Over the Cattle Guard | Week 10 – Supreme Court Reform, Medicare Protection, and Final Legislative Decisions

This week at the Capitol was historic, as we passed SCR 1611, a constitutional amendment that returns the power of choosing Kansas Supreme Court Justices to the people. We also took a major step toward protecting Kansas seniors from Medicare Advantage scams with HCR 5013 and prepared for the final week of the general session.

SCR 1611 – Returning Supreme Court Nominations to the People

The Kansas Constitution states that all political power is inherent in the people—yet, when it comes to selecting Kansas Supreme Court Justices, the people currently have no say.

How Are Justices Chosen Today?
🔹 A panel of 5 lawyers and 4 individuals appointed by the Governor selects nominees.
🔹 The 5 lawyers on this panel are chosen by other lawyers, ensuring that the legal community dominates the selection process.
🔹 This has led to liberal, activist judges controlling the Kansas Supreme Court.

The results have been disastrous:
⚖️ 8 of the last 9 cases that went from the Kansas Supreme Court to the U.S. Supreme Court have been overturned.
⚖️ The Kansas Supreme Court has overstepped its authority, dictating how much the Legislature must spend on public education, rather than simply determining the constitutionality of laws.

Why SCR 1611 Matters:

✅ Puts Kansans back in control of who sits on the Supreme Court.
✅ Requires Justices to run for re-election every 6 years, holding them accountable.
✅ Ends the legal profession’s monopoly over judicial selection.

Some argue that this will bring politics into the process, but politics already exist, with decisions controlled by a small group of lawyers. This amendment finally lets the people have a say—just as they did before 1958.

📌 This amendment will be on the 2026 primary ballot. If you have questions, please reach out!

HCR 5013 – Protecting Kansas Seniors from Medicare Advantage Scams

For too long, Kansas seniors have been misled by deceptive marketing tactics from Medicare Advantage plans—and the federal government has done nothing to stop it.

🔹 Current Problem:

• The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has failed to provide meaningful oversight, leaving seniors vulnerable.

• Many Kansans have nowhere to turn when misled by these plans.

🔹 What This Resolution Does:
✅ Urges Congress to return regulatory authority to state insurance regulators.
✅ Ensures Kansas—not Washington bureaucrats—holds bad actors accountable.
✅ Gives seniors better protection and more transparency.

This is about consumer protection, local control, and common sense. Kansas regulators understand the needs of our seniors far better than Washington, D.C., and it’s time Congress recognized that.

Final Week of Session – What’s Next?

With only one week left in the general session, the Legislature will be finalizing:
✅ Tax policy decisions
✅ The Kansas state budget
✅ Final versions of key legislation before sending them to the Governor

After that, we will return in April for the veto session.

Final Thoughts

This week’s votes were about returning power to the people and protecting Kansans from fraud.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support as we cast these final votes. If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to me at [email protected].

Thank you for allowing me to serve!

Best,
Dale Helwig
State Representative, District 1