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January 11, 2005
ssharp@ink.org
Friends:
As this is the first Sharp Record of the legislative session, I’ve written a for subscribers “new” to the Record since the end of the 2004 session.
For new and old alike, I’ve added a to the end of the primer. I think it sets a good tone for our communication over the next two years, and heck, most of you will get a kick out of it!
State of the State (SOTS)
Personal Activities and Education
Floor Activities
Resources
State of the State (SOTS)
This will be short and sweet. Like the details in the governor’s speech. Governor Sebelius wants to improve the health of Kansans. She wants to improve the education of Kansans. And a laundry list of other things described below. This won’t take long because there weren’t any details. Usually the SOTS is about big-picture ideas, but there are always some nuggets of details: a million here, $13.7 million here, a couple hundred-grand here, etc. But not this year – a smart PR move that translates into an additional day of press. It was disappointing to not hear any details, but it sure makes us look much closer at the 800+ page budget books on our desks this morning!
- In her budget, she made it very clear that she will not accept one-time money, temporary fixes, or raiding other programs.
- Bring jobs to Kansas by improving the economic indicators of health and education discussed above.
- Budget calls for more audits to ensure accountability of government spending.
- Improve communication capabilities for First Responders (Emergency vehicles/Fire/Police).
- Make it harder to manufacture methamphetamines.
- Military Bill of Rights – not sure what this entails yet, but probably some tax breaks and incentives for those who serve our country. BTW: This is really cool – Hello to Laurie Monarez, a Sharp Record subscriber who is one of our wonderful Kansans serving in Iraq! Thank you for your service – our prayers are with you!
- Increased accounting of political contributions so that corporation and political action committees have more timely and transparent reporting of who is paying for what.
Personal Activities and Education
The following is my usual format for the Sharp Record. I wanted you to become familiar with it, but there isn’t must info – you’ll notice my official committee changes (Commerce, Corrections & Juvenile Justice, Higher Education). This email is more of a supplement to the Record, to give you more info on the Supreme Court opinion on education. I’ve been surfing the internet finding articles about the opinion, and compiling my thoughts from the rumor and conjecture that’s out-and-about… Here are a handful of articles and editorials from across the state. It should give you some comfort that our schools aren’t the only ones begging for help.
From the many conversations I’ve had over the past week, I have learned that if the legislature fails to heed the Court’s warning by April 12, it is my understanding that the Court cannot levy a tax. The Court would tell the Governor she must make allotments (program cuts from existing budget funds). Social services (disabled and the elderly), roads (think potholes), or corrections (early release of prisoners), which of these would you like to see? That is the situation we face. After the budget numbers come in on July 1, the Governor would most likely call a Special Session of the legislature and keep us in session until we come up with a suitable solution.
Johnson County Sun article, 1/6/04:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13690526&BRD=1459&PAG=461&dept_id=155725&rfi=6
Johnson County Sun - Steve Rose article 1/6/04:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13689429&BRD=1459&PAG=461&dept_id=155743&rfi=6
Kansas City Star article and editorial:
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascitystar/news/opinion/10557694.htm
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/10558835.htm
Wichita Eagle
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/10560366.htm
Salina Journal
http://www.saljournal.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/4098/format/html/displaystory.html
Pittsburg Morning Sun article and editorial:
http://morningsun.net/stories/010505/opE_20050105016.shtml
http://morningsun.net/stories/010405/loc_20050104007.shtml
Garden City Telegram article (GC ran the Wichita Eagle editorial):
http://www.gctelegram.com/news/2005/january/3/story1.html
Parsons Sun:
http://www.parsonssun.com/news/articles/010505ruling.html
Floor Activities
Nada. Nothin’. This week is basically organizational for the floor and for committee meetings.
Commerce and Labor
No meetings this week.
Corrections and Juvenile Justice (aka Kids and Crime)
Organizational meeting and bill introductions.
Higher Education
Organizational meeting.
Resources
Johnson County Statehouse Hotline! Call Topeka for free – 913-715-5000 and ask to speak with your Representative or Senator.
This week’s committee schedule:
LIVE! House or Senate Chamber
LIVE! Paperless House Health and Human Services Committee (1:30 – 3:00 pm daily):
Where’s Waldo (Rep. Sharp)? Dec 8, 2004 – Jan 12, 2005
(Besides session and committee meetings 9am – 5 pm)
- Women’s Assembly Health Committee
- Lunches:
- Lenexa Chamber
- Taste of KS, KS Restaurant and Hospitality Assn
- Receptions:
- Johnson County Convener (sponsored by nearly EVERY city, school district, and Chamber in the county!)
- Washburn University
- Kansas Association of Realtors
Stephanie Sharp
17th District, KS House
Serving Lenexa and Shawnee
913-894-1201