Rep. John Carmichael, a Wichita Democrat questioned whether, under the resolution, works of art and literature such as Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” could be considered pornography.

“Shakespeare would never be considered pornography using the old Kansas common-sense test,” Weber said.

That failed to sway Carmichael. “(My vote) is not meant as an encouragement to violent, graphic depictions,” he said, “but rather it is in defense of freedom, liberty and the First Amendment, despite the fact that the price of freedom is high.”

Read the full story at http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article142021989.html

Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita, was the only member of the House to vote “no” on the resolution. Carmichael, an attorney, said he opposed it primarily on First Amendment grounds.

But, he said, “It comes as no surprise to this representative” that the ED section of the resolution “has little, if any validity.”

Read the full story at http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article142057574.html

Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita, was the only member of the House to vote “no” on the resolution. Carmichael, an attorney, said he opposed it primarily on First Amendment grounds.

But, he said, “It comes as no surprise to this representative” that the ED section of the resolution “has little, if any validity.”

Read the full story at http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article142057574.html

“The coordination of wildland fires is woefully lacking because of a serious lack of resources,” said state representative John Carmichael, D-Wichita. “This is all endemic: When you starve the beast of government, when you eliminate income taxes, you put the state in a financial crisis, public safety included.”

Read the full story at http://www.kansas.com/news/state/article142090179.html

Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita, said in a free society people have a First Amendment right to freedom of expression.

“My vote no…is not meant as an encouragement to violent, graphic depictions, but rather it is a defense of freedom, liberty and the First Amendment despite the fact that the price of freedom is high,” Carmichael said.

Read the full story at http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article141459144.html

Democratic Representative John Carmichael said the resolution doesn’t do enough to clarify the distinction between pornography and art. Carmichael said he agrees with some sentiments of the bill, but it raises First Amendment concerns.

“The difficulty is in a free society we have a First Amendment right to expression, freedom of expression,” says Carmichael

Read the full story at http://kansaspublicradio.org/kpr-news/kansas-house-votes-condemn-pornography

Two Democrats in the House raised questions about whether poetry, paintings and other works of art could be defined as pornographic, despite a sense such expression would be protected by the First Amendment.

“Who makes the determination?” said Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita.

Read the full story at http://cjonline.com/state-government/local/news/2017-03-27/kansas-house-declares-pornography-public-health-crisis

Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita, said in a free society people have a First Amendment right to freedom of expression.

“My vote no…is not meant as an encouragement to violent, graphic depictions, but rather it is a defense of freedom, liberty and the First Amendment despite the fact that the price of freedom is high,” Carmichael said.

Read the full story at http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article141459144.html

The Kansas House vote took place before the failure of the federal bill. Lawmakers who had expressed reservations about supporting expansion because of federal uncertainty may now be more inclined to support a veto override, said Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita.

“You take that off the table and that may pick up the necessary votes to override the veto,” Carmichael said. “It’s my hope, however, that the governor will do the responsible thing and at the least allow this to become law without his signature.”

Read the full story at http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article141202878.html

Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita, voiced support for the bill, but suggested the state needs to continue reforming the process for dealing with sexual violent predators.

“By no means does this fix the many serious issues we have with Larned State Hospital,” he said.

Read the full story at http://cjonline.com/news/state-government/2017-03-27/kansas-house-advances-bill-establishing-annual-review-sexually