We have noticed a trend in these first weeks of the Kansas political season. The Governor proposed his vision and plan, and virtually every agency and office has sounded the alarm for their budget. The Governor's irresponsible tax cuts have put us in this crisis, and his blind adherence to that vision has lit a fear under every aspect of State Government. From the courts to the pension, from the roads to public education, everyone is trying to impress upon lawmakers and the public just how crucial their services are to the people of Kansas.

Here we go. The 2015 Kansas Legislative session kicked off this week with a bang and the message is loud and clear ― the Brownback administration is doubling down.

This is a letter from MainStream's new Board President, Sheryl Spalding.

While we wait and speculate about the actions the Kansas Legislature will take this session, the first, concrete bit of action has come our way. Numerous school districts in the state have sent out mail-in ballots regarding school funding.

We wish you a happy new year, and hope you had a restful holiday season, because 2015 will start with a bang in Kansas politics.

This is a special letter to MainStream supporters from our outgoing Board President, Dennis Sweeny.

My time as president of MainStream is ending this month. It has been an eventful two years.

We need to clear up a misunderstanding. There are a lot of knowledgeable political writers out there arguing that the moderate movement is dead. That the "moderate majority" is a myth. They tell us that this moderate block is a vast collection of milquetoast sometime-voters who can't be herded, don't vote, and couldn't care less.

They are a little confused.

We'd like to provide a primer on what moderate means to us.

Last week we asked you to help us extend our reach, to meet new people, reasonable voters and concerned non-voters alike. Half of voting Kansans chose against extremism in this past election, and we'd like to meet them.

Here is video of our recent forum, "Kansas Politics in 2015: Insights after the election."

It may seem that we don't have much to give thanks for, in the wake of the election. But in the spirit of getting over it, we present the Lesser Prairie Chickens: