Votes Against Bipartisan Bills
Sen. Cindy Holscher’s voting record is so far left that she repeatedly voted against legislation that was bipartisan or signed into law by the governor:
For Open Borders and Against Ban on Sanctuary Cities
Holscher voted against a ban on sanctuary cities and counties that was signed into law.
Against Bipartisan Legislation Curtailing Cell Phones in Classrooms
Holscher voted against bipartisan legislation to restrict cell phone usage in classrooms, that was signed into law by the governor.
Against Paying Down Debt
Holscher voted against using over a $1 billion massive surplus to pay off KPERS debt so teachers’ and other public employees’ retirement fund is on firmer ground and future taxpayers pay less. The bill was signed into law.
Against Bipartisan Housing Legislation
Holscher voted against the historic bipartisan legislation to streamline regulations and make it easier to build affordable single-family homes, including duplexes and townhomes, in Kansas. The law was backed by even most Democrats and signed into law.
Against Health Care Reform
Holscher was one of only two votes against a bill that was signed into law to add advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to Kansas’s Health Care Stabilization Fund (the state’s excess malpractice coverage) and give them a board seat, helping improve health care access.
Holscher also voted against allowing APRNs to prescribe medicine without a signed doctor protocol, while requiring national certification and malpractice insurance, so rural clinics and busy practices can get patients their prescriptions without waiting on a supervising physician’s paperwork. Many Kansans rely on APRNs for regular health care. Despite Holscher’s opposition, this measure earned wide, bipartisan support and was signed into law.
For Big Government
Holscher voted against letting licensed hair, nail, or body artists from other states get a short 14-day temporary permit to work at a Kansas salon, convention, or approved, making it easier for visiting professionals to legally work a show or pop-up without jumping through extra paperwork. Holscher was one of just four in the legislature to oppose the bill, which was signed into law.
Holscher voted against rewarding state employees who report activities of fraud, waste, or abuse in any state-administered program to the secretary of administration. The bill earned bipartisan support.
Holscher voted against legislation reforming the state nursing board after the out-of-control board punished nurses for trivial paperwork errors, harming their careers and contributing to the nursing shortage. The bill restored the licenses of nurses who were wronged and was signed into law.
For Taxing Netflix
Holscher voted for a tax on Netflix and other streaming services by voting against a bipartisan bill to exempt streaming services from local franchise taxes that could have been passed on to cable television cord-cutters. It was signed into law.
Against Elected Sheriffs
Holscher was originally one of just two senators to oppose a constitutional amendment requiring that county sheriffs be independently elected. The amendment was approved by Kansas voters.
Against Transparency by Elected Officials
Holscher voted against the truth-in-taxation law, a bipartisan measure strengthening transparency by requiring revenue-neutral rate notices, public hearings, and recorded votes for tax increases beyond the prior year, much like we witnessed recently with our Board of County Commissioners. The law is what required the commissioners to conduct a hearing attended by hundreds of JoCo residents.
Holscher voted against the truth-in-taxation law, a bipartisan measure strengthening transparency by requiring revenue-neutral rate notices, public hearings, and recorded votes for tax increases beyond the prior year, much like we witnessed recently with our Board of County Commissioners. The law is what required the commissioners to conduct a hearing attended by hundreds of JoCo residents.
Holscher Is Soft on Crime
Cindy Holscher voted against a bipartisan measure that creates severe penalties interference with a religious assembly and lets victims seek civil damages when worship is disrupted by force, threats, obstruction, or property damage. The law was drafted after a vehicle attack and fire at a Michigan synagogue and a coordinated disruption of a Minnesota church service. The law was backed by many Democrats and was allowed to become law by the governor.
Holscher voted against a bill banning kratom in Kansas. Kratom can be addictive and has been linked to withdrawal, liver damage, seizures, and emergency-room visits, especially in concentrated or 7-OH products. The bill earned bipartisan support and was signed into law.
Holscher voted against restructuring the Kansas Prisoner Review Board after it paroled the man convicted of murdering Highway Patrol Trooper Conroy O’Brien, who was shot twice in the head at close range during a 1978 traffic stop near Matfield Green. The bill passed with little opposition and was signed into law.
Holscher voted against simply making sure people who already have a felony record and then commit another felony while on probation, parole, or in custody actually serve real prison time instead of getting another slap on the wrist. This stops one day in jail from being counted twice so repeat offenders don’t get an extra break, and it requires meaningful cash bonds for those new charges so dangerous people are less likely to walk free before trial and put the public at risk again. The bill earned bipartisan support and was signed into law.
Holscher was the only senator to vote against a law letting police remove squatters occupying a house or apartment without the resident’s consent. The law lets a homeowner or landlord file a sworn, notarized statement with police so officers can quickly remove people who have broken into a house or apartment and are living there without any lease or permission. The bill was signed into law.
Holscher voted against making it a crime to flee from an officer who has a lawful reason to stop you and raising the penalty if the person is already a felon or fires a gun while running. This gives officers chasing someone who bolts on foot clearer authority and allows stronger consequences when that chase turns dangerous.
Holscher originally voted against making organized retail theft a crime and letting the attorney general help local prosecutors pursue crime rings that hop from county to county.
Holscher proposed abolishing the death penalty.