Topic: Unitary valuation
Interview of Patrick (Pat) Hubbell, April 9, 2025
Interviewed by Mike Lennen
Long-time legislative lobbyist, Pat Hubbell describes in this oral history interview, how lobbyists work, how they interact with legislators and other advocates, and talks about the importance of this "at the rail" part of the Kansas Legislature. His chief lobbying duties were on behalf of the railroads; Hubbell also had other clients. He worked in the 1970's with Kansas Senators and Representatives in Washington. particularly while the 4-R Act was being developed. The railroad industry plays an important role in transporting Kansas agricultural products. At that time, several railroad companies were going bankrupt, and a Show Moreloss would have been devastating to Kansas farmers. He emphasized that the railroads were lobbying for fair taxation. They wanted to be treated as a competitive business model rather than as a monopoly. “Railroads offer a list of opportunities for people locating businesses in Kansas to have rail service.” Hubbell described his philosophy on lobbying: “we try to find an answer that everybody can agree to. . . Just the fact that you have a lobbyist doesn’t mean you ought to be taking a bill every session to the legislature.” Show Less