Friend,

Kansas is the largest wheat producing state in the country.

Last week nearly 100 people from across the world came to our state to meet with producers and see the crop for #WheatTour18. They took 24 vehicles, drove six routes across the state and surveyed the wheat crop.

Unfortunately, many of their findings met expectations of a crop that has been weather-stressed from the start. The group found that the crop was significantly behind normal development and short, due to the severe drought that’s been ongoing since October. The final projections show this year’s crop may be the smallest that Kansas has seen since 1989.

While in the district, I made a couple stops to check out our Kansas yields. I saw the same struggling crop that many on the tour did. While I can’t change Mother Nature’s course, I can promise you that I am working hard to provide support to our producers during these hard times. That relief starts with passing a 2018 Farm Bill that provides crop insurance to help our producers protect themselves against these drought conditions.

Last week we celebrated the 30 million small businesses across the nation for #SmallBusinessWeek. Recent studies have shown that small business optimism is at an all-time high. As a member on the Small Business Committee, I’ve seen that optimism first-hand in our hearings, as well as with the businesses I’ve visited throughout the Big First. I addressed the House floor to recognize the hard work and perseverance our small business owners have and acknowledged their critical role in our local communities.

Fort Riley

Last week, I had the honor of accompanying Secretary of the Army, Mark Esper and his wife Leah, on a visit to Fort Riley. The Secretary has jurisdiction over the recruitment, training and care of all 1.4 million active duty, National Guard, and Reserve Soldiers.

The day included a breakfast with soldiers, observing a Devil Prowl training exercise,a lunch and roundtable discussion with senior spouses. While there, the Secretary shared his vision for the Army’s future and his top priorities, including soldier readiness and modernization of the Army. I was thrilled to welcome the Secretary and his wife to Fort Riley and show them first-hand all the installation has to offer.

Trade War

I represent the largest sorghum-producing district in the country. So last week I met with a group of Kansas Sorghum producers to discuss the impact of Chinese tariffs and the need for new market access and opportunities. There was no disagreement in the room that we must address China’s predatory industrial policies, but our producers can’t be expected to bear the brunt of this trade war. The producers discussed their concerns, but they also had a great deal of optimism that the result of this back and forth would lead to better agreements.

I have worked tirelessly on trade and the farm bill to try and help our producers get certainty and more opportunities for their crops. I’ve met with the administration urging them to preserve NAFTA and to lessen the impact tariffs are having on our farmers and ranchers.

I have said time and time again; our agriculture industry is always the tip of the spear for retaliatory actions. Trade wars hurt our farmers, and I am in Washington fighting for new markets and better deals.

Farm Bill Impact

My work on the House Agriculture Committee and the new farm bill legislation not only helps farmers and ranchers but provides certainty for those industries that support the producers. Throughout the Big First are manufacturing companies that build equipment farmers use every day.

I had the opportunity to tour three agriculture manufacturing facilities last week and to meet the men and women who build tillage equipment, skid steers, and grain dryers. When agriculture thrives, so too do these manufacturers, which makes it important we work to improve prices and pass legislation that will protect our farmers and those that support the agriculture industry.

Local Pharmacy and Medical Center Visits

Local pharmacy owners play a vital role in many communities across the district, providing access to prescriptions and healthcare equipment. There are more than 90 independent community pharmacies in my district that account for more than 900 jobs and millions in local economic impact.

I discussed my efforts to lessen the financial burden on both the community pharmacy owners and their patients with Robb and Meredith Rosenbaum, owners of Funk Pharmacy in Concordia. As a physician, I understand the financial strain prescription drug costs can have on an individual or family and have continued to look for solutions to lowering the cost of medications, including the streamlining of the regulatory system to allow drugs to enter the market faster.

While in Clay County last week, I also stopped by the Clay County Medical Center. I want to give a big shout out to this center, as they just opened a new 28,000 square-foot expansion. With this expansion, they will be able to take in more patients and provide additional quality care and testing.

Rural healthcare is essential to the continued success of communities in the district and Clay County is a great example of a community hospital finding success and delivering quality healthcare.

Sponsored by Glassman, Bird and Powell LLP — a full-service law firm serving Hays and northwest Kansas.

You can also watch the Legislative Updates on Eagle Community TV Channels 14 and 614.

Last week was the last week of the 2018 legislative session. Sine Die, the ceremonial end to the legislative session was Friday, May 4th.

We celebrated the National Day of Prayer at the statehouse on Thursday. State officials led prayers for those in Kansas government, military and National Guard, first responders, family, agriculture, health care, schools, businesses, and others.

On Friday, the annual Law Enforcement Memorial was held at the Statehouse. Thankfully no Kansas law enforcement officers lost their lives in the line of duty over the past year but four officers from previous years were inducted into the memorial. National Law Enforcement Memorial Week is May 13-19.

Budget-After 3 full days of negotiation the Senate conference committee agreed to a final budget for fiscal year 2018 & 2019. The Kansas Legislature voted on the budget bill, late Thursday night. The bill would appropriate $380 million more in the current fiscal year, $700 million more than was expended in the previous fiscal year. The legislation includes a 5% raise for employees who were not included in the 2017 pay adjustment law and a 2.5% raise for employees who received a pay increase last year. The budget also includes a 5% adjustment for correctional staff and a 2% raise for judges. The bill excludes state university staff, Kansas Highway Patrol, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and the Kansas Legislature.

Below are highlights included within the budget:

FY 2018-The conference committee recommends expenditures of $16.3 billion, including $6.7 billion from the State General Fund. House Sub for SB109 also includes $15 million to replace funds cut from state universities and other priorities that have been neglected such as water projects and state hospitals. Add $31.1 million, including $40.5 million from the State General Fund, to fund the spring human services consensus caseload estimate. Department of Health and Environment-Add $3 million for the Medicaid regular medical program for the teaching hospitals associated with the Wichita Center for Graduate Medical Education program. Add $1 million for the tiny-k program. Add $1.4 million for information technology modernization. Add $1 million from the Problem Gambling and Addictions Grant Fund for additional substance abuse treatment services. FY 2019-The Conference Committee Recommends expenditures of $16.8 billion, including $7 billion from the State General Fund. Add $68.6 million, including $76.9 million from the State General Fund to fund human services consensus caseload estimate. Board of Regents and Institutions-Add $15 million to restore approximately 64% of the 4% remaining FY 2017 allotment. Department of Education-Add $7 million, including $8.4 million from the State General fund to adopt the spring 2018 education consensus estimate. Add $5.2 million from the Children’s Initiatives Fund for early childhood programs. This includes Pre-K Pilot ($4.2 million) and Parents as Teachers ($1 million). Add $1.4 million for disaster relief. Add $2.7 million for information technology modernization. Add $22.1 million for an increase in nursing facility reimbursement rates. Add $1 million from the Problem Gambling and Addictions Grant Fund for additional substance abuse treatment services.

Senate Sub for HB 2028-Would establish the Kansas Telemedicine Act. The bill also provides for coverage of speech-language pathologist and audiologist services via telehealth under the Kansas Medical Assistance Program, if such services would be covered under KMAP when delivered via in-person contact.

S Sub for 2228-This is our mega tax bill for the year not only changes to itemized deductions and language regarding the tax treatment of repatriation, global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI). This tax bill would decouple Kansas from the Federal tax code. Currently Kansas taxpayers that itemize at the Federal level may also itemize on their Kansas tax return. With the changes at the Federal level and standard deductions being increased many Kansans who currently itemize will choose to use the standard deduction. Without changes to Kansas law they will no longer be able to itemize on their Kansas return. This will be devastating to the middle class and to small businesses in Kansas. They will not be able to expense or depreciate on their Kansas tax return, including deduction of mortgage interest, charitable contributions and medical expenses. We must look at decoupling from the Federal tax return and might need a special session or a retroactive bill next year. If changes are not made this will be a large tax increase to the middle class and small businesses.

Local Sales Tax Provision-Unfortunately, the Thomas County local sales tax provision was included in S Sub 2228 which would increase the maximum local sales tax rate that could be imposed by Thomas County from 1.5% to 1.75%, provided that all taxes levied more than 1% remain earmarked for financing a courthouse, jail, law enforcement center or other county administrative facility. An election would be required to increase the current Thomas County sales tax. This bill failed to pass in the House 59 to 59.

KPERS-one of the items we were successful in negotiating in the budget was a partial payment on a missed KPERs payment. We added $82 million all from state general fund in FY 2019 and an additional $56 million from receipt estimates over $56 million in the months of April, May and June, 2018 and an additional payment of $56 million in fiscal year 2020 if receipts come in $56 million over in April, May and June fiscal year 2019.