On Sunday, Jan. 10, 8-9 p.m., KPR Presents will preview the upcoming legislative session with host Kaye McIntyre, KPR statehouse correspondent Stephen Koranda, Lawrence Journal-World legislative reporter Peter Hancock, Washburn University political science professor Bob Beatty, Wichita Eagle legislative reporter Bryan Lowry – and YOU.
For this KPR Presents live show, listeners can submit questions and comments for the panelists on Twitter or Facebook.
You can submit questions ahead of time to Kaye at mcintyre@ku.edu. During the program, you can leave a comment or question on KPR’s Facebook page or tweet to @KPRnews or @KPRinfo.
Let’s learn a little more about the show with its producer and host, Kaye McIntyre.
Q: What gave you the idea to try a live show?
A: We sought listener comments last year when Gov. Brownback rescinded certain protections for LGBT state workers. The response from our listeners was overwhelming; many people had such heartfelt comments to share about the issue. We also hosted a similar political panel last year to preview the 2015 legislative session, and I really enjoyed the give-and-take among the reporters and political scientists. It seemed like a natural next step to get our listeners in on the conversation, to respond to their questions and comments about Kansas politics.
Q: What would you like to hear from listeners?
A: I’d love to hear their questions about what the legislature will and won’t do in the year ahead…and why. We’ll start off focusing on the major issues of the year, of course, but I hope we’ll get some questions about the bigger picture and the forces that shape Kansas politics. We also know that many Kansas lawmakers listen to Kansas Public Radio; this will give our listeners a chance to voice their concerns and to vent some of the frustration that many Kansans feel about what’s happening in Topeka.
Q: It’s likely to be another contentious year in the Kansas Legislature. What topics do you expect to be discussed on the show?
A: Last year’s session left so many big issues unresolved. How will lawmakers address our state’s continuing budget crisis? What will happen with school finance? Will the state expand KanCare to cover more uninsured Kansans? What would YOU like to see the Kansas Legislature do? KPR listeners are informed and engaged; I’m very much looking forward to hearing what they have to say.
Tune in 8-9 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 10, for a live edition of KPR Presents when you can ask the questions.
