By NICK BUDD
Hays Post

A Fort Hays State professor and Insight Kansas columnist says a bill in the Kansas Legislature would “squelch” some of the analysis on Kansas State Politics. HB 2234 would prevent any university employee from using their official title in a newspaper editorial or supplement.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Virgil Peck, R-Tyro, last week. Chapman Rackaway is political science professor at Fort Hays State and also writes for Insight Kansas, a group of professors across the state that commentates on Kansas politics every week. The column is published weekly at HaysPost.com.

“My concern is that this is an attempt to squelch some of the analysis that is done about state politics,” Rackaway said. “It seems there are members of the Legislature that want to avoid accountability for their actions.”

The group of university professors looks to “fill a void” after several news agencies across the state cut down on staff members covering the legislative session in Topeka. During their discussions over the bill, the group said they plan to continue providing comprehensive coverage of legislative actions even if the state takes away their ability to use their title on bylines.

“The decisions that are made in Topeka are highly important. They deserve a fair hearing, but they also deserve scrutiny and analysis,” Rackaway said. “It does seem to be a solution in search of a problem. In the most negative feedback I receive, very rarely do people denote to the fact that I’m speaking on behalf of all of Fort Hays State.”

The Insight Kansas roster also includes political science professors Bob Beatty and Mark Peterson of Washburn University, H. Edward Flentje of Wichita State University, Burdett Loomis of the University of Kansas.