What about those, JAYHAWKS, Wildcats, and Grizzlies? National rankings are a really good thing, don’t you agree? One of the many good things about being a Jayhawk fan the last couple of weeks is having relatives living in Texas.
My last update generated a few comments and some I would like to pass on to you. If Kansas does rank #6 nationally in providing health insurance to her residents are there people coming here just to take advantage of that? The reality is, and I may have inadvertently mislead the readers, is that the health insurance is not only provided by the state, but statewide the employers seem determined to provide this benefit to the employees. The majority of the insurance provided is not at taxpayer expense.
Other comments centered on the increase in driving age. The longer we wait to train drivers the more likely we will have accidents. Rather than limit the age, reduce the freedom. Some examples offered include; no cell phone use unless hands-off capability, no after 11:00 pm driving, drivers education during the school year, strict speed enforcement, and no passengers unless family members are present. This defeats the carpool mentality. I did not hear from one young person on this issue, I wonder why?
The travel industry association of Kansas reports at the state level we rank 44th in spending dollars to attract tourists. For every dollar we spend there is a positive return of $52.00 and that an additional $4 to $15 million would be needed to attract close to $250 million or more in return. Would it not make sense to attract more out of state visitors to help pay for our many needs through their expenditures?
The Weatherization Assistance Program helps low-income Kansans improve home energy efficiency and save on utility bills. South Central Kansas Economic Development District (SCKEED) will host on-site Weatherization demonstrations in three cities in the next two weeks. Buhler, Haysville, and Wichita will host demonstrations about how to make your home more energy efficient. To get more information call Larry Bentley at the Kansas Housing Resource Center, 1-800-752-442. Weatherization could reduce your energy bills an average of $275.00 a year. Wouldn’t hurt to contact your furnace man either.
The Kansas Health Policy Authority says currently refugees are eligible for medical assistance for eight (8) months after entry into the United States, if the refugee has low income and few resources. Please note the refugees are not illegal immigrants, refugees are a special class defined by the federal government who have legal status in the US. Refugee families are eligible for Temporary assistance for Needy Families (TANF), with the normal 60-month lifetime limit. They are also eligible for food stamps, childcare, & etc. Single adult refugees and childless couples are eligible for 8 months of cash assistance.
Through my research assistant in Topeka, the only benefit I am aware of that an undocumented person would receive in Kansas is emergency/lifesaving coverage. We have a lot of social programs out there and I will do my best to let you know what is the cost.
Today I received a letter that had been sent to the Wichita Eagle in 2006, however it was never published. “The Wolf Creek Nuclear Generating Plant in Coffey County produces 1.2 million kilowatts of electric power with 99.9 percent efficiency compared to Elk River’s (Beaumont Ks.) 100 wind turbines producing 150 thousand KW at 33.3 percent efficiency. Also of interest, Wolf Creek paid Coffey County about $20 Million dollars in tax revenue for the year 2004 and the Elk River consortium will pay no taxes to Butler County.” The county does receive an annual voluntary stipend of $150,000 cash from Elk River.
Another fact of particular interest to the two counties is the 1030 employees at Wolf Creek mostly living in and around Burlington compared to the 9 employees for Elk River. Coffey County has a pretty good fishing lake too! Is this a great example of what tax incentives will do or what? I think we need to dam up the Walnut River or Whitewater River somewhere and get a Nuclear Powered Electric Generating plant in Butler County. What do you think? Hey! Butler County Commissioners could you use an additional $20 million or so?
Worldwide, 31 countries are operating 434 nuclear plants for electricity generation. Nuclear energy is an emission-free energy source. Nuclear power plants produce no controlled air pollutants, such as sulfur and particulates, or greenhouse gasses. The nuclear energy industry is the only industry established since the industrial revolution that has managed and accounted for all of its waste, preventing adverse impacts to the environment. See www.wcnoc.com/nuclear_notes.cfm.
Natural gas supply in Kansas is depleting at the rate of 10% per year. You can do the math on that fact, can’t you? Wind?
Additional notes; more than 28,000 American doctors practice medical specialties that use radiation. The use of radiation for medical diagnosis and treatment is so widespread that virtually every U.S. hospital has some form of a nuclear unit. Radiation is used to sterilize baby powder, bandages, contact lens solution, and many cosmetics, including false eyelashes and mascara.
Uranium is a relatively abundant element that occurs naturally in the earth’s crust. Uranium oxide is more abundant than gold and silver, and as common as tin.
I consider it an honor and privilege to be your Representative in Topeka and I want to know what you think. I am still looking for an intern for the 2008 session. Contact me at johng@carlisleinc.net, grange@house.state.ks.us, website, www.johngrange.net, or contact me at home, 1115 Rim Rock Road, El Dorado Ks. 67042, 316-321-2087.
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