“Democrats are for the working man. Republicans are for the businessman.” In the 1950s, political scientists taking polls heard this again and again. Today, we would not make such comments specific to men, but there is more to this story than that. Democrats were once America’s working class, lunch bucket party. With the weakening of private-sector labor unions, many in the paycheck-to-paycheck crowd no longer back the Democrats. Some do not vote at all. Neither party seems to be their advocate. Democrats must restore this reputation as the worker’s party, because identity politics alone cannot win elections.
Michael A. Smith is a Professor of Political Science at Emporia State University.
Kansas Democrats are on the right track when they advocate cutting the sales tax on groceries. Kansas features one of the highest such taxes in the country, and the issue hits voters right in the pocketbook. Senator Anthony Hensley and his allies do not yet have the votes to pass this, nor an alternate source of revenue. However, they should keep pushing. Everyone feels the impact, because we all have to eat. It falls hardest on families with more mouths to feed, and those with low incomes. Granted, the state requires revenue for public schools, Medicaid, and other things, but taxing life’s most basic necessities is wrong way to get it. In some cities and counties, local add-ons push the grocery tax to nearly 10%–a regressive tax on those who can least afford it.
Democrats traditionally represent making life’s necessities affordable, funding public works, and creating jobs. Congressional earmarks used to help accomplish the second and third of those goals. Temporarily banned in 2011, earmarks allowed members of Congress to direct money toward specific projects in their districts. Decrying an Alaskan “Bridge to Nowhere” that was never built, earmark critics labeled the process as corruption and halted it. Has Congress has become less corrupt since 2011? Few observers think so. Instead, the ban made it harder for Congress to do its job. Democratic Congressional candidate Paul Davis favors making the earmark ban permanent, but this is the wrong approach.
Successful earmarks financed highway improvements, other bridges, recreational trails, government buildings, museums, flood-control projects, and more—not to mention the jobs involved. Furthermore, earmarks allowed Congressional leaders to direct some money to the districts of members who were wavering on key votes: greasing the wheels to pass important legislation like budgets. The whole thing added up to only 1% of federal spending. Granted, the process was sometimes abused with “Christmas tree” bills that were nothing but excuses to load up on earmarks, but that calls for a more-targeted reform, not a complete ban.
Congress has not passed an annual budget since 2009. Instead, we lurch along on month-to-month (sometimes week-to-week) continuing resolutions. The return of earmarks would hardly solve all of Congress’ problems, but it would restore to leaders in both parties an important tool for breaking up logjams, while funding valuable public works projects and creating jobs.
Democrats once represented fair prices, good jobs, and investment in public works. They still can. To that end, Hensley should keep up the push for a grocery tax cut, while Davis needs to re-think his stand on earmarks.
Michael A. Smith is a Professor of Political Science at Emporia State University.
Greg Orman is the best choice for Governor and I am confident that the majority of Kansas voters will recognize that fact by the end of the summer.
I got to know Greg and his family while volunteering on his 2014 campaign, and I have formed a friendship with the Ormans.
Janice K. Lee’s op-ed on Feb. 28, 2018, was not only off the mark, it was filled with anger, and it was beneath the former State Senator. The personal attacks and negative assumptions of Greg Orman are the exact kind of politics that turns people off from the political process.
43% of voters preferred Greg Orman in 2014. That’s closer than any Democrat in Kansas has come to beating an incumbent Senator since 1974. Anyone who didn’t know what Greg stood for in that race was not paying attention. Many voters stuck with Pat Roberts because they were convinced his seniority in the Senate and a Republican majority benefited Kansas more than Roberts’ poor voting record hurt us. Other voters were persuaded by the unprecedented number of negative ads and postcards during the final month of the campaign, funded by dark money flowing from supporters of the national GOP who were desperate to keep a Republican in that seat.
Greg Orman ran a respectable campaign in 2014; he will use what he learned to win this race for Governor. He has excellent statewide name recognition, proven fundraising capability, and a vision for Kansas — to be revealed over the coming months — that is exactly what we need.
I don’t see any other strong candidates with real solutions running for governor. On both sides there are candidates who I believe to be good people for which I have respect, but I just do not have the confidence in them.
I noticed that former State Senator Janis K. Lee’s op-ed doesn’t name specific candidates she prefers. Her op-ed clearly is intended only to bash Greg Orman. She says there are “strong candidates,” but any candidate who can’t get elected due to lack of name recognition or lack of funding is not a “strong” candidate.
The gridlock in Washington D.C. exists in Topeka, too. When Kansans demanded change in 2016, Greg Orman was doing his part to help. I don’t know what Greg wants to share about what he did; like the support the rest of us gave to campaigns for the Kansas Senate and House, the work is behind the scenes and not the subject of news articles. Those of us in the trenches (beyond merely the Democratic candidates Janis K. Lee supports) are aware of the role Greg Orman played.
When Janis K. Lee touts the bi-partisan cooperation in the Kansas Legislature that reversed the Brownback tax plan and put our state on the road to recovery, she needs to take note that she is complimenting the vision of Greg Orman and other Independents who supported the campaigns of moderate Republicans and a few Democrats to make that possible.
The fight against the Brownback/Colyer agenda began after the 2012 election, for those who don’t recall. That’s when PACs dedicated to replacing reasonable, good longtime legislators with people who would toe the ALEC and AFP line got involved in the GOP primaries, and we ended up with a Kansas Legislature eager to rubberstamp Brownback’s policies which have been disastrous for our state. Grassroots organizations started springing up in 2013 as a response, and many of us rallied behind one Democratic ticket in 2014 in an effort to unseat Brownback. Greg Orman supported grassroots efforts in addition to running for U.S. Senate. I don’t see that kind of rallying happening now for any candidate but Greg Orman.
Greg’s book, A Declaration of Independents: How We Can Break the Two-Party Stranglehold and Restore the American Dream, is excellent and needed. Anyone wanting to know Greg’s background, values, views and vision should read it. As for his appearances on national television shows, which have been numerous since 2014, I’m sure the other candidates (except for Kris Kobach) only dream of such coverage. National media pay attention to Greg Orman because he is saying and doing things that are worthy of national attention. Fortunately for us, Greg is a much more positive representation on the national stage for Kansas than the reputation we’ve acquired since the Brownback era began.
Greg has been interviewed since January by the Topeka Capital-Journal, Kansas News Service, the Kansas City Star, etc. and has shared some details of his vision for Kansas and his stances on various issues, including an op-ed in the Hays Post. It’s only March; there will be eight more months of interviews, op-eds, announcements and many opportunities for Kansans to meet Greg Orman and ask him questions in person.
What I see in Greg Orman is a Kansan eager to find a way to do his part to make a difference. That started in his childhood, when Greg was raised in a single-parent household with 5 siblings, receiving free or reduced-price lunches while attending public schools, and continued as he worked his way through college with the help of guaranteed student loans. Greg developed his interest in business from his father, a small business owner who valued his role as an employer and contributor to the community. His whole extended family has shown a passion for public service and giving back. They are some of the most generous people I’ve met.
Janice K. Lee has made assertions about what Greg Orman wants. Those assertions reveal merely how little she actually knows about Greg Orman.
In the mid-1970s, researcher John Molloy wrote “Dress for Success” – a book about the impact of clothing on a person’s success in professional and personal life. The results of his scientific research demonstrated that perceptions matter. Early in my career I was coached to dress for the job you aspire to rather than the job you currently occupy. I found that advice to be wise.
On Friday, Feb. 16, joined by the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, Fort Hays State University held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate Tailored for Tigers – a professional clothing closet for all FHSU students. The closet provides professional clothing appropriate for interviews, business presentations, career fairs, or other professional activities.
Student success has always been at the core of everything we do at FHSU. We focus on opportunity by keeping our tuition low and providing scholarships. We deliver a myriad of student support services facilitated by a faculty and staff who focus on student achievement from application to graduation and beyond. Tailored for Tigers is another great example of how our ethic of care and attention to a holistic student experience contributes to a post-graduation success rate of 96 percent for acceptance into graduate or professional school or employment within six months of graduation.
I know our dedicated and very talented faculty create learning experiences that produce outstanding, highly qualified graduates. But as Molloy demonstrated, it takes more than just knowledge to successfully navigate one’s career. As the Tailored for Tigers website says: “A nice appearance is an investment in your career. An interviewer’s decision not to hire an applicant is usually made within the first thirty seconds of an interview. That’s a lot of sizing up in a little time – mostly on the basis of your appearance.” The site goes on to indicate that about 80 percent of that impression comes before a word is spoken, and that the more professional a person looks not only increases the chance of being hired but may also increase the starting salary by as much as 8 to 20 percent!
We know that some of our students do not have the financial means to purchase professional attire. Others may have clothing back home but long distances – from out of state to out of country – may hinder a student’s ability to get the required clothing in time for an important opportunity that may arise spontaneously. Regardless of the situation, Tailored for Tigers is a readily accessible service for FHSU students.
I always enjoy learning the story behind the story, which in this case began with alumna Jessica Thompson, a high school business teacher who graduated in 2013 with two degrees. Jessica mentioned to her former professor and Collegiate DECA adviser Scott Jones that she was in need of materials for her classroom. As they explored her vision, a poster campaign on business attire for men and women was created. Working with Mr. Jones, FHSU student Felix Albl led the effort to create the campaign. Current students served as models, and six posters depicting business and business casual attire for men and for women were produced and mailed to high schools throughout the state. Those posters continue to be requested.
Fueled with passion and a vision for something impactful on campus, the team set out to create the professional clothing closet. Felix and Mr. Jones found stores that were closing and called to acquire clothing racks, mirrors, and other store essentials. Faculty, staff, and community members donated clothing. Key partnerships were formed: Deb Ludwig, dean of Forsyth Library, offered space in the library to house the program; Karen McCullough, director of Career Services, stepped up to staff the closet; and Master Cleaners signed on as a corporate sponsor providing dry cleaning services. Thus, a meaningful new FHSU program was born thanks to the inspiration of Jessica Thompson, the vision of Felix Albl and Scott Jones, the long-term commitment of Career Services, and the generosity of Master Cleaners, the library, and many others who continue to donate time, talent and treasure. Tailored for Tigers is indeed another example of heart and home alive at FHSU!
Tailored for Tigers (fhsu.edu/Tailored-for-Tigers) is always accepting donations. New or gently used professional attire may be dropped off at Career Services (Sheridan Hall 214) or Master Cleaners (200 West Eighth St.); monetary contributions may also be sent to the FHSU Foundation.
In 2014, I supported Greg Orman in his run for U.S. Senate against Sen. Pat Roberts. I supported him because Roberts was failing Kansas families and change was necessary. But in that two-man race, Greg Orman lost by 10 percentage points. And part of the problem was that no one seemed to know what Orman stood for or what a vote for him would mean for Kansas.
I am extremely disappointed that Greg Orman decided to run for governor this year. Despite supporting him in 2014, I will absolutely not support him this year. And I am not alone in this change. There are strong candidates with real solutions running for governor – and Greg is not one of them.
In his recent announcement, Orman said a lot of nice, vague things. He tried to play on our frustration with Washington D.C. and gridlock we see there. But he forgot that in 2016 Kansans demanded change. We elected a wave of new faces to the Kansas Legislature with a mandate to stop Sam Brownback and go in a new direction.
Through bi-partisan cooperation, the Legislature reversed the Brownback tax plan and put our state on the road to recovery. There is a lot more work to do, but progress is being made.
Other candidates for governor have been leading the fight against the Brownback/Colyer agenda for years and standing up for our families. All while Greg Orman went on a national books tour and made appearances on national television shows.
Other candidates have been fighting for our public schools, pushing for better healthcare, encouraging investment in roads, helping businesses grow, and demanding more transparency in state government. They have been offering real, concrete solutions.
Meanwhile, Greg Orman has been planning his next political move.
In 2008, he filed as a Democrat to run for the U.S. Senate. Then in 2012, he planned to run against Kevin Yoder in the 3rd Congressional District. Then in 2014, he ran as an Independent for U.S. Senate, got the Democrat to drop out of the race, and lost anyway. And now, he is running for governor. Do you see a pattern? I do.
The fact is, Greg Orman only wants what’s best for Greg Orman.
After having Sam Brownback as governor for seven years – Kansans have had enough of politicians putting their personal political agenda before the best interests of our kids and families.
I will support a candidate who has the best solutions to our state’s challenges – regardless whether they are Republican, Democrat, or Independent.Independent thinking is about offering independent ideas, not having an “I” behind your name.
We all believe that Kansas’ best days are ahead of us. This fall, Kansans must demand real solutions and real answers. This election will impact our future for decades to come. I encourage Kansans to look for a real champion for our families. Vote for a candidate with a proven record of fighting on behalf of Kansas – not Greg Orman.
Rep. Troy Waymaster (R-Bunker Hill), 109th House Dist.
Troy L. Waymaster, State Representative, 109th Kansas House
February 28, 2018
Bills Debated In the House
The Kansas House of Representatives discussed many bills this past week. This newsletter will focus on a few of those bills.
On Tuesday, we debated House Bill 2539 which institutes some qualifications for candidates that are seeking certain statewide offices. The upcoming gubernatorial election has drawn numerous candidates, some of those do not even reside in the state of Kansas. This bill simply clarifies that a candidate for the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Insurance Commissioner must be a qualified elector in Kansas and at least 18 years of age to run for one of those offices. There was also a residency requirement that was included in the original language in the bill. There was amendment to strike the residency requirement of four years since the bill stipulated that one needs to be a qualified elector. I supported the amendment and the bill and it passed 94-28.
House Bill 2648 changes the definition of law enforcement officer for the purposes of the crimes of assault and battery of an officer to include uniformed or properly identified federal law enforcement officers while on duty. The only concern was that this bill could have an effect on prison admission and bed space. The bill passed the House, 117-0.
Turn-Around
On Thursday, the Kansas Legislature met the critical timeline regarding our calendar which is the halfway point in the session, more commonly referred to as “Turn-Around.” We spent this past week debating and voting on over sixty bills so they could be passed out of the House of Representatives and then on to the Senate for discussion. The same was true for the Senate as their bills that were passed out will now go to the House when we reconvene on February 28. Our research department needs a few days in order to accomplish the transfer of bills from one chamber to the other. During these days off, I attended legislative coffees and townhalls throughout the district on Monday, and Tuesday.
More Bills In the House
On Thursday, we debated House Bill 2581 which was drafted and discussed to address the recent events that occurred in Wichita regarding “Swatting.” This bill increases the criminal penalties for the crime of giving a false alarm in certain situations. This bill passed with a vote of 117-0.
House Bill 2583 creates and amends current statutes regarding the control and eradication of noxious weeds in the state of Kansas. This bill moves the definition of noxious weeds from statute and allows for the Secretary of Agriculture to adopt rules and regulations to define species of plants as noxious weeds throughout the state. This bill passed the House with a vote of 101-16. I voted “yes.”
We also discussed House Bill 2674, which establishes the Kansas Telemedicine Act. This act will establish coverage parity between in-person and telemedicine-delivered healthcare services and providers. This greatly benefits patients by allowing real-time audio and visual conferencing with medical providers. This passed, 117-0.
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.
John Schlageck writes for the Kansas Farm Bureau.Some say the landscape in central and western Kansas looks like a barren, brown wasteland. Others believe that statement may be too kind.
What ever you see, and however you describe it – conditions remain dire in many regions of Kansas going into the final week of February.
In Lincoln County for example, it’s difficult, and nearly impossible, to see green anywhere. Wheat crops look brown like the previous year’s stubble or the fall residue. It doesn’t matter if you look at wheat in bottom land or on hill tops, the crop looks terrible.
“There’s no moisture on top,” says veteran farmer/stockman Steve Boor. “I’m at a loss to figure out what our wheat is running on.”
While there’s subsoil moisture approximately five inches below the surface, without surface moisture in the way of a heavy snow or rain, Boor says the crop is hanging on by a thread.
“If the weather stays dry like it has been, temperatures warm up and the wheat breaks dormancy and starts to grow, it will use what moisture it’s living on right now in a hurry,” the Lincoln County farmer/stockman says.
How long the wheat can hang on without measurable precipitation depends on how cool temperatures stay.
If nights continue cool and daytime temps only reach the 60s for a couple hours each day, the wheat still knows it’s winter, Boor says. However, if the nighttime temperatures begin to warm up into the mid-40s or low 50s, the wheat will wake up and begin growing.
The longer the wheat goes without moisture, the more stressed it becomes. Every day with continued dryness affects the yield.
“Most years this land out here would be a carpet of green,” Boor says. “Instead, it’s brown wherever you look.”
Turning and looking at the landscape in every direction, the Lincoln County farmer talks about the great start this wheat began with last fall. September rains provided the crop with abundant moisture to sprout.
The crop looked promising, but soon after it came up the moisture stopped. No measurable precipitation occurred all winter including a couple of skiffs of snow with little moisture.
Historically in this region of the state, little moisture falls during February and March. Weather prognosticators say moisture may set in about the time the wheat begins heading.
“I’d say if the crop doesn’t receive moisture before then, it won’t do much good,” Boor says. “The only green you see out here is the yucca plants. They’re doing well because all their competition has been wiped out.”
While conditions remain “tinder-box” dry throughout much of Kansas, the Lincoln County farmer believes the potential remains to harvest a crop. However, he also knows that every day without moisture the wheat weakens, and yield potential lessens.
“I’ve had this crop break my heart more than once,” Boor says. “If we could just receive a little moisture to nurse it along.”
Like wheat farmers who’ve planted the crop for generations, Boor remains determined to take the hand he’s been dealt and make the best of it.
The most difficult aspect of this continuing dry weather is the impact on inhabitants in and around Sylvan Grove where Boor lives – friends, family and neighbors. These inhabitants and the community depend on farming and ranching for their livelihood.
“When agriculture is hurting, our community hurts as well,” he says. “We all depend on crops and livestock for our survival. We need moisture and we need it now.”
John Schlageck, a Hoxie native, is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas.
Over 1,550 organizations across the United States and military-affiliated groups around the world are promoting personal savings and encouraging Americans to focus on their savings status this week as part of America Saves Week.
The Cottonwood Extension District, serving Barton and Ellis counties, is one of them. People hear many messages about spending, so it is critical to have times such as America Saves Week that focus on saving,
“The secret to saving successfully is surprisingly simple,” said Madeline Daniels, spokesperson for America Saves. “People with a plan to save are twice as likely to save successfully. Whether you are saving for a rainy day, your retirement, education, or another goal, America Saves Week is the perfect opportunity to set your savings goal, make a plan, and learn how to save the most effective way-automatically.”
America Saves Week is coordinated by America Saves and the American Savings Education Council. Started in 2007, America Saves Week is an annual opportunity for organizations to promote good savings behavior. Participating groups include military installations; nonprofit organizations; banks and credit unions; academic institutions; local, state, and federal government agencies; and employers.
Media messages and educational programs across the country this week will focus on themes such as:
•Save with a plan
•Save the easy way, automatically
•Save for rainy days
•Save to retire
•Save the extra
•Save as a family
Small steps in building a savings habit can make a big difference over time. During America Saves Week, national partners are encouraging people of all ages to develop and achieve their savings goals.
Here are two fun ways to focus on saving and have a chance to win prizes:
#ImSavingForSweepstakes
To celebrate America Saves Week, America Saves offers the #ImSavingForSweepstakes. It’s easy to enter. Start by creating a savings plan and taking the America Saves Pledge (https://americasaves.org/for-savers/pledge) for a chance to win $500 toward your goal. Then boost your potential prize by an additional $250 by sharing your savings goal, story, or tip on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. After pledging, you will receive an email to confirm your entry and instructions on how to enhance your entry by sharing on social media. The Sweepstakes ends at midnight on April 6, 2018. See the official rules at https://americasaves.org/imsavingforsweepstakes-official-rules.
Extension Index Card Contest
The university Extension service nationwide is celebrating America Saves Week with a chance to win one of three $100 Amazon gift cards by sharing your favorite savings strategies. It’s easy, and you can enter up to six times. All you have to do is create and share an index card on Twitter or Facebook (use the hashtag #ASWSSIC) describing your favorite savings strategies and tips that fit the six themes of America Saves Week. You can create a graphic using the electronic index card image provided, or you can write your savings tip on an index card, snap a photo and share on social media. Get all the details at https://americasaves.org/extension-index-card-contest.
In a world that urges us to spend, spend, spend, America Saves Week focuses attention on saving instead.
Take some time this week to set a saving goal, make a plan and pledge to save.
Linda K. Beech is Cottonwood District Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.
It is that time of the year again! Tax season is upon us and with it comes a barrage of different types of scams and phishing techniques. There are three certainties in this world — death, taxes and data loss.
Between January and April 15, malicious people out there are trying to combine two of those certainties.
No. 1 on the list of these scams is the IRS contacting you for mistakes on your taxes. Like Microsoft, the IRS is too big to care about us little guys and they will never call you. The scammers are calling now through the next few months telling you that you didn’t pay all of your taxes or that they found out you cheated your taxes and you need to pay now — or else. If you ever receive a call from the IRS, hang up immediately because the next words out of that person’s mouth undoubtedly will be that you owe them money.
Phishing is the next item up on the popularity list amongst these malicious scammers. Phishing is form of scamming that takes place in your email. People will send out fake emails from fake addresses that appear real in an attempt to get you to reply with credentials or open a malicious attachment.
There are a lot this time of year “from the IRS” asking for a copy of your W-2 or for you to contact them. Again just delete these emails as they are just trying to steal personal information and or money from you.
This phishing scam is a popular one during the holidays, as well, with people posing as Fed-Ex or UPS and telling you that your shipment is held up and you need to open some malicious attachment.
If you would like further information on IRS scams, check out a full alert from the actual IRS at https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-scams-consumer-alerts. If you have any questions or are wary of any received emails, give us a call at Eagle technology Solutions, and we will be able to let you know if the email is fake.
At the time of writing this column, we have a couple of days back in the district as the legislature is at “turn around”, which basically means we are at half-time. I was pleased to be joined by Senators Bowers and Billinger for legislative updates in Ellis, Plainville, Phillipsburg, Norton and Hill City. Thanks to the county Farm Bureaus for sponsoring the events and all those who came out and participated. There are many issues on the minds of constituents, many we do not have answers to yet, but continue to work on.
By my count the House has voted on 90 bills so far, some could have a big impact, others are clean-up and some are updates to outdated statues.
I would like to highlight a couple of them:
House Bill 2674 would create the Kansas Telemedicine Act, in effort to establish coverage parity between in-person and telemedicine-delivered healthcare. Under the provisions of the bill, telemedicine must meet the same standard of care as an in-person interaction and would increase access to healthcare services for patients in both rural and urban areas.
Not only would patients have increased access to services that aren’t readily available to them in their community, but also affords them greater convenient access, which may reduce long term health care costs associated with treatment due to a lack of services. In addition, HB 2674 provides coverage parity because the healthcare services provided could not be denied for reimbursement solely on the basis of having been delivered via telemedicine or based on the lack of a physical location. Physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurses, and licenses mental health professionals alike would be able to dispense their services via telemedicine to patients in a more convenient manner, thereby improving the health and lifestyle of many who have difficulty accessing immediate healthcare. The bill would also prohibit any authorization of delivery of any abortion procedure via telemedicine, and such language in the bill is no severable. HIPAA laws would apply to telemedical services in the standard manner, and patient confidentiality would be protected per usual. It passed by a vote 0f 117-0.
Also last week, the House passed three corrections-related bills that present commonsense solutions, including harsher penalties for those who make false 911 calls, require the release of law enforcement body camera footage to those who are involved, and to provide monetary compensation to individuals who have been wrongfully convicted and imprisoned. HB 2581, also known as the “swatting” bill, was originally drafted in response to the rising frequency of false 911 calls resulting in the unnecessary deployment of swat and law enforcement, but more specifically due to the death last year in Wichita. A California resident disguised his phone number and called the authorities of Wichita, and claimed he was armed and dangerous, and resided in a Wichita household. Swat members were deployed under such impressions, and a resident was killed at the scene. This bill would significantly increase the criminal penalties for individuals who make these prank calls. Should such calls result in a fatality, the sentencing level would be a severity level 1, person felony, the harshest penalty on record in Kansas. This bill was passed by the House unanimously and may now be considered by the Senate.
Additionally, the House passed HB 2571 which would require a law enforcement agency to allow designated individuals to hear or view any audio or video recording made by a body or vehicle camera within twenty days of receiving a request for information. Such designated individuals include the subjects of the recording, a parent or legal guardian of a minor who is involved, a legal heir to those involved, or an attorney representing any of these individuals mentioned. This bill also passed the House unanimously and may now be considered by the Senate. Lastly, HB 2579 entitles individuals who have been wrongfully convicted and imprisoned to receive $80,000 for each year of imprisonment, as well as $25,000 for each additional year served on parole or post release supervision. Claimants would be entitled to receive reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred as well, and such wrongfully convicted crimes would be expunged from their records. HB 2579 passed the House 116-1, and may now be considered by the Senate.
We also passed a bill (HB 2539) to establish qualifications for candidates seeking certain statewide offices including the Attorney General required to be an attorney. HB 2583 would amend statutory provisions relevant to the eradication of noxious weeds and would establish an advisory committee to recommend the designation and classification of noxious weeds in Kansas. We also passed HB 2701 which would establish the Statewide Broadband Expansion Task Force, which would be required to evaluate the broadband needs of Kansas citizens, businesses, industries, institutions and organization. Additionally, the task force would be charged with identifying opportunities and funding sources to expand broadband infrastructure and statewide access, remove barriers that may hinder broadband initiatives, and enable the creation and deployment of new advanced telecommunications technologies.
Please feel free to reach out with concerns and questions, I will do my best to respond it a timely manner. My phone number is (785) 296-7463 and email is: [email protected], my cell number is (785) 302-8416. You can also check out kenforkansas.com.
It is my honor to be your representative.
Too early to tell for sure, but it is starting to look like that $200,000-plus consultant report on costs of K-12 education for public school students might just tell legislators how much it should cost to educate your “average” Kansas schoolchild with your “average” Kansas schoolteacher.
Sorry about that unfortunate use of the word “average” but it is a term that hasn’t been used in the same sentence as school finance for a long time.
That consultant study, which lawmakers will receive March 15, is taking an approach that is rare. Because nobody thinks his/her child or grandchild, or niece or nephew, is average, and no teacher raises a hand at a schoolteacher conference when the moderator asks who is just an average teacher.
But it is a baseline that may be a key to convincing the Kansas Supreme Court that the state is adequately funding public schools.
Now, average cost is just a start, of course, but the consultant hired by the state is going to strip away the transportation, the food service, the maintenance, the administrative costs, and try to come up with a baseline for computing just how much money the Legislature ought to be appropriating for K-12 education.
Don’t worry, that busing, maintenance, administration, construction financing—and of course the key education elements like special programs for children who are poor, who don’t speak English and who have psychological and mobility problems—are going to be added back into that “average” cost. But just the average cost per pupil is a starting point that most lawmakers haven’t seen.
How those basic average costs and the weightings for students who need special programs, and the buildings and transportation and administration and everything else, is going to be added to that isn’t known yet. But at least lawmakers will have a place to start in rewriting the school finance formula and paying for it.
Key, of course, is convincing the Kansas Supreme Court that the new formula provides adequate funding for the state’s 286 school districts, those average base costs and the costs of additional services pupils need. And the pretty conservative Republican-dominated Legislative Coordinating Council hired a consultant to compute what is adequate and fair spending on schools so that every student has the support to become, well, good grown-up Kansans that we’ll all be proud of, or at least willing to live next door to.
Oh, that starting point, if lawmakers accept it, is just a starting point. They’ll want to figure just how much additional money districts will need because they teach every child, not just “average” children. And the scraps will be over whether the Legislature can convince the court that the funding provided, spent in a businesslike manner, will yield a good education.
So, look for some to maintain that school districts are misspending state aid money; some to maintain that districts get so little money that they must shuffle it around to make up for weightings that aren’t strong enough or that will threaten school administrator salaries and cheerleader and football uniforms and the Astroturf at the football stadium.
And it comes down to spending, of course: Whether the new examination of cost means that the state isn’t providing enough support for local schools or too much money, and eventually whether those locally elected school boards are using their money to efficiently educate those students.
More money needed? Raise taxes or cut spending on everything else the state provides its citizens. Spending about the right amount, but not seeing it used efficiently by districts? Hammer the school boards. Spending more than the consultants believe is necessary? Don’t worry about that one…
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
TOPEKA – Gas prices in Kansas followed a national trend this week, continuing their decline of the past couple of weeks. The average gas price across Kansas is now $2.37/gallon, which is two cents less than one week ago. Motorists in the Sunflower State and across the country, however, should not expect falling prices to continue. AAA will announce its quarterly gas price report later this week, with indicators pointing upward.
“Lower demand for gasoline over the second half of February has given us some relief at the pumps,” said Shawn Steward, AAA Kansas spokesman. “Kansas still has the 13th lowest gas prices in the country, but it is looking like we may all need to prepare to pay more soon.”
MEDIA NOTE: Look for distribution of the AAA Spring Quarterly Gas Report this Thursday, March 1. AAA Kansas public affairs contacts available for interviews and further clarification.
The 10 Kansas cities regularly highlighted by AAA Kansas (see chart above) showed a mixed bag this will, with seven cities experiencing lower gas prices. Lawrence remained flat, while Manhattan (+4 cents) and Pittsburg (+1) rose. Leading the price declines were Garden City (-8) and Emporia and Kansas City, Kan., which both fell four cents per gallon.
According to AAA Kansas, this week’s Kansas gas price extremes are:
HIGH: Kensington (Smith County) – $2.80
LOW: Goddard (Sedgwick County) – $2.19
National Perspective
At $2.52, the national gas price average is the cheapest pump price seen this February. The national gas price average for the month of February is $2.56, which is 29-cents more expensive than the $2.28 average of February 2017. On the week, gas prices decreased 1 cent.
“Gas prices continue to trend cheaper for the majority of motorists as demand for consumer gasoline declines for a second week,” said AAA Kansas’ Steward. “Even with the small drop-off, demand continues to register above 9 million b/d, which is a four percent year-on-year increase, according to the Energy Information Administration’s latest report.
While cheaper gas prices are welcomed by motorists, AAA does not expect the trend to continue.
Great Lakes and Central States Report
Great Lakes and Central states’ gas prices are showing signs of volatility. On the week, the majority of states saw prices decrease, but a handful of states are paying more compared to last week: Michigan (+5 cents) Kentucky (+4 cents),Ohio (+4 cents) Illinois (+3 cent) and Missouri (+2 cents).
With a 10-cent decrease, Indiana saw the largest pump price drop for the region and the country this past week. In the region, Iowa (-2 cents) saw the second largest drop, and at $2.51 sells among the most expensive gas.
Gasoline inventories continue to build week over week since the start of the year. According to the EIA’s latest report, inventories built by 740,000 bbl to total at 58.3 million bbl. Inventories are just 1.8 million below last year this week.
Drilling rig counts for the week were up slightly nationwide and down slightly here at home. Independent Oil & Gas Service reported 12 active rigs in eastern Kansas, up one, but the count west of Wichita is down two at 25 active rigs. Drilling is underway at sites in Barton and Ellis County, and about to commence at a third site in Stafford County. Baker Hughes reported 978 active drilling rigs, an increase of one oil rig and two seeking natural gas.
There are 32 new permits for drilling at new locations across Kansas this week, 20 east of Wichita and 12 out west, for a year-to-date total of 221. Barton and Stafford County each report one new permit.
Independent Oil & Gas Service reports 22 new well completions statewide, 11 east of Wichita, 11 in western Kansas, for a total of 249 so far this year.
The government reported last week on the impact of new congressional mandates calling for the sale of more than 100 million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Together the new budget and tax-cut laws call for the sale of 107 million barrels of crude between the years 2022 and 2027. Three bills enacted earlier already call for the sale of 149 million barrels starting last year and continuing through 2025. When you add it up, the S.P.R. could decline by about 40% in the coming decade, but the Energy Information Administration says it will still meet its original mandate to cover interruptions in petroleum imports.
The state of Alaska is about $806 million in debt to its oil and gas companies, and is considering a billion-dollar loan to pay them off. The state promised billions of dollars in tax credits to smaller oil and gas companies between 2003 and 2017. But when petroleum prices plunged, the state could no longer afford the program. Lawmakers are considering a plan to borrow the funds to pay off those operators who agree to accept up to ten percent less than what they’re owed.
The Trump administration announced the largest oil and gas offshore auction in U.S. history on March 21 for areas in federal waters off the Gulf Coast. The announcement comes less than a year after a similar sale yielded little corporate interest.
A proposed ballot measure in North Dakota seeking to raise that state’s oil taxes will not move forward this year. A spokesman says they don’t have the funds to face off against fierce and well-funded opposition. The Bismarck Tribune quotes a former state lawmaker who believes the measure will be back during the next legislative session or in a future election.
Russia remained the top crude oil supplier to China in January, according to date from Chinese customers officials. Reuters reported Russian supplies rose 23.4 percent from a year earlier, beginning 2018 on a strong note after the start-up of an expanded trans-Siberia pipeline.
If the frontrunner in Mexico’s presidential race takes office it could spell an important shakeup for US refiners. His energy adviser tells Reuters he would like to see Mexico refine and consume its own fuels, rather than exporting the crude and importing the fuel. And he’d like to accomplish that in the next three years. Mexico is currently the largest foreign market for US refiners, consuming about 808,000 barrels of gasoline and diesel per day last year.
Many critics have raised concerns about Venezuela’s cryptocurrency ambitions, but its first day pre-sale was apparently very popular. President Nicolas Maduro said on Twitter that Venezuela’s petro token raised more than $735 million, in Chinese yuan, in its first day. Maduro has admitted in public that the petro will serve as a means for Venezuela to circumvent sanctions imposed by the US and the European Union.
Thursday marked a critical deadline known as “turnaround,” marking the official halfway point for the 2018 Legislative session. It was a busy week for the Senate, as we spent three full days debating and voting on bills ahead of the Turnaround deadline. After being on the floor all day Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the Legislature will break until February 28th to give clerical staff time to process the significant amount of paperwork resulting from this week. By “turnaround,” a bill, with few exceptions, must have passed its Chamber of origin in order to be considered by the other Chamber before session is over for the year. When the Senate returns on Wednesday, the focus will be to consider bills passed by the House Chamber and bills exempt from the Turnaround deadline.
GOVERNOR COLYER’S FIRST BILL SIGNING
Senate Bill #262 was signed on Wednesday, February 21st, at the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene. Citizens and staff of the library along with myself, Senator Hardy, Representative Barker and President Eisenhower’s family watched as Governor Colyer signed the first bill of his tenure as governor. Merrill Eisenhower Atwater, the great-grandson was also in attendance and participated in both the Senate and House hearings last month with the bill passing out of both Chambers unanimously. SB262 will allow a statue to be placed on the capitol grounds. It will be placed just off the horseshoe drive near the main public entrance on the north side of the building and was made with the same mold that created the statue of Eisenhower that stands in the US Capitol Statuary hall. The statue of Eisenhower made by Jim Brothers was based on a photograph taken while the general conversed with paratroopers on June 5, 1944, the day before the D-Day invasion. He was discussing fly fishing with the men. The Capitol Preservation Committee heard the bill originally in 2017 and recommended it for a full hearing in the 2018 session. This committee oversees the capitol grounds and approves additions and modifications to the grounds with legislative approval. The unveiling is scheduled for President Eisenhower’s birth date October 14, 2018.
FLOOR ACTION THIS WEEK
MAXIMUM WEIGHT LIMITS OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES: Senate Bill 391 prohibits emergency vehicles from operating if their gross weight exceeds 86,000 pounds.
UNLAWFUL PASSING OF A WASTE COLLECTION VEHICLE: Senate Bill 272 regulates the passing of a waste collection vehicle by requiring motorists to change lanes if possible or slow down when passing a stationary waste collection vehicle that is in the process of collecting waste.
EXTENDING HOURS OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE SALES: House Bill 2482 allows for the sale of alcohol to begin at 6:00 a.m. Currently, establishments may not sell drinks between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
SEATBELT USAGE ADMISSIBLE IN COURT: Senate Bill 296 allows for evidence of failure of seatbelt usage to be considered in court cases to determine any aspect of comparative negligence or mitigation of damages. Currently, the law now states that such evidence shall not be admissible.
ADDITION TO THE LIST OF DESIGNATED STATE PARKS: Senate Bill 331 adds to the list of designated state parks the Flint Hills Trail State Park located in Miami, Franklin, Osage, Lyon, Morris, and Dickinson counties, and Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park located in Logan County.
AGENCIES RESPONSIBLE FOR PROCUREMENT INDEPENDENT AUDITS: Senate Bill 260 would transfer the responsibility for procuring independent audits from the Legislative Division of Post Audit (LPA) to the audited agencies.
CREATION OF THE LIQUOR LICENSE MODERNIZATION FEE: House Bill 2362 would amend the liquor license fees by creating a $20 alcoholic beverage control (ABC) modernization fee to be charged on both initial and renewal liquor license applications. The bill would reduce the initial application fee for a liquor license from $50 to $30 plus the $20 modernization fee. The $20 modernization fee would also be added to the renewal application fee which would remain at $10.
AMENDING THE REVISED KANSAS CODE FOR CARE OF CHILDREN AND THE NEWBORN INFANT PROTECTION ACT: Senate Bill 221 would delete the term “extended out of home placement” and replace it in various sections in the Code with the specific time frame of when a child has been in the custody of the Secretary for Children and Families.
TOWNSHIPS AND THE SPECIAL HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT FUND: Senate Bill 314 would add “township” to the definition of “municipality,” and would add “township board” to the definition of “governing body” to allow a township, as well as a city or county as in current law, to transfer funds into a special highway improvement fund.
ABOLISHING THE BOILER INSPECTION FEE FUND: Senate Bill 353 would abolish the Boiler Inspection Fee Fund and transfer all liabilities and any balance within this fund to the Fire Marshal Fee Fund of the Office of the State Fire Marshall.
AMENDING THE DEFINITION OF ESCAPE IN CRIMES OF ESCAPE AND AGGRAVATED ESCAPE FROM CUSTODY: Senate Bill 310 amends the law governing the crime of escape from custody. The bill would amend the definition of “escape” to include failure to return to custody following temporary leave lawfully granted by a custodial official authorized to grant such leave.
PROHIBITING THE OUTSOURCING OR PRIVATIZATION OF CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES: Senate Bill 328 would require prior legislative authorization for any state agency to enter into an agreement or take any action to outsource or privatize security operations of correctional or juvenile correctional facilities operated by a state agency.
LOBBYING TRANSPARENCY BILL: Senate Bill 394 would expand the definition of “lobbying” to include lobbying of the executive and judicial branches. SB 394 requires lobbyist registration of anyone attempting to influence a member of the executive or judicial branch. Currently, the law only requires registration for those attempting to influence legislative action. This bill passed the Senate 40-0.
ELECTRONIC DELIVERY FOR EXPLANATION OF BENEFITS AND MEMBER POLICIES OF HEALTH PLANS: Senate Bill 348 would authorize a health benefit plan or nonprofit dental services corporation to utilize electronic delivery as the standard method of delivery for explanation of benefits and policy.
UPDATING CAPTIVE INSURANCE STATUTES: Senate Bill 410 would create the Captive Insurance Act under the Insurance Code by amending law and creating law related to captive insurance companies.
ENACTING THE KANSAS PHARMACY PATIENTS FAIR PRACTICES ACT: Senate Bill 351 would create the Kansas Pharmacy Patients Fair Practices Act. The bill would specify co-payments applied by a health carrier for a prescription drug may not exceed the total submitted charges by the network pharmacy. A pharmacy or pharmacist would have the right to provide a covered person with information regarding the amount of the covered person’s cost share for a prescription drug.
UPDATING EGG REPACKAGING REQUIREMENTS: Senate Bill 414 would repeal the limitations on egg repackaging set forth in the Kansas Egg Law. The bill would permit repackaged eggs to be graded Grade B or better under certain requirements. Those requirements would be if: undamaged eggs from damaged containers are placed only into containers with the same distributor and packer information; the container holding repackaged egg is not labeled with a declaration of enhanced quality or any other claim that did not appear on the original container; the eggs with undamaged shells are handled and repackaged using good manufacturing processes and under refrigerated conditions in accordance with Food and Drug Administration regulations; all damaged containers and packing materials identified with the United States Department of Agriculture grade shield are destroyed; all segregated inedible eggs are destroyed to prevent human consumption. This bill passed the Senate 39-0.
LOWERING REQUIREMENTS FOR A COSMETOLOGY SENIOR STATUS LICENSE: Senate Bill 398 would change the requirements for an individual to qualify for a senior status cosmetologist license by lowering the age and reducing the number of years required to practice.
ADDING RELATED EDUCATIONAL DEGREES TO PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR LICENSURE CRITERIA: Senate Bill 386 would amend the Professional Counselors Licensure Act. In continuing law, an individual applying to the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board for licensure as a professional counselor is required, among other things, to have earned a graduate degree in counseling.
CREATING A PROGRAM TO RESEARCH THE USE OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP: Senate Bill 263 would enact the Alternative Crop Research Act, which would allow the Kansas Department of Agriculture, either alone or in coordination with a state institution of higher education, to grow and cultivate industrial hemp and promote research and development. Growers would include persons who are individuals, partnerships, corporations, associations, or other legal entities. Russell County in Senate district #36 was named the only test plot region for this bill.
INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER FOR CERTAIN VIOLATIONS OF DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE: House Bill 2439 would amend the definition of the crime of involuntary manslaughter to include the killing of a human being from driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
ADDING EMERGENCY MEDICAL PERSONNEL TO THE LIST OF MANDATORY REPORTERS OF ABUSE, NEGLECT, OR EXPLOITATION OF CERTAIN ADULTS: Senate Bill 311 adds an emergency medical services (EMS) attendant to the list of mandatory reporters of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or need of protective services as it pertains to a resident or certain adult.
EXPANDING EXPENSE DEDUCTION TO TAX FILERS IN ADDITION TO CORPORATE FILERS: Senate Bill 303 allows certain individual income taxpayers to claim the expensing deduction for the costs of placing certain tangible property and computer software into service in the state. The provisions of the bill would be retroactive to tax year 2017.
GAS SAFETY RELIABILITY SURCHARGE: Senate Bill 279 modifies the Gas Safety Reliability Policy Act. Specifically, the bill would make changes related to definitions used throughout the Act, cost recovery for infrastructure expenses, and gas safety reliability surcharges. The bill would also raise the cap on the gas safety reliability surcharges from $0.40 to $0.80 per residential customer of the base rates.
ACCOMMODATING VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES THAT PREVENT THEM FROM MEETING BALLOT SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS: Senate Bill 264 amends provisions in election law concerning signatures if the voter has a disability that prevents the individual from signing.
PROTECTION FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS: Senate Bill 281 amends the Protection from Stalking or Sexual Assault Act to apply to victims of human trafficking. SB 281 would rename the Act the Protection from Stalking, Sexual Assault, or Human Trafficking Act.
AUTHORIZING UTILITY FRANCHISES FOR REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS WHICH ENCOMPASS A FEDERAL ENCLAVE: Senate Bill 185 allows the board of county commissioners of any county that has established a redevelopment district that includes property located within a federal enclave to authorize the installation, maintenance, and operation of utilities to serve the redevelopment district. Utilities would include water, sewer, electricity, gas, telecommunications, and rail services.
CLARIFYING ANIMAL CONVERSION UNITS FOR POULTRY FACILITIES: Senate Bill 405 amends current law that establishes the number of animals permitted in a confined animal feeding facility (CAFO) for the purpose of determining permitting requirements for new construction or expansion of a CAFO. Currently, a CAFO is required to register with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment if the CAFO has an animal unit capacity of 300 or more. SB 405 would establish the animal unit conversion factor for chicken facilities that use a dry manure waste system calculation as the number. In addition, the bill would require confined chicken facilities to obtain a federal permit if the facility uses a dry manure system and if there are 125,000 or more broilers or 82,000 or more laying hens.
PROVIDING COMPENSATION FOR THOSE WRONGFULLY IMPRISONED: Senate Bill 336 would provide compensation, tuition assistance, and state health care benefit programs to individuals who were wrongfully convicted and imprisoned. Under this bill, those individuals would receive $50,000 for each year they were wrongfully imprisoned.
4-H in Topeka
Students from across the state participated in the 4-H Kansas Citizens in Action program where they voted on bills in both Chambers after a 4-H dinner with Legislators. They served us milk and cookies the next day and promoted 4-H in the Capitol. More than 300 students participated in this yearly event which I appreciate as a former 4-H’er.
Thank you for all of your calls, emails, and letters this week regarding tax policy. Constituent correspondence helps inform my decision-making process and is taken into great consideration when I cast my vote in the Kansas Senate. I hope you’ll continue to engage with me on the issues that matter most to you, your family, and our community. If you are on Twitter or Facebook, I encourage you to follow along with the #ksleg hashtag for real-time updates on legislative happenings in Topeka. It is easy to “get into the weed” on pieces of legislation that seem on the surface to have universal appeal, but for those who want to pursue a more in-depth analysis of the ones which did not have such agreement, go to www.kslegislature.org and pull up “Bills & Laws,” then Senate Bills,” before scrolling to the desired number and hitting “SN” (Supplemental Notes) for a general explanation which is written by the Legislative research and reviser staff.
