Gosh where do I start, both KU and KSU in the top 25 nationally! I hope many of you had the opportunity to go witness the madness we call college football at either Lawrence or Manhattan during the past couple of weeks.
College Football aside, do not forget the fact we have a world class bio-science development facility happening in Manhattan and the medical field is well represented with our own KU Medical center soon to reach full accreditation as a world class cancer research and treatment facility.
The National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) at Wichita State University is leading the field in developing many areas of aviation research and development such as, Accelerated Insertion of Advanced Materials and Certification for Military Aircraft Structure Material Substitution and Repair. What this program does is use, shared information between multiple users, statistical continuity from one program to another, reduced testing by using computer models and multiple sources of new products. Sounds almost common sense-like doesn’t it?
Recent advances in the addition of nanocomponents to advanced composite materials have shown the potential for reducing lightening strike damage to composite airframe structures. This is important in reducing damage to military and commercial aircraft as we start using more composite material in manufacturing. Not sure of the impact on lost luggage as yet!
I would like to point out is that Kansa has some really fantastic research facilities that are making a difference in our life; we need to appreciate that fact.
In a recent report released by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, they identified that 277,000 hunters spent an average of 11.25 days in hunting in Kansas. On the average each hunter spent $78.74 dollars per day on food, gas, lodging, and equipment and most of this money goes directly to the community in which they hunt. Say hello to our orange-vested friends.
Currently 1,075,361 acres are enrolled in the walk-in hunt program, 2,294 contracts for hunting access were signed by willing Kansas landowners, 3,234 Kansas landowners receive lease payments at the local county level, free maps are available at no cost at vendor locations.
I hear lots of talk on the proposed coal fired gas plant at Holcomb and by the time this update is published the decision on license issuance will have been made. Seems there is a lot of resistance from some circles especially those that promote natural gas an alternative to using coal. Recent information tells me that the natural gas fields near Holcomb and Houghton have less than 20 years of reserves. What if you build a plant that uses an expended energy source? What happened to the nuclear industry?
What are the environmentalists going to do when we run out of natural gas? Whatever your political persuasion, you must come to the table and let us talk through this issue. The energy is needed and when your lights go out, the milk spoils and the ice cream melts it is too late for a solution. I do not envy Secretary Bremby and his staff as they make the decision to proceed, he knows where I stand and if the decision is no plant, I hope he has an alternative close at hand.
I attended a conference in Santa Fe NM. Last week that brought legislative leaders from across the nation together to discuss the upcoming sessions and to discuss solutions. This non-partisan gathering gave us a great opportunity to discuss issues common to us all. What do you suppose were the hot topics for this next session of State legislators?
Many common issues to us all include: school finance, property tax, water rights, public transportation, access to affordable health care, immigration issues, labor unions, affordable housing, pollution, terrorism, identity theft, living longer and senior care. I could go into a lot of sub-groups but I want you to contact me with your ideas and thoughts.
I recently received several letters from individuals that were unsigned, and obviously sent from a different location from where they live. If you were going to present me your opinion at least have the decency to sign your name, give me an opportunity to respond directly and it would be helpful to use spell check. I am pretty thick skinned and after being around the block once or twice am willing to take criticism, just allow me the opportunity to respond to your comments.
I am still looking for a legislative aide for the 2008 Session. I can have one appointed but I would much rather get one from a constituent. Party affiliation is really immaterial to me. All I would like is someone who is engaged, willing to learn, to participate, and is somewhat fun to be around. One of my former aides is enrolling in law school and another is a sophomore at Washburn, where will you go and what will you do?
Please go to www.kansashouse.org or www.kansaslegislature.org, and click on ‘legislative internships”. If you are not interested in working with me there are many other opportunities out there with other legislators. This is a great opportunity and since we go around only once, what the heck give it a shot!
I will be involved with a lot of meetings in the next month, I hope to get a chance to meet you please come up and introduce yourself, and I enjoy meeting people.
I consider it an honor and privilege to be your representative in Topeka and I want to know what you think. Contact me at johng@carlisleinc.net, grange@house.state.ks.us, www.johngrange.net, or write me at home,
1115 Rim Rock Road, El Dorado 67042, or call 316-321-2087.
Back to Updates
