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March 20, 2005
ssharp@ink.org
Friends:
New-and-improved newsletter software was glitching, I apologize for my delay this week. Check out the new pictures on the website: SMNW Principal Dr. Harrington, Fmr. Gov./EPA Chief Christine Todd Whitman, pages, and Capitol construction! I’ll keep this part short, it has been a hectic week.
Personal Activities and Education
Floor Activities
Commerce and Labor
Corrections and Juvenile Justice
Higher Education
Where’s Waldo
Resources
Personal Activities and Education
I testified in support of the breastfeeding bill I mentioned a couple of weeks ago. It was being heard in the Senate Public Health and Welfare committee. Because I was able to attach an amendment at the request of a constituent, I wanted to make sure the bill had a “voice from the House.”
The “Cancer Drug Repository” bill is moving right along, it was debated and passed out of the Senate.
Floor Activities
Budget, which always takes a long time, and deservedly so. There isn’t that much interesting in it – mostly the same as last year with some state employee pay changes and related benefits changes, except big changes in higher education funding. During debate, amendments were offered to strip funding from each individual university (community colleges were not affected by this). See the votes below.
Final Action 67-55, I voted NO.
This bill “robs Peter to pay Paul” by cutting higher education spending to come up with the revenues needed to fund the education budget we passed earlier this year. Although I support funding both, isn’t the point to encourage “lifelong learning”? It isn’t that bright to fund K-12 because the court says so, but to fund it by cutting funding for colleges!
On top of all that, you know what is coming next year – more tuition increases. Why don’t we hear from parents? I’m sure those of you with college kids are worried about rising tuition, but it’s not the schools’ fault – in fact, you are probably as shocked as I was to learn that Kansas State University, as just one example, only receives 27% of their budget from the state! The higher education community now calls our schools “state-subsidized” instead of “state schools”.
Here is the House Journal from March 17, 2005 – you can look up how each person voted on each of these amendments. A “yes” vote strips the funding, a “no” vote maintains higher education funding.
a) FHSU - 63-58
b) KSU - 61-59
c) KSU Extension - 64-58
d) KSU Veterinary Center - 62-61
e) ESU - 63-60
f) PSU - 62-59
g) KU - 61-60
h) KUMC - 62-61
Seems like I have a lot of Med Center docs, staff, and faculty in my district because I received a lot of emails on this one – this was a big vote (er, votes)… Those who have written me should take a close look at the legislators who voted for these cuts. i) WSU - 62-61
Commerce and Labor
No meetings – all of our bills are done! Although, I heard a nasty rumor that the Senate may be kicking something over for us to look at on Monday – more on that next week!
Corrections and Juvenile Justice
SB 27 – “The Meth Bill” a bill to require the starch-based pills containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine to be sold behind the pharmacist’s counter. What does this mean for you? Some of your starch-based (gelcaps and liquid caps are not included, so if you switch to one of those, no problem!) cold medicine will be a little harder to access, but all you have to do is ask for it from the pharmacist, sign your name to a log, and show your ID. This is a small price to pay for the benefits – Oklahoma has done this with amazing results in the reduction of meth labs and deaths.
Higher Education
We passed a bill that allows state universities to change classified employees to unclassified after a vote of the classified staff. SB 74 was pretty controversial. Seems to me like employees might not want to face merit raises or annual reviews? KU completed a successful pilot project and their employees have been very supportive.
Where’s Waldo (Rep. Sharp)? March 14 - 18, 2005
(Besides session and committee meetings 9am – 5 pm)
- Presented a plaque to Russ Kitchen and Jeff Asmus for the KS Small Business Excellence awards
- Lunches:
- Americans For Prosperity – hello to Maren Plagen
- Johnson County delegation sponsored by DeSoto city and school district
- Receptions/Dinners:
- KS Contractors Assn
- St. Patrick’s Day w/KS Chamber of Commerce and Industry
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! Paperless House Health and Human Services Committee (1:30 – 3:00 pm daily)
Please do not hesitate to contact me about these or any other issues of interest to you and your family. Be sure to stop by my office, or better yet, call ahead to let me know if you are coming to Topeka!
Stephanie Sharp
17th District, KS House
Serving Lenexa and Shawnee
913-894-1201