You've sent hundreds of emails to the Kansas Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs, asking for their support in repealing the campus carry provisions in Kansas law. Now, it is time to work on the Kansas House of Representatives.

Our government is getting the message, loud and clear. Last week, hundreds of you made yourselves known, in emails and calls to your state legislators, to your national representatives, at marches and at meetings. The people of Kansas know what they want, and you are not shy about letting your electeds know, too.

This is a second action on Kansas Senate Bill 53, the repeal of campus carry. Yesterday, we asked you to thank Senator Faust-Goudeau, who supports this bill, and hundreds of you responded.

Today, we are asking you to contact the Chairman (and the rest of the Committee) to urge support of SB 53.

Senate Bill 53 will go before the Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs on Thursday. Senator Oletha Faust-Goudeau is the ranking Democrat on that committee, and is committed to this issue. Today, we are asking you to contact her and thank her in her support of this bill.

It is downright refreshing to be anticipating the introduction of bills into the Kansas Legislature with eagerness, instead of dread. Last week, unlike the first week of the session, saw the introduction of several pieces of legislature designed to make Kansas better. Sure, there are a few on the horizon that we expect to be more of the same. And the specter of the Governor's veto lays in wait after the hard work of getting bills out of committee and passed in chamber. But what a difference from just one year ago.

150,000 Kansans who lack access to health care could receive coverage if Kansas would accept $1.9 million it refuses every day. These are taxes paid by Kansans that do not come back to us, but instead go to other states. KanCare needs to be expanded quickly, before the Trump Administration eliminates health care for these Kansans and more. To date, Kansas has turned away $1.6 billion in potential health care funding. Gov. Brownback continues to ignore the needs of Kansans.

Before we get into last week's (in)action in Kansas politics, we'd like to take a moment to remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the work he championed. In particular, one quote of his says, "We may have all come on different ships, we're in the same boat now." This sentiment is one that MainStream fully embraces in everything we strive for.

The 2017 Kansas Legislative Session gavels in today at 2:00 pm. If you're interested, you can follow along with the audio feeds of the House and the Senate. Or follow along on our Twitter list of reporters and others at the Statehouse (no Twitter account required). Today is likely to be more pomp than circumstance, as the legislature will be facing many long and difficult debates this year. The House Taxation committee meets at 3:30 today, and may set a tone or direction, but will be meeting all week. Many other committees start tomorrow or Wednesday.

This is a message from our new President of the Board of the MainStream Coalition, Carol Marinovich.

This has been a difficult year. The internet is full of memes describing it, from dumpster fire to worse. Politics overwhelmed us, and the results, nationally, were terrifying for people who hold with the positions we support at MainStream. We've told you Kansas was a bright spot in the dark firmament of this year, but it can be hard to accept, we know. So it is time to close the door on 2016, and look forward to 2017.