LEGISLATIVE UPDATE #53 -- December 30, 2008
We are getting closer to the beginning of the 2009-2010 Session of the Kansas Legislature and in preparation the Standing Committee assignments have been made by the Republican Leadership Team, which selects the chairmen and vice chairmen of each committee as well as the Republican members. The Democrat Minority Leader and his team designate the Ranking Minority Member and assign their party’s members to each committee as well. These assignments are important because they will be the committee leaders that organize the hearings, run the meetings, schedule those that wish to speak for or against any given issue that might come before the committee, and typically the committee decides if the issue should move forward to full floor debate. At the end of the session when compromises are being hammered out between the Senate and House the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Ranking Democrat will be the members of the conference committee that represent us in that compromise effort. This year there are 28 committees in the House, six of which are budget committees. The Budget committees work to support the efforts of the appropriations committee by providing a review of each agency’s proposed budget. The recommendation is sent forward for action by the Appropriations Committee and then is brought to the house floor for debate and if approved the Bill is then sent to the Senate for review. My assignments include; Vice-Chairman of the Commerce & Labor Committee and I am a member of Agriculture & Natural Resources Budget and Judiciary Committees. I was appointed to a joint Senate and House Committee on Legislative Post Audit and the Joint Committee on Corrections & Juvenile Justice Oversight. Members are asked to submit preference requests for committee assignments and in most cases the requests are honored. This is a way to insure you get to work in areas that you may have expertise or an interest. In some cases the assignments will be adjusted to achieve balance on a committee or to bring in a different viewpoint. I visited my new office location this past week and the movers had delivered my file cabinet, desk, chair my law books. I still lack a bookshelf, my working files, computer and phone connections and my personal items. I am located on the 7th floor, room L88 in the Docking State Office Building (DSOB), which is across the street West of the State Capitol.

The move was required while the final portion of the Capitol is being restored. I have heard there was ninety-seven House members that required re-location. The time crunch comes when so many have to be moved. The moves cannot begin in earnest until the November Election and this tells us who was elected.

The next hurdle appears on Dec. 1st to select leadership, followed by committee assignments. There have been a lot of things happening this past month and then the pace picks up and somehow it all comes together by the 12th of January when we all take the oath of office and get to doing the work of the people.

The state employees within the Department of Legislative Administrative Services do a tremendous job getting ID cards, room keys, phone numbers, computer connections, stationary, parking spots, and other things for all the legislators. They do this and have to work with a bunch of type-A personalities as well.

I hope these updates have been helpful for you and that they serve as a way to get your questions answered. I appreciate the comments I receive and do want to know what you think. This is my 53rd update and will be the last for 2008.

Next year looks to very challenging and with the State of Kansas and World economies experiencing some difficulties we will all be looking for answers and solutions. The hard part is to do as little harm to those in the most vulnerable situations. Please send me your thoughts.

I consider it an honor and privilege to represent you in Topeka. Contact me in person, or at home 1115 Rim Rock Road, El Dorado 67042, 316-321-2087, johng@carlisleinc.net, grange@house.state.ks.us.

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