As the contest to be Kansas’s next elected governor begins, the probability that the best known and disliked Kris Kobach will be the winner is stronger than probably 60 to 70% of Kansas voters would prefer. Here’s how that Bizarro-World outcome could unfold.

This weekend Republicans will convene in Wichita. The candidates competing to be the party’s nominees for statewide offices and congressional seats will seek to attract the aggressive support of the several hundred party loyalists attending. This is the prelude to the campaigns that will lead to arguably the most important event of the 2018 election cycle, the Republican Primary Election this coming August 6th.

The Democrats, just half as numerous as their Republican counterparts, will be holding their convention in Topeka starting March 2nd. Democrats feel more energized than usual, which reflects both national trends and the state election results of November 2016 when voters elected legislators that rejected the fiscal policies of former Governor Sam Brownback. Democrats see real potential for gains against the Republicans, especially if Republicans will do the Democrats the favor of having bitter, alienating contests for the nominations to high profile races like governor, secretary of state and perhaps a congressional seat.

As things stand at the moment, the Republicans and Democrats combined make up 66% of registered Kansas voters. Aside from minor parties that do not qualify for primaries in Kansas, the remainder consists of voters who choose not to declare either party and therefore opt out of selecting the candidates for the general election. These unaffiliated voters do turn out for the general election, and have discernable partisan preferences, although their turnout is somewhat lower than the overall average.

This year the electoral arithmetic is complicated by a serious independent candidate for governor, Greg Orman. My colleague Ed Flentje wrote about Orman’s prospects last week. His name identification is higher than any other individual running for governor except Secretary of State Kris Kobach. He exhibits familiarity with current political issues, a centrist ideological tendency and substantial financial resources. Orman has one nearly successful statewide race under his belt. That was a 2014 two-way race against veteran Pat Roberts for Roberts’ U.S. Senate seat. Orman came closer to defeating Roberts than anyone else has done, but still lost to a candidate who seemed to be doing an excellent job of beating himself and required large sums of outside money to keep his seat.

This time around there is a different context, and caution dictates that Mr. Orman’s campaign be considered very cautiously. First, electing an independent to the governor’s office has a July in Kansas blizzard’s chance. Second, a plurality win is the best an independent in a three way race can do. A plurality win for a lower ranking statewide office is not a problem, but a governor with a plurality lacks a mandate. Lack of a mandate means struggling for leverage without party support in the legislature and that could mean chaos at a time when Kansas needs leadership and power to move the legislature responsibly.

With six serious contenders plus 4 less likelies set to battle in the Republican primary race, 5 plausibles plus 2 unlikelies in the Democratic nomination chase, and an independent probably polling 20% to perhaps 30% of the November vote, Kansans risk inaugurating Governor Kobach in January 2019.

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

By TISA MASON
Fort Hays State University president

As I have been reacquainting myself with Fort Hays State University, I have been exploring impact stories. As human beings, we all have unlimited potential to make a difference in the world, and what I love most about this community is the limitless stories of how we care for and nurture one another.
My collection of impact stories is rapidly growing. The stories are inspirational, varied, and humbling. They are stories about how lives have been transformed through selflessness. One such story is that of alumna Irene Waters.

Born into a Kansas farming family, Irene was raised by parents who worked long hours in the fields to provide food and shelter for the family. While she was in grade school, the Great Depression struck. Adding to the hardship, a terrible farming accident blinded her father. Even today, the memory brings tears to her eyes.

As a result of the struggling economy and her father’s accident, the family’s resources were very strained. Irene’s mother returned to the fields. The hired hands were let go. College wasn’t going to be an option, and piano lessons were clearly out of the question. But she continued to dream about music.
One day, Irene was visiting her great aunt, who asked her, “If you were able to go to college and major in what you really want to do, what would it be?” The answer was, “Music! Without a doubt!” 

On the next visit, a check was waiting to send her to college. Irene says, “I don’t think my feet hit the ground going home. I was so elated! I can still remember the feeling, as it was unbelievable to me. I had never had a lesson, but playing music was all I wanted to do!”

So Irene was off to Fort Hays State University. During her college days, she earned 25 cents an hour working seven hours a week cleaning and 15 hours a week at the library. With her great aunt paying tuition and her mom bringing food once a week, Irene got by. She deeply appreciated the opportunity to study music. She graduated in 1944 and began teaching in Utica, Kansas.

Irene knew she wanted to honor the incredible opportunity her great aunt had bestowed on her, so she started saving money with her very first paycheck, which was about $10. She saved something from each check throughout her 70-year teaching career, and in 1992 Irene established the Holtzinger Family Scholarship in honor of her mother and father.

Each year since, and forever in the future, students studying piano at Fort Hays State will benefit from Irene’s generosity. She says, “I owe everything to FHSU, where I received my start. I want to make opportunities available for students like me.”

I love Irene’s story. Her passion for music, her drive to “pay it forward” and her deep gratitude make up one of the many stories that weave together an incredible tapestry of the people and community of Fort Hays State University. #EveryGiftMatters

Dr. Tisa Mason is the 10th president of Fort Hays State University.

 

By RON WILSON
Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

Guess who’s coming to dinner? A Hollywood movie star, a best-selling author, or maybe even the President of the United States. These were the remarkable types of visitors who came to call on rural Kansas newspaper editor William Allen White. In 2018, White’s home in Emporia is celebrating 150 years since the birth of this amazing Kansan.

William Allen White was born in 1868 in Emporia. Roger Heineken and Kathie Buckman, volunteers with the William Allen White Community Partnership, shared the story of his home and his life.

White grew up in the rural community of El Dorado, with a population at the time of 3,466 people. Now, that’s rural. He attended the College of Emporia and the University of Kansas.

“Sheer luck got me in the newspaper business,” White would write later. As a student, he wrote three letters asking for a job: One to a grocer, one to a merchant, and one to a newspaper editor. The grocer and the merchant “knew my desultory ways and rejected me,” White wrote in modesty. The newspaper editor knew White’s father and hired him, and his journalism career began.

In 1892, White became an editorial writer for the Kansas City Star where he met and married Sallie Lindsay. In 1895, the Whites borrowed $3,000 to buy the Emporia Gazette and moved to Emporia where they lived for the rest of their lives.

One day, White was accosted on the street by some men who disagreed with his politics. White was furious. He went to his office and dashed off an editorial which criticized what he considered the backward-looking, anti-business policies of the Democrat and Populist parties. The editorial was titled “What’s the Matter with Kansas?”

The editorial went viral, as we might describe it in 2018. The Republican Party distributed hundreds of thousands of copies of his editorial across the nation. Virtually overnight, White became nationally famous. In following years, he became a key leader of the progressive wing of the Republican Party and a friend of Teddy Roosevelt.

In 1899, the Whites moved into a home named Red Rocks because of the red Colorado sandstone which covers the first story. The house is located at 927 Exchange Street in Emporia.

If only the walls of this home could talk. Through the years, it hosted some of the most famous people of its day. These ranged from actor Douglas Fairbanks to author Edna Ferber to scientist Albert Einstein – including, by some accounts, five presidents.

“The main line of the Santa Fe railroad ran right through Emporia so it was convenient for major figures of the day to stop and see him,” Roger Heineken said.

The Whites had two children, William Lindsay and Mary Katherine. William went to Harvard and eventually succeeded his father at the Emporia Gazette.

In 1920, 16-year-old Mary was tragically killed in a horseback riding accident. White’s editorial tribute to her became one of his most enduring works, reprinted in textbooks for years.  The White family dedicated a park in Emporia in her memory. It is called Peter Pan Park, in reference to the literary figure who would never grow old. Today, a bust of William Allen White and a plaque with the text of that editorial stand on a peaceful place next to the lake in Peter Pan Park.

In 2001, Red Rocks was donated to the State of Kansas after 100 years of White family ownership. Today it is open to visitors as a historic site, managed by the Kansas State Historical Society with support from the William Allen White Community Partnership.  The beautiful home is filled with fascinating historic artifacts and furnishings.

Guess who’s coming to dinner? A remarkable list of guests visited this home in its heyday, and now the public can visit as well. We commend the volunteers of the William Allen White Community Partnership for making a difference by preserving and sharing this history. They provide a voice for the walls which cannot talk.

And there’s more. In the next generation, a British war orphan came to join the White family permanently. We’ll learn about that next week.

The following op-ed is by Senator Laura Kelly, candidate for governor:

In 2005, I began my very first legislative session. That year, our schools were in crisis and we were headed to a special session. In the end, Democrats and moderate Republicans came together to forge a path towards stronger schools. We passed a multi-year plan that invested in our kids and made great schools a top priority.

Unfortunately, in 2009 the Great Recession hit, hindering our state’s ability to keep the promises made to our schools. Then, in 2011, the Brownback/Colyer Administration cut schools even more to fund their ill-conceived tax experiment. We must correct these years of neglect and once again invest in our schools.

Kansas faces many challenges, but our schools are the most urgent.

First, we face a deadline in April to address the fundamental inequality of our school funding formula. To remedy the problems outlined by the Kansas Supreme Court, I would encourage support of House Bill 2445 sponsored by Rep. Melissa Rooker (R-Fairway). This bill changes distribution of at-risk funding, eliminates the expanded use of Capital Outlay Funds, and updates the way we calculate the Local Option Budget. These are all important changes needed to address the Court’s ruling.

Also, a cost of living index should be built into the formula requiring the state to adjust spending annually. This will help us meet our constitutional responsibility to adequately fund public schools as the economy and other factors change.

Next, the Kansas Department of Education has requested that we hire 150 school counselors, social workers, or psychologists every year for five years. These positions are of the utmost importance to our students. I would recommend that these positions be hired by community mental health centers or other local behavioral health partners so that they would be available year-round, even when school is not in session. We would ask that the Court recognize this as a good faith effort to target the 25% of children at the highest risk.

Kansas must also make sure all schools – no matter their size or location – receive the support they need. We are currently conducting a survey to determine how individual schools would spend additional dollars. The results will help the Legislature tailor spending to our unique communities.

The Legislature already appropriated an additional $293 million for Fiscal Year 2018 and 2019. I supported that measure last session. With the changes to the formula above, this additional money will be more fairly distributed. I will also support a multi-year plan that increases funding significantly over the next three years.

With state revenue currently exceeding estimates, I’m confident we can add the additional funding through 2020. I would recommend using money from the ending balance in 2018 and 2019 and then establishing a “trust fund” for 2020.

Thanks to bi-partisan cooperation last year, the Legislature was able to reverse the Brownback tax plan. Kansas is now on a path to recovery. Before we alter the tax code further, we should let the dust settle on the 2017 changes, as well as changes made at the federal level.

Lastly, it is critical that the Court retain jurisdiction of this case to ensure that the Legislature follows through on these promises to our schools. During the past 8 years, Kansas children have been short-changed. As governor, I will make our schools my top priority. And I will use my budget expertise to ensure Kansas can continue to meet the needs of our students in the years to come.

Sometimes we get requests. Recently a couple close friends and I were discussing taking care of livestock during winter when this task can be a down-right chore. Well once you lay out all the cons, the conversation generally takes a 180-degree turn and you wind up talking about the humorous or lighter moments as well. In doing so, we stumbled onto the subject of how some of the folks around Hays speak. Here’s a column I wrote just for fun back in December of 2004. Enjoy.

While most people in our state speak the same language, there’s still a couple of counties in north-central Kansas where the King’s English is spoken in a unique manner – heck let’s call a spade a spade. It’s a totally different language.

After spending four years at Fort Hays State University, listening to my Uncle Alex, who grew up on a farm northeast of Hays and visiting with farmers and ranchers who continue to live in and call this part of our state home, I’ve decided to write about their language – so rich and unique to Kansas.

And please don’t think I’m making fun of these people who share this strong Volga German heritage. Just look at my last name. I’m one of them.

Sit back and read ‘cause here’s how the story gosse (goes). Whoa boyce (the fellas), I’m getting ahead of myself.

In case you haven’t visited, Hace is a small city in the north-central region of Kansas. A Cow’ndy is a small district within a state and Hace is located in Ellis Cow’ndy. And Wine is a major street in Hace. Tounce are even smaller cities and there are several tounce in Ellis Cow’ndy. Muncher, Chinchin and Cat’rin are some of these small towns.

Chirman has long been the unofficial language spoken in Hace. Grimpa (your father’s father) talks Chirman to the boyce.

My Uncle Alex was forever axding (inquiring) me, “How much money do you make?” He also axed me dis and dat (this and that) and do you have one of deese, two of dose and three of dem (these, those and them)?
Farmers around Hace generally kept cattle in red barns built with borts. Borts are pieces of lumber like dem 2 X 4 borts. The livestock in the barns were usually couse (cows). You might even find a cult inside the barn. A cult is a young horse. These farmers sometimes feed their cult by trowing (to toss) them a bale of hay.

Hace farmers haul their livestock to market in a pigup (small truck). And they put the livestock in the back-a-duh (back of the) truck. When these folks go to town for church on Sunday they drife (drive) their carse. These automobiles include the following types: Fort, Pony’ac and Olce. Until a few years ago no one would be seen dead driving a leedle (little) forn (foreign) car made in Japan.

Every few years these farmers are blessed with rain and the roads become wet and slippery. That’s when they opt to drife their Cheap. A Cheap is a 4-wheel drife vehicle. Drife dat Cheap down dat @#$&**# wet wrote (road) right now and don’t get him stuck. Nearly all inanimate objects are referred to in the male pronoun.

When they finish Sunday worship services, and with color in their language like that, they certainly need religion – just kidding – some of the folks of Hace like to eat at one particular chigan (domestic fowl) house. There they have frite (cooked in grease) chigan ant frice (and French-fried potatoes). They also like to eat bret (bread) ant chelly (fruit preserves). I can still remember my Uncle Alex telling me at the dinner table when I was a boy of five, “Eat dis bret ant chelly sandwich what I figs’d (fixed) for you.”

Sometimes after eating too much Sunday dinner, Hace residents had to take pilts (medication) – especially after too much beer. That’s when they might have a het (part of the body above the neck) ache. Take dese pilts for dat het ache.

Sonofapitch’ was an often-spoken exclamation that tumbled liberally out of the mouths of members of the male sex in Hace. “Sonofapitch’ its hot out here boyce (boys, men).”

Chunk (junk) is something almost everyone in Hace has at one time or another and it is better than trash. Haul dat chunk over by (to) da dump.

&*#%dam’mitahell (another exclamation). Wint (moving air currents) blowing heart (strong, powerful) can often be found in Hace. Most residents keep their carse in a garot’ch (building).

The word toged’her actually means just the opposite – apart. &*#%dam’mitahell dat wint blew so heart last night, my garot’ch all fell toged’her.

Now my all-time favorite story is about this long-time Hace stockman who tells about driving out to his pasture one morning to look at his couse. Here’s how he told his tale:

“I drove my pigup out in the grass. I drove down the hill by my windmill up the hill and over by da fence line, back down another hill, through the creek and back up again. When I reached the top of the hill, dere de vere (momma cows) – GONE!

I’m out of here too. Tanks for reading and hope you enjoy Valentine’s Day and all the upcoming Holidace.

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

The Kansas Judicial Branch, already in the conservatives’ gunsights for the Supreme Court demanding more state money for public K-12 schools, has taken its first drubbing from the Legislature this session by seeing the House Appropriations Committee scuttle its request for a budget increase next year.

The court’s request for about $20 million in additional State General Fund appropriations—mostly for salary increases for judges and support staff who haven’t seen significant raises for years—was rejected by the panel.

Part of the reason might be that the $7.5 million sought for 21 percent raises for judges was No. 1 on the list of requests…though the courts also asked (No. 2 request) for $10.3 million for raises for court employees — those clerks and other assistants who don’t wear black robes but keep the judicial system running.

Kansas district court judges are the lowest paid in the nation, below surrounding states, both judges and other court employees. Makes you wonder who would want to be a district court judge, or a support staffer and at some point, whether lack of those workers will delay justice in Kansas… That’s issuing anti-stalking orders or settling car wreck damages or reassessing support payments or holding hearings for those charged with serious crimes…

And there may be another whack coming, at the Kansas Supreme Court after new Gov. Jeff Colyer in his State of the State address proclaimed Kansas to be an anti-abortion state from its infancy and demanding a return to that abortion provision in the state’s 150-year-old original constitution.

Abortion issues are strong vote-getters among conservative Kansas Republican primary election voters who Colyer is going to need to win his party’s gubernatorial nomination in August. But his emotion in presenting that issue to lawmakers at a joint session of the legislature last week was stirring.

The high court has been sitting on the most recent abortion case for nearly a year after a hearing last March.

The bill that sparked the lawsuit was passed by the Legislature in 2015 and prohibited a specific procedure — dilation and evacuation — which is used for about 95 percent of second-trimester abortions in Kansas.

A Shawnee County District Court judge refused to order enforcement of the law, and the Kansas Court of Appeals in January 2016 split evenly in a hearing on the lower court’s order.

That forwarded the issue to the Supreme Court, which still has the case under advisement.

And just what all that—the schools case, the unrelated abortion case and the (possibly) unrelated budget freeze—means for Kansas is uncertain.

But, it appears that the abortion issue—if the U.S. Supreme Court membership changes and another one or two President Donald Trump-appointed justices are approved for the court, there’s a chance that the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision might be reviewed. That decision, recall, declared unconstitutional laws which criminalize or restrict access to abortion beyond the reasonable regulation of such procedures.

Return to no-abortions in Kansas? Anti-abortion activists like the Colyer talk, the direction he wants to head, and want the Kansas Supreme Court to hold constitutional that three-year-old abortion procedure restriction that has been in abeyance since 2015.

It becomes just another issue from the past that has reached into Kansas politics, and whatever side you’re on for the issue, it seems more than a little punitive to use it to deny adequate funding for the state’s judiciary,

What’s next? Probably watching the court and the Legislature to see whether an abortion decision comes before adjournment of the Legislature…and what happens to the budget then…

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

By JOHN P. TRETBAR

Oil prices rebounded Monday after dropping nearly 10% last week. In early afternoon trading the Nymex benchmark contract was up 58 cents to $59.78/bbl. London Brent gained 34 cents a barrel to $63.13. Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson starts the week at $49.50 a barrel, after losing two dollars on Friday.

The government says U.S. oil production will top 11 million barrels a day much quicker than anticipated. In its monthly Short-Term Energy Outlook last week, the Energy Information Administration predicted the 11 million barrel milestone will happen by November. Previous estimates pegged it a year later.

Rig Counts are on the rise across the US and across Kansas. Independent Oil & Gas Service reported 11 active oil and gas rigs in eastern Kansas, which is up one. There are 25 west of Wichita, up two rigs. Operators are drilling at one Stafford County lease, and moving in completions tools at one site in Barton County, two in Ellis County, two in Russell County and one in Stafford County. Baker Hughes reported 975 active drilling rigs across the US last week, up 25 oil rigs and three gas rigs. Canada cut back 17 to 325 active rigs.

The Kansas Corporation Commission reports 113 new intent-to-drill notices filed across Kansas last month, the same figure as the month before, down from a year ago, up from two years ago, but way below the 459 filed in January of 2015. There was one intent filed in Barton County last month, two in Ellis County, and one in Stafford County. We haven’t seen a new intent in Russell County since November.

Kansas reported 36 new drilling permits last week, 17 east of Wichita, 19 in the western half of the state, including on in Barton County, one in Ellis County and four in Stafford County. For the month of January, regulators issued 107 permits across Kansas, 51 east of Wichita, and 56 in the western half of the state. There was one new permit filed in Barton County, two in Ellis County and one in Stafford County.

Independent Oil & Gas Service notes 41 new well completions across the state last week, 34 in eastern Kansas, and just seven west of Wichita. That’s 179 well completions so far this year. Monthly reports show 113 newly completed wells statewide in January, down slightly from a month earlier and from a year earlier. There were 55 new completions last month in eastern Kansas and 58 west of Wichita, including five wells in Barton County, six in Ellis County and four in Stafford County.

Venezuela has the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, but its falling production is forcing the OPEC member to import crude oil from Russia. Platts reports three tankers have left Russia for Venezuelan refineries so far this year, and another is expected to load later this month.

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has called for an OPEC-wide crypto-currency, akin to the Bitcoin but backed by oil. At least one U.S. Senator is worried that an electronic coin backed by Venezuelan oil would be a way to avoid U.S. financial sanctions. The issue was raised in committee by New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, who also highlighted reports that Russia’s government is considering a similar initiative.

President Donald Trump has backed off his proposal to stop sharing oil revenues from offshore drilling with states along the Gulf of Mexico. In the new budget proposal, the White House preserved the revenue sharing agreement, which was expected to deliver $275 million to four Gulf states this year.

Pioneer Resources announced it is selling assets elsewhere and focusing solely on the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico, making Pioneer a Permian Basin “pure play.” The company announced a 26% spike in its Permian oil production last year, and said it would place 250 to 275 wells on production there this year.

Budget cuts in Oklahoma are forcing regulators to consider raising fees for oversight of petroleum storage, commercial transportation, and oil and gas operations. The Daily Oklahoman cites estimates they could generate an additional $13.7 million a year. A trade group told the Oklahoma Corporation Commission that oil and gas provide about a quarter of the state’s revenues, and said the Legislature should use some of that to fund O.C.C. operations.

North Dakota voters may decide in November whether to raise the state’s oil extraction tax. The initiative would also reverse a central piece of the overhaul state lawmakers passed nearly three years ago that the state’s Democrats label a “shady last-minute deal” crafted in the final days of the legislative session.

A legislative committee in South Dakota voted down a measure to ban oil pipelines in the state. Had it passed, the measure would have prevented construction of new pipelines after July 1.

An activist from Seattle will serve one year in prison for cutting through a fence and turning a shut-off valve on the Keystone Pipeline during a protest a year and a half ago. A co-conspirator who filmed the protest was sentenced to probation Tuesday.

Kansas pump price drops three cents on the week to $2.43

TOPEKA – Gas prices in Kansas followed a national trend this week, declining for the first time this year. The average price across Kansas is now $2.43/gallon, which is three cents less than one week ago. After experiencing the fifth largest gas price increase in the nation – 17 cents – over the previous month, Kansas motorists are finally experiencing a reversal of that trend and joining more than three-quarters of the nation in seeing lower prices at the pump.

“After seeing strong gasoline demand and high crude oil prices drive gas prices to an unseasonable winter price increase trend since the start of the year, drivers are finally seeing some relief, at least for now,” said Jennifer Haugh, AAA Kansas spokeswoman. “Despite the recent increases, prices have been rising across the country, so Kansas is still in a good place, with the 15th lowest gas prices in America, 15 cents lower than the national average.”

The 10 Kansas cities regularly highlighted by AAA Kansas (see chart above), only Emporia saw a price increase, rising two cents. Leading the declines were Lawrence (-6 cents) and Pittsburg (-4), while Kansas City, Kan., Manhattan, Topeka and Wichita all fell three cents per gallon.

According to AAA Kansas, this week’s Kansas gas price extremes are:
HIGH: Oberlin (Decatur County) – $2.77
LOW: Goddard (Sedgwick County) – $2.25

National Perspective
At $2.58, the national gas price average has decreased for the first time week-over-week this year. Today’s price is 3 cent less than last week, 6 cents more than a month ago and 30 cents more than a year ago. Motorists can find gas for $2.50 or less at 53 percent of gas stations across the country.

“Gas price averages are less expensive for 78 percent of states compared to last Monday. Motorists filling up in the Midwest, South and East Coast are most likely to see the positive change at the pump,” said AAA Kansas’ Haugh. “Unfortunately, it’s too early to know if this one-week decline is the start of a cheaper gas price trend.”

Consumer gasoline demand and gasoline inventories increased according to the latest Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports. Hitting its highest level this year, gasoline demand registered at 9.1 million b/d, a 169,000 b/d increase year-over year. Total U.S. gasoline inventories built by 3.4 million bbl to total 245.5 million bbl, which sits about 1.4 million bbl above the five-year average.

Great Lakes and Central States Report
Gas prices are less expensive on the week across the Great Lakes and Central region, except North Dakota where prices remained stable. Indiana (-14 cents), Michigan (-11 cents), Kentucky (-9 cents), Ohio (-8 cents) and Illinois (-6 cents) saw not only the largest decreases in the region, but in country. In the region, North Dakota ($2.63) and Iowa ($2.60) are selling the most expensive gasoline. At $2.37, Ohio is selling the cheapest gas in the region and the 7th cheapest in the country.

Compared to one month ago, Michigan (-16 cents), Ohio (-13 cents), Illinois (-12 cents), Indiana (-11 cents) and Kentucky (-5 cents) are five of only six states in the country that are paying less at the pump. These states have seen very volatile gas prices since January.

Gasoline inventories in the region have built every week this year according to EIA reports. With a build of nearly 1 million bbl, gasoline inventories total 57 million bbl this week.

Troy L. Waymaster, State Representative, 109^th Kansas House

February 12, 2018

State of the State 2.0

On Wednesday, February 7, 2018, Governor Jeff Colyer addressed a joint session of the House and Senate in the chamber of the Kansas House of Representatives.  Although this was technically not a second State of the State speech, in essence it was.

The Governor outlined his focus for the remainder of his term.  He started with an executive order that he had already signed and four additional orders.  The executive order that he had signed requires all cabinet agencies to update their sexual harassment prevention policies.  Thursday, the Governor signed the four executive orders that he mentioned during his speech.

The Governor also discussed jobs, stating that job growth and enhancing the quality of life for all Kansans must be our high priority.  He mentioned that the current unemployment rate is at 3.4%, although the state has 48,000 unfilled jobs.  The Governor said he would be launching his “(Re) Employment Plan,” which will provide, free of charge, a skills assessment, resume, interview and networking assistance, and labor market information highlighting current in-demand jobs.  Governor Colyer’s speech was very refreshing and his direction for the state was starkly different than what Governor Brownback released earlier in the session.

Ad Astra Rural Jobs Act Gets Hearing in the Senate

Early on Tuesday morning, I had the pleasure of testifying in front of the Senate Commerce Committee to promote the bill that I introduced during the 2017 Legislative Session. The bill focuses on creating jobs in rural areas of Kansas.  I focused on the components of the legislation that allow for capital investors to invest in companies that are wanting to build, relocate, or expand in rural areas.  The Ad Astra Rural Jobs Act would definitely boost job creation, and I mentioned how it partners with the Rural Opportunity Zone.  However, this was just a hearing on Tuesday morning, I hope, that given the support we had, the Senate Commerce committee will work the bill soon.

Bills Passed Out of the House

On Thursday, February 8, 2018, the Kansas House of Representatives debated and voted on four bills.  A couple of those bills are as follows:

The first bill that we debated was Senate Bill 262, introduced by Senator Elaine Bowers, which authorizes the construction of a statue to honor President Dwight D. Eisenhower on the State Capitol grounds.  The funds generated to construct the statue will be privately raised and no state general fund dollars will be used for the Eisenhower statue.

This bill passed 123-0.

Another bill that we debated was House Bill 2492, which would increase the maximum local sales tax rate that could be imposed by Thomas County from 1.5% to 1.75%, with all taxes levied above 1% to remain earmarked for financing a courthouse, jail, and law enforcement center.  This is subject to a vote by the electorate of Thomas County.    This bill now goes to the Senate after passing 109-14.

Appropriations Committee Work

On Thursday February 8, we heard the first report from a Budget Committee.  The Committee heard the General Government Budget Committee’s report on the Board of Barbering, Board of Cosmetology, and Judicial Branch Budgets.  We will continue to hear budget reports from all the Budget Committees until March 15.  This week, the following budgets will be heard in Appropriations:

February 12: General Government: Office of the Governor; Attorney General; Department of Administration;

February 13: Transportation and Public Safety: Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training; Office of the State Fire Marshal; Kansas Bureau of Investigation; Board of Indigents’ Defense Services

February 14: Agriculture and Natural Resources: Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism; Department of Agriculture.  Social Services: Kansas Commission on Veterans’ Affairs

February 15: Higher Education: Board of Regents; Emporia State University; University of Kansas Medical Center; Wichita State University

The Kansas Legislative Research Department has produced agency budget summaries.  You can access the budgets at the following web addresss:

http://www.kslegresearch.org/KLRD-web/Publications/BudgetBookFY19/FY2019_ABS.pdf

House Recognizes American Heart Month

On Thursday, members of the Kansas House, Kansas Senate, and legislative staff wore red for heart health awareness.  Representative Susan Concannon carried House Resolution 6048, which names February as American Heart Month.  The resolution provides many facts surrounding women and heart health, including: cardiovascular diseases kill one in three women in the United States, yet 80 percent of cardiovascular diseases may be prevented; an estimated 44 million women in the United States are affected by cardiovascular diseases; 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing a heart disease or a stroke.  The Go Red for Women movement encourages women to know and manage total cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, and body mass index.  Representative Concannon was joined by Leann Dickson, a cardiac nurse at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and an American Heart Association volunteer.  The resolution was adopted without roll call.

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.

I would like to thank Alan Deines, director of the new Robbins Banking Institute and W.R. Robbins founder of the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship at Fort Hays State University, for their presentation to the Financial Institutions and Pensions committee this last Thursday. In 2017 Fort Hays State University began offering the only extensive banking curriculum in Kansas. FHSU is one of the few universities offering banking classes. The focus of the curriculum is on commercial banking with additional coursework in agricultural lending. Kansas banking industry assets were estimated at $70 billion and they employ 15,000 people. It is estimated the age of one-half of the bank employees is 55 years or older. The industry continues to grow requiring additional employees regardless of age. With this information, this course will provide many opportunities for those interested in a banking career.

The hearing on the amusement ride bill went well on Tuesday. The original Kansas Amusement Ride Act was passed in April 2017 as SB 70. The bill was intended to provide quality assurance that amusement rides were safe and regularly inspected. The bill regulates inspections, insurance and fees. Our bill SB 307, would provide various new regulations that would benefit small county and town fairs in Kansas. One proposed change would update the definition of a home-owned amusement ride to, “be owned and operated by a nonprofit, community-based organization that is operated less than 20 days in a year and operated at only one location per year. The bill will decrease regulations for small amusement rides while continuing to ensure the quality and safety of rides for Kansans. This bill will be worked in committee this week and should come to the floor either this week or next week for a vote.

After several hours of debate SB 285 passed the Senate chamber and will now be worked on by the House. This bill sets up a committee to study and make recommendations for a new ten-year transportation plan. Much of the debate centered around the people who will serve on this task force.

Town hall meetings are being scheduled for the end of February. We have scheduled dates but locations for these meetings have not been determined as of today. I appreciate Farm Bureau for organizing the town hall meetings. The dates are:
February 23, 2018 Ellis, Phillipsburg, Norton, Hill City, WaKeeney
February 24, 2018 Colby, Hoxie, Quinter, Oakley, Sharon Springs
February 26, 2018 Goodland, St. Francis, Atwood, Oberlin

Being a page at the Capitol is a wonderful experience. If you have a middle school or high school student interested in being a page please contact my office assistant, Donna, at 785 296-7399.

Hello from Topeka! It was a busy week with lots of folks from the 110th District coming to the capital city. County treasurers, firefighters, real estate agents, bankers and tourism and others saw state government up close and personal.

One of the highlights was Governor Colyer addressing a joint session of the House and Senate. He began by outlining his new administration: a new policy team, a new communications team, and six major changes to the cabinet: Commerce Secretary, DCF Secretary, Commerce Secretary, Chief Budget Officer, Chief of Information Technology, and Lieutenant Governor. Additionally, the Governor created the position of Chief Operating Officer, in effort to foster more of a business approach, and then focused on three main points: reform, jobs, and education.

Reform—Governor Colyer revealed his intention to sign four executive orders, of which would create a safer and more transparent workplace. First, no charge for open records requests of less than 100 pages. Second, institute policies to ensure that official business is conducted on state emails only. Lastly, the implementation of performance metrics for cabinet agencies as well as a one-stop-shop website to post open meetings, locations and materials. The Governor also touched on the executive order he signed on Monday, which requires all executive branch employees, interns, and contractors to undergo mandatory annual training seminars.

Jobs—He made note that the state unemployment rate is 3.4%, the lowest in seventeen years, and that there are 48,000 unfilled jobs across the state. Instead of having people looking for jobs, jobs are looking for people. Governor Colyer unveiled his “(Re) Employment Plan”, which will provide skills assessment, resume, interview and networking assistance to the labor market, at no cost.
Education—The Governor invoked the names of the nine previous Kansas governors, and stated that under each administration, each of them had the specter of education lawsuits overshadowing the process. He also articulated that schools must stay open, a definitive school finance formula is necessary, the need to improve accountability and to strive for better outcomes for students.

Also last week, the Federal and State Affairs Committee heard SB 262. The bill authorizes the Capitol Preservation Committee to approve plans to place a permanent statue of Dwight D. Eisenhower on the Capitol grounds. The statue will be placed in the NW quadrant of the Capitol grounds. The statue is a replica of the bronze one created by Jim Brothers that is in the U.S. Capitol rotunda. The bill also authorizes the Department of Administration to receive moneys from grants, gifts, and contributions to finance the construction of the statue and the pedestal it will sit upon. The funds have already been raised for the statue. On Thursday, I was honored to chair the committee of the whole where the House debated and voted upon the measure. SB262 was approved by the House with a vote of 123-0. The bill now awaits action by the Governor and will go into effect upon publication in the Kansas Register.

When you come to Topeka during the session, please stop by my office: it is in Room: 352-S. 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.

SENATE HIGHLIGHTS

This week marked the fifth week of session.  The Senate held floor debate on Tuesday and Wednesday and passed out eleven pieces of legislation.  Our Committees will continue to meet through next week then work the bills passed out of committees on the Senate Floor before turnaround when the bills voted on in the Senate are sent to the House.  The House bills voted on and passed on the House floor are in turn sent to the Senate for more review and hearings.  To date, we have passed out fifteen Senate bills with seventeen Senate Confirmations votes for agencies and boards positions.

GOVERNOR COLYER’S FIRST ADDRESS TO KANSAS LEGISLATURE

On Wednesday Governor Jeff Colyer gave his first address to the joint Kansas legislature. His speech took place exactly one week after he was inaugurated into office. He praised legislators for their service to Kansas and pointed out issues they have been tackling such as sexual harassment and government transparency.  Governor Colyer talked about the major issues facing the legislature this year and divided them into three categories: reform, jobs, and education. He also discussed the four executive orders he signed Thursday to increase transparency within the executive branch. Like Governor Brownback did at the State of the State in January, Governor Colyer expressed the need for an end to the constant education lawsuits in Kansas.

FLOOR ACTION

KANSAS MONEY TRANSMITTER ACT: Senate Bill 284 modifies the Kansas Money Transmitter Act.

STATE BANKING CODE: Senate Bill 283 would amend several sections of the State Banking Code.  One of those changes being that on and after July 1, 2018, the bill would amend the requirement that a person proposing to acquire control, or a bank or trust company undertaking a merger transaction, submit an application 60 days prior to the proposed change of control or merger transaction.

30-DAY PRIOR NOTICE REQUIREMENT PROVIDED TO A MEMBER BEFORE EXPULSION FROM A CREDIT UNION: Senate Bill 292 adjusts law relating to the expulsion of credit union members. The bill would authorize the president, general manager, or any other credit union employee designated by the board of directors to expel a credit union member from the credit union under certain circumstances.

PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD: Senate Resolution 1762 is a resolution recognizing that pornography is a public health hazard that leads to a broad spectrum of individual and public health impacts and societal harms.

US-50 HIGHWAY FORD COUNTY: Senate Bill 256 designates a portion of US-50 in Ford County, from the east city limits of Dodge City to 118 Road (near the city of Wright), as the SGT Gregg Steimel and PFC Richard Conrardy Memorial Highway.

CHANGES TO THE STATE BANKING CODE: Senate Bill 335 would amend and create law to incorporate savings and loan associations and savings banks into the State Banking Code. The bill would repeal the existing Savings and Loan Code.

REPEALING THE PROHIBITION ON SATURDAY PROCESS SERVICE: Senate Bill 288 repeals the statute making it a misdemeanor, subject to a fine of $100, imprisonment in the county jail up to 30 days, or both, thus allowing court papers to be served on Saturdays.

UPDATING SUBSTANCES INCLUDED IN UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT:  SB 282 adds several drugs and modifies drug classes to the schedules of controlled substances. 

JOINT LEGISLATIVE TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE: Substitute Senate Bill 285 would establish the Joint Legislative Transportation Task Force (Task Force) to study Kansas’ transportation system.

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES CONCERNING APPLICANTS: Senate Bill 180 creates a process for disclosure of a law enforcement officer applicant’s files if the candidate has been employed by another state or local law enforcement agency or governmental agency.

NONDISCRIMINATION OF ORGAN TRANSPLANTS: House Bill 2343 creates new law regarding nondiscrimination in access to organ transplants for individuals with disabilities.

COMMITTEE ACTION

KANSAS AMUSEMENT RIDE ACT

On Tuesday, a trailer bill was presented for the Kansas Amusement Ride Act. The original Kansas Amusement Ride Act was passed in April 2017 as SB 70. The bill was intended to provide quality assurance that amusement rides were safe and regularly inspected. The bill regulates inspections, insurance, and fees. The amendment was introduced Tuesday, to adjust the regulations that are impacting small community based amusement rides. Due to the new rules, many small towns have had to cancel fairs because of increased regulations. One of the main concerns is the regulation on inspections.  The amended bill, SB 307, would provide various new regulations that would benefit small county and town fairs in Kansas. Many of the fairs are donation and volunteer based or ran by nonprofit organizations. One proposed change would update the definition of a home-owned amusement ride to, “be owned and operated by a nonprofit, community-based organization that is operated less than 20 days in a year and operated at only one location per year.” The amendment will decrease regulations for small amusement rides while continuing to ensure the quality and safety of rides for Kansans.

Kansas ROZ

Rural Opportunity Zones are seventy-seven counties in Kansas that have been authorized to offer one or both of the following financial incentives to new full-time residents with Kansas income tax waivers for up to five years and student loan repayments up to $15,000.  To be eligible for Kansas Income Tax Waivers, individuals must have established residency in a ROZ county on or after the date the county became part of the program, lived outside Kansas for five or more years immediately prior to establishing residency in a ROZ county and earned less than $10,000 in Kansas Source Income in each of the five years immediately prior to establishing residency in a ROZ county.  Senate District #36 has seventy-four approved and twenty-eight approved sponsored participates to date.   Republic, Rooks and Smith County lead the district in this very popular rural program in Kansas.  The total number of participants since the beginning of the program in Kansas at the end of 2016 was 494.

FROM THE STATE LIBRARY

Find reliable and age appropriate information online with Britannica – Public Library https://kslib.info/eor from the State Library of Kansas. Three levels of learning (Children, Young Adult, and Reference Center) offer continually updated entries, multimedia, primary –source material, maps, and links to expert websites.  Double–click any word in the article for the definition to pop up with audio pronunciation. Also available at https://kslib.info/eor, Britannica – Academic includes more scholarly content. Another link https://kslib.info/kids takes you to Britannica – School for learning about any subject for all grades and reading abilities.

If the page above asks for a Kansas Library eCard number, you may get one at any library in Kansas.  Most people will be automatically recognized as inside Kansas and will not need this step.   Questions: [email protected] or 785-296-3296.

VISITORS FROM SENATE DISTRICT #36

The last few weeks have been very busy with visitors from home daily here in the Capital City.  On Tuesday, the Kansas Bankers, Kansas Fire Fighters and the State Independent Telephone and Rural Independent Telecommunications Coalition held their annual legislative day and reception.  Rural economic leaders presented success stories of rural development to the Senate and House Commerce Committees and held receptions for all legislators in the evening.  Members from the Travel Industry Association along with Kansas American Legion and VFW and County Treasurers met with their legislators also during the week.  The Kansas Press Association and  Kansas Farm Bureau members held their annual meeting and had lunch with legislators in the Capitol.

LEGISLATIVE WEBSITE

Please visit www.kslegislature.org to follow any legislation or to review Senate and House journals and calendars.  You will be able to search for bills and legislators in all districts plus research papers and historical articles on this very helpful website.

Thank you for the honor of serving you!

Senator Elaine Bowers
Kansas State Capitol Building
Room 223-E
300 SW 10th St.
Topeka, KS 66612
[email protected]
785 296-7389
www.kslegislature.org