Friends:

Greetings and salutations!  This Sharp Record is belated because I kept hoping we would have a Supreme Court decision by now…  So, just like rain to a freshly washed car, I’m willing the Court to make a decision by bringing you the December edition.  One quick highlight – if you’re heading to the KC Symphony Christmas concerts this weekend, look for me in the handbell choir!

Committee Drama

Cheaper Prescription Drugs for your family!

Gambling - LCC

School funding – courts

Used car sales tax

Leadership races

Scott Franklin Star Article

Where’s Waldo (Rep. Sharp)

Question of the Week:

Committee Drama

Word on the street is that a lot of my committees will be changing.  Commerce and Labor will remain the same, but it’s almost certain that I am being stripped from my favorite committee, Health and Human Services.  Now, of course, this makes no sense – previously, I lobbied for the American Cancer Society, am very involved in a variety of health issues across the state, and have a passion for prevention.  But, our leadership (see below) makes 100% of these decisions, and I have to rely on their wisdom.  It looks like I will have just one 3:30 pm committee instead of two, which will be nice, and it will probably be Higher Education.  These are not set in stone and may change, stay tuned.

PS:  There’s a lot more I think about this but I digress…

Kansas Prescription Drug Alternatives

Governor Sebelius has put together a plan to make Kansas residents eligible to join with three other states (IL, WI, and MO) to purchase safe and affordable prescription refills from licensed, inspected pharmacies in Canada and the United Kingdom.  The program includes safety and quality checks and provides citizens with one more option to compare drug prices.  You can save 25-50 percent on over 100 brand-name medicines.  You can get more information on the I-SaveRx website:  www.accesskansas.org/healthykansasrx. 

Gambling

The Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC), an organizational body of the legislature recently was handed the Governor’s gaming plan.  The plan was to open another Indian casino, and slip that plan through the LCC, subverting the legislative process.  Fortunately, Speaker of the House Doug Mays, who is one of the LCC members, cast the deciding vote that would send the plan to the legislature.  Personally, I think the State needs to be more aggressive in negotiating what percent of revenues we receive from casino gaming, and this plan was weak in that area.  Regulating gambling in Kansas can best be accomplished by the legislature, not in a closed door meeting of a small group.

School funding – courts

For those of you who aren’t political junkies, here’s the VERY abbreviated version: 

Kansas was sued over its school funding formula.  A district judge threatened to close schools if we didn’t fix it.  The Kansas Supreme Court shut down that judge and took it upon themselves to decide the case.  And so we wait…

Used Car Sales Tax

Good news!  Not only am I hearing the word “repeal”, but also the words “refund, reimburse” etc.  The Legislative Post Audit committee revealed that 50 percent of private auto sales fraudulently reported the actual price of the sale.  So, in order to alleviate this problem, the state decided (without a hearing or even bill introduction in the House) that THEY would decide how much your car is worth, regardless of its condition!  The Interim Tax Committee held hearings throughout the summer and fall on this issue and now there are a variety of bills in the works that would move to a pricing mechanism that is a little more involved than just “This is what your car is worth.  Oh, really?  We don’t care if the floor is perfect for Fred Flintstone”, and possibly even involve refunds for those that were overcharged.

Leadership Races

These were pretty uneventful in the House, not many people bothered to run because everyone knew, with the makeup of the House, who was going to win what races.  Unfortunately, we only have one Johnson Countian in leadership: Ray Merrick as Speaker Pro Tem.  Wichita rules the roost:

Republican                                                    

Speaker of the House:  Doug Mays, Topeka

Majority Leader: Clay Aurand, Courtland

Speaker Pro Tem:  Ray Merrick, Stilwell

Asst. Majority Leader:  Joe McCleland, Wichita

Majority Whip:  Steve Brunk, Wichita

Caucus Chair:  Willa DeCastro, Wichita

Democrat

Minority Leader: Dennis McKinney, Greensburg

Asst. Minority Leader:  Jim Ward, Wichita

Scott Franklin Star Article

You may have seen Scott Franklin’s article entitled “Centrists, Call a Truce in Culture War” in the November 13 issue of the Star.  It attracted my attention because the gentleman wrote a political article, but I didn’t recognize his name from the political arena.  This is especially why I liked the article, I felt like this was an average, every day Joe, sharing his thoughts on the politics of the day.  Every Kansan can identify with his comments, regardless of your stripe on the political spectrum.  This is linked with permission from Mr. Franklin:

http://www.firstgener.com/pdf/Centrists.pdf

Where’s Waldo (Rep. Sharp)

• Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce 2004 legislative reception
• Lenexa Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours @ Factory Direct Appliance
• Some Enchanted Evening – fundraiser for Johnson County Community College
• Guest Speaker at Ms. Maguire’s Government class, Shawnee Mission West High School
• Lenexa Chamber of Commerce luncheon @ Holiday Inn
• Greater Kansas City Women’s Assembly quarterly meeting
• VACATION and Thanksgiving!!!  My brother lives in the L.A. ‘burbs, and I visited L.A. and Santa Barbara the week before Thanksgiving, what a needed break!
• Shawnee Mission School District legislative dinner
• Women’s Foundation annual luncheon
• Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors legislative reception
• Legislative leadership elections in Topeka
• Johnson County Commission legislative breakfast
• Johnson County Community College legislative breakfast
• Plaza Lights fundraiser for the Kansas Senate Republican Campaign Committee

Question of the Week:

Last Week’s Question:  How many votes did I receive in the Primary Election, and how many in the General Election?

Answer:  2,509 Primary votes and 8,046 General votes.  There was only one attempted answer, and it was wrong!  I’m disappointed in your turnout – especially for a question that was easy to find on the Internet!  I’m unveiling a new prize for this year, but it won’t be in for a week or so, bear with me!!!

New Question:  How many popular votes did President George W. Bush and Democrat challenger John F. Kerry each receive statewide in the November 2004 General Election?

Unless the Supreme Court delivers a decision on the school case, this will be my last missive of the year.  I hope that you will be surrounded by the love of friends and family during the holiday season.  Please have a safe holiday!

Stephanie Sharp

Kansas House, 17^th District

Serving Lenexa and Shawnee

PO Box 19556

Lenexa, KS 66285

913-894-1201

www.stephaniesharp.com