Kansas ranks, No. 9 and Missouri No. 33 for job growth during the past year among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, according to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Kansas gained 8,600 jobs from October 2007 to October 2008, Missouri lost 15,000 jobs the bureau said. Texas ranks No. 1, with a gain of 231,400 jobs. Florida ranks No. 51, with a loss of 152,100 jobs. The bureau’s statistics show that 20 states posted a net gain in jobs in October, while 31 had decreased employment for the same period.
The joint Committee on Pensions, benefits and investments was told Tuesday that the state’s public employee retirement system has lost 22% of its assets value since July 1. This calendar year it’s value is off 26.8%. The KPERS executive Director Glenn Deck said the system is keeping about a half billion dollars in cash, and is in no danger of not meeting retiree payments. Value of KPERS as of October 31 was $10.094 billion.
I received an inquiry this week about unemployment payments and I would like to offer this clarification. Currently the Department of Labor pays unemployment benefits by issuing a pre-paid credit card (debit card) rather than a paper check. As long as an individual is eligible for benefits the card will be reloaded on a monthly basis until the benefit period has expired.
The question was about the service fee charged by the issuing bank. The DOL informed me that Citibank would charge a $1.50 fee to the card account each month if the card account has a balance and if the card account has been inactive for six months. Should you draw down the account balance to zero, there will be no charge.
If you retain a balance in the card account, and do not use the card for six months (no deposits, withdrawals, purchases, etc.), then Citibank will charge the account $1.50 per month of inactivity. The fee will be paid out of the balance remaining on the card account.
The key issue here is do not leave a balance in the account and then let it remain inactive for 6 months. Since this period would exceed the term of the benefit, there will not normally be a balance anyway. There will not be a service charge during the period of the entitlement.
The following contact numbers can be used for the Kansas Department of Labor. The Wichita office can be contacted at 316-383-9947, Topeka Benefit Payment Control, 785-296-3609, www.dol.ks.gov. Keep good notes on the date and time and to whom you talked with. If you do not get a specific answer always get a commitment as to when they will be available to talk with you again. If you have further difficulties and would like my assistance, give me a call.
For those of you contemplating a visit to the Capitol this next year you should be prepared to negotiate the construction. From the 3rd floor up you can see the dome and some of the paintings. The lower level view to the top is covered. There will be tours available but you should call to schedule a visit to the top of the building. The tour desk phone is 1-785-296-3966. Feel free to contact me for a current update.
When you do your Christmas cards this year, take one and send it to the following address:
A Recovering American Soldier, c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20307-5001. This would make a great way to let a total stranger know you do appreciate his service to our country.
Veterans with conventional home loans now have new options for refinancing to a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) guaranteed home loan. These new options are available as a result of the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2008 (PL 110-389), which the President signed into law on October 10, 2008. Veterans in financial distress due to high rate sub prime mortgages are potentially the greatest beneficiaries.
For more information, call VA toll-free 1-877-827-3702, or visit www.homeloans.va.gov.
A program created by the Legislature and administered by the Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) offers active members of the Kansas Army and Air National Guard who are Kansas residents the opportunity to receive free Kansas hunting and fishing licenses, as well as free park permits. Like other KDWP permits and licenses, the permits will be available on Dec. 15th, 08 and will be valid for the remainder of 2008 and all of 2009.
Application forms for the 2009 licenses and permits can be downloaded from the KDWP website at www.kdwp.state.ks.us.
The next update I provide will have more information about our upcoming budget and fiscal situation. Right now there are many ideas and suggestions, I would leave you with a couple “thoughts for the day”.
“If you have always done it that way, it is probably wrong”. Charles Kettering
Proverb, “It doesn’t work to leap a twenty foot chasm, in two ten foot leaps”.
I consider it an honor and privilege to represent you in Topeka and I want to know what you think. Contact me in person or mail at home, 1115 rim Rock Road, El Dorado 67042, johng@carlisleinc.net, grange@house.state.ks.us, previous editions of the updates are available at www.johngrange.net.
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