We legislators spent most of this past week becoming familiar with our offices, finding our way around the capitol, meeting new members, re-acquainting ourselves with old friends, and receiving briefings from various organizations. On Monday afternoon we all took the oath of office and that evening we heard the Governor=s State of the State Address.
Our mail boxes are filled with legislative agendas from the various organizations that include the cities, counties, labor organizations, constituent groups, and anyone else that has a cause to promote. These agendas are actually very helpful as we look to offer changes to a current law and how such change might affect the citizens of Kansas. They normally provide a very concise position as well as a point of contact for further information. Have you sent me your agenda yet?
The reading requirement is close to overwhelming when we try to bring ourselves up to speed on all the issues that will be addressed in our own committees, but we also need to become familiar with all that is going on around us. We can not expect to be experts in everything, and we are fortunate to have such a diverse cross section of legislators that are experts in different fields.
My office is located in the Docking State Office Building, Room 723, office L88, my phone number is 785-296-7655. Judy Marks a retired middle school teacher is once again my office assistant and I share my space with six other representatives. The DSOB is the 13 story building located west of the State House, parking is limited, however there is a large lot to the south across 10th street that is available for your use. Another good reference that will let you know you are close is the Walgreens and Pizza Hut on the corner of 10th and Topeka Blvd.
I am happy to host some pages again this year my available dates are Jan. 29th (2), Feb. 25th (4), March 19th (4). If these dates will work for you call Judy and she will give you the necessary information.
On Tuesday I attended a meeting of the Commerce and Energy Committees from both chambers where we received a panel briefing on Energy and Environmental Policy. The panel members included industry, labor, agriculture, and the Sierra Club. The main focus was to discuss the impact of a carbon tax or a cap-and-trade system as a method of regulating carbon emissions.
You remember that carbon emission is what happens when you burn a fossil fuel such as gasoline, natural gas, coal, open a can of soda, have flatulence, or when cattle do their chores out in the pasture. Seriously, the issue of carbon emissions is a global issue that need the efforts of all countries to mitigate the damage that pollution is causing world-wide. Some believe a tax will encourage technological advances that will reduce carbon emissions and thereby lessen business expense and help improve our environment.
The manufacturing industry could be adversely affected because of release of carbon dioxide is a normal by-product of what ever it is they produce. I learned it to make a ton of cement they release a ton of CO2 into the atmosphere. The tractor the farmer uses to produce our food, the car you drive, the boat and 4-wheeler you use for recreation all produce CO2. The cost to consumers to further reduce these emissions will become considerable.
As long as we understand that there are costs associated with added regulation of CO2 as well as unknown future impact on our environment we can better assess what needs to be done. I will report more on this later as we get into discussions on policy that will certainly include a mix of energy sources and state-of-the-art technologies.
I have participated in a discussion of offering changes in our property tax assessment procedures. Dave Trabert, President of The Flinthills Center for Public introduced several of us to their Proposition AK@. This policy initiative looks to have real promise as it offers a method of property tax increase that protect the property owners by imposing a 2% annual property tax increase restriction and still allows for a stable funding source for local governments. Dr. Art Hall a world-class economist at KU has worked to develop this process. I will use a future update to provide more detail, I just wanted you to know we are working on this very important issue.
I understand there are some problems across the state with filing and subsequent receipt of unemployment benefits. Some legislators have reported large numbers of eligible constituents have issues with the process. I have scheduled a meeting with Jim Garner the Secretary of Labor, and our Committee on Commerce and Labor to discuss these and other topics as they relate to the unemployment benefit and eligibility.
I would like to hear from you if you have some information that might help us address the reported problems with this agency, I would appreciate any comments that reflect a positive experience you may have had as well.
If I can help you please feel free to contact me in person, by writing an e-mail or letter or a phone call. I do consider it an honor and privilege to be your Representative in Topeka and I do want to know what you think.
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