WEEK #2 2006
Although it is still early in the session, much is going on. This week has been a flurry of activity with many different ideas being floated around the Capitol on where the priorities of the session should lie. There is a great deal of talk and hope that the concealed carry bill will come up again and it seems likely that the Governor will pass it this time. Of course Sexual Predator Laws are on the top of the list as well. Eminent domain is likely to be visited and I have heard that there are several bills that will take aim on that issue. After a veto last year of clinic licensing, it seems that the Governor wants a bill that she can sign that will allow her to redeem herself. This one will be studied closely to see if it really addresses an issue that did result in the death of a young woman last year and the final closing of a clinic that was so unclean and unprofessional as to be rated lower than most third world medicine.

ENERGY
I have not seen any bills that deal with wind energy, but we were briefed yesterday on the growing price of fuels in our nation and the fact that it is highly unlikely the cost will go down. The reason for that seems to be largely due to the world market and the fact that many nations are increasing their demand for fuel. Those nations have become competitors with the U.S. for foreign markets. We must aggressively strive to find alternative fuels and I feel we must consider the need to build more nuclear plants. Our chairman stated that natural gas is too valuable for other needs and should not be used to produce electricity. As for heating cost; the lowest price for heating your home right now is electricity unless you are like my husband who has a corn stove.

VETERANS
I had the privilege of speaking to the American Legion this week about veteran's issues. I am so inspired by the veterans that

I have come to know and their continued dedication to other veterans as well as to their country. There is currently a huge divide between the Kansas Commission of Veteran's Affairs whose director is set on disenfranchising the American Legion and VFW from that organization. The KCVA has closed field offices and therefore offering less service because of the lack of available service reps. This has resulted in fewer claims being filed and less revenue coming into the state from the federal government to help our veterans. This is not the time for petty politics from the director of the KCVA and I will do all that I can to address it.

THE ECONOMY
This week Senator Barnett exposed his plan for helping the economy of Kansas and showed in black and white why it needed to be done. In a press conference in the Capitol, the Senator showed how much slower Kansas is in the recovery from the recession and how the taxing practices of the state are adverse to attracting new business or stimulating the economy for faster growth. He also pointed out that the Governor's statement that there had been a reduction in the state workforce since she took office, was not sincere. As a matter of fact, Kansas has gone from 39,210 employees in 2003 to 40,425.5 in 2006. Those numbers do not include the non-FTE unclassified permanent positions. Meanwhile, Kansas lost 14,400 jobs in the private sector from 2000 to 2005. Kansas ranks 42nd in private sector job growth and the Median family income growth in Kansas places us @ 51st in the nation. Kansas needs a vision for recovery and we need a visionary to take us there.

"I believe it is very important that we make clear that the elected legislature is the only governing body with the power to appropriate money, and that is the constitutional amendment I will propose as governor" -- Senator Jim Barnett