This Week At The Capitol
The sixth week of the 2008 legislative session brought much needed action to the House floor. On Monday, the House spent three hours debating House Substitute for Senate Bill 327, also known as the energy bill. The legislation formally passed on Tuesday with a 77-45 vote. I have included more specific information about the bill below. The House calendar is now open for other urgent issues, though I remain concerned that a full debate on health care or education funding has yet to make the schedule.
On another note, several legislators and staffers around the Capitol spent time home sick this week as a wave of influenza swept across the state. Although flu season is nearing its end, it is currently at its peak and even impacting those who received flu shots. I urge you to take steps to protect you and your family from illness. If you do experience flu-like symptoms, please stay home to allow yourself proper time to recover and prevent the illness from spreading to others.
Energy Bill Update
The House formally debated the highly publicized energy bill this week, House Substitute for Senate Bill 327. Though the legislation was officially approved at a 77-45 vote, this debate is far from over. The bill still awaits review from a joint House and Senate conference committee, which will meet next week, and requires a signature from the Governor. Additionally, litigation between utility companies and the state regarding the original Holcomb decision is still pending. However, the debate this week did begin what needs to be a long-term discussion about Kansas’ energy policy.
I have received more e-mails on this issue than any other issue since I have served as your representative. I truly appreciate hearing from each of you, and I have tried to e-mail each of you back. The ratio of emails in opposition to the Holcomb plant was 20 to 1 of those in favor. Many of you wrote very detailed e-mails with explanations of your concerns. Thanks you. (I voted no.)
House Committee Considers Housing Grant Proposal
In addition to a market slump, unstable mortgage lenders and skyrocketing foreclosure rates, natural disasters significantly contributed to a statewide housing crisis in Kansas in 2007. A deficit of available and affordable housing – both in tomato-ravaged Greenburg and flood-damaged Southeast Kansas – remains a huge concern to citizens of those communities and to lawmakers. This week, the House Economic Development and Tourism committee heard testimony regarding House Bill 2712, which would enact a statewide housing grant program.
HB2712 mirrors a similar piece of legislation passed in the Senate last month, offering housing grants valued at $4 million a year over the next three years to federally declared disaster areas. The assistance could apply to rebuilding housing or related infrastructure. Local officials would be required to match up to 10 percent of grants for infrastructure and 50 percent for other projects. After three years, the program would expand statewide and other communities across Kansas would be eligible to apply hor housing development assistance.
To fully recover from 2007 natural disasters, lawmakers must take action to meet the growing need for affordable housing in Kansas. Housing development directly links to economic stability; the more homes that are available, the more businesses will develop in rural communities to offer steady jobs and incentives for long-term residency. Though some lawmakers harbor concerns regarding state spending, waiting to address housing needs in disaster-ridden areas will only further delay the recovery of impacted communities – and of the state – and increase costs in the long run. Housing availability remains the number one hurdle in disaster recovery and must be addressed during the 2008 legislative session.
Senate Committee Debates Minimum Wage Increase
After 20 years with NO increases, the possibility of increasing Kansas’ minimum wage received due attention this week in the Capitol. The Senate Commerce Committee held its first hearing on the matter debating Senate Bill 466. The Senate proposal, sponsored by Sen. Roger Reitz, R-Manhattan, would raise the state’s minimum wage from $2.65, the lowest in the country, to $6.55 per hour beginning August 2008. This would precede another wage boost in August 2009 from $6.55 to $7.25 per hour, making Kansas minimum wage equal to federal standards.
Proponents of a minimum wage increase argue that 19,000 Kansans currently work for less than the federal minimum wage. Those Kansans struggle to provide food and shelter for their families, making this a moral issue that state lawmakers have a responsibility to address. Opponents of a wage increase question the true impact it would have on the state, small business owners, and Kansas workers, fearing it would lead to layoffs for workers and price increases for consumers. I would love to hear from you on this issue!
The state legislature enacted the current minimum wage in 1988. Since then, lawmakers have offered 14 bills to increase that rate, though all have been defeated – including one last year proposed in the House.
Senate Committee Begins School Finance Discussion
The Senate Ways and Means Committee approved a school finance measure sponsored by 33 senators. The bill, Senate Bill 531, proposes to increase the base state aid per pupil rate by $59 in fiscal year 2010, to a total rate of $4,492 per pupil in the 2009-2010 school year. This would appropriate $37.2 million from the State General Fund in general state aid in fiscal year 2010. This would create the Keeping Education Promises Trust Fund stable with a requirement to transfer $37.2 million to the State General Fund in FY 2010 for school finance.
Approval of the bill would provide school districts a clear indication of the funding they would receive for the 2009-2010 school year giving them more flexibility in preparing their budgets. Before the adoption of the three-year school finance plan, state funding for schools was generally done on a year-to-year basis, making it more difficult for school districts to realistically plan for the future.
There are still many issues to be addressed regarding all-day kindergarten, special education, and early childhood. I hope the legislature will find time this session to debate these critical issues.
House Designates Patriot Guard Highway
The House passed legislation this week that would designate a six-mile area of K-53 Highway as the Patriot Guard highway. If signed into law, House Bill 2708 will recognize the Kansas Patriot Guard at its “birthplace” near Mulvane, Kansas.
The Kansas Patriot Guard is an organization that works to honor fallen American soldiers and support their families. At the invitation of military families, this group of motorcycle riders, veterans and concerned citizens stand guard at funerals to block offensive signs from view of mourners. (I voted yes)
Bill Toughens Penalties For Ecstasy Use
In an effort to further deter drug use in Kansas, the House passed a bill this week that will make the second possession of Ecstasy a felony. Previously, second-time Ecstasy convictions were considered a misdemeanor.
Ecstasy is a mind-altering drug, related in structure and effects to methamphetamine. It is widely known as a “love” drug because users report heightened feelings of empathy, relaxation, and self-acceptance when Ecstasy affects peak. Repeated use of Ecstasy may damage the cells that produce serotonin, which has an important role in the regulation of mood, appetite, pain, learning and memory.
Ecstasy has obtained a false reputation as a social drug with harmless effects. In reality, it is a highly dangerous and illegal substance. It is important that we toughen penalties in Kansas to reflect the serious legal consequences that come with abuse of the drug. (I voted yes)
Upcoming Week At The Capitol
Tuesday, February 26, is the last day for afternoon committees to meet. For my schedule, that means all work on bills in Health and Human Services and Insurance and Financial Institutions has to be completed. We have heard testimony on several bills in both committees, but few have been worked and sent to the floor. The decision which bills will be worked comes from the Speaker and the committee chair.
On Wednesday, February 27, the morning committees will hold their last meeting before turn around. We will be on the floor the remainder of Wednesday, all day Thursday and Friday.
Keep In Touch
It is a special honor to serve as your state representative. I value and need your input on the various issues facing state government. Please feel free to contact me with your comments and questions. My office address is Room 132-N, Statehouse, Topeka, KS 66612. You can reach me at 785.296.7687. Additionally, you can e-mail me at neighbor@house.state.ks.us. You can also follow the legislative session online at www.kslegislature.org.