Except for its cleanup session, the Kansas Legislature has finished its work for another year.

But for all that the politicians will tell you they accomplished, the one thing they did not do is to give Kansans the right to petition their government in the same manner that is available to citizens of neighboring Missouri.

With the right of initiative referendum, Missouri voters have slowed the increase in their taxes with the Hancock Amendment, increased the minimum wage and mandated that taxes collected at gas pumps go only for road construction and repair. They addressed issues that elected officials would not, which may be why politicians have been unwilling to extend that right to Kansas citizens.

So now that your state senators and representatives have returned home, you should ask them why they don't think initiative referendum is something that Kansans deserve. Then tell them that your next vote will go to someone who will work to change that.