I was quoted as being "stunned and concerned by what I learned."

The post audit findings lead me to believe we are failing Kansans who need our help the most and failing Kansas businesses by not being good stewards of the money they pay into the unemployment insurance fund. Unemployed Kansans need more than a temporary handout - they need a hand up to a good paying job.

I immediately turned the results of the audit over to the Chair of Business, Commerce, and Labor as well as the Speaker's office and asked them to make sure follow-up was done and that we somehow build accountability back into this bureaucracy. The Committee is now having hearings on the problem. Kansas law has been broken by the actions of the agency, yet the Secretary claims that he has the right to write any rules and regulations that he chooses.

This week, our committee will be hearing a report on the Department of Commerce.

WOLF CREEK
This week, we debated a bill that would allow Wolf Creek power plant to expand their capacity and receive tax breaks to accomplish it. We have also voted on bills that would help the utility companies to receive some recovery from the expenses they experienced from the recent ice storm. We continue to talk about expansion of wind energy and broadband.

HEALTH CARE TASK FORCE
As our task force moves forward with attempting to find alternatives to our Governor's move toward socialized medicine, we have been briefed by the Health Policy Authority. Marcia Nielsen testified before our committee that when the Federal Government announced the necessity to have appropriate documentation to receive Medicaid funding; 18,000 to 20,000 individuals could not come up with proof of identity or proof of citizenship. The Health Policy Authority is now writing each previous recipient of the benefits and instructing them to go to their local community health departments for health care. This will put more stress on our local community health departments.

I asked Director Nielsen if she was working to help address the needed funding for the local communities that would result from this burden, and she responded that it was not her duty to do so.

FARM BUREAU
It was so good to have Mr.& Mrs. Brett Skillman from New Strawn up to brief me on Farm Bureau issues. From materials that they furnished to me, I learned that the average Kansan works only 36 days a year to supply the food that they need in comparison to 77 days to pay their federal taxes. I also had the opportunity to learn that U.S. consumers spend only 10% of their disposable income on food compared to Japan 14%, Israel 20%, China 26%, Philippines 38% and Indonesia 55%

A SPECIAL VISITOR
I want to thank a good friend and a great pastor Chester Morris of the New Covenant Church for coming this week to speak at our prayer breakfast and to open the House Chambers with prayer.

SPECIAL THANKS
A special thanks to all of those at home who pray for us up here; who send messages of encouragement and who come to page and intern for me. I have a very special husband who sent me flowers this week when I was down and a great secretary who has the patience of Job. Thanks to all of you.