As the final days of the regular session approach, many bills are coming up that are tied up with other bills in conference committee reports. It becomes more difficult to be fully informed as to the content of each bill that comes before us, unless we are privileged to set in on the conference committee.

I am currently on conference committees for the Health and Human Services Committee and for the Social Services Budget Committee. It has been very interesting as we get together with the Senate Committee and try to iron out the differences.

HEALTHCARE REFORM ACT
One of the bills I have worked the hardest on this year has passed out of the House with strong bi-partisan support. Last week, it looked like the movement toward a positive approach to the future of health care was impossible because the members who pushed for expansion of gambling were blocking health care reform. A sudden transformation took place and they came on board. I’m still confused by this, but, nonetheless, very proud of being able to work on such key legislation. The bill that passed will strengthen the safety net clinics, encourage cafeteria health plans for small businesses (with incentives and help to set them up), help special populations of people to set up association plans, and move to reform Medicaid as we know it. There is still a lot to be done in the next couple of years to move toward this reform, but I am optimistic it will prove to set a new direction for our state.

PORK
In a typical move, STAR BONDS came up before the House and we heard various reasons to allow for more extensions for everything from parking garages in Wyandotte County to museums in Junction City. I cannot see that this does justice to the taxpayers of Kansas.

ZERO TOLERANCE
One of my disappointments this year has been the dissection of the Zero Tolerance bill in conference committee. A bill that started out as a strong deterrent to purchasing alcohol for minors or for minors to attempt to purchase or possess alcohol, has turned into a bill that closes a loophole in the social hosting laws in Kansas. I supported closing that loophole, but believe very strongly that the base bill would have proven to be a strong deterrent to underage drinking. I deeply appreciate the support of the many who engaged in the bill and were active in promoting it. Thank you.

HUMAN CLONING vs STEM CELL RESEARCH
An issue that has used misinformation more than truth has been laying beneath the public view through the majority of this session. I received letters from individuals telling me that SCNT has the greatest potential for lifesaving cures. SCNT is human cloning as defined by federal standards. It is the growing of a human embryo no matter what the environment. Adult stem cell research is a totally different matter. It is harvesting cells from any number of sources in the human body and has proven successful in replacing damaged heart muscle, skin, skull, muscle, tendons, and many childhood diseases, including Sickle Cell Anemia. It can be harvested from the individual that needs the treatment with little risk of rejection by their body. Umbilical cord blood has proven to be a rich resource for harvesting stem cells and there is so much promise in this research.

There have been no cures or promising treatments from SCNT or human cloning, yet many scientists want to experiment with human life. I am opposed to this type of experimentation and feel we should be cautious when considering going down that road. I received over 100 messages of support on my stand.

THANK YOU
At the end of this legislative session, I would just like to say a big thank you to all of those of you who have contacted me on issues; educated me on many topics, encouraged me when the going got tough and congratulated me when we had victories. I consider it a wonderful privilege to represent you.