we respect those who dedicate themselves to public service. There is no greater sacrifice for the public good than that of the men and women of the armed forces who have lost their lives in service to the nation. This Memorial Day, we honor their memories, and their commitment.

Georgia. Alabama. Missouri. Pro-Life extremists are passing abortion laws even their own supporters think go too far. Their intent? Get the issue before the newly conservative US Supreme Court, in an attempt to revoke the right to legal, safe abortions. The result? Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of women in those states are having their lives thrown into turmoil. Kansas is next.

In the news section, we have been running stories under the heading, "Is it 2020 yet?" regarding the ambitions of legislators and politicians for the 2020 US Congressional races. With the 2019 Kansas Legislative Session behind us (mostly, Sine Die, the final day, is still ahead on May 29), isn't 2020 what is next? Despite what the news, Facebook, or the donation emails flooding in would say, no, 2020 is not next. In Kansas, we vote every year, in August and November. In just two and-one-half months, on August 6, 2019, Kansans will go to the polls for a Primary Election.

The Kansas Legislative Session restarted with a bang on Wednesday last week, and looked to roar into the weekend, but ended with a disappointing whimper at 3am Sunday. Leadership had continued to thwart a vote on Medicaid expansion, so legislators used the only leverage they had, holding the budget hostage until a vote on expansion could be held. The strategy succeeded at first, with the pro-expansion coalition holding strong through two votes. A third vote proved too much, however, as promises by Leadership for a Medicaid vote next year were enough to sway some legislators.

When the Kansas Legislature comes back into session on Wednesday, they will confront several thorny issues. At one point, we expected them to just have to handle budget issues. However, their break has been eventful, and now we expect them to tackle abortion rights and health care expansion, along with the expected budget issues. More importantly perhaps, they will tackle the issue of how to govern effectively while also working for constituents. That's not a trick question, however. They can do both.