The Kansas special legislative session last week only lasted one day but still elicited many strong responses and wild speeches. The new law provides moral, religious and medical exemptions to COVID-19 vaccine requirements and ensure unemployment compensation for anyone who is fired because of their vaccine status.

Any business that refuses to accept an exemption faces up to $50,000 in fines.

Considerations of such action were criticized by Democratic legislators who called the legislation a waste of taxpayer money, instead pointing to issues they said are in need of more immediate attention, like the food sales tax and the criminal justice system.

On this week’s Reflector podcast we hear some of the speeches that defined the special session, followed by a short conversation with Tom Witt, executive director of Equality Kansas, to debrief on the events.