|
|
Back to Newsletters
Dear Friends,
Please look through the following information and let me know what you think. Let me know if you have received the survey I sent out. I sent over 6000 surveys please respond so I can get a good idea for how the district I represent feels on important issues facing us this year.
Take Care,
Anthony>
Summary of Legislative Events - Week 2
February 15th, 2008
Weekly Summary
Five weeks into the 82nd regular legislative session and everyone is hard at work. Budget committees are working to strip out funds not mandated or essential to reduce spending as much as possible. Full committees are covering a range of issues effecting everyday Kansans and the House had its first lively debate on the floor of the House.
Budget Transparency
Earlier this week the House debated HB 2730, which sustains a searchable public website containing data from the State’s central accounting system, and the central payroll system. The website would include financial data from FY 2002 forward. House Republicans recognize the importance of transparency in budgeting which is why this was a top agenda priority for the 2008 session. Transparency in spending encourages agency funding accountability, forces improvement in how dollars are spent and clarifies for citizens how their government serves them. HB 2730, which passed the House 119-3, builds on the Kansas Taxpayer Transparency Act of 2007 and is the first of its kind in the nation.
Energy
This week the Senate debated and passed 33-7, Senate Sub for HB 2066, concerning the environment; electric generation; transmission and efficiency; and air emissions. After several hours of debate on Tuesday, the House Energy and Utilities committee passed its version of the bill, House Sub for SB 327, commonly referred to as the Holcomb coal-plant bill. The bill passed the full Senate with a vote of 33-7. The House plans to debate the measure early next week.
It is important to remember that the denial of the Holcomb plant has created an atmosphere of uncertainty for potential developers in Kansas and that House Republicans are committed to finding responsible and cost effective solutions for future energy needs. A comprehensive energy policy is necessary to supply Kansans with the energy they need and balance the regulatory aspects that create a responsible and reasonable atmosphere for businesses. By working together we can ensure access to reliable, affordable energy today and for generations to come.
Setting the Pace
To date the Kansas House of Representatives has voted on eleven bills, making progress on the 2008 House Republican Agenda.
2008 Agenda Items now Passed Include:
Expansion of Satellite Voting Statewide in Kansas.
SB 65, unanimously passed the House, allows all county election officers to designate advance satellite voting locations.
Resolution of the tax issue with Missouri for taxes paid by those who work across stateliness.
HB 2641, unanimously passed the House, eliminates the property tax deduction for residents of any state that does not give Kansas residents the same deduction.
Expansion of state budget transparency.
HB 2730, passed 119-3, creates a searchable database for Kansans to keyword-search their government’s receipts and expenditures.
Other Items Passed:
HB 2071, passed 107-10, designates certain highways as veterans’ memorial highways.
SB 366, passed 107-15, Allows district court to charge a $5 fee for mailing notification of driver's license suspension.
SB 157, passed 102-19, Requires Wildlife & Parks to purchase liability insurance for agency watercraft.
SB 49, passed 112-9, requires voice over internet protocol (VOIP) service providers pay into the KS Universal Service Fee Fund.
HB 2637, passed 109-12, automatically enrolls low-income Kansans into the Lifeline service program.
HB 2617, passed 117-5, allows officer to direct the operator of a motor vehicle to be tested for drug and/or alcohol use under the States informed consent law.
HB 2621, unanimously passed the House, addresses the child custody issues faced by service members who are deployed; deployment may not be used against him or her in change of custody hearing.
The Week Ahead
Committees will wrap up hearings on assigned House bills prior to “turn-around,” the legislative deadline scheduled for March 1st, the House will work bills originated by House members and committees while the Senate does the same. After this deadline, the House then hears Senate bills for the remainder of the regular session and the Senate hears bills already passed by the House.
Back to Newsletters
|
|
