Contact: Peggy Mast 620-343-2465 Some bills that were of particular importance to me are of course: the meth bill SB 27, which at this time is still in conference committee, SB147, which extends the time to prosecute certain crimes from 2 years to 5 years, (I have been working with a group that works to recognize and end abuse who have wanted this bill for some time so that victims of abuse have time to heal and deal with the abuse before prosecuting. That bill has been voted out and will come before the Governor soon.) HB2087 is also headed for the Governor’s desk. This is the identity theft bill that has been worked on for the past three years. Thanks to the diligence of the Emporia Police Department, KBI, and Randy Rogers of the Sheriff’s Association, it will now be much easier to prosecute and bring to justice, those who use false identities to commit fraud or identity theft. HB2088 the Baby Doe bill is still alive and waiting to be worked in the Senate Health Committee. The farm truck bill will be worked and passed next year (I promise). By far, the most difficult fight this year for me was HB2503 the Clinic Licensure Bill. It has now passed on to the Governor too. I hope that she will allow this needed legislation to become law.
It was an honor to have the Vietnam Veterans Wall placed in Emporia last weekend and for me to have a part in the opening ceremony. The displays were so moving, but even more impressive is the continued patriotism and commitment of our veterans. I find it a humbling experience to serve them. Many were there to pay tribute to their fallen comrades and to offer healing for those who still remember the price that is paid in service to our nation and a past when our nation turned against their own patriots.
This week the Conference Committee on School Finance released its report. This funding formula places more money into education than I have seen since serving in this position. To my amazement, the lobby for education would rather have nothing this year, than to see an increase. It is beyond my comprehension. The funding formula places an additional $115 in the base state aid per pupil. The actual increases per school in my district are: Lebo-Waverly by $146,134 – an increase of $258 per pupil. Burlington increases by $222,940 and $264 per pupil. Leroy-Gridley increases by $80,893 and $314 per pupil. North Lyon County increases by $162,896 or $276 per pupil. Southern Lyon County by $148,903 and $263 per pupil. Emporia increases by $1,903,923 and $413 per pupil. Questions have been raised about whether this bill will meet the concerns of the court, but it looks like the best thing for education that I have seen since coming to the legislature. I keep trying to remind individuals who express concerns that the Governor did not address any additional dollars for education this year and set the budget in such a way as to make funding for education very difficult. This is also the only chance to vote for education funding this year. I look forward to seeing you all at home soon. It is a pleasure to serve you in Topeka, but it is far better to be near to the ones that I represent.
An effort to address the possibility of an incident like the Terri Schiavo case in Florida where basic food and water is being denied a woman with brain damage passed the House last week. It entered the Senate as an amendment on another bill and was declared materially altered. That prevented it from any further action.
Thomas Jefferson
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