March 9, 2007
Friends:
Heading down the home stretch, we finally have an agreement on the
schedule for adjournment. The last day for committees to meet
will be March 23rd. March 26-28 we will be on the floor all day,
and conference committees will meet all day March 29 and 30.
April 2-3 will be floor days again, with the 3rd being the last day of
the regular session.
PAGES: These deadlines change my page schedule a bit! I had
pages on March 29th and 30th, but we won’t be in session those
days. Mary wrestled a few more page days though, if your student
would like to come to Topeka for the day.
March 26th, April 2nd, and April 3rd are all available for as many
students as I can get! Reply to this email ASAP if your student
can come to Topeka on those days.
Announcements
Floor Activities
Education and Personal Activities
Commerce & Labor
Transportation
Government Efficiency & Technology
Where's Waldo
Kansas Quiz
Resources
Announcements
• Dead Sea Scrolls invitation: We’re about 8
folks shy of the threshold for cheap tickets for this exhibit. If
you would like to join us on April 14th, let me know!
• Senator Julia Lynn (if you live in Lenexa south of
79th but west of Maurer, and you live in my district, she is your
Senator) is also sending a frequent email newsletter. Email her
at julia@senatorjulialynn.com to join her list.
• CORRECTION!!!! HB 2314, the accounting bill,
I reported to you that I voted YES, but I voted NO. I opposed the
bill because I do not feel 150 hours is needed for an accounting
license. We should have two separate levels of CPA licensing –
those who intend to practice in-state should only be required to attain
an undergraduate degree and pass the CPA exam. If a student
wishes to practice across state lines, they should have to be compliant
with the Uniform Accounting Act, which requires 150 hours.
Floor Activities
To be honest, this has been another “rats and cats” week on the House
floor. We have had dozens of bills from the consent calendar (I
discussed that a week or so ago), where bills are placed if they are
non-controversial. Seriously, we ran a bill that changed a comma;
we handled about four wildlife/big game bills, a mortuary bill and a
fireworks bill. None of them were controversial or of broad
interest.
Education and Personal Activities
It has been a crazy week in the House! In addition to very busy
committees, I have been training the Republican caucus how to
improve/enhance their constituent communications. The biggest
hurdle for those of us in politics is learning to speak in “plain
talk”. In fact, governors in Florida and Washington recently
instituted “plain talk” initiatives in their states, going as far as to
hold trainings for state employees to learn how to speak without the
jargon and acronyms standard to governments.
Commerce & Labor
SB 292 (http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/292.pdf) deletes a
provision in current law that holds general contractors liable for the
unpaid unemployment contributions, penalties, and interest. Seems
pretty sensible to me! If you run a business and you subcontract,
why should your responsibilities as a business change when you are
subcontracting? Someone else should not be liable for your
responsibilities.
Transportation
SB 210 (http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/210.pdf) deems county
treasurers as agents of the state for the purpose of issuing driver’s
licenses and state-issued ID cards.
HB 2559 (http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/2559.pdf) regulates
“MUTs” which are micro-utility trucks you may have seen lately.
Due to rapidly changing environmental standards in Japan, these trucks
no longer meet regulations in Japan, but still run fine, and are being
exported to the U.S. to be used in light work around farms. They
are traditionally retrofitted to comply with U.S. safety regulations,
but are right-hand drive. This bill would prohibit these vehicles
from driving on roads with a speed limit higher than 55 mph. The
bill also sets up regulations on how they are tagged and
registered.
Government Efficiency & Technology
We held hearings all week on the KU Medical Center and St. Luke’s
Hospital affiliation. CEO of KU Hospital, Irene Cumming,
addressed the committee on Monday with the hospital’s concerns about a
perceived loss of physicians, a reduction in residents, and increased
competition from St. Luke’s.
Reggie Robinson, President of the KS Board of Regents presented the
Regent’s perspective on Wednesday. The Board has not been very
involved in the process, and I don’t know that it’s their place to
micromanage the institutions anyway. He did not seem to have
concerns about the affiliation, but was interested in the medical
school and hospital working out their differences before moving
forward.
Dr. Barbara Atkinson, Executive Vice-Chancellor of KU Medical School
presented their case on Thursday. The medical school does not
have concerns about the affiliation because it only expands current
affiliations with St. Luke’s, similar to other arrangements with
hospitals where residents are currently serving, and will continue to
serve.
• Some expressed concerns about a reduction in
services at the Wichita branch of the medical school. Rural
health across our state has become a major concern to the legislature,
and an increasing focus at KU Med. I asked a constituent for help
understanding the statewide ramifications of this proposal. A
17th District constituent, Dr. Mike Kennedy is the Assistant Dean of
Rural Health at KU and is slated to be the President of the KS Academy
of Family Physicians next year. It is convenient to have such
experts right here in our backyard! Dr. Kennedy is excited about
the opportunities this affiliation present for rural health in Kansas,
including the Wichita campus. Expanding this affiliation will
enable the school to accept 100 extra medical students over the next
few years.
My conclusion? A rising tide raises all boats.
Where's Waldo?
• KS Assn of Insurance and Financial Advisors
legislative day with constituents Lee Thaete, Paul Ridgway, and Maury
Loridon
• Blue Valley NEA, Dr. Al Hanna and 5th grade teacher
Ryan (I can’t find his last name!)
• MS Society Day at the Capitol, met with constituent
Dr. Sharon Lynch
• Met with Senator Dave Kerr about the KU Hospital/KU
Med/St. Luke’s Hospital affiliation discussions
• Shawnee Chamber of Commerce Legislative Affairs
meeting
Kansas Quiz
Last Week’s Question: It’s a current event – These Johnson County
musicians are “going places”. Who are they? Where are they
today, March 4th, and what are they doing? (Today is the day/date
you email your answers.) What is TG4? Where will they be in
the evening on March 17?
Winner and Answer: Bryan Redmond of Roeland Park with the band Grand
Marquis had the correct answer. His answer: The Elders will
be in Ireland March 4th, taping for an Irish TV show "Ardan." TG4
is an Irish national network, speaking entirely Gaelic. March
17th is their 5th annual Hoolie at the Uptown Theatre.
We played a festival with them last year.
Email my session assistant, Mary Koles at maryk@house.state.ks.us to
answer the question. The first correct answer received to that
address will win a prize, and recognition with the correct answer in
next week’s Sharp Record.
Question: A top amateur player in the 1950s and 1960s with a lifetime
record of outstanding service to the golf industry, this native Kansan
is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and the first woman elected
president of USGA. Who is she? What is the name and purpose
of the $50-million initiative the association implemented under her
leadership? What is the title of her autobiography?
Bonus/tie breaker question: Name the amateur who turned pro
during her tenure as president and report where he will be March 15-18,
2007.
This week’s winner will win something golf related, but I need to find
something cool!
Resources
Find your long lost CASH!!!
http://www.kansascash.com/prodweb/up/disclaimer_page.php
Keep Kansas Sharp Blog: www.keepkansassharp.blogspot.com
Kansas Legislature: http://www.kslegislature.org
KS Ethics Commission: http://www.kansas.gov/ethics/
KS Legislative Research:
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/ksleg/KLRD/klrd.html
Johnson County Election Office - www.jocoelection.org
Spring Primary Election information:
Voter Look-Up: See your sample ballot!
Advance Voting starts March 27th:
* March 27 - March 30
Tuesday -
Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
* March 31
Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
* April 2
Monday 9:00 a.m. to noon
Johnson County Statehouse Hotline! Call Topeka for free –
913-715-5000 and ask to speak with your Representative or
Senator.
Next week’s committee schedule: See anything of interest to
you?
House Agenda: http://www.kslegislature.org/agstat/2007/ha0309.pdf
Senate Agenda:
http://www.kslegislature.org/agstat/2007/sa0309.pdf
Please do not hesitate to contact me about these or any other issues of
interest to you. I appreciate the opportunity to represent you in
Topeka.
Rep. Stephanie Sharp
17th District, Kansas House
Serving Lenexa and Shawnee
www.stephaniesharp.com
Home: 913-894-1201
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