The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith” Franklin D. Roosevelt.
I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and had the opportunity to share your blessings with your loved ones. We are indeed blessed in this great country of our to be able to celebrate or not celebrate as our own conscience dictates.
This week in Topeka we will begin the process to see how we address the forecasted shortfall of tax receipts for funding our many government agencies and programs and how we prioritize expenditures.
The entire appropriations committee will be meeting and they will receive the latest financial picture and condition of the State of Kansas. The whole legislative body will be in town for the election of the leadership within both parties and each chamber.
This week will also be the time the new legislators are provided with an orientation of procedures, staff functions, demonstrations of the legislative process and various opportunities to become acquainted with their new surroundings.
I mentioned in a previous correspondence that I was looking for a young man or woman to help me this next session by serving as my intern. I remind everyone that the deadline (Dec 5th) is rapidly approaching, if you have a question as to what is required just give me a call.
Senate Substitute for HB 2947, The bill defines “meeting” under the KORA as any gathering or assembly in person or through the use of telephone or any other medium or any other interactive communication by a majority of the membership of a body or agency subject to the Act for the purpose of discussing the business or affairs of the body or agency.
The bill requires all meetings in a series to be open if they collectively involve a majority of the membership of the body or agency, share a common topic of discussion concerning the business or affairs of the body or agency, and are intended by any or all participants to reach an agreement on a matter that would require binding action to be taken.
Last week I had the privilege of attending the banquet to announce the Kansas Teacher of the Year Award recipient. USD 490’s very own Mary Martha Good, a Kindergarten teacher at Skelly school was one of the State’s 8 finalists. In attendance there was a large contingent of family, colleagues, and USD staff.
The process to select the Kansas Teacher of the Year is a long and very comprehensive look at a nominee’s performance. There are school visits, interviews, and investigations on how these selected individuals present learning opportunities to their students.
Sadly Mary Martha did not receive the award, but rest assured we all are grateful that she is working here. She does a great job for our children and being a finalist from among the entire teaching population in the State of Kansas is an honor unto itself. Congratulations and thank-you is in order.
You might be interested in what the state does with all of your tax dollars before it gets spent or otherwise distributed. K.S.A. 75-4201 is a starting place that identifies what is the process for handling the money, making deposits, the use of operating accounts, and what kind, if any, investments are allowed.
I want to remind you that I encourage visiting Topeka during the session. If you would like to spend a day and “shadow” me, I will be happy to attempt to accommodate you. If 1-2 of you wish to come up I will take you to all the meetings I attend, you will get a seat on the chamber floor, and be introduced to the committee process. It is a great experience I think you will enjoy.
The page program allows us to have 3-4 middle or high school students spend the day with the legislators, receive building tours, meet the governor, and see a session of the house. These school children get what is often their first insight of how the state conducts its business. I take the students to lunch where we can visit about their impressions. I recommend the older or more inquisitive students for this visit.
I invite any pastor, minister, or priest to come up and lead us in a daily opening prayer. I generally can have one or two in any session. You will prepare your own short prayer and your attendance and words will become part of the permanent state record. I need as much notice as possible as we all have the same opportunity and the slots fill quickly. I have several times in the past been blessed by a minister from the 75th district lead us in an opening prayer.
Our session starts Jan. 12th and will run into early May. I have not yet received my new office assignment or telephone numbers; as soon as they are available I will relay them to you. Until then you may continue to contact me at my home 1115 Rim Rock Road El Dorado, 67042, 316-321-2087, or email johng@carlisleinc.net, grange@house.state.ks.us, or www.johngrange.net.
I do consider it an honor and privilege to be your Representative and I want to know what you think. Thanks, John.
Back to Updates
