State Budget

The Social Services Budget committee I serve on is often very disheartening, especially when we know dollars are tight this year. This week, we spoke with law enforcement from across the state who revealed the back-up in our county jail system to get individuals into evaluation and treatment at our state mental hospitals. We started out this session learning that mental health dollars have been cut, and now we learn the state hospitals are underfunded and understaffed. SRS has proposed a mobile unit that could be sent out to jails across the state, but the system would cost taxpayers $320,000. Local taxpayers already bear the cost of prescriptions, medical care, and other expenses while these inmates wait to be worked through the system.

Meanwhile, I continue to hear from state employees who desire raises and longevity bonuses. These have been held up while a special committee drafts legislation to address it.

Illegal Immigration

Hearings were held in the House this week on a bill to address illegal immigration. I heard from some who had concerns about the E-Verify system that will be required for employers to verify legal status of employees. I would encourage constituents to check out the website www.uscis.gov for themselves. We had a demonstration and it looks like a great way to address problems with identity theft and legal status, plus this gives employers proof that they have attempted to address the problem.

School Funding

School funding hit the floor on Wednesday and there was endless debate over a few bills that would change the formula. The first bill was an attempt to push toward more consolidation. Since the lawsuit against the state, it is true the larger districts want to force consolidation of the smaller ones. The bill failed to pass on to final action.

The Second bill was intended to benefit the largest districts and passed out easily, but was defeated on final action. One of the positive debates addressed the need to diagnose and treat dyslexia. I spoke on behalf of the amendment that would put this on the front burner. I was shocked and dismayed that the majority of the body spoke against the measure.

The following day was dominated by discussion of education as well with another bill that would push toward more consolidation and a discussion of all day kindergarten.

Health Care

I have once again taken a position on a subcommittee that is dedicated to health care reform. The committee is chaired by Rep. Jeff Colyer. We will start next week working to move health care in Kansas forward in a positive way.

Blown in the Wind

An amendment that would pay 200% stranded cost for net metering of wind was debated on the House Floor this week. It sounds very good on the surface until you realize this would raise the cost of electricity in a big way and would mean those who could afford to put wind turbines up would be subsidized by those who could not afford the turbines. Meanwhile in Texas, a brownout occurred because the wind did not blow at a crucial time to supply the needs to keep the current static. p> Quote of the Week

"What our country deserves from everyone who enjoys its fruits and freedoms is a little more gratitude - and a lot less greed."

Michelle Malkin