TheChat: As the number of Kansas women in elected office falls, explanations emerge

Good morning.

▪ “Most women have families, and if they have jobs, what job lets you take off work 90 to 100 days a year? It makes it very difficult for women who are professionals.” — Kansas state Rep. Gail Finney, a Wichita Democrat, on why the number of women in elected office is declining in the state.

Back in 1993, Kansas ranked first nationally when it comes to gender parity. Today, the state is in the middle of the pack.

▪ “Our country will be better once we get to 60.” — Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill talking about the upside to having a majority of women in the U.S. Senate. Today, there are 20.

The upside? Government will work better, she said. McCaskill is a long-time advocate of more women in politics and is backing Hillary Clinton for president.

▪ “I would prefer that everybody just think I’m wonderful, but that isn’t going to happen.” — Charles Koch, the billionaire CEO of Koch Industries, in an interview on “The Kelly File” to air Thursday night.

Koch, who’s regularly pilloried by Democrats, said he’s borrowed Harry Truman’s motto: “If you can’t stand the heat, don’t go in the kitchen.”

▪ “We will not stand idly by as the people of this state are committed to millions of dollars in debt without proper legislative approval or a public vote." — Missouri House Speaker Todd Richardson criticizing a plan by Gov. Jay Nixon to use state money to fund a new St. Louis football stadium without lawmaker or voter approval.

Richardson is gathering signatures on a letter to Nixon that explains his position. But, a question remains: What happens if lawmakers refuse to make payments on stadium bonds? What then?

This story was originally published October 15, 2015 at 12:09 AM.