This spring, I wrote in The Star about how our leaders promised to help make life more affordable for Kansans. Families like mine are doing everything we can to stretch our dollars. We are cutting back on groceries, putting off home repairs, delaying vacations and holding off on replacing our old car. My family, like many others, hoped our elected officials would make life a little easier. But instead of focusing on lowering costs or improving education, some lawmakers are spending their time trying to change the political map. Right now, certain politicians in Topeka want to bring the Legislature back for a special session. Are they going to lower taxes? Assist with child care costs? No. They want to change the boundaries of our congressional districts, the regions that decide who represents us in Congress.

Right now, certain politicians in Topeka want to bring the Legislature back for a special session. Are they going to lower taxes? Assist with child care costs? No. They want to change the boundaries of our congressional districts, the regions that decide who represents us in Congress.

Normally, these boundaries are updated once every 10 years after the census. The last time Kansas redrew its map was just three years ago, in 2022. That process is supposed to happen once a decade, not whenever people in power want to give themselves an advantage. This same Legislature had the chance earlier this year to pass bills that would help Kansans keep up with rising costs. They could have worked on lowering property taxes, expanding access to health care or helping with child care and housing costs. But they didn’t. Now, they want to come back for a special session focused only on redistricting. None of that helps Kansas families who are already struggling to make ends meet.