Legislators not only ones with vote

Like you, I read the news reports of the "historic legislative session" and victories claimed by various groups of lawmakers. But not so long ago, the news was filled with speculation about why nothing important had been accomplished to date.

Some elected officials alleged there was a lack of leadership. Then news came of lobbying groups and money spent to entertain legislators. Is the ship of state really rudderless? Who truly deserves the credit for the accomplishments of the legislative session? Lobbyists who bring legislators the perspectives of their clients? Legislative leaders who are responsible for steering lawmakers through a myriad of complex issues? A coalition of dissident legislators who band together to challenge the administration? Legislative staff who spend endless hours researching issues, analyzing budgets and writing legislation? Newspaper and television editorials intended to sway public opinion? The governor who proposes a course of action at the beginning of the legislative session and, as described by one of my senate colleagues, fishes in the legislative process when fish are biting?Or how about you, the voter? If you took the time to call your elected officials, write, send an e-mail or seize the opportunity when you saw me at the grocery store to comment on legislative issues of interest, you undoubtedly made the biggest difference in the success of the session.

Legislators from across the state are representative of the interests, attitudes, values and economic conditions of the districts from which we were elected. We want to be the faces and voices of the people who elected us, which in a state the size of Kansas are quite diverse. Just in my own senatorial district, which stretches along the Osage County line from the Berryton Road to Wabaunsee County, north to Huntoon Street, and encompasses the southwest third of the city of Topeka, the views are quite different. To represent the majority sentiment on an extensive array of issues, good constituent communications are essential -- and two way. I have tried to indicate my interest in your opinions through a door- to-door campaign, constituent questionnaires and newsletters and small gatherings to discuss legislation. To understand the perspectives among the people in the district, I must listen. You help me to understand what you value and what is important to you through your responses to surveys, letters and phone calls -- and by voting. Besides all of the headline-grabbing issues are a vast array of other issues that are worked and reworked throughout the legislative session. They may be deemed less newsworthy, but they are important to some individuals. When you take the time to comment on an issue of interest of concern to you, you affect my consideration of that issue more than any other force at the Capitol. Legislators know we can't please everyone on every issue. But if we fail to consider the views of our constituents and fail to effectively represent what is important to our constituents, we should expect to be rejected by the voters in the next election. Voting is the most powerful tool you have. Were you one of the only 16.88 percent of the registered voters in Shawnee County who voted in the April city election? Were you one of the 57.07 percent who turned out at the polls last November?If your elected officials did not represent your views in the "historic accomplishments" of this past legislative session, look forward to the next legislative session and communicate with your senator and representative. If your elected officials did not stand for what you believe is important in the "historic accomplishments" of this past legislative session, look forward to the next election and exercise your most powerful tool -- the vote. You can make the difference. Alicia Salisbury was elected to the Kansas Senate in 1984. She is vice president of the Senate, chairwoman of the Commerce Committee and vice chairwoman of Ways and Means.

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