2006 Newsletters

To begin the week, Kansas State University was honored to host the President of the United States, George W. Bush, as a speaker at their Landon Lecture Series. Following the President’s visit, the first pieces of legislation of 2006 also reached the House floor this week. Votes were taken to eliminate discriminating covenants in homeowners associations, to extend the reporting period for city treasurers to publish their quarterly reports and to assess certain enhanced 911 (E911) fees for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers. Committees have also been busy listening to testimony on bills and reporting their recommendations to the Speaker of the House. Also being discussed is a Constitutional Amendment reinforcing that it is the Legislature and not the Courts that decide how tax dollars will be allocated. This is in further response to the Kansas Supreme Court decision on school finance that prompted the special session last year.

The House Judiciary Committee heard favorable testimony on HB 2612 this week which would establish a system of evaluation for judges. The bill received support from everyone who testified including several judges and the only question appeared to be how to fund such a system. An increase in docket fees was originally suggested, but met with some resistance considering the fees have increased each year for the past several years. Other funding sources will be considered. Proponents would also like to see the evaluations available online and in voters guides to ensure easy access to the information.

Several proposals have been suggested to rework the government’s power of eminent domain. First and foremost it is our aim to protect personal property rights. With this as the focus, we also recognize that eminent domain is an important tool for a government to acquire property for the public good. However, the taking of personal property must be compensated fairly and only for an overriding public need. The right of citizens to own personal property is one of the foundations of our society and cannot be compromised.

Several members of the Republican Caucus participated in a press conference this week announcing their support of an amendment to the Kansas Constitution reinforcing the Article Two power stating, “No money shall be drawn from the treasury except in pursuance of a specific appropriation made by law.” When the Kansas Supreme Court demanded more money for school finance and then went even farther by specifying exactly how much would be allocated, it is the feeling of many Republicans that the Court overstepped their authority. This amendment would prevent a repeat of this same or similar rulings by the Court in the future.

The Landon Lecture at Kansas State University was honored to host it’s third sitting President on Monday when George W. Bush spoke before a capacity crowd at Bramlege Coliseum in Manhattan. Senators Brownback and Roberts, Congressmen Ryun, Moran and Moore as well as several State legislators were in attendance. The President spoke for nearly two hours after his arrival on campus, which was delayed due to heavy fog cancelling his helicopter transport from Forbes Field in Topeka. Once on the ground the President explained his role as a decision maker and insisted that his decisions were based on principle. “First of all, when you make decisions, you've got to stand on principle. If you're going to make decisions, you've got to know what you believe. I guess the best way to summarize me is I came from Texas and I'm going back to Texas with the exact same values I had when I arrived in Washington, D.C.”, the President said. He also thanked the members of our military who were in attendance and seated to his right, filling two full sections of the coliseum. President Bush fielded multiple questions on topics such as Social Security, border security, international relations, education and family before his departure. He indicated his next appointment was in Washington and he would be attending a retirement dinner for Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan. The next Landon Lecture will be held Wednesday, February 22nd and U.S. Senator Sam Brownback is scheduled to speak.

Appropriations -- Overview and Discussion of Medicare Part D, February 1st

Commerce and Labor -- Workman’s Compensation, February 2nd

Judiciary -- DNA collection for certain crimes, January 31st; Persistent sex offender penalties, February 1st

Taxation -- 3 year phase out of the franchise tax, January 31st; Machinery and Equipment tax, February 1st