Attorney General Kris Kobach calls for special session, lawmakers respond

TOPEKA (KSNT) – On Wednesday, Attorney General Kris Kobach requested that the Kansas Legislature call a special sessions to address gender marker ruling, but some lawmakers believe this request is about more than just drivers licenses.

The request for a special session is due to the Kansas Supreme Court’s recent refusal to review the case of Kansas v. Harper, concerning SB 180, which prohibits transgender individuals from changing their sex on Kansas driver’s licenses and birth certificates. This refusal is allowing the Kansas Court of Appeals ruling to stand, allowing individuals to change their sex on driver’s licenses and birth certificates.

“Attorney General Kobach would like the Legislature, in special session, to add a few words to SB
180 that will prevent the courts from thwarting the will of the Legislature and thereby prevent a
flood of individuals seeking to change their driver’s licenses.” Speaker of the House Daniel Hawkins said in a letter.

Democrats however, do not believe the special session’s focus is to address the gender marker ruling.

“The timing of this urgent request for a change to a law that has been on the books for over two years is highly suspicious,” Kansas Senate Democratic Leader Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa, said. “It’s as though the idea of mid-decade redistricting isn’t generating enough momentum amongst the people of Kansas – because Kansans aren’t asking for a new map – so Republicans needed to return to a divisive social issue that they know will drum up outrage.”

Sykes believes that this call for a special session is actually about preventing three-term Congresswoman Sharice Davids from representing Kansas in the U.S. House of Representatives. She also believes that Republican leadership, as well as those vying for governor, are doing everything they can to deliver another seat in Congress that would support the Trump Administration’s agenda.

“Republican legislative leaders’ efforts to call a special session for mid-decade redistricting have so far proven to be unpopular. And rightfully so, as Kansans know this is neither the right approach nor the right time,” Governor Laura Kelly said in a press release. “Now, Attorney General Kobach is manufacturing false urgency to apply pressure to legislators who have not committed to supporting a special session for redistricting purposes. If need be, this issue could easily be addressed when legislators are routinely scheduled to be in session rather than wasting more than $100,000 in taxpayer dollars. This is simply more political theater.”

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