This concludes my second week for this session and we have been quite busy hearing bill introductions, briefings by the various agencies and departments, and of course the endless meetings and answering constituent questions. Dr. Vietti even dropped in for a visit.
This week in our Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, we heard from the water authority, and state water control guru’s. The issue of water rights and the decline of available water is something we all need to be aware of. This part of the state is not in too bad of shape as compared to our friends out west. Basically, if you have water do not waste it and don’t try to steal your neighbors. Our own watershed representative Betty Criss was in attendance and we had a chance to discuss the issues as they affect the Walnut River Basin area.
We also heard from the Wildlife and Parks department on the proposed changes in deer hunting regulations. There is an over abundance of female deer (Doe) as compared to the demand for trophy male deer (Bucks). The issue is a management dilemma in that social issues such as crop damage, car accidents, and nuisance damage are often in conflict with the hunter’s and other sportsmen’s desires. Then there are the bow hunter versus the rifle hunter and landowners. The outfitters and guides and the local tax payers.
Not many hunters are wanting to harvest the doe when a trophy head with a huge set of antlers looks better hanging on the wall. For conservation purposes the herd population needs scientific control by harvest of the females but the needs of license purchasing hunters and their wish for trophy harvest needs balanced as well.
My committee on Agriculture budget also met and we went over the budget process for our new members. We have the oversight for the entire department and all of the agencies under their control. There is a method to how we review the proposed budgets and rest assured this is a lot of work. The agency chiefs are called in to justify their expenses. We do not micro manage their operation but we could, which I think is counter productive.
I was pleasantly surprised with an appointment to the Joint Legislative Post Audit Committee. The Legislative Division of Post Audit is one of the non-partisan staff agencies that provide professional services to the Legislature. They receive their direction from a 10 member committee that consists of 5 Representatives and 5 Senators that are appointed by their leadership and must contain members from both parties.
We are appointed for the full period of our term and can not be removed. The committee has authority to introduce legislation, subpoena records, and under the LPA Act, K.S.A. 46-1001 et seq, the Post Auditor has authorization to cut off funding to any agency that denies access to their records.
In a nutshell we are provided with audits of all agencies and entities that get state funding and gives us an objective, unbiased review of the target agency to see how they are operating, and whether they are accomplishing what they are supposed to.
Without a doubt the most fun thing I did all week was to co-host Miss Kansas during her visit on Wednesday. Michelle Walthers is from Towanda and today is in Las Vegas representing Kansas in the Miss America pageant. On Kansas Day the 29th of January the new Miss America will be crowned. CMT at 7:30, check your local listings to make sure you do not miss the event. We all wish her the best of luck.
Michelle was a big hit with all she met and I had the privilege to introduce her to the entire house membership. The Topeka Capitol Journal has a website full of photos that you can view at, http://cjonline.com, I will have some on my website soon as well.
Things are picking up and this next week I will be visited by my first group of pages. The next dates are Feb 13th, and March 1st. I will have 4 each day so if you are interested give me a call.
As always let me know what you think. Rep John C. Grange. 1-785-296-7655, grange@house.state.ks.us.
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