Pro-ivermectin Kansas senator reached ‘agreement’ to switch key redistricting vote
Sen. Mark Steffen, a physician and ivermectin advocate under investigation by the state’s medical board, cast one of the deciding votes to override Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of a congressional map after reaching what he and Republican leadership both called a “mutual agreement.”
The ‘yes’ vote from the Hutchinson Republican and anesthesiologist — which he cast a day after he voted no — came hours after lawmakers advanced a bill he is championing that would shut down some investigations by the board.
“I don’t know if it was that blunt,” Steffen said on KCMO Talk Radio when asked by host Pete Mundo whether he felt like he had to hold up his vote on redistricting to make progress on the bill.
“I do know there were concerns. I had concerns across the board,” Steffen said. “I was able to meet with the right folks to express those concerns and we came to a mutual agreement.”
The bill contains sweeping exemptions from childhood vaccine requirements. It would also mandate that pharmacists fill ivermectin prescriptions.
The measure would require a review of investigations conducted by the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts into doctors who have prescribed drugs for off-label uses to treat COVID-19. Off-label prescriptions are common, but doctors are expected to follow the “standard of care,” or what a competent physician would do in similar circumstances.
Steffen has said he is under investigation by the board and acknowledged prescribing ivermectin. He has declined to confirm whether the investigation involves those prescriptions, but has said it includes his public statements, which have been supportive of ivermectin and other unproven COVID-19 treatments.
The bill would block action against Steffen if the investigation involving him is related to his prescribing off-label treatments. Steffen said no one had made complaints against him about his prescriptions of ivermectin.
“No, it would not apply to me in any way, shape or form,” Steffen said of the bill.
Steffen didn’t elaborate on air on Wednesday about who was involved in the agreement. He ignored questions from reporters on Tuesday.
Senate President Ty Masterson, speaking to reporters Tuesday, denied a deal was made with Steffen related to the vaccine and off-label drug prescriptions. Senate votes changed, he said, following “lots of conversations around a lot of different aspects of things.” The health committee was already scheduled to vote on the bill Tuesday before the Senate took its redistricting vote Monday.
“Deal is probably not the correct word,” Masterson said. “You’re going to have people accuse me of that no matter what is said.”
On Wednesday, Masterson’s spokesperson confirmed a “mutual agreement” had been reached with Steffen for him to vote to override the veto.
“Discussions were had about issues that Senator Steffen cares about, as President Masterson confirmed yesterday,” Mike Pirner, Masterson’s spokesperson, said.
“The mutual agreement was that he would vote for the map,” Pirner said. “It is not any more complicated than that.”
Pirner said in a text that “any implication about a trade or a deal is inaccurate and nothing in (Steffen’s) interview said differently.”
Steffen cast one of two deciding votes Tuesday overriding Kelly’s veto of a congressional redistricting map that would make it harder for Democrat Sharice Davids to win reelection by splitting Wyandotte County along Interstate 70 and moving Lawrence into the sweeping 1st District.
Steffen, and Elinwood Republican Sen. Alicia Straub, voted no in the Senate’s first attempt to override Kelly’s veto Monday.
But, after procedural maneuvers allowed Senate leadership nearly 24 hours to twist arms and make deals, Steffen and Straub changed their votes to ‘yes.’ The Senate approved the override with 27 votes, the minimum needed. The House must also override the veto to enact it into law.
Beforehand, the Senate Health and Public Welfare Committee sent a bill to the full Senate that would implement no-questions-asked policies for families seeking religious exemptions to childhood vaccinations, in addition to provisions on ivermectin prescriptions and Board of Healing Arts investigations.
The Board of Healing Arts on Wednesday said it hasn’t taken any public disciplinary action against a physician for off-label prescribing of a COVID-19 treatment. A total of 50 investigations related to COVID-19 have been opened by the board and 32 are currently open.
This story was originally published February 9, 2022 at 11:58 AM.
