The House has had some interesting testimony and will continue to work these bills and others as well. Our first bills will be voted out of the House next week. I am looking forward to a positive and meaningful session. There is a great deal of hard work ahead of us including some significant illegal immigration legislation but we need some help getting this issue past the Democrats and the Governor. I look forward to reading your comments.

If you would like to be taken off this mail list please let me know in your reply.

Take Care,

Anthony

Working on the Agenda

The House is off and running towards the goals outlined in the House Republican Caucus Agenda. Though the house has not yet begun to debate legislation on the floor of the House, committees are already working bills that directly address the state's top legislative concerns.

EDUCATION
Republican House members have pledged to ensure our public school and universities maintain their high standards of education and to encourage our children to attend college in Kansas. The following bills address state funding for K-12 and Regents schools.

• HB 2028 has been introduced in the House Appropriations Committee. The bill increases the statewide property tax levy by way of local option budgets.
• HB 2047 is also working through Appropriations. This bill establishes a funding reserve in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 for the Regents's crumbling classrooms debt payment fund. It bears some similarity to SB 30 which is receiving a hearing tomorrow.

• HB 2031, the franchise tax repeal was introduced in the Tax committee and hearings began on Thursday, January 18, 2007.
  
• HCR 5005, proposes to amend the Kansas constitution to halt property value increases when the owner reaches the age of 65. It was referred to the House Taxation committee.
• HCR 5006, this resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to limit how much county appraisers can increase the value of property. This too was referred to the House Taxation committee.
• HB 2045 provides exemption on property taxation for certain fraternal societies, orders or associations, like the American Cancer Society. This bill has been introduced in the House Taxation committee.

The House Health and Human Services Committee heard from Kansas Medical Society President Dick Warner regarding the problems associated with increased employer and government provided insurance as compared to individually purchased insurance. His expert opinion leads credence to the initiatives put forth in the Republican Caucus Agenda, calling to reform the market for health insurance. Individuals must be encouraged to use their own resources to purchase health insurance, allowing them personal control of medical care in collaboration with their freely chosen physician and other health care professionals. The health committee will continue exploring this issue.

IMMIGRATION
Kansas citizens should not be burdened by the cost of state services for illegal aliens. Already Republicans have introduced legislation to address this problem by proposing HB 2050 which establishes English as the official state language. Additionally, HB 2023 which has been to the House Taxation committee that establishes a special guest worker payroll tax on income for non-citizens.

• HB 2050 designating English as the official language of the state of Kansas and concerning its use by state agencies and political or taxing subdivisions has been introduced in the House Federal and State Affairs Committee.
• HB 2023 was referred to Taxation. The bill imposes a special guest worker payroll tax on income earned in Kansas by certain non-citizens of the United States.

• HB 2086 provides for the creation of an independent transmission company in the state and was introduced in the Committee on Energy and Utilities.
• HB 2061 was referred to commerce and labor. The bill pertains to minimum wage increases and maximum hours law in conjunction with Federal levels.

• HB 2006 Alexa's Law which has pieces of the unborn victims of violence act, began hearings in the Judiciary Committee on Thursday, January 18th. See attached press release.
• HB 2074 This bill would allow a juvenile's fingerprints and photographs to be taken if arrested for a felony crime or class A or B misdemeanor or assault. Currently a juvenile cannot be processed unless he/she is arrested for a felony crime. The bill was referred to the committee on Judiciary.

• HB 2079 relates to corrupt political advertising. It establishes the crime of false election information and targets telephone calls made during elections. It has been introduced in Elections and Governmental Organization.
• HB 2019 pertaining to Advance voting and satellite voting sites began hearings on Tuesday, January 16th
• HB 2080 the committee on Elections and Governmental Organization will look at this act concerning governmental ethics as is relates to gift provided to state officers and employees.

By the numbers, the Governor's Budget:

• Is a $429 million increase, or 7.7% above the Governor’s current year recommendations.
• Puts State General Fund spending in excess of $6 billion, a record high
• Spends $327 million more than receipts for the budget year
• Establishes a 39.4% increase in State General Fund spending since FY 2004.
• Provides tax relief equivalent to .2% of expected revenue
• The Governor's budget irresponsibly spends down ending balances, provides little tax relief and does little to encourage economic growth and fiscal responsibility by way of tax relief, paying down the debt and future savings.

Next Week at the Statehouse
With the positive legislation working through the House committee process, we can expect the floor to see action next week. The House of Representatives will go on general orders beginning on Friday, January 19, 2007. For more information regarding bills currently in committee, please visit www.kslegislature.com