In the past I have reported there is a resource for information on a variety topics: I refer to the Flint Hills Center for Public Policy. They are a Kansas think-tank created as an independent voice to help political decision makers make informed choices. They are non-profit, non-partisan and while not involved in the implementation or administration of government policy, their goal is to inform and raise public awareness of policy issues. Their website is www.flinthills.org.
I receive regular correspondence and this past week they sent me “ A six point recommendation for health care reform, by Gregory L. Schneider.
The executive summary listed six reforms that were followed by a detailed description in the body of the paper. The six items were: Help individuals on Medicaid secure private insurance, 2.Focus on Costs,
3. Reduce insurance mandates, 4. Do not use tobacco taxes to fund health care reforms, 5. Focus on long-term care reforms, 6. Encourage price transparency.
The House and Senate are assigning and in some cases reassigning committee members. There have been some reported changes on the make-up of several of the long standing committees and it is the prerogative of the newly elected Speaker of the House to add, delete, or combine existing committees. We are seeing this happen and it is still too soon to speculate on what the final product will be.
The cash flow situation of the State of Kansas does not appear to be improving too much and certainly not fast enough. There is no amount of creative accounting you can do if you are out of cash. As you may have heard the state short paid the school districts and this action put a couple of districts in peril of not making payroll. Looks like we have some serious budget expenditure adjustments ahead of us.
The House Appropriations and the Senate Ways and Means have their chairmen and Vice Chairman appointed and by the middle of the month the remainder of the committee membership should be selected.
As of this writing I have not received word as to my assignments and we all expect to hear before Christmas.
Governor Sebelius has withdrawn her name from consideration as a member of President Elect Obama new administration. The critical status of the State of Kansas’s economy and budget woes will need all the collective wisdom we can muster to work through the necessary actions required for the state to continue to operate. The session officially starts on Monday, January 12th, 2008
There are many different groups meeting to identify our possible courses of action. I have received calls and correspondence from many groups all asking to make sure their projects or programs are not included in any possible cuts. I can almost without hesitation tell everyone that all money is on the table for consideration. I have heard a lot of rumors and will not comment on them at this time because they are just rumors and unless we hear of specific recommendations we will need to keep working.
M. Scott Peck once said, “ The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy and unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our rut and start searching for different ways or true answers”.
What about that football team from Butler Community College! They achieved a remarkable feat by winning their sixth National Championship last weekend and pulling off their second ‘Back-to-Back” Championship. They are the first college in National Junior College history to win 2 back-to-back National Championships. I will invite them up to Topeka for a special recognition next year. It is an honor to have this fine group of players, coaches, trainers, managers and team physicians associated with Butler County and our Community College.
I wish you all a Happy Holiday season and I hope you have a Merry Christmas.
I consider it an honor and privilege to represent you in Topeka and I want to know what you think. Please contact me in person or at my home 1115 Rim Rock Road, El Dorado, 67042, 316-321-2087. You may email me at johng@carlisleinc.net, grange@house.state.ks.us. Previous updates are available at www.johngrange.net. Thanks, John
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