January 27, 2017

Legislative Highlight: KPERS
On Thursday, January 19th, Alan Conroy, Executive Director of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS), made a presentation to the House Appropriations Committee. Conroy’s presentation consisted of an overview of KPERs, the Governor’s Budget Proposal, and the Triennial Experience Study. Conroy first discussed the 2012 legislation which increased employer contributions as well as the change in 2015 which saw employer contributions reduced and the issuance of 1 billion dollars in bonds.

Conroy also analyzed the Governor’s recommendations for KPERs, which includes not repaying the last quarter of Fiscal Year 2016 to freezing contribution levels for FY 2017, 2018, 2019 which lowers the contributions by $596 million over the 3-year period. Conroy discussed that these changes increase the amortization schedule by 10 years and that the unfunded actuarial liability would last till 2043. Conroy also noted that these changes would have no impact on current retirees or active employees as their contributions are statutorily set.

The School Finance Formula
In the fall of 2016, I asked the School Districts in the 109th Kansas House District to contact me and communicate their concerns in regards to the new state education spending formula. Many school districts have responded and had some areas of agreement. Many contended that the school funding formula prior to the block grant program is the best template for future school funding. Other ideas include that education spending needs funding predictability, and education needs to have local control. I will keep these concerns in mind when representing the 109th district in my work as the Appropriations Chairman. The K-12 education committee, chaired by Larry Campbell, will be holding hearings in the upcoming weeks regarding the new finance formula.

Livestreaming
The 2016 Legislature has authorized the expansion of livestreaming to committee rooms in the statehouse. Previously, only the Old Supreme Court Room could perform live streaming. During the 2017 session, several rooms now have livestreaming so that Kansans can listen to live committee meetings at the Capitol. To listen in live, go to the Kansas Legislature’s website committee tab: http://kslegislature.org/li/b2017_18/committees/ and click the specific committee you are interested in listening to. Later in the Session, around late February or early March, additional rooms will be added. Financing for the livestreaming project has been made possible from grants from the Information Network of Kansas (INK) Board.

Contact Information
As always, if you have any concerns, feel free to contact me (785) 296-7672, visit www.troywaymaster.com or email me at [email protected].

Also, if you happen to visit the statehouse, please let my office know and we can arrange a tour of the Kansas Statehouse.

It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions. I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.

Troy L. Waymaster, (R-Bunker Hill) is the 109th Dist. State Representative and chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

Yes, we’ve read them. The dozens of stories about some little agency we’ve never heard of, and aren’t exactly sure just what it does or for whom, which is going to lose money under Gov. Sam Brownback’s proposed budget for the next two years.

While every agency does something that makes life better or safer or at least regulates manicurists, if you go to the big budget numbers on state activity that we notice every day, well, you generally wind up at the Kansas Department of Transportation. That’s KDOT, or maybe the “Bank of KDOT” if you are withdrawing state sales tax revenues dedicated to it and spending that money on other stuff.

Last week, we got the real look at the governor’s plan to make a withdrawal from the Bank of KDOT. Starting July 1, the governor plans to take back $525.3 million in sales tax from KDOT, and the year after $533 million.

Every now and again, and it’s not all that frequently, state officials actually put out hard numbers that we all understand when they explain the budget cut effects.

KDOT Secretary Richard Carlson did that last week. It wasn’t pretty.

Carlson released a list of $273 million, or 96 miles, of modernization projects to rebuild existing roadways, widen shoulders, flatten hills and straighten curves; $251 million or 43.7 miles of expansion projects, which add capacity to roads by adding lanes or new interchanges; and $311 million in road preservation projects—generally overlays and such—on 247 miles of state road that will be not bid out for construction in the next two fiscal years.

Now, that’s understandable. Not much money—KDOT still gets “unsweepable” motor fuel tax money, and federal money for highway work but the real key for much of the work is the 1.05% share of the state’s 6.5% sales tax that KDOT won’t get.

Maybe it was the list…projects in nearly every county which were part of the state’s highway plan that just aren’t going to be bid out to contractors who will probably hire Kansans, or at least maintain employment of workers, to build those projects.

Things also aren’t likely to change much until the state raises enough revenue or redesigns state government so it requires less money to meet the demands of Kansans, or…goes another way.

That “other way” is to raise the tax on gasoline and diesel fuel that we use to power our cars and trucks that wear out our streets and highways.

The Kansas Contractors Association—the folks who bid on those contracts to build roads—aren’t looking to a turnaround on keeping the sales tax that was dedicated to them, and are talking an increase in motor fuel taxes.

The initial plan, up 11 cents a gallon, would raise $200 million or more a year from us folks who wear out the highways to keep the highways safe and straight and such.

Taking the gas tax from 24 cents to 35 cents a gallon would mean you pay, what, maybe $2 a tankful if you waited until the warning light was blinking before filling up?

Oh, and that gasoline tax can’t be swept from KDOT for other purposes, so it might be the one tax you pay that you know what it’s going to be spent for. If that’s a comfort, well, OK, there you go.

What’s the future? Nobody can tell yet, and it doesn’t seem likely that the Kansas Legislature is going to come up with enough money or budget-cutting to quit filching money from KDOT.

So, you might just want to pencil it out…a higher gasoline tax and no pop for the kids at the gas station, or declining road safety—and bumps that’ll have the kids spilling that pop on the back seat.

Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver’s Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at www.hawvernews.com

Hello from Topeka!

We are now in week 4 of the 2017 legislative session and a number of bills have been introduced dealing with a myriad of issues.

Once again, several bills which are introduced each session have made it back from abolishing to death penalty to requiring new school buses to have seatbelts for all passengers. Some of the Governor’s budget proposals have been introduced, but it is anyone’s guess on how they will be received if they make it out of committee, they include: HB2142, establishing a Unified School District employee health care benefits program and HB 2143, requiring school districts to procure specific spending categories through the Department of Education.

This legislative session, members are looking for ways to create jobs, increase revenue and bring a cleaner way to develop budgets. A couple of those are: HB2133, which would move the joint revenue estimates from April 20th and extend it to May 1st and HB2168, which is the Ad Astra Rural Jobs Act, this would benefit rural areas working with the Department of Commerce.

Last week the Taxation committee continued a hearing on HB 2023, which would require non-wage business income to be included as income for Kansas income tax purposes (referred to as the LLC Loophole). After the hearing, Acting Revenue Secretary Sam Williams provided the Committee with a revised fiscal note, increasing the revenue estimates to $230.9 million in FY ’18 and $181 million in FY ’19. Later in the week, the Committee discussed Sales Tax Exemptions. We heard from Tom Browne, Jr. from the Department of Revenue. He covered the 3 categories of exemptions: (1) Legal; (2) Conceptual; and (3) Public Policy. The Committee selected a handful of exemptions to further study. Additionally, the Department was tasked with looking at taxing exemptions at a lower rate, possibly for a limited number of years and the impact that might have on the streamlined tax agreement and administration costs involved. I continue to fight for agriculture and that those who produce food, fuel feed and fiber to not get singled out to pay disproportionally more.

A lot of people from the 110th District were in Topeka this past week: Members of the Prairieland Electric Cooperative, Sunflower Electric Cooperative, Midwest Energy Cooperative and Western Cooperative Electric; Northwest Kansas Library System: Northcentral Kansas Library System; Dr. Pam Steinle, Norton Community Hospital; City officials from Plainville, Stockton, Hays, Ellis, Norton and Phillipsburg; and Bethany Solida, Phillipsburg -Kansas Dental Project.

A special congratulation to Cole Keeten, student at Phillipsburg Elementary School as one of the winners of the 2016 Happy Birthday, Kansas! Student Photo Contest. I will say, the highlight of the week was to see Keith and Charlene Ross in attendance at the Kansas Rural Cooperatives reception. I apologize if I missed anyone, check on kenforkansas.com for more information on folks visiting from the 110th District.

I will be one of the guests this Friday night, February 3rd at 7:00 p.m. on KOOD – Public Television. This is a change in time as in previous years it started at 8:00 p.m. It is another opportunity to hear about what is going on in Topeka and we will be taking questions during the program. As they say, check your local listings for the channel number.

When you come to Topeka during the session, my office is in Room: 352-S. The phone number is: (785) 296- 7463 and email is: [email protected] and my personal cell number is (785) 302-8416. You can also follow along with what is going on through social media: kenforkansas on Facebook, @kenrahjes on twitter or my website: kenforkansas.com.
It is my honor to by your representative.

Ken Rahjes, (R-Agra), is the 110th District State Representative.

Kansas celebrated its 156th birthday on Sunday, celebrating its entry into the Union as the 34th state on January 29, 1861. The Kansas House of Representatives will celebrate Kansas Day on Monday, January 30 and will recognize Robert Bergen, artist and creator of the 22-foot bronze Kansa warrior statue on top of the statehouse dome. In addition to the activities on the House floor, there are opportunities to view the “Home on the Range” documentary in the Capitol on Monday, January 30. Here are some fun coloring pages featuring Kansas facts and symbols: http://www.kshs.org/educate/students/pdfs/symbols_coloring_book.pdf  I note that the coloring book is a bit outdated, as it does not contain the newest state symbols, the state flying fossil, Pteranodon, and the state marine fossil, Tylosaurus Mosasaur.  Hopefully that is corrected soon. Budget This past week the House Appropriations Committee and the budget subcommittees dug into Governor Brownback’s rescission bill for fiscal year 2017, which ends June 30.  The state is currently facing a shortfall of $340 million in FY 2017, and the governor has recommended adjustments to end the fiscal year with a positive ending balance.  Here are the highlights: Freeze KPERS contributions at the reduced 2016 level, saving $86 million Fund adjusted human services caseload estimates (changes in cost of services and additional applicants), costing an additional $147 million $75 million due to Kansas schools was delayed in late FY 2016 into early FY 2017.  The governor proposes an identical delay in payments in late FY 2017 Sell a $362 million long-term investment fund.  $45 million in capital gains would immediately go into the state general fund (SGF).  $317 million of principal would be considered an immediate loan to SGF and repaid at $45 million annually over seven years starting in FY 2018 Increase SGF expenditures at Osawatomie State Hospital due to decertification and loss of federal funds Increase SGF expenditures at Larned State Hospital due to withholding of federal funds as a result of reconciliation of past cost control reports When all the additions and deletions are accounted for, total SGF expenditures would be reduced by $24 million from the amount approved during the 2016 legislative session.  Although the committee has had a hearing on the bill, it will quite likely be amended before the committee passes it out. The appropriations committee also heard HB 2161, which would clear the way for liquidation of the long-term investment fund.  Although many view this as fiscally questionable, there appears to be growing recognition that it is a move which will probably be necessary in order to avoid choices which are even less desirable. Tax On Monday, the Committee continued its hearing on HB 2023, which would require non-wage business income to be included for Kansas income tax purposes.  After the hearing, Acting Revenue Secretary Sam Williams provided the Committee with a revised fiscal note, increasing the revenue estimates to $230.9 million in FY ’18 and $181 million in FY ’19.  That amount of revenue will not fill the projected hole budget, and other actions will be necessary in order to achieve true structural balance between revenues and expenditures.  And if any income tax bill is to provide revenue for FY ’18, then it will be necessary to make the tax changes retroactive to 1/1/2017, since most income tax revenue is remitted after the fact. On Tuesday, the Committee discussed Sales Tax Exemptions.  Committee members heard from Tom Browne, Jr., Department of Revenue.  He covered the 3 categories of exemptions: (1) Legal; (2) Conceptual; and (3) Public Policy.  The Committee selected a handful of exemptions to further study.  In my experience, the topic of tax exemptions is one which attracts plenty of attention but little action.  Admittedly, the dollar amount of all sales tax exemptions is huge.  But those particular exemptions which would generate significant revenue are easily justified, and their removal would be very unpopular.  Imposing sales tax on goods consumed in production by business or agriculture, or on services, or on consumer’s utility bills would create major disruptions to the Kansas economy.  My guess is that we will not go very far down that road. Fort Riley Tour On Friday a busload of legislators and spouses traveled west for a tour of Fort Riley.  It was highly interesting, including an inside look at the hangar for Grey Eagle drones, a tour through the historic district, a briefing on Big Red One activities, a first-hand look at the extensive use of gaming and technology in troop training, and a full tour of the new hospital.  While the facilities were certainly impressive, my wife Betsy and I were most impacted by the genuine pride and gratefulness expressed by everyone we met during the tour.  General Pat Frank and his team are to be congratulated for their capable administration of the post and their ongoing vision for its future. Interview With Editorial Board On Tuesday afternoon the House leadership team of Speaker Ron Ryckman (R-Olathe), Speaker Pro Tem Scott Schwab (R-Olathe), and Majority Leader Don Hineman (R-Dighton) met with the editorial board of Topeka Capital-Journal.  Our overriding message to them was that we prefer an open and inclusive legislative process as the best approach to dealing effectively with the challenges we face:  http://cjonline.com/news/state-government/2017-01-24/kansas-house-gop-leaders-working-compromise-budget-tax-deal Coming Up Next Week Hearings on Concealed carry licensure amendments and exemptions from public buildings law under PFPA [Fed. & State; Wed. Feb. 1st, 9:00 a.m., Room 346-S] Subcommittee meeting on KPERS; working after retirement, Hearing on HB2005 exempting members of the State Board of Regent’s plan from certain KPERS working after retirement provisions. [Financial Institutions & Pensions Subcommittee; Mon. Jan. 30th, Committee Wed. Feb. 1st, 9:00 a.m., Room 281-N] Informational hearing on the 2016 Juvenile Justice Reform bill [Corrections & Juvenile Justice; Tues. Jan. 31, 1:30, Room 152-S] Hearings on drug abuse treatment and repeal of third-time offenders of controlled substance special sentencing [Corrections & Juvenile Justice; Wed. Feb. 1st 1:30,    Room 152-S] Hearing on HB 2119; non-covered services for dental benefits under health insurance [Health & Human Services; Fri. Feb. 3rd 1:30, Room 546-S] Hearing on HB2013; Write in candidates must agree in writing to be placed on general election ballot [Elections; Mon. Jan. 30th 1:30, Room 281-N] Live Streaming The 2016 Legislature authorized the expansion of livestreaming Committee rooms in the Statehouse.  Previously, only the Old Supreme Court Room (346-S) could livestream.  For the 2017 Session, Rooms 112-N, 548-S, and 582-N are now livestreaming (audio only).  To listen in live, go to the Kansas Legislature’s website committee tab and click on the specific committee that you are interested in following: http://kslegislature.org/li/b2017_18/committees/  Currently, Kansans can listen in live to the following Committee meetings: 112-N: House Appropriations (9 AM); House Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development (1:30 PM); and House Judiciary (3:30 PM) 346-S: House Federal and State Affairs (9 AM); Senate Judiciary (10:30 AM); K-12 Education Budget Committee (1:30); and House Taxation (3:30 PM).  346-S streams both audio and video feed. 548-S: Senate Commerce (8:30 AM); Senate Assessment and Taxation (9:30 AM); Senate Ways and Means Committee (10:30 AM); and Senate Utilities (1:30 PM) 582-N: House Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications (9:00 M W); House Water and Environment (9:00 T TH); House Transportation (1:30 PM); and House Agriculture (3:30 PM) Later in the session, perhaps late February or early March, the following rooms will be added to audio live streaming: Rooms 152-S, 218-N, 281-N, and 546-S.  Financing for the livestreaming project was made possible with grants from the Information Network of Kansas (INK) Board. Cowboy Logic My people skills are just fine. It’s my tolerance for idiots that needs work. Quote of the day “A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little men.” – Thomas Carlyle Sermon in a sentence “Happiness is found in doing, not merely possessing.” – Napoleon Hill

McPherson County sports a big wetlands complex known collectively as the McPherson Valley Wetlands. They are divided into two parts, one part a little west of McPherson and the other just a couple miles as the crow flies southeast of Inman.

Inman’s share of these wetlands is known as the Farland Lake Marshes, and is comprised of Little Sinkhole #1, Little Sinkhole #2 and the Big Sinkhole. Known affectionately at our house as “the sinkhole,” it’s my go-to place when I find myself at the eleventh hour without a column for the week. A trip to the sinkhole never disappoints; from a chance encounter with a cruising muskrat as I sit in the truck along the water admiring God’s handiwork, to a tree overhanging the sinkhole pond so full of white egrets it looked like a tree of huge white blossoms.

Across the road to the west of Sinkhole #1 is another sinkhole of a couple acres that is privately owned. I’ve trapped beavers there for a few years, but since it all dried up during the drought 3 years ago, it has been beaver-free, much to my chagrin. The past summer and fall of 2016 brought us good rains and the sinkholes and the marshes are all full, but I noticed last fall that a few acres of farm land just above the privately owned sinkhole pond were under several inches of water. I discovered fresh beaver sign there but couldn’t figure out why the farm land was under water. It drains into the sinkhole pond, but the drain pipe in the pond was under water not allowing the cropland to drain, and both ponds were swollen with water.

Across the road to the east is a deep drainage ditch that connects the small sinkholes and drains them both a mile to the east into the Big Sinkhole. I walked back there last Sunday afternoon, and as I topped the dike along the drainage ditch, I looked to the east and there was merely a small stream of water flowing through the drainage ditch as it was supposed to do; odd I thought since everything it was supposed to drain was flooded. I spun around and looked toward the small ponds behind me and was face-to-face with an immense beaver dam, ultimately responsible for the flooded field. Although that dam creates deep waterways for the beavers travel and offers ducks nearly unlimited hidden resting places among the flooded timber and grassy marsh ponds, it will have to be torn out this spring to allow the cropland above it to properly drain. Hopefully I can catch a few beaver before that has to happen.

On both sides of the drainage ditch as it flows to the east are big marshes lined and dotted with cattails and grass that are meccas for waterfowl of all varieties on years like this when they’re full of water. My walk to the dike took me past a couple small marshes that are for the most part too near the road and too small for much waterfowl activity. Something in the cattails caught my eye, and on closer inspection I found a muskrat “hut” bigger than I’ve ever seen.

Muskrats live in 2 types of structures, huts in a pond like this one or dens dig into the bank. Bank dens are the most prevalent and I grew up in Ohio trapping muskrats from bank dens in creeks. In swamps or ponds, however muskrats occasionally build huts resembling small versions of beaver lodges. Made from layer-upon-layer of cattails and mud they have entrances under water and a big open cavern inside which is the living quarters. A long walk along the top of the dike just yesterday revealed numerous huts like that one in other marsh ponds. Because muskrats are normally scarce around us, I’ve not set a muskrat trap since living in Kansas, but this year that’s about to change.

Perhaps my best “sinkhole encounter” of all time occurred just yesterday as I drove the dirt road separating Little Sinkhole #1 from the privately owned pond. As my pickup crept slowly along, two big birds in the top of a tall tree caught my eye. Two stately bald eagles keenly scrutinized me from their perch high atop the tallest tree along the pond.

Back when I first began writing this column, I was dragged kicking and screaming into the world of technology, and the same goes for learning to use my nifty smart phone’s camera in place of the Fuji camera that used to my constant companion. I’ve learned that most pictures I need are close-ups and the phone takes those quite nicely, so the camera stays at home. Boy did I wish I’d had it yesterday! I got pictures of the eagles but regretted not having the amazing zoom of my Fuji. Yes “the sinkhole” is my go-to spot whether or not I need a story, and a trip there never disappoints. So find your sinkhole place and continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at [email protected].

The Kansas Department of Agriculture, K-State Research and Extension and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment will host a regional farmers market vendor workshop in Hays on Friday, Feb. 17, 2017, to assist farmers’ market vendors and managers. This is the last of four regional workshops which were held this year.

The workshop will be held at the KSU Agriculture Research Center Auditorium, 1232 240th Avenue just south of Hays. Onsite registration will open at 8:30 a.m. and the workshop will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude by 3 p.m.

Registration for this workshop is now open and the cost is $20 per participant, which includes lunch. The deadline to register for early-bird pricing is February 7. After February 7, the cost increases to $25 and lunch cannot be guaranteed.

Kansas farmers’ markets not only provide a fresh food source, but also stimulate the local economy. In 2016, 75 farmers’ markets were registered with KDA’s Central Registration of Farmers’ Markets.

“Selling food directly to consumers through farmers’ markets provides producers a chance to tell their farm’s story, but there are also legal, safety and financial parameters that vendors need to understand before choosing this marketing tool,” said Londa Nwadike, consumer food safety specialist with K-State Research and Extension and the University of Missouri.

Workshop topics will include:
• Keynote speaker on Successful Farmers’ Market Vending
• Beekeeping 101
• Regulations on selling meat, eggs and poultry direct to consumer
• Double Up Food Bucks SNAP matching program
• Cover cropping and other soil health strategies
• Food safety inspection requirements
• Kansas Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Certified Farmer Training

KDA’s weights and measures program will also offer free scale certification at the workshop for attendees.

Online registration and payment is preferred for this workshop at FromtheLandofKansas.com/FMConference. Printable registration forms are available at the Ellis County Extension Office or on our website at www.ellis.ksu.edu. For those unable to register online, please return the completed form and payment to: KSU Ellis County Extension Office, c/o Linda Beech, 601 Main, Suite A, Hays, KS 67601.

This will be an informative learning opportunity for current or prospective farmers market vendors and market managers. For more information, contact the Ellis County Extension Office, 785- 628-9430 or [email protected].

Linda K. Beech is Ellis County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.

By U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan.

The Kansas Territory was admitted to the Union as its 34th state 156 years ago. We emerged from a period of violence and political struggle – Bleeding Kansas. Within months, the Civil War erupted, pitching the nation against itself and testing the mettle of the Kansas Free-Staters fresh off their battle for individual liberty. Conflicts again broke out as Kansans took up arms to defend our state and the Union.

Today, some claim our nation has never been more divided. I will be the first to admit: America faces many serious problems and there is significant disagreement about the solutions. But I’m hopeful, because our current problems are not inherently more polarizing than those we have faced in the past – and our solutions shouldn’t be either. As we reflect on our state’s beginning, we Kansans should seize the opportunity to lead the way and refuse to let divisiveness overwhelm our vision for a better future.

Kansans have historically carried on the pioneering tradition of our state’s founders. We value community-mindedness, hard work and self-determination. It is the outlook that guided the millions of homesteaders and railroad workers who came from different regions to join together and build up a new place to call home. These traits and that desire to be independent live on today and empower us to set an example for the rest of the country that, despite our disagreements, we can work together to rise above disputes and come together to make positive improvements to our communities. In our pursuit of a better tomorrow, we must not allow ourselves to grow pessimistic about setbacks. This idea is underscored by our state’s motto, “To the Stars through difficulty.” We set our sights high and work doggedly to meet the challenge. It is the Kansas way.

Even the highest of aspirations, though, take root at the local level when people forge relationships and develop friendships person-to-person centered on a common interest. Understanding the value of friendship with our neighbors is the kind of thing I believe Kansans are best at. And it is not something we can afford to let fall by the wayside. As we seek to serve one another, a good first step is to redouble our commitments to our communities. We can get involved with a local service organization or nonprofit; cook for those in need; volunteer at church, an after-school program or a senior center; and engage with folks whose paths we might not routinely cross.

One of the most essential aspects of my job is traveling around the state and building relationships with the people I represent. Those conversations help keep me grounded, give me a better understanding of the specific issues facing our state, and help me focus my efforts in Washington. The time I spend listening to Kansans also adds weight to my perspective in Congress because my colleagues know that I am giving voice to the Kansas point of view and its many facets. My aim is to bring your perspective directly to the halls of the Senate based on what I hear from Johnson County to Johnson City and all the communities in between. This is how we make certain the people’s government answers to you, the people. Despite the fractures in Washington, there still is common ground to be found, but not without open dialogue and mutual understanding. The same is true for our communities in Kansas.

Let’s guide the way of our nation. Let’s be the example and always look for the best in each other. Our state’s 157th year holds tremendous promise, and I hope we realize that promise by carrying on our founders’ values and working together for the good of the state and nation. I’m grateful to again have the opportunity to serve in the United States Senate on your behalf. I take the blessing of being a Kansan to heart – each day, I hope to bring our home state’s sense of hard work, dedication to service and innate respect for our neighbors to my work in Washington, D.C.

May God continue to bless the great state of Kansas.

By RON WILSON
Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

It was time to elect a new president. No, I’m not talking about the Electoral College. In this case, I’m referring to a national professional association which was electing new officers. When the voting was done, the new president of this national organization is a woman from rural Kansas.

Trudy Rice is the incoming president of this organization known as the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals, or NACDEP. That name is quite a mouthful, but it represents lots of important community development educational programming which is being carried out across the country.

Trudy grew up in western Kansas and graduated from Norton. She went to K-State and got a degree in education. She also met and married Ron Rice and returned with him to his family farm in Douglas County south of Lawrence.

Trudy began her career in extension as a 4-H agent in Douglas County and then took time off to stay home as she and Ron had children. She also owned and operated her own small business. When the kids were older, she returned to extension as a family and consumer sciences agent in Douglas County. Son Brad is now back on the farm and daughter Brandie is a faculty member at K-State.

In 1999, Trudy was promoted to county extension director. This role required her to engage with a broader range of citizens, including civic, non-profit, and governmental leaders across the community. “When I became county director, I saw how important community development work really was,” Trudy said.

K-State Research and Extension carries out educational work in four areas: Agriculture, family and consumer sciences, 4-H and youth, and community development. The first three have a longer history within extension work, but community development is growing.

“Community development is the process of convening community people to identify critical issues and then matching those issues with resources of the university which can address them,” Trudy said.

In 2009, she was promoted to become a state community development specialist with responsibilities for the PRIDE program. In 2010, she was selected as the Extension Fellow to work at the National Association of Counties in Washington, D.C. In 2015, she was selected to be K-State Research and Extension’s state program leader for community vitality.

“Lots of exciting things are happening in community vitality,” Trudy said. “We now have programming around leadership, entrepreneurship, First Impressions, and the PRIDE program. Our staff has expanded, thanks to partnerships and financial support from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation and the Masonic Foundation of Kansas.”

Trudy also has responsibility to network with fellow extension professionals in other states. A few years ago, she participated in a meeting of the national professional association for extension staff who are working in the community development arena. This is the previously mentioned organization known as NACDEP – the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals.

At her first meeting, the officers asked for volunteers to work on a particular project. Trudy stepped up and she ended up chairing the initiative. Two things happened: One, it went so well that others recognized her leadership skills, and two, she observed first-hand the value and effectiveness of the organization.

She got more involved in NACDEP. In 2016 when it was time to elect a new president-elect, the winner was Trudy Rice from rural Kansas. Her term as president officially begins in June 2017.

“Our purpose is to promote the profession of community development within extension programming,” Trudy said. “I want to establish more state chapters and encourage those chapters to provide professional development opportunities to benefit our members.”

Her state and national duties keep her busy, but she continues to live on the family farm in Douglas County. It’s located south of Lawrence on the route to the rural community of Baldwin City, population 3,503 people. Now, that’s rural.

It’s time to pick a new President. No, the Electoral College is not involved. In this case, the members of NACDEP elected a rural Kansas woman to be their national president. We commend Trudy Rice for making a difference with service to her profession, her state, and her nation.

In his first week in office, President Donald Trump has signed a flurry of orders reversing Obama administration decisions or beginning new initiatives. What do YOU think?

[polldaddy poll=9649350]

One morning, I was preparing to write an article. Before I did, and as is my routine, I did some reading and wrote in my journal.

Part of my reading that particular morning was a portion of the Bible. There are sections in the Bible that I struggle with. One is the book of Job. However, at the end of book of Job, this appears: “So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life, even more than in the beginning.” Job 42:12

What a wonderful statement.

Many families come to me in a crisis—usually with significant health issues. For some, their view on life at many times warms my heart, and I appreciate them letting me in. Others express nothing but frustration and doubt.

This is what I have learned from the families that I have worked with. While over half of my life may be over, I am blessed. I should not focus on what I cannot do, the “opportunities” that I missed, or the “bad” events of my past. Instead, I need to appreciate all that I have and all I am receiving in the second half of life.

Let me be more personal. I am blessed with a wife that has put up with me for over 36 years, three sons and two daughters-in-law, a couple of really good friends, and time to enjoy them all. They are all blessings that continue to bless me.

I am blessed with an occupation that allows me to help other people, which has always been a goal of mine. I am blessed because I work with people that have the same vision.

I am blessed because I live in a wonderful community that has good, down to earth people. I can be as involved as I want to be. I can walk to my office. I am no more than 10 minutes from anywhere in town.

I am blessed because in five minutes, I can be “in the country.” In less than an hour, I can be walking in the woods, with no other person around. I can enjoy the clear air and blue skies.

So many fear the second half of life. They focus on what they do not have, what they did not get, or what they cannot do now.

Do as I did on this particular morning. Write down the blessings that you are receiving during your second half of life. I am sure that you are going to find there are more blessings on the way.

Randy Clinkscales of Clinkscales Elder Law Practice, PA, Hays, Kansas, is an elder care attorney, practicing in western Kansas. To contact him, please send an email to [email protected]. Disclaimer: The information in the column is for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Each case is different and outcomes depend on the fact of each case and the then applicable law. For specific questions, you should contact a qualified attorney.

Dear Kansans, it’s going to take continued effort and attention from you to complete the changes in school finance, taxation, and state budgeting you demanded last November.

A great place to begin the work is to read your newspaper. It might help to ignore the adjectives and adverbs in the headlines, but by all means do read the paper – regularly. And try to read some of the internet newsletters and blogs that the various interest groups put out during the legislative session. Clear and complete information is always key to knowing what’s underway in Topeka.

At the start of any legislative session there’s lots of “outrage,” “anger,” shock, condemnation and claims of surprise, but this year underneath the WAR DECLARED sized headlines there are tales of diligence, attention and commitment that should encourage believers in the will of the people. By March or April we’ll know much more as editors and reporters give serious attention to unglamorous but necessary changes in programs, spending and taxation. Voters have an obligation to pay attention.

On school finance, reality is dawning. The “suitable provision for finance of the educational interests of the state” is going to cost more than has been appropriated for the last several years. All sides of the debate anticipate the state Supreme Court finding that a funding deficiency continues. The participants to the “what comes next?” discussion know that the voters denied the governor’s desire to have a free hand in selecting judicial puppets to help him carry out “starve the beast” educational austerity. With no retention questions for the next four years the Supreme Court is beyond pressure from this governor.

Kansans need to see the Legislature demonstrate objectivity and willingness to consider the requirements created by the varied economic and demographic differences that exist among the state’s school districts. That can happen if voters continue to stay informed, and then remind legislators that they care about the outcome.

Editors, reporters, and analysts have demonstrated that the overall budget of the state and its revenue requirements are the other enormous elephants in the room.

The 2016 election results show the voters’ altered awareness. First, voters realized cutting out the top income tax bracket and giving Kansas enterprises a tax holiday provided little economic expansion and insignificant growth in new jobs and payroll. Second, voters clearly accept that there is a gaping hole in the available resources to support the myriad services that the state provides.

This new legislature appears ready to repair the tax system and end the governor’s “experiment.” A clear majority of the state’s populace and over half of the 330,000 exemption beneficiaries express the opinion that the income and business tax cuts are bad policy. But, the pressure has to be maintained.

The current fiscal year’s budget has to be fixed. This is the one spot in the process that can derail the effort to do the big job of re-establishing long-term solvency. If the search for cash, cuts or curtailments to address the immediate shortages becomes the central and loudest issue, opponents of the much needed “structural” repair can prevail through delay and distraction. This must not happen.

So Kansans, stay focused on the real objectives and keep doing what so many did this electoral season. Keep reminding the politicians that we voted for them to do a set of important and specific tasks. Tell them that they are expected to find the necessary fixes, make the necessary compromises, cut the ideological rhetoric and get about the business of putting our state back on the road to solvency and far away from the Laffer Curve.

Dr. Mark Peterson teaches political science at the college level in Topeka.

Walk along the flood channel of Perry Lake in January and you will need a parka—it is cold. But look down on the large rocks that line the sluice-way and you may see a large spider on nearly every rock! What is a warm-weather spider doing out in this cold weather?

There may be snow on the shady side of each rock, but take off your gloves and you can feel how the sunshine on the surface of these rocks makes them toasty warm. And for an inch or two above the rock surface, there is a nice layer of warm air. As far as these spiders are concerned, this is a warm summer day.

Weather comes in scales. Global weather patterns have cold air that sinks at the Poles and hot tropical air that evaporates the oceans. Then there are regional weather patterns: the high and low pressures and the warm and cold fronts that we see on TV weather forecasts.

But here at Perry Lake, the spiders are “feeling good” living in their own microclimate, the conditions that occur in just a few inches.

You and I don’t feel these differences because we are so big we walk through the atmosphere above. But the smaller life beneath our feet lives in the cracks and crevices that insulate them from the weather changes that are greatest just above the surface. These wolf spiders never feel the freezing cold. They just move down under the large stones to below the frost line.

They are out on this thin warm surface today for a meal. Small mosquito-like flies called midges emerge this time of year from the sluice-way and land on the warm rocks. It is dinnertime. It must be “good eating” because these wolf spiders are among the biggest specimens collected.

Nearly every rock has a spider on it. Wolf spiders are solitary spiders. These spiders not only eat midges, but they also eat each other. Scoop up a spider from one rock and dump it on a rock that has another spider. They size up each other from a distance and one immediately decides to leave. The spider that leaves jumps to another rock where there is another wolf spider and the confrontation begins again. The spiders play king-of-the-hill and domino across the rocks until finally the last one finds an empty rock.

This wolf spider is Pardosa lapidicina, a species known to live just a few yards up the banks from streams and rivers. At Perry Lake, they are right where they are supposed to be: plenty of food and a warm rock—in January.