Dear Friends,

I apologize for not getting these out earlier but we have been extremely busy. We are really busy in committee working very large bills like Immigration, Corporate Income Tax, Credit Unions Vs. Banks, and Budget items.

I wanted to let you all know that I voted in favor of the Holcomb Energy Plant. I trust many of you understand that either way I voted I was supporting multi-BILLION dollar energy. I could support billion dollar coal or I could support billion dollar natural gas. There are several reasons why I voted in the fashion I did and I will list a few below. This has been an issue that makes this position so difficult. I do realize that on a controversial bill as this there will be winners and losers and I know some you will find displeasure in my vote. I am sorry to those folks that did not agree on this one, perhaps the next big issue we can be in agreement.

Reasons to support this legislation:

1. Kansas's best wind farm only produces energy 41% of the time. What are we to do the rest of the time? The answer is we have to "back-up" wind with Natural Gas Fired plants. This would drive up the need for gas and therefore drive up the cost of heating our homes.
2. Western Kansas would pay over 12 cents a Kilowatt hour while we in Eastern Kansas pay 3 cents a Kilowatt hour. Eventhough, I am parochial in a sense and want what is best for the 38th District I do not believe it is good policy to have such a wide disparity in energy costs from eastern to western Kansas.
3. This bill would establish a commission to examine our state's energy needs and environmental responsibilities - a science, not political based process.
4. Require public utilities to generate 20% of the their peak load from renewable resources.
5. Establishes net metering for solar.
6. Construction of high voltage transmission lines that wind energy can use to move power regionally and nationally.
7. Investment in the state of $3.5 BILLION
8. 4000 temporary jobs during construction
9. 300 PERMANENT high paying jobs in a region of the state that has typically had needs funded by eastern Kansas prosperity

I would like to hear your comments. I have of course I have attached two weeks worth of newsletters.

Take Care,
Anthony

It was a busy week on the House floor, with 28 bills on the debate calendar on Thursday. This week is the last week for a non-exempt bill to be considered in its chamber of origin. In order to meet that deadline, members spent most of the day Wednesday and Thursday on the floor debating bills.

House Republican Agenda Update

With the half-way point upon us, it is important to evaluate where we are at in 2008. At the time of this newsletter, here is the progress made by the House Republicans:

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. The budget continues to be at the forefront as we consider legislation this year. By keeping track of the fiscal notes we will meet our Agenda goal of limiting the budget increase to 5%. Items on recommended favorably for passage by the Committee of the Whole include:

Limiting downward departure from sentencing guidelines. HB 2732, Responds to concerns regarding departures from the sentencing guidelines that have resulted in probation or very short sentences for persons convicted of crimes like rape, aggravated indecent liberties and electronic solicitation of a child.

Increases penalties for theft and aiding escape. HB 2845, Increases the penalties for theft of property from the Department of Corrections (DOC) additionally, raises the penalty for any employee, volunteer of the DOC, or employee or volunteer of a contractor of DOC. The bill corrects the weakness in the law discovered via recent escape. Additionally, there are bills in exempt committees that considerably advance the 2008 Agenda:

Immigration

There are several bills currently being heard in committee, these bills include HB 2370, HB 2680, HB 2774, HB 2836, and HR 6009. The goal of all of these bills is to relieve the burden of the cost of state services for illegal aliens on Kansas taxpayers, ensure that state and federal immigration laws are enforced, and to assist legal immigrants to assimilate into the Kansas culture and economy. With that in mind, the members are working diligently to craft a bill that meets the needs of our constituency.

Energy

The energy plan that the House passed is now in conference committee. Members of the conference committee will begin their work Friday when both chambers finish considering bills prior to turn around day.

Coming next week:

Work will begin on the bills that originated in the Senate and committees will continue work on the exempt bills.

It is an honor to serve you in the House of Representatives. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me or my staff.