Dear Friends,

We have been hearing loud and clear about the Energy Bill. Just a quick peice of information; the House Republicans have had meeting with House Leadership after which the bill was stopped. The bill remains in committee but at least we have slowed the process to allow everyone to weigh in on this subject before we proceed.

Take Care,

Anthony

One month into the session and committees are hard at work. The House Energy and Utilities Committee heard testimony and will be working HB 2711 on Friday. Elections and Government Organizations Committee is gearing up for an important discussion on property rights. We anticipate many bills making their way to the House floor next week.

Missouri Lawmakers React to Kansas Tax bill

In reaction to passage of HB 2641 by the Kansas House, Missouri lawmakers hurried a tax repeal bill though their chambers this week. The bill eliminates the property tax deduction for residents of any state that does not give Kansas residents the same deduction. As a result, Missouri Legislators have drafted an identical bill that would reestablish the deduction. This is a major victory for the House and its Leadership who have worked closely with Missouri lawmakers to ensure that Kansas citizens are treated fairly.

Energy

All eyes are on the House Energy and Utilities Committee this week as it works HB 2711, which allows for expansion of the Sunflower coal plant in Holcomb with and establishes new environmental regulations. Specifically the bill establishes a carbon tax emissions cap and net metering. They would be the first environmental regulations in the nation imposed at the state level. Speaker Neufeld formed a Select Committee on Energy and Environment for the Future earlier this week charged with establishing long-term energy policy. The Select Committee will be chaired by Representative Don Myers (R –Derby).

Budget

Other than the energy bill, sound fiscal policy is the driving force this session. The budget committees are hard at work hearing agency requests. In this tough fiscal time, the best approach for these agencies is to find the money internally by taking a close look at how they have allocated budget dollars in the past and cut out wasteful spending and outdated or under-performing programs. The House Appropriations committee voted in favor of a set of guidelines for the FY 2009 budget. These guidelines call for the committees to eliminate from the Governor’s budget all but the required increases in State General Fund Spending. This is includes proposed budget enhancements and assumed gaming revenues. This places even more strain on the State General Fund. Also included is support for the State Employee Pay Plan and the five year transition to a new state pay system. Essentially it will hold salary adjustments to 1.5% instead of the 2.5% recommended by the Governor.

Bills

Sub for HB 2336, An act concerning sales taxation; relating to exemptions; food disaster emergencies; certain construction materials and services.

HB 2730, An act relating to public finance; creating the Kansas taxpayer transparency act; defining terms; requiring the secretary of administration to develop and operate a specified website; enumerating information which shall be made available on such website; establishing a time period covered for information on such website; establishing the public finance transparency board and prescribing its duties; and providing for nondisclosure of certain information.

HB 2495, An act concerning income taxation; relating to corporations; surtax.

HB 2774, An act concerning immigration; requiring the adjutant general to request certain information from the United States immigrations and customs enforcement and to establish communications with certain foreign countries.

HB 2775, An act concerning governmental ethics; requiring the reporting of lobbying expenses by municipalities.

HB 2777, An act concerning school districts; relating to school finance.

HB 2780, An act concerning criminal procedure; relating to conditional release