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

I voted to begin the formal process of repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act last week. To be clear: Congress has not yet repealed Obamacare and people currently enrolled will not be dropped from their health plans. We did not make any changes to current healthcare laws. What this means is that with a new Congress, a new administration, and a new year, we now have an opportunity to provide real, necessary reforms to our healthcare system.

I have offered a number of policy recommendations over the last several years that should serve as a blueprint for how to begin helping Kansans and Americans across the country who have suffered as a result of the Affordable Care Act’s flaws. Under this law, canceled policies, elimination of many plans, difficulties in identifying new plans, massive premium increases, sky-high deductibles and limited options for doctors have become the new normal for many American families.

Reforms to replace the law must be passed quickly so the American people know they will continue to have access to care. To that end, I spoke on the Senate floor a few days after the start of the new congress to again offer up my ideas. These policy recommendations outline the kinds of changes I believe our new healthcare policy must include.

First, we should maintain pre-existing condition protections to those with continuous coverage. Individuals with debilitating diseases and chronic conditions who have purchased health care should be reassured that their coverage will not be stripped in any future changes to the healthcare system.

Second, we can increase coverage by enabling Americans to shop for plans from coast to coast no matter what state they live in. This will lower premiums by spurring greater competition in the insurance market.

Third, we should extend tax savings to those who purchase health coverage, regardless of their employment. To assist low-income Americans, we can offer tax credits to help them obtain private insurance of their choice. We can also help expand access to care by supporting community health centers and other primary care access points.

Fourth, instead of limiting the choice of plans, let’s give small businesses and organizations the ability to pool together in order to offer health insurance at lower prices – similar to corporations and labor unions. We also need to make it possible for health insurance to travel with workers when they move from job to job throughout their careers.

Fifth, we ought to incentivize individuals to save now for future and long-term care needs by empowering them to utilize health savings accounts and other incentive plans. Doing so enables Americans to take ownership of their own health.

Sixth, we need not accept the idea that costs for currently available medical treatments will inevitably rise. Instead, let’s continue boosting our support for the National Institutes of Health. Advancing life-saving medical research and spurring innovation will reduce costs and help alleviate the financial burdens of our health system.

Seventh, we need to address shortages in our medical workforce by advancing initiatives that educate and train doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals and encourage them to practice in underserved areas through scholarship and loan-repayment programs.

Eighth, in order to curb the preventable costs that are often incurred through unnecessary emergency room visits and untreated symptoms of disease, we should provide coverage to low-income Americans in a financially sustainable way that ends up saving money in the long term. Ensuring access to quality care with a focus on preventative health is the most effective way to limit high-cost health visits that place a burden on hospitals, physicians, our economy and our health system as a whole.

Lastly, we can reform our medical liability system and reduce frivolous lawsuits that result in inflated premiums and the practice of “defensive medicine,” where doctors order every possible test for fear of potential lawsuits. Doing so will save tens of billions of dollars each year and make healthcare more affordable for everyone.

As I have considered these recommendations over the years, I have also spent that time visiting each of the 126 hospitals in our state. I have had conversations with the CEOs, CFOs, trustees, doctors and nurses. Almost without exception, the conversation is about how their expenses have increased and fewer patients can pay their bills because they cannot afford the co-payments and deductibles.

Obamacare has taken away Americans’ freedom to make healthcare decisions and given far too much authority to the federal government. Kansans continue to ask me to help them get their former healthcare plans back, to find a better way to do this, and to work out a system that gives them affordable options with better coverage.

As we move forward to improve care for all, I will be working with my colleagues – Republicans and Democrats alike – to find solutions to take advantage of this opportunity and ensure there is no lapse in care. Americans should have access to truly affordable, quality healthcare – the kind they were promised in 2010. The American people are hurting under this law and they have spoken clearly. It’s time to bring them the change they’ve asked for and make certain no one has to worry about whether the care they or their family member needs is outside their reach.

With some of the negative publicity about this country’s food supply, some folks have concluded the best plate may be an empty plate. How else are they going to avoid killer popcorn, monster tomatoes, drug-treated cattle, radioactive chicken and toenail hotdogs?

If you’re totally disgusted about what you read or overwhelmed by news reports that question the safety of your food, you’re not alone.

What can you do?

To begin with, exercise common sense. In our country, people are living longer and healthier lives than ever before. Over consumption can indeed pose a health hazard, but scientists do not believe specific foods are health villains.

To provide an abundant, safe, reliable and inexpensive food supply, most of us are dependent on modern agricultural practices and food techniques. Some would argue we do not need GMOs (genetically modified organisms), fresh produce like tomatoes because there is already too much food and we don’t need some of these items because they are luxuries anyway.

This is a shortsighted, naïve attitude. This country, and hungry people around the world, will always need more food. We must always find ways to produce more efficiently in this country. Continued change and advances in technology will be the only thing that provides answers to an ever-growing population with additional food demands.

Anyway, why shouldn’t we have access to delicious vegetables all year round? Especially when the increased intake of fresh fruits and vegetables has been scientifically proven to be healthy and reduce the risk of health problems.

Critics of technology have been around since the first caveman rounded off the square edges of a stone block and chiseled out the first wheel. Most people fought the coming of steam locomotives and buggy makers cried out against the coming of the Model T.

In agriculture, new plant varieties created with these techniques will offer foods with better taste, more nutrition and longer shelf life. Farmers will be able to grow these new varieties more efficiently, leading to lower consumer costs and greater environmental protection.

Soybeans that produce high oleic oil containing less saturated fat and require less processing, cotton plants that fight pests or produce naturally colored cotton, reducing the need for chemical dyes and bananas that deliver vaccines to fight enteric diseases are just a few examples of what’s in store.

Sound far-fetched?

Probably the same reaction my father would have had if someone told him his son would go to a supermarket and buy things like navel oranges and seedless watermelons.

Steam pasteurization, food irradiation, genetically modified grains can best be summed up in one word – PROGRESS.

Food safety has always been an emotional issue. Reactions to some of these food scares confirm the adage that a rumor can travel half way around the world before the truth pulls on its boots.
Too often today, most news translates into “bad” news. The prospect of scare headlines is often irresistible.

The agricultural industry must continue to step forward to tell its story. Scientists must step forward to clear up some of the misinformation in the press.

Until this occurs, be wary of food scares. On the other hand, don’t forget to eat and drink from our food supply. It is the safest, best tasting in the world.

John Schlageck, a Hoxie native, is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas.

Hello from Topeka!

The first week of the 2017 session saw all members being sworn in and Governor Brownback delivering his sixth State of the State Address. There were also numerous bill introductions and the start of finding ways to make up for the budget deficit for the remaining fiscal year. Tough decisions will be made and one of the underlying themes in this legislative session is “compromise”, so I am not expecting to get everything I would like, but am hopeful a package will be agreed upon which does not derail any positives in the economy.

On Wednesday, Shawn Sullivan, Director of the Division of the Budget, presented the Governor’s Budget Recommendations to a joint meeting of the House Appropriations and House Taxation Committees. The stated goals, of the Governor’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 and FY 2019 budget proposal, are to protect core services, gain additional efficiencies and achieve structural balance with more ongoing revenue than ongoing expenditures. Additionally, the Governor’s budget met a goal of having an ending balance greater than 7.5 percent in FY 2019.

The Governor is addressing the FY 2017 budget in a rescission bill [HB 2052]. The bill makes revenue adjustments, including transferring $317 million from the Pooled Money Investment Board (PMIB) to the State General Fund (SGF). Expenditures are also adjusted, including not funding the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System (KPERS) at the approved FY 2017 level. The Governor’s FY 2017 budget contains an ending balance of $99.6 million.

The FY 2018 and 2019 budgets will be addressed in a separate appropriations bill. The proposal includes transfers from other funds, securitization of the 1998 tobacco settlement funds, and tax policy proposals to bring in greater revenues to the budget. Several expenditure adjustments are made, with more KPERS changes, and the capture of additional efficiencies that were part of the efficiency study commissioned by the Legislature. The Governor’s budget reflects a focus on increasing Medicaid reimbursement and addressing critical rural health care services and a rural teacher scholarship program. As noted, the planned ending balances grow to $216.5 million in FY 2018 and $538.7 million in FY 2019.

The Governor’s Tax proposal includes:

• Taxing passive incomes including rents/royalties
• Freezing bottom income tax at 2.7%
• Increase for-profit entity annual report filing fee from $40 to $200
• Cigarette tax increase of $1/pack; Increase the other tobacco products tax from 10% to 20%
• Increase the liquor enforcement tax from 8% to 16%

Total predicted revenue gained for FY 2018 is $179.1 million and $198.6 million for FY 2019.

The Taxation Committee will have a long day on Thursday, hearing testimony on H.B. 2023 which deals with pass-through income for income tax purposes; many call this the “LLC Loophole.” It will be another busy week in Taxation, Transportation, Water & Environment.

Stopping by the office this week included: U.S.D. 388 – Ellis Superintendent Robert Young and U.S.D. 211 – Norton Superintendent Phil Wilson to discuss K-12 education challenges.

I am now in Room 352-S. My phone number has changed to: (785) 296- 7463 and email is: [email protected] and my 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 Dist. State Representative.

Just two days after being sworn-in and on the payroll, state legislators got the governor’s plan for the budget to fill the $350 million shortfall in the remaining six months of this fiscal year and the two last years of Sam Brownback’s governorship.

And, it is tricky and confusing, especially for the new legislators, nearly a third of the members, and they are still trying to figure out what goes where, and what’s borrowed from what.

The real key to the whole operation, though, is that the governor has managed to find a way to finance the shortfall this year and budget for the last two years of his governorship without any general tax increases.

That’s the political equivalent of walking across snow and not leaving tracks.

It puts the state in a financial bind, but there are no significant new taxes, and no tax on the LLCs and sole proprietorships and farms that the governor has touted as the engines of prosperity for Kansas. The bill for those transfers and shuffles doesn’t show up until someone else is governor.

Politically, it doesn’t get any better than that. Remember that good (even great) politics and good government aren’t the same. Good government keeps the schools, roads, health care, and the poor taken care of. Good politics boils down to not inconveniencing your voter base. 

That’s something that is a pretty good final budget…no tax increases that most Kansans will wind up paying.

Oh, he does plan to boost the tax on cigarettes by $1 a pack, and double the tax on liquor, but besides the predictable grumbling a lot of smokers/drinkers probably will have to admit that they aren’t paying what those two vices are worth now.

There is budget shuffling and internal borrowing that is all pretty complicated and pushes the state’s revenue shortfalls into the future, but if you turn over the keys to the governor’s mansion in January 2019, well, you can read about it in the papers from somewhere else.

Practically, what is a good political budget for the governor is going to see substantial shaking up by the House and the Senate. Already lawmakers are upset about cutting payments to the state pension fund and borrowing from caches of cash in obscure special finance accounts. That internal borrowing, while it doesn’t show up immediately, remains an obligation to be repaid, and the repayment of that borrowing doesn’t happen until there’s a different person living in Cedar Crest, the state housing for the governor.

The next couple weeks should tell whether the governor gets most of his deficit-filling plan adopted. It’s going to be one of those “negotiations” between the Legislature and the governor; it may well come down to whether a gubernatorial veto of the Legislature’s plan can be overridden by the lawmakers or whether they have to try again. The out-years budget is one thing that lawmakers can work on next session, but finishing this fiscal year with a balance in the treasury is a constitutional requirement that won’t wait until next session.

So, let’s watch the next couple weeks on the current fiscal year budget. It may tell Kansans whether the Legislature has taken over or whether the governor is still in charge. …Or, whether it matters much to the governor who is running things for the last two years of his term.

A governor can pretty much make a job out of attending ribbon-cuttings, highway repaving projects and such without actually doing much policymaking work that requires legislative approval.

He can skate…if he cares to. Or, they could all just hug.

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

I was out checking traps and a bright greenish-yellow pile of debris under a hedge tree caught my eye. As is normal in the winter, squirrels have been chewing apart hedge apples to get to the many succulent seeds inside them.

In the 1880s before the invention of barbed wire, ranchers began planting Osage Orange trees as living livestock fences. The trees get their name from the Osage Indian tribe that lived near the trees native range in the Red River valley of southern Oklahoma and northern Texas, and from the citrus aroma emitted by the fruit.

Osage Orange seedlings planted thickly together in rows and aggressively pruned soon grew into living fences that were “Horse high, bull strong and hog tight;” tall enough a horse couldn’t jump it, stout enough a bull couldn’t push through it and so dense a hog couldn’t penetrate it. Osage Orange trees have been planted in greater numbers than any other single tree species in North America.

The largest known living Osage Orange tree grows on River Farms in Alexandria, Virginia. The beast stands 54 feet tall and its branches span 90 feet. As firewood, dried hedge wood produces more BTU’s than any other wood. As fence posts, hedge wood provides more rot resistance without chemicals than any other wood. Osage Orange wood is also prized for making archery bows. One of the names given hedge wood by early explorers was bow wood, probably because they observed Osage Indians making bows from it. Although I could not confirm it, I found several references online to a guy in Americus KS. who makes harps from Osage Orange wood because “he believes it to be the most dimensionally stable of all woods when aged and placed under strain.”

However after all the praises are sung about the fine qualities of its wood, Osage Orange trees are best known for the annoying and seemingly useless fruit produced by the female trees. About the size of softballs and clothed in a thick bright green knobby husk (when first ripe) hedge apples are known by several other names: horse apples, hedge balls, monkey balls, green brains and mock oranges are the ones I know. As I noted above, squirrels love them for the seeds inside them, which by the way are NOT noxious to humans like I’ve always heard, but are said to be barely palatable, plus chemicals in the flesh can cause severe stomach irritation. Livestock can also eat them, but their sticky flesh is very dangerous for ruminants as it does not move well through their complicated digestive systems and easily becomes lodged, causing bloating and possible death. I confirmed that with our veterinarian Dr. Mark Handlin.

Many people swear by hedge apples for insect control, and say placing the ripe fruit under sinks, in closets etc. repels spiders, crickets and other pesky bugs, while naysayers believe the only way a hedge apple will kill or repel a spider is to drop it on the spider. One lady claims stuffing pieces of hedge apples down mole holes rids her yard of moles, and says it has worked for her neighbors too.

The most talked about and controversial use for hedge apples involves their alleged medicinal value. Studies have shown that hedge apple flesh does contain minor anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties, but those properties are in very minute quantities. Other than that, no official studies have confirmed any positive medicinal values of hedge apples. However, many people continue to believe that hedge apples offer curative and healing value. The internet contains much information and many testimonials of hedge apples curing cancer. Many people dry them and process their flesh to make pills and tinctures to fight colds and to boost the immune system. Some people freeze the whole fruits then grate off a tablespoon of the outer husk to take with honey when they feel a cold coming on.

Even though the sticky inner flesh of the hedge balls is said to irritate human skin, Iowa chemist and entrepreneur Todd Johnson’s company Osage Healthcare pays $180 a ton for hedge apples and extracts their oil for use in the cosmetics industry. Johnson, who calls himself the “Hedge Ball Kingpin of the US”, estimates his companies worth at 2 -7 million, and a partnering company will soon be selling hedge apple oil for $85 per ½ ounce. Another Iowa company called Moses Hedge Balls sells hedge balls, Osage Orange wood and product made from hedge apples called Hales Bug Repel. By the way, his hedge apples are a bit pricey at 4 for $26.00, 8 for $42.00 or a dozen for $54.00. (talk about a markup!)

My mom used to slice hedge apples into ¼ inch slices then dry them slowly in the oven to make decorations strongly resembling sunflower blooms. We used to throw them at each other when we were kids and I learned to be quick on my feet cause’ those things hurt! Between mom’s green willow switch to my bare legs and a hedge apple to the head, I might just opt for the green willow switch! For some reason Iowa seems to be a hotbed for hedge apple related research, companies and products. I don’t know, maybe Iowans know something we don’t.

One thing I do know; I’ll make you a better deal on a dozen hedge balls than Moses will!…. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.

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

The 2017 Kansas Legislative Session began on Monday, January 9 with the swearing in of all members.  More than a third of the Kansas House will be new this year, as we welcomed an incoming class of 46 new members.  Five of that group, however, have previous experience as House members and are now returning.  The majority party Republicans number eighty-five and are joined by forty Democrats. The legislature is scheduled to reach first adjournment on April 7.  Veto session will convene on May 1, and the theoretical 90th day end of the session will come on Mother’s Day, May 14.  Although many pundits are predicting a long and contentious legislative session which could stretch well into June, the House got out of the gates rapidly this week and passed its first piece of legislation on day four of the session.  That is nearly unprecedented, and is evidence of the resolve on the part of both leadership and members to get about our business quickly and responsibly. Governor’s State of the State Address Governor Brownback delivered the annual State of the State address on Tuesday afternoon in the House Chambers.   The governor reiterated his belief in the effectiveness of the income tax break given to small businesses in 2012.  He voiced continued opposition to Medicaid expansion, especially in light of current federal movement to repeal Obamacare. The speech introduced some intriguing proposals, including a new dental school at the University of Kansas Medical Center, locating a private school of osteopathic medicine in Kansas, and challenging Kansas universities to offer a four-year degree for a total tuition cost of $15,000.  While each proposal would bring great benefit to the people of Kansas, few details were provided, leaving some to wonder how realistic the proposals might be. Governor’s Budget Report On Wednesday Shawn Sullivan, Director of the Budget, released the governor’s budget report. It contained proposals to close the projected $340 million shortfall for fiscal year 2017 (ending on June 30) as well as proposals to deal with a $580 million projected shortfall in fiscal year 2018.  Highlights: FY 2017 (ending June 30): Liquidate long-term investment fund by transferring $45 million in interest earnings to State General Fund (SGF), then borrowing the principal of $317 million and repay over seven years. Reduce payments into KPERS by $86 million. FY 2018 and 2019: Securitize (sell off) the revenue stream from the tobacco master settlement (which funds early childhood programs) in order to receive upfront payments of $265 million in both FY 2018 and 2019. Continue reduced payments to KPERS at the 2016 rate rather than increasing payments as statutorily required.  Generates SGF savings of $140 million in 2018 and $199 million in 2019.  Extends the reamortization of KPERS by ten years and therefore extends the timeline before KPERS is fully funded.  Continue to divert all sales tax revenue from KDOT to SGF.  Produces $288 million for the SGF in 2018 and $293 million in 2019. Budget for efficiencies in K-12 school operation totaling $47 million in 2018 and $89 million in 2019.  This is based upon recommendations contained in the efficiency study commissioned by the legislature in 2015.  Legislative committees have already begun examining this proposal to determine feasibility and whether the projected savings are attainable. Governor’s Tax Proposal: Exclude rents and royalties from the small business income tax exemption Freeze the bottom income tax rate at 2.7% Increase annual report filing fee for businesses from $40 to $200 Increase tax on cigarettes $1 per pack Increase tax on other tobacco products from 10% to 20% Increase liquor enforcement tax from 8% to 16% Cumulatively, these tax proposals would produce $179 million in 2018 and $199 million in 2019 The solutions the governor proposes have been characterized as very unpalatable by many observers.  But more than anything that is a reflection of the dire fiscal circumstances the state currently faces.  There is room for disagreement over how we got to this point and why. However, there is no controversy over the stark fact that the state is now broke, and that the practice of cobbling together annual budgets with unreliable and one-time funding sources cannot continue. In the short run, our list of potential solutions is short and it will be a process of ranking a variety of undesirable options in order to find the best possible approach.  Whatever the legislature settles on for a solution, it too is likely to be quite unpalatable.  Longer term, the people of Kansas are asking for and deserve a long-term structural solution to the current fiscal imbalance.  Finding that solution will require resolve, persistence, and cooperation on the part of all legislators. First Bill of the Year Passes the House On Thursday the House considered and passed an elections bill brought to the body by the Elections Committee and its Chairman Keith Esau.  With the likely confirmation of 4th District Congressman Mike Pompeo as the new Director of the CIA, a special election will be necessary to pick his replacement in Congress.  Inconsistencies in Kansas election law raise the prospect that the election results could later be challenged.  The bill removes those inconsistencies and will allow for an orderly selection of Pompeo’s replacement. It is expected the bill will be quickly approved by the Senate and with the Governor’s signature the new law will be in place before the resignation of Congressman Pompeo. Pay-Go On Thursday the House adopted new House Rules which will guide the legislative process for the next two years.  A key amendment was to revise the “pay-go” rule.  “Pay-go” is shorthand for “pay as you go”, a concept which first appeared in federal budget debates. At the federal level the pay-go rule meant that a member of Congress could not propose an amendment requiring spending which would increase the national debt. Deficit spending is not an option at the state level, but in 2011 the Kansas House adopted a version of pay-go allowing members to amend an appropriations bill only in a manner which would not increase the overall spending authorized by the bill.  Pay-go has been controversial since its first adoption.  There is an appreciation for the strong fiscal responsibility it represents, but many members believe it concentrates too much power in the hands of those on the appropriations committee.  They point out that only eleven members of the House (a majority of the membership on appropriations) can effectively control proposed expenditures with very limited input from the general membership.  This is sometimes viewed as a disenfranchisement of the members not involved, and denial of their right to effectively represent their constituents in appropriations deliberations.  Though there is merit to that argument, the concept of pay-go is essentially moot at a time when the state’s finances are in disarray. Thursday the rules committee proposed an amendment to the pay-go rule which would eliminate pay-go if and when state finances improve to the point that the state general fund contains a 7.5% ending balance, as currently required by law but frequently violated in recent years.  The rule was adopted after extensive debate, and strikes a balance between the desire for full inclusion, debate and amendment and the need for strong fiscal discipline, especially in difficult financial times. Pay-go is much more restrictive if appropriations bills are brought to the floor in piecemeal fashion.  Although appropriations bills are typically quite broad, and address most or all state general fund expenditures, there have been instances in recent sessions when appropriations bills have been brought forward which only concern certain departments or agencies.  That severely constricts the ability of members to identify sources of funding to address their particular concerns.  The willingness of the members to adopt a revised version of pay-go for 2016 can be viewed as display of trust that House leadership will allow broad appropriations bills to be considered. Lawrence Journal-World editorial: Pay-Go helps fiscal discipline Can Government be Run Like a Business? The debate about what is the proper domain of government and where the dividing line should be between business and government is a discussion which traces back to the very founding of our country.  The topic is once again of interest as the nation prepares for the inauguration of President-elect Donald J. Trump, a business tycoon with no prior government experience.   This article from Knowledge@Wharton, an electronic service of Wharton School of Business at University of Pennsylvania, examines the question in depth:  Can Government be Run Like a Business WIBW Radio Appearance My first 2017 appearance on WIBW Radio came in the early morning hours of Thursday, January 12.  Due to the retirement of my friend Rep. Tom Moxley, this year my partner in the monthly radio interviews is Rep. Larry Hibbard (Toronto).  Larry did a great job in his first performance.  Give it a listen:   WIBW Ag Issues 1-12-2017 Cowboy Logic No one gives advice with more enthusiasm than the uninformed. Quote of the day “The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn’t being said.” – Peter Drucker Sermon in a sentence If you hold your tongue, you can’t be misquoted.

By RON WILSON
Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

“Grandma, tell me a story!” Those words are a call for storytime. In the case of one rural Kansas woman, those words would ultimately inspire a book and the beginning of a series.

Rosie Bosse lives with her husband J.R. on the family farm near Onaga, Kansas. Rosie grew up on a farm in Jewell County. She got a degree in home economics education from K-State. One night she went out dancing and met her future husband, J.R.

“We said we would wait five years to have children,” Rosie said with a smile. “Well, our first one was born nine months and three days after the wedding.” Within six years they had four children. Rosie chose to stay at home with the kids. She worked as a substitute teacher and got involved with Tupperware.

“I wanted a set of cereal bowls that I couldn’t afford, but I could get the kit free if I held four Tupperware parties so that’s what I did,” Rosie said. After hosting, she found she really liked the products and people. In fact, she was eventually promoted to a director with the company. She now has 55 people on her team. Hers is one of the most successful sales teams in Kansas.

Rosie’s family grew also. Her four children are now grown and she has nine grandchildren.

“The grandkids are always asking me to tell them a story, but I don’t always tell the stories the same way,” Rosie said. “My daughter said I should write the stories down.”

Rosie always enjoyed writing. “One of the people who influenced me the most was my English composition teacher at K-State,” Rosie said. “On the first day of class, she told us that a C was for average work, a B was for excellent work, and the only way to get an A was to write something that was good enough to be published. We were all so scared that we tried to drop the class, but we couldn’t do it.”

Rosie buckled down in the class and improved her writing in the course of the semester. “In the end, I did get an A, and it was one of the proudest grades I ever received,” Rosie said. The teacher even came to her wedding. “What a wonderful lady,” Rosie said.
Those writing skills would come in handy years later when Rosie’s daughter suggested that she write down the stories that she told her grandchildren. Rosie’s first book was written for a little friend. It was titled Beautiful Little Princess. She wrote another one based on a story for the grandkids.

On a whim, Rosie contacted a publishing company in Oklahoma City. Ultimately, the people there agreed to publish her book which was released in fall 2016. It is an illustrated children’s book titled How Clicker the Dog Earned his Name.

The story is not autobiographical, but it does begin with Mr. and Mrs. Farmer who “lived on a farm in the middle of nowhere.” In the story, Mr. Farmer finds and rescues an abandoned puppy. Mrs. Farmer insists on no more animals, but her heart melts when she sees the little dog. Spoiler alert aside, be assured that the story has a happy ending.

The story was illustrated by the company’s city-based artists, which was a challenge. “In the first drawings the pickup truck looked like a minivan, and the farmer’s arms looked like little sticks.” Rosie eventually sent in a photo of her husband’s muscular arms. The revised illustrations were wonderful.

The book about Clicker is just the beginning. Upcoming books include Knarleytooth, the Mean Mountain Lion and Clicker Finds a Mate. Rosie has also published cookbooks with hundreds of delicious recipes. The most recent is titled Grandma’s in the Kitchen but Not For Long, which focuses on good quality food which can be prepared quickly.

“I want good food fast,” Rosie said. She’s sold hundreds of the books from her rural location near Onaga, population 697 people. Now, that’s rural.

“Grandma, tell me a story!” Thanks to her grandchildren, Rosie Bosse is making a difference by sharing her stories with families everywhere.

I’m guessing a good number of readers in my age group, folks entering their 7th decade, grew up as I did, believing humans were intended to boss their pets. Over time, as I have, they’ve reinterpreted those early views and accepted that four-legged companions actually run our houses.

A friend stopped to visit the other day. After we spent a couple hours catching up, she observed my little terrier sitting on my toes, staring intently at me. Unbeknownst to her, he was informing me it was nearly 3 p.m., aka his dinnertime. Noting his wrinkled brows and unblinking gaze , I excused myself to mix up his bowl of kibble. She teased that he had me well trained. I answered, “You have no idea.”

I’ve reluctantly acknowledged she stated pure truth. A fourteen-pound, thirteen-year old-canine dictates my actions from first thing every morning to mid-afternoon and just before bed. As soon as I awaken, his no nonsense path to the back door directs my mission to let this little guy and his furry, white sidekick outside for their morning constitutional. If I’m slow to respond, the toe-tapping pee- pee dance encourages me to attend to business. There’s no tolerance for this human to dress or brew coffee.

As the day goes on, my pointy-nosed guard dog perches at the edge of the sofa to survey the backyard. If he observes anything out of the ordinary—say a visiting German shepherd sprinkling his chain link fence or a brave squirrel creeping onto the grass—he races to my lap and implores me with sharp yips and pitiful whines to let him out to handle the situation.

Once he’s driven off the invaders, he directs his fuzzball partner to bark until I let them in. Once through the door, he examines the kitchen floor to see if I’ve dropped anything while he secured the premises. Usually, that’s a no, so he gives me the sad eye to tell me he’d really like a snack. If he happens to catch me eating a cheese stick, he plants himself at my feet until I give him and his begging buddy a nibble.

How this unschooled pooch tells time, I’ll never know. But he does. Once I wash and put away lunch dishes, he monitors house and yard–that is–until the little hand creeps close to the three and the big hand to the 12. Then this bundle of energy paces back and forth between his bowl and me. By 2:50, my self-ordained tyrant situates himself in my lap and begins a world-class stare down. If I haven’t looked at the clock, I know it’s officially doggy dinnertime.

If I want to read a book or write, I’m forced to serve my dictators . Both critters follow me to ground zero and strategically place themselves so I can’t leave the room until I’ve set their filled bowls before them.

It’s ironic I thought I’d train these dogs when they first moved in. I understand now that they meant all along to whip me into shape using those deep brown eyes and pitiful whines. I can’t imagine better bosses.

Karen Madorin is a local writer and retired teacher who loves sharing stories about places, people, critters, plants, food, and history of the High Plains.

    My second through fourth grades were in a two-room schoolhouse. (Yes, I am old.) There were four rows of desks, one for each grade 1-through-4. Today, education schools demean such a system because  teachers can only give one-fourth of their attention to each grade of students. But as a student, I found the system had advantages.

    Three-fourths of the time, my row was assigned to do our class work while the teacher was teaching another row. I remember listening ahead to the next grade up. I got a head start on reading and math that was more advanced. And classmates in my row who were having difficulty were able to listen in on the lower grade class; they got a refresher lesson. 

    By my fifth grade, Indiana schools consolidated and modernized. Six little one-room and two-room schools shut down and we all rode the bus to our new township school. Everyone in my room was in the fifth grade.

    But the better students still played a role in helping the students who had difficulty. Although the class was all fifth-graders, there were still classmates who needed the help of the better students. When the teacher talked about job interviews, a classmate would lean over and whisper “What’s she mean?”  And we would whisper back that it was like when we “chose up” teams to play ball during recess. A good teacher relies on good students to help other students learn.

    Many years later, as an experienced teacher walking the streets of Hong Kong or mainland China, I often passed by an elementary school where I could hear 60 young pupils in a classroom reciting the multiplication tables in unison. This recitation style of teaching is derided by many education schools but in fact it is very effective. The teacher is using the momentum of the whole class to advance the learning of all students at a pace that some students would not achieve working alone.

    The students who have difficulty are motivated to keep up with their peers. Despite the personal events of their life, they rise above it to stay with their group. For young students, belonging and performing with their group is a very effective motivation when they are too young to appreciate how important the mathematics or grammar will be to them.  

    I also clearly remember as a student back in that 2-room schoolhouse how it was important for me in row three (third grade) to be an example for the good students in row two and the struggling students in row four. It was not an elitist feeling—and any student who acted as a know-it-all would be rapidly put in their place—but just a recognition that we had a responsibility to help our classmates learn too. Because we could learn it, they realized they could learn it too.

    As a public school teacher, I used this knowledge to pair good students with students who struggled. These were important lessons in empathy and caring and communication for the good students as well as much needed assistance for the students needing help.

    So along comes this so-called “personalized education” of one-to-one computers in the classroom. While this allows a student to supposedly go at his/her own pace, it is supremely isolating. The abstract programmed learning is anything but “personal.” The communication involved is programmed and  sterile. A student doesn’t care what a cold machine says. The laptop doesn’t “care.” Everyone proceeds at their own isolated pace. The group can no longer motivate its members. 

    But then, “personalized education” on a laptop or tablet really isn’t about learning. It is about tech companies selling expensive technology that will be obsolete in 3–4 years. It minimizes the role of the teacher to a technology manager. It is isolating. And it removes the lessons in helping and caring that students would learn when they study with their classmates together.

    If you are a parent of a student who is now spending his or her day playing all day on a laptop or tablet, ask your school: “When are they going to get back to real teaching?”

Every year, it’s the same list of resolutions, including weight loss, debt reduction, stopping smoking, etc. But for the bargain shopper, there should be a new list of resolutions. Here are six money resolutions every bargain hunter should make:

Resolution #1: I resolve to stop buying stuff I don’t need
We’ve all been there. Your favorite store is offering a 75%-off sale on holiday items and you see the most adorable heart frame. What a bargain! You have to have it, even though you have a stack of photo frames at home. What do you do?

Ask yourself if you are going to use it or give it to someone by the end of the year. If the answer is no, keep walking. If you still feel tempted, visualize the frame with a 50-cent price tag on it at your next garage sale, or sitting on the shelf at a thrift store, and then see how much you still want it. If you don’t need it, don’t buy it.

Resolution #2: I resolve to pay cash for my purchases
Studies show that people spend about one-third more when they use credit cards than when they use cash. It’s tempting to use credit cards on bargain purchases, but what kind of bargain is it if you wind up paying 18% interest on the “bargain” price?

To avoid using credit cards, plan your purchases ahead of time or control your spending by buying gift cards or only carrying cash to the store.

Resolution #3: I resolve to think twice before ordering something online
Online shopping is a big convenience and can be a money saver, but it can also be a huge temptation. No need to go out in the snow and ice, just boot up your computer and there are tons of bargains just waiting to be bought!

Here’s a trick if you’re not 100% sure of a purchase– leave it in the website shopping cart and come back to it a few days later. More often than not, you’ll forget about it or decide you really don’t need it– and save money.

Resolution #4: I resolve to limit my stockpiling
If you stockpile and love it, this can be a hard resolution to keep. After all, there are bargains everywhere, even at the grocery store.

There are several reasons to limit stockpiling, especially on food items. First, rodents and pests are attracted to stored food. Your stockpile is an all-you-can-eat buffet waiting for any pests in your home. Second, it can be very easy to buy a product (especially a grain-based item) that already has insect eggs in it which may infest every other package of food you have. There go hundreds of dollars you’ve invested in your food stockpile.

To avoid this problem, limit the grain-type foods you keep on hand, or store them in the refrigerator or freezer. Once a month, check your stockpile for pests and look at expiration dates to see if items should be used up or thrown out. It’s a good idea to rotate your stockpile as well, using the “first in-first out” storage method to ensure oldest items are used first.

Resolution #5: I resolve to not go crazy with coupons
Resolve to use coupons for products you really need and will actually use. It’s OK to use coupons to try new products, but it’s not worth adding to your stockpile of stored food just to save a few cents on something that you might not eat.

Focus on using coupons to spend less on the overall bill, not just to rack up some savings. For example, when the local grocery store stopped doubling coupons, I discovered that the store brand of a product at regular price was often cheaper than the national brand with a coupon. I could spend less by buying the store brand, instead of “saving” with a coupon on a more expensive item.

Resolution #6: I resolve to keep better track of my rebates
Companies love when customers don’t cash in rebates or forget to follow up on them. Don’t let your rebate go unclaimed! Keep track of the date sent, company name, dollar amount, and company contact information. If you are sending away a for a big rebate (for example, over $20), be sure to make photocopies and consider sending it certified mail. That way, you have proof it was received if you have to follow up on it.

Instead of wasting money on unnecessary bargain purchases, put that money into the bank and start collecting interest on it. You’ll get real satisfaction from watching your bank account fill up, rather than your storage closet.

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

January 13, 2017

State of the State
Tuesday, January 10, 2017, Governor Sam Brownback was invited to a joint session of the Kansas House and Senate to deliver his annual State of the State Speech. The speech by the governor outlines his initiatives and focus for the upcoming years.

It is of no surprise to many Kansans that the current budget year is currently experiencing a deficit of approximately $350 million. The governor addressed the shortfall and presented his plan to balance the budget.

He is focusing on a one-time fix for the current fiscal year by using the Pooled Money Investment Board, a value of $317 million, as collateral on a 7-year note that will begin repayment in fiscal year 2018. The amount of this loan would almost provide enough of cash infusion to balance our current year’s books. Although I contend we could evaluate the use of these funds for a quick solution to our budgetary needs; I would also prefer to look at other options, as well. The State Budget Director, Shawn Sullivan, addressed the governor’s budget and revenue plans for fiscal years 2017 through 2019 on Wednesday, January, 11, 2017.

Citizenship in Action
My office announced on Wednesday that I will be providing one scholarship to a 4-Her between the ages of 13-18, to participate in the Kansas 4-H program, Citizenship in Action, which will take place in Topeka February 19-20, 2017. The Citizenship in Action program allows 4-Hers to travel to Topeka and participate in mock legislative sessions, meet elected officials, and tour the statehouse. The deadline for submissions is January 30, 2017. For more information, email me at [email protected], or call my office at (785) 296-7672.

Tax Bills Early
In a rare event, on the first day of the 2017 Legislative Session, the House Tax Committee discussed the specifics of certain pieces of tax legislation. The discussion mainly focused on the portion of the 2012 Tax Plan, commonly referred to as the LLC Loophole. After much discussion during the committee meeting, a bill was introduced that would eliminate the income tax exemption from LLCs and other business types, and place them back on the income tax rolls.

On Tuesday of this past week, an additional bill was introduced that would provide a flat tax for personal income tax. For individuals making $20,000 or more annually, there would be only one tax rate of 5%.

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.

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.

KID

TOPEKA — Ice, winds, blowing snow and cold temperatures have hit most of Kansas. Kansans need to check their homeowners and vehicle insurance policies to be sure they are familiar with potential winter weather situations.

If you can, check with your local insurance agents about what’s covered in your policies. Overall, homeowners and vehicle policies provide basic protection, but some policies provide a broader range of coverages than others. It is best to know what your individual policy contains.

Consumers should review these points about their winter insurance coverage:

• Most homeowners policies include coverage for wind, blowing snow and the weight of ice, snow and sleet on the structure.
  Damage to homes caused by falling objects such as trees is covered under most policies. However, the cost to remove limbs is usually not covered unless the tree first damages the structure.
• Water damage to a structure or its contents is usually excluded under most property insurance contracts. Check with your local insurance agent to be sure.
• Some policies may provide coverage from frozen pipes, as long as the damage is not a result of the homeowner’s failure to keep the home adequately heated.
• Many policies don’t include coverage for water that backs up from drains or sewers. That protection can be added to a policy by purchasing additional coverage or a rider.
• Flood damage from snow and ice melt is almost always excluded by homeowners’ policies. Flood-related policies can be obtained through the National Flood Insurance Program. Your local agent can provide details and make recommendations on what’s right for you.
• Vehicle coverage for winter-related accidents involving snow removal could be covered through collision coverage. Check with your agent for details.
• There are a couple of things to know if you lose power. First, if a fallen tree is to blame for the power outage, you may be covered by your homeowners policy. Second, regarding food spoiling in your refrigerator or freezer, a homeowners or renters policy often allows for compensation for food losses, but only up to a certain (usually fairly low dollar) amount. If your deductible is equal to or greater than this amount, unless you have other losses, you probably can’t claim just the loss of the food.
• Finally, hail damage can often occur during the winter months. Talk to your agent about vehicle and homeowners policy coverage for hail.

When you contact your agent, you should have a copy of your policy or insurance card handy. If you have put together a vehicle or household winter storm preparation kit, you might want to keep a copy there.

If you still have questions, contact the Kansas Insurance Department Consumer Assistance Representatives at 800-432-2484. You can also go to the KID website to use the online chat feature on the home page.

Information is also available on the department website, www.ksinsurance.org, including the publication, “Kansas Homeowners and Renters Insurance and Shopper’s Guide.”

Ken Selzer, CPA, is the Kansas Commissioner of Insurance.