Kansas lawmakers lean on rule against ‘impugning motives,’ stifling criticism

By: Anna Kaminski

Outlets: Kansas Reflector

Published: April 14, 2026

Words: 1,797

Last Updated: 3 months, 2 weeks ago

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TOPEKA — The tension between voting rights lobbyist Melissa Stiehler and a committee of Kansas legislators boiled over when Stiehler told them “lawmaking based on xenophobic propaganda is morally disgusting.”

Power plays

How Kansas legislative leaders advance their agenda by exploiting process. Read the series.

A few Republicans shared glances, and Rep. Kristey Williams, an Augusta Republican, asked Stiehler to repeat herself.

When she did, Williams reprimanded …

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