Friends:

More growing pains - I have a new computer, which means all my presets that prevent "Greeking" and other miscellanea need to be reconfigured. I'm hoping to add v-casts and podcasting to my repertoire with this new machinery. The old computer was certainly showing its age, it's amazing how SLOW and bogged down these things get! Please bear with me while I have a week or two of technical challenges adjusting to the new system.

The first week of the session is mostly organizational. We welcome the Governor to deliver her State of the State Address (see below) and generally get a feel for the "lay of the land" in our new seating assignments on the House floor. Bills have not had a chance to get through the committee process, so there are no bills to be considered before the full House, yet.

That being said, there has been plenty of posturing on both sides of the Rotunda. Both the Senate and House have issued agendas for their respective chambers. Take a look at this article to learn specifics: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/16422854.htm

Announcements

State of the State

Commerce & Labor

Transportation

Government Efficiency & Technology
Education and Personal Activities
Where's Waldo
Resources

Announcements

^{State of the State}

^{Governor Sebelius delivered her State of the State address on Wednesday. These were the key points:
Education: Funding all three years of 2006 school plan, support more local control.
Expand early learning for children - 0-5, with KS Health Foundation}

^{Crumbling classrooms - deferred maintenance for Regents, multiyear plan to meet needs. Increase student scholarships.}

^{Operating budget increases will keep tuition affordable and accessible.}

^{Workforce development: Providing skilled workers to businesses in order to keep jobs in KS, more workforce development and business cooperation Cooperation between families and businesses to keep rural KS alive - office of rural opportunity - help attract businesses and families - rural opportunity zones for business to create jobs.  Corporate income tax reduction makes us competitive with surrounding states}

^{Raise floor for franchise tax to $1 million - help small businesses.  Reduce unemployment insurance tax and eliminate the waiting week for those seeking benefits.}

^{Biosciences: Bringing a bio/agri-terrorism center to KS, she'll appoint a task force to bring a federal facility to KS.}

^{Health Care: Reduce administrative overhead costs. No home care waiting lists for disabilities and frail/elderly. All Kansans will have health care. Universal coverage, increased portability, develop a plan this year to achieve this coverage. Health care for children 0-5 will be covered in her budget. Encourage personal responsibility in health care costs.}

^{Energy: Should be a leader in renewable energy; reduce 10% of state's electricity to windpower by 2010, and 20% by 2020. There is money in the budget for transmission lines to move from generators to KS homes. Use biomass to expand KS economy. Make Kansas a leader in biofuels research and development. Executive directive: energy efficiency will be a priority in any state building project, including upgrades to the Regents universities. Energy savings increase 10% by 2010 and 20% by 2020 in state government.}

^Committees:

^{My committee assignments have changed from last year. Construction in the Capitol has reduced the number of available rooms for committees. Many committees were consolidated and stretched to daily meetings. Previously, the 3:30 committee slot held meetings on Mondays/Wednesdays or Tuesdays/Thursdays. Now, every 3:30 committee is a daily committee, which makes time in the office even more rare and valuable.}

^{For the next two years, I have been assigned to represent Kansans on three committees: Commerce & Labor, Transportation, and I am the Vice Chair for Government Efficiency & Technology.}

^{Commerce & Labor}

^{Agency Overviews:  Department of Commerce, Kansas Bioscience Authority, Kansas Inc, and Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation (KTEC)}

^{Transportation}

^{KS Department of Transportation Secretary Deb Miller gave an overview of the agency's annual review. Last year, they established a task force on reducing highway fatalities in Kansas. The task force, The Driving Force, delivered their bill recommendations at press conferences across the state and shared their finding with us in the committee:}

• ^{Primary seatbelt law - $60 fine. Here's an issue where I have some weight on my shoulders in the form of an angel and a devil. The angel says this is an easy way of saving lives and if there’s something government can do to prevent highway deaths, we should. Secretary Miller called this the "silver bullet" to drastically reducing driving deaths.}
• ^{On the other hand, the devil says if people aren't smart enough to wear a seatbelt, survival of the fittest will get them in the end, and the "nanny state" is out of control. However, the devil also reminds me that I tend to have compassion issues. You and I pay when these accidents happen. How many victims aren't insured (either health or vehicle)? How many don't cost any Highway Patrol time? How many don't destroy property (highway medians, signage, etc.)? Should we have to pay for someone else's "individual freedom" to not wear a seatbelt?}
• ^{$3 billion costs from injury and fatal crashes.}
• ^{Graduated Driver's Licensing:}

^{House Bill 2042: This bill would repeal the law, which makes a driver's license expire upon a 21st birthday. Unfortunately, as many of your children have found, you are unable to renew the license prior to the birthday.}

• ^{Here are the problems: What if your birthday is on the weekend? Or a holiday? Just hope you don't get caught speeding on the way to renew the license.}
• ^{What if you're on a family vacation? Or a birthday trip? The majority of 21 year olds are in college across the state? Or out-of-state? Homeland security might have some issues letting you on a plane.}
• ^{Options: Maybe add 30 days after a 21st birthday for a person to renew the license?}
• ^{Article on the issue:}
• ^{http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/opinion/15376784.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp}
• ^{Bill Text:  http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/2042.pdf}
• ^{Fiscal Note: http://www.kslegislature.org/fiscalnotes/2008/2042.pdf}

^{Government Efficiency & Technology}

^{We developed rules for the committee and discussed direction and goals.}

^{Education and Personal Activities}

^{Last year I introduced a bill which enabled the KS Department of Revenue to resuspend a driver's license if an uninsured driver defaulted on a payment arrangement to cover the expenses of an accident. This year's uninsured driver bill is similar:}

• ^{If you are insured, and crash into someone who is uninsured, your insurance would normally cover the property damage (car) of the uninsured driver. However, my contention is that driver should not have been on the streets in the first place. My bill would make the at-fault driver who is insured, not liable for the property damage of the uninsured driver. The driver would still pay for any medical damages incurred. Furthermore, if the at-fault driver was driving impaired (alcohol/drugs), normal rules would apply.}

^{Where's Waldo?}

• ^{I appeared on Up To Date with Steve Kraske to discuss the session.}
• ^{Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Kansas State Affairs Committee}
• ^{Pages: Joey Schmits and River Scott}
• ^{Sharp Shadow: Pam Scott}
• ^{Meeting with KS Physical Therapy Association and constituent, Kim Galbreath}
• ^{KS CPAs reception}
• ^{KS Realtors' reception}
• ^{Lenexa Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner}

^Resources

^{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: http://www.jocoelection.org/}

^{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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