Good Afternoon Everyone:
I hope you have all been able to enjoy the warmer weather the last couple of days. We’ve been spending many hours here inside the capitol trying to get bills passed out of committee before our Turnaround deadline next week, which is a deadline where bills are supposed to be out of their house of origin or they die. Of course, there are ways to get around the deadline, but it seems to give legislators a goal. I was very happy to get to see people from The Guidance Center in Leavenworth and the University of Kansas Hospital this week. I think the highlight for legislators this week was to meet current Green Bay Packer and former K-State football player Jordy Nelson and his wife Emily. They were in the capitol being recognized for his accomplishments on the football field and his work in the community.
As always if you would like your name removed from our email list or if you know of someone we should add, please just email us back. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
Best,
Kelly
Senator Kelly Kultala
Kansas District 5
Wyandotte & Leavenworth Counties
Legislative Update
Week 6
Senator Kelly Kultala
February 18, 2011
IN THIS ISSUE:
· Last Day for Committees
· Rep. Margaret Long Interchange Bill Passes Senate
· District Happenings
· Expansion of Beer and Liquor Sales Bill
· Senate Passes Rescission Bill
· Unemployment Insurance Debated
· Safety Presentations for Motor Carriers
· Nominations Open for Business Appreciation Month
· Important State Phone Numbers
LAST WEEK FOR COMMITTEES
We are getting very close to turnaround – the deadline for most bills to clear their house of origin. Next Tuesday will be the last day for committees to meet at their regularly scheduled times. The rest of the week will be spent all day on the floor, and conference committees will meet as needed.
As our days become busier and busier, it’s important that I hear from constituents about the issues the legislature is addressing. Please feel free to call my legislative office, or e-mail me with any concerns you may have.
Also, please feel free to visit the Capitol during this exciting time. All House and Senate sessions are open to the public. And live broadcasts of Senate and House proceedings can be found at www.kslegislature.org. To hear legislative proceedings, just click on the “Listen in Live” link.
I am honored to serve as your Senator. My office is located in room 124-E. Please feel free to visit or contact me at 785-296-7357, if you should have any questions.
REP. MARGARET LONG INTERCHANGE BILL PASSES SENATE
SB 58, which would name the interchange at the juncture of U.S. 24 & K-7, the Rep. Margaret Long Interchange, passed the Senate unanimously last Tuesday. I sponsored this bill and carried it on the floor of the Senate to honor former State Rep. Margaret Long for her many years of service to the 36th House District and her ten years of work as the Ranking Democrat on the House Transportation Committee. Rep. Long was responsible for steering the T-Works Comprehensive Transportation Plan through the House last year. The T-Works plan will put over 170,000 people to work over the next ten years.
DISTRICT HAPPENINGS
· Congratulations to Leavenworth natives Robin Grenier and Jonathan Martens for being named to the 2011 edition of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. Students are selected based on their academic achievement, service to the community, leadership in extracurricular activities and potential for continued success.
· Taste of Leavenworth - A sampling of Leavenworth's finest in food, beverages, music, businesses, artisans, silent and live auction; fundraiser for the Leavenworth Historical Museum Association, Old Sears location-Leavenworth Plaza, 3400 S. 4th St, 5:30-10:30pm. 913-682-1023 (Always call and confirm events.) Email Address : dsanders15@yahoo.com
· In a Monday night board meeting, the Lansing Board of Education voted to begin the process of purchasing 24 new school buses. The purchase will allow the district to have better-control driver selection, and is expected to save the district money.
· The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/KCK will be hosting its 19th Annual Black History Banquet on Saturday, February 19th at 6p.m. This year’s theme is “From the Homeland to the Heartland”.
· Presentation on 'Frontier Feminist' to be Feb. 20. A presentation about Clarina Howard Nichols, a pre-Civil War-era feminist and abolitionist in the Quindaro area of Wyandotte County, is planned for Sunday, Feb. 20, in Kansas City, Mo. Marilyn Blackwell and Kristen Oertel, who wrote the book, “Frontier Feminist,” will make a presentation at 2 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Kansas City, Mo., Central Library, 14 W. 10th, Kansas City, Mo.
EXPANSION OF BEER AND LIQUOR SALES BILL
SB 54, which would allow the sale of beer, wine and liquor in convenience stores and grocery stores, had hearings this week in the Senate Federal & State Affairs Committee. Proponents, opponents and neutral parties presented testimony for 3 days. The bill also creates 3 types of liquor licenses, limits the number of liquor licenses available in the state with a moratorium on Class C licenses for 3 years and allows retail liquor stores to sell grocery items. The bill may be discussed and worked in committee next Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 10:30 am in Room 144-S.
SENATE PASSES RESPONSIBLE RESCISSION BILL
On Monday, a bipartisan coalition joined together to pass a responsible rescission bill. While the rescission plan is far from perfect, it addressed a critical issue for Kansas public schools.
As you may be aware, the governor’s FY2011 budget proposes $50 million in cuts to Kansas public schools. If these cuts are implemented, Kansas would fall out of compliance with federal maintenance of effort guidelines for special education funding.
Had we not passed a plan that funded these mandates, the state would forfeit more than $100 million in federal funds that could be used in future budget years. Those funds won’t ever be replaced, even if we maintain funding in the future. After school districts have already absorbed $241 million in cuts in just two years, it would have been unfair to punish school children further.
Because the House and Senate rescission plans differ, a conference committee has been appointed to find a compromise. As discussions continue I hope that both chambers will stand united behind one of our core Kansas values – the value of education.
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DEBATED
On Tuesday, the Senate approved a bill that will change unemployment insurance mandates. The bill would make two major changes to current state law. First, it would eliminate the trailing spouse clause. Second, it would reinstate a waiting week before unemployed workers could receive benefits.
During debate, an amendment was proposed to eliminate the waiting week and keep the trailing spouse clause. I voted for this amendment; unfortunately it failed.
For decades, unemployed workers have waited a full week before receiving benefits so claims could be manually processed. Current technology has made this practice outdated and unnecessary. And in 2007, the legislature eliminated the waiting week.
As we all know, utility bills, rent, and food expenses don’t wait when a worker is unemployed. By providing immediate relief, we support workers’ living costs during a period of unemployment and help stabilize the economy.
Under the “Trailing Spouse” clause, a person who quits their job because a spouse has been transferred can still apply for unemployment benefits. That means, if your spouse transfers to a job in Oklahoma, you could join your spouse out-of-state without losing your benefits. Eliminating this clause makes it even more difficult for families to stay intact.
SAFETY PRESENTATIONS FOR MOTOR CARRIERS
In the coming months, the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) will be hosting a number of safety presentations across the state for motor carriers.
Although most of us believe that motor carriers only apply to semi-trucks, state law considers motor carriers to be any single or combination vehicle weighing 10,000 pounds or more. That means trucks with attached trailers, limousines and school buses, among others.
Anyone operating one of these vehicles is required by law to comply with all KCC regulations and statutes, including:
· Alcohol and Controlled Substance Programs
· USDOT Number & Marking Requirements
· Accident Register File
· Drive Qualification Files
· Hours of Service Regulations
· Insurance Requirements
· …and more
To find out when KCC representatives will be visiting our community, visit www.kcc.state.ks.us or call the Kansas Trucking Connection at 785-271-3145.
NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS APPRECIATION MONTH
The Kansas Department of Commerce is now accepting applications for the 2011 Kansas Business Appreciation Month Award. Nominations will be accepted in the following categories:
· Manufacturing/Distribution
· Retail
· Service
· Hospital/Non-Profit
KDOC will select local businesses in each category that drive our economy and strengthen our communities by providing jobs and supporting civic activities. Businesses can be nominated by an individual or organization. More than one business may be nominated by the same person.
The deadline for nominations is Friday, April 1st. To submit an online nomination, visit www.KansasCommerce.com/BAM.
No comments:
Post a Comment