Graham’s Grumblings - Jan. 23, 2026
By Timothy Graham
KNEA Director of Government Relations
It’s time for another Graham’s Grumblings - and this week, I want to lighten it up a bit.
The last two legislative sessions have made one thing very clear - the pace at the Kansas Statehouse has changed. Timelines have shrunk. The Kansas Legislature has significantly whittled down its actual working days. And before anyone jumps in with “but they gave themselves a pay raise” - yes, I know. Still, having the Legislature wrapped up and home for good in early April? That’s just fine by me.
Because of those shorter timelines, the pace under the dome has been breakneck - and it’s not slowing down anytime soon. We’re already seeing voucher bills, plenty of culture-war legislation, and more than a little grandstanding. Moods are starting to fray. Most of us who live and work in this building have accepted the - we buckle in, do the work, and hope for the best.
But here’s the thing - Kansas legislative insiders tend to live in our own bubbles. It happens to all of us. When you spend this much time inside the Statehouse, it’s easy to lose touch with the world outside those marble walls.
Lately, though, the outside world has been showing up to remind us of what matters.
The Kansas National Education Association (KNEA) is no exception.
Through our Government Relations At The Table program, KNEA retirees are co-sponsoring a new initiative called the Retiree Ambassador Program. The idea is simple but powerful: Retired KNEA educators team up with in-service members to staff welcome booths in the Statehouse Welcome Center, greeting legislators, legislative staff and members of the public as they arrive in Topeka to do the people’s work.
I’ve always loved this idea. But I’m starting to see just how effective it really is.
The conversations happening at those tables are doing real work. They’re raising awareness of our issues. They’re putting a human face on our association. They’re breaking the ice with legislators who may be hesitant to engage with us - whether because of preconceived notions or simply because they don’t really know who we are.
And something else is happening, too. The members who show up regularly are becoming familiar faces. Lawmakers stop by. Staff linger. Conversations get lighter, easier, more human. Barriers that were built up by political drama start to fall away.
Earlier today, I was on the phone with the National Education Association (NEA) giving an update on At The Table, which is funded through an NEA grant. I told them just how thrilled I am with the ambassador tables - and how much additional lobbying I’m able to do when I can join members there. A legislator slows down to chat with an educator, and I step in to help round out the conversation. It’s organic. It’s effective. And it works.
So, here’s my mini call to action:
We have spots available.
If you can come up for a day - or even just a few hours - we would love to have you. If you’re interested and available, scan the QR code to see open dates and sign up.
Because sometimes the real diamonds in the rough aren’t bills or speeches or headlines.
Sometimes, they’re just conversations - happening at a table, in the middle of a very busy building.
Timothy R. Graham is the Director of Governmental Relations and Legislative Affairs for KNEA. He has spent more than 25 years working inside Kansas politics and government, including Director of Government Affairs for Gov. Laura Kelly; Deputy Executive Director of the Kansas Lottery; Interim Executive Director of InterHab; Chief of Staff to the Kansas Senate Minority Leader; and Assistant Secretary of State for the State of Kansas. He can be reached via email at timothy.graham@knea.org.