On Monday of this week I met with a group that has come together to discuss the upcoming building of new units at the Frontier Refinery and the “turn-around” or modernizing of some existing units. The group consisted of representatives of the convention and visitors Bureau, El Dorado Inc., refinery personnel, and myself. We heard of the proposed numbers of these highly skilled transient workers and talked of some opportunities that will exist for those willing to work to identify and provide for these workers needs and wants.
For example, we heard the needs include; check-cashing facilities, many of these individuals do not have bank accounts, and they either cannot or will not open an account locally. They want to know where Wal mart is located; in addition they need to know what other stores are near-by that will have the work clothes, tools, and other items they need. They also want a place to stay that has a clean bed and hopefully a kitchen facility.
They want to know where they can eat especially if they have to be to work at 0600 and or get off at 9:00 in the evening. I see this as an opportunity for the local restaurants to offer extended hours to provide for the needs of these workers. Also do not forget about laundries, auto mechanic garages, medical service, and motor home and RV repair.
Since these individuals get a short 30-minute lunch break, someone to prepare lunches, or even a meal or snack truck that will sell food items could be successful. The real crunch will come in late 08 and 09 when there could be close to 2,000 or more workers here for the Fall and Spring. Housing is going to be in a critical shortage as well. Hopefully upgrades at the State Park will absorb some of these workers.
Did you know that in 2004 alone, the nine states with no income tax gained an additional 323,579 domestic residents from the 41 states with an income tax? These people that moved took with them an additional $10.6 Billion of adjusted gross income.
The states facing the largest fiscal problems from large unfunded liabilities in healthcare and pension already face the largest out-migration of residents. Tax increases only further this out-migration.
I receive numerous publications that are over-loaded with facts, figures, charts, and graphs. The above information came from the “Americans for Tax Reform”. www.atr.org.
They go on to say that the total income losses in the states with the highest tax burdens amounted to a staggering $55.51 billion from 1996-2004. These states have lost an average of $6.17 billion each year during this time period. Say what you will but we cannot spend and tax ourselves to prosperity.
I was in Topeka last week for a meeting of the Legislative Post Audit Committee. While there we were presented the findings from an evaluation of our Vocational educational education programs. Seems many of our students do not plan on going to college, they want to begin work so why not prepare them with some marketable skills?
While statistically ¼ to 1/3 of our high school graduates will go on to graduate from post secondary schools like KU, KSU, WSU, Ft Hays, Emporia, Pittsburg, and Community Colleges like Butler. The rest of them really need to be trained in life skills that will help them as they work on their independence.
I am talking about how to balance a checkbook, apply for a loan, manage cash flow, interview for a job, and in some cases raise the children they are now the parents of. If we fail to teach independence and offer life skills training we are rewarded by a generation of those that require society take care of their needs.
Technical training, job skills, showing up for work on time, being polite, being trustworthy, and working to improve our own station in life is as important as anything else I can imagine. Statistics show that hard work will gain you freedom and a lifestyle that does not require government subsidence. We all have made bad choices, and we do not always have control over what happens to us. We do have control of our attitude and what we do about what happens to us.
I am going to Sedgwick on Thursday the 30th for a tour of the State of Kansas new Ethanol plant. The tour will highlight the operation that is a community effort, I have asked our County commissioners to come along, so we can see what these plants are all about. I will report back to you next week.
I want to know what you think on these and any other issues. I consider it an honor and privilege to be your representative in Topeka, contact me at home 1115 Rim Rock Road, 316-321-2087, email at; johng@carlisleinc.net, www.johngrange.net, or grange@house.state.ks.us. Thanks, Rep. Grange
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