Our fourth full week is underway and the committee meetings are in full swing. My committee assignments include the Agriculture and Natural Resources, Ag Budget, where I am the Vice-Chairman, Legislative Post Audit and Commerce and Labor.
I serve on two special committees as well, they are State Government Employees Pay Plan, and Corrections and Prison Reform. My days are very full so I stay busy, which makes the days often hectic and some days I am close to information overload.
I have received published legislative agendas and priorities from over 30 different special interest groups. These groups include the Butler County Commissioners, Family Life Center Safehouse, City of Emporia, Association of Court Service Officers, Kansans for Better Health, Building Industry, Council on Development Disabilities, Health Care Association, Association of Landlords, Library Association, and etc.
Believe me if you have any interest on anything there is someone willing to help you to promote legislation.
I received an office visit from KNEA Uni-Serve where we discussed several education issues, mostly about increased pay for teachers, more money for schools, cost of living increases for retired teachers. Seems like more money will take care of most of their issues. I hear the same thing from most agencies and visitors.
I will bring SB 157 to the floor for debate this week. This bill would provide $27,000 for the Department of Wildlife and Parks to annually purchase liability insurance for their 149 water craft. Currently, like most agencies they are self insured through the State Tort Claims Fund. A typical half million dollar injury lawsuit would wipe out that fund. It would appear in this case insurance seems like a better option.
This week I have discussions scheduled with our county commissioners, the Leadership Butler Class of 2008, building contractors, credit union proponents, Catholic Bishops, State Farm, and the Wichita Independent Business Association. These are in addition to the committee work.
The house version of the immigration bill is going to be introduced this week. There are many items included that should address many concerns, unfortunately the same issues will offend many as well.
The hall-talk on the immigration issue includes: require accountability by sending a very clear message to the federal government that we must secure our borders and address the solution to the more than 12 million undocumented immigrants that live here now,
Take action against employers that knowingly hire undocumented immigrants. This affects General Contractors and their relationship with the Subcontractors. What sanctions are necessary? What about restaurants, car washes, lawn care, and other service jobs?
I would like to know what is the reason that it takes so long for the legal immigrants to gain citizenship? These are just an example of the many pieces of this puzzle. How do we verify the social security number and name are a match? What do we do about identity theft? Is the e-verify program up to the task or will the system be overloaded?
While we respect human rights, we must address the issue of legal and illegal immigrants living together. There are stories about the parents living with their children that one or the other is legal and the other is not. This causes a real issue for the legal one and what are we to do with the illegal? This issue will certainly generate a lot of emotion and make for lengthy discussion.
The Kansas Universal Service Fund (KUSF) is funded by all of us paying a surcharge on our private and corporate telephones, and cell phone use. The KUSF provides for additional payments to those that provide phone service to under-served areas. This allows those living on the fringes of service to have some help in keeping their phones.
SRS likes this and fully supports it because those that qualify for low-income government assistance will be automatically enrolled in "Lifeline" telephone service. They will receive a discount of $17.00 per month ($207/yr) on local telephone service.
Congratulations are in order to Jim Fry, who retired from the Corps of Engineers on Feb. 1st. Jim was the resident engineer at the El Dorado Reservoir. His many contributions have benefitted the Corps, El Dorado State Park, and the El Dorado Community. I wish him well and may he have a long retirement. I understand the Friends of El Dorado Lake held a well deserved retirement party for him on the 5th.
Reminder to those who know of someone wishing to come to Topeka and serve as my page. The dates available are Feb. 12th and 27th and March 6th. Call my office assistant Judy, 785-296-7655.
On the 19th of February I am hosting the National Champions, Butler Community College Football Team to be introduced on the House Floor where they will be honored and presented a certificate of appreciation from the House of Representatives. On that same day Pastor Wade Graber, of the El Dorado First Baptist Church will present the session opening prayer.
You may listen in on any session by going to www.kslegislature.org and click on listen live. House begins at 11:00 am, the Senate at 2:30.
I hope you find these updates valuable and informative, please share them with your friends. I do consider it an honor and privilege to be your representative in Topeka, and I want to know what you think. Thank, John.
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