(Syndicated to Kansas newspapers Feb. 22, 2016)
Every now and again you can watch the Legislature literally turn on its heels in debate.
An amendment pops up that old-time Legislature-watchers figure has no chance, and then, well, it’s suddenly very popular, if a dab out of character for the House or Senate.
Such surprising votes, one in the House and another in the Senate last week, were both spurred by Democratic amendments.
First surprise was the narrow adoption of an amendment to an otherwise pretty dull bill that would make “revenge porn” a crime. That’s when half of a broken-up couple distributes on the Internet sexy or obscene photos of the other.