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Capitol Comments

January 29, 2001

As the third week of the 2001 session passes, virtually all of the activity remains at the committee level where proposed legislation is being explained and debated.

It is very rewarding to have the number of constituents come by my office, call, e-mail, or write to relay their concerns and/or opinions on the many various issues, locally and at the state level, which will affect our part of the state.  I regard their interest as a positive element in helping to shape good public policy.

REPORT RECEIVED ON TRANSPORTATION BILL

This past week my Senate Transportation Committee heard an overview presentation of the 2000-2009 Comprehensive Transportation Program by Dean Carlson, Secretary Kansas Department of Transportation. This program was funded with motor fuels tax increase, sales tax transfer and bonding.  This past summer the Department met with all chosen projects’ sponsors, as well as met internally on all projects, to discuss project details as city/county/state agreements are developed and project development and design begins.  Cowley and Sumner County have benefitted from the passage of this legislation.  There are several keys needed to the future success of the program, such as continued legislative commitment to funding, continued federal commitment to funding, economic environment and KDOT’s efficient execution.  The Secretary told the Committee that there are no excess revenues, that the margin between success and failure is getting thinner, and that KDOT is committed to the Program and will carefully manage the available funds.

EDUCATION

This week my good friend and colleague, Senator Christine Downey (D-Newton),  announced her plan which will increase the state’s efforts in recruiting, retaining, and retraining quality teachers (3 R’s) in our state.  Her well-thought out plan will go hand in hand with the high priority the Governor is placing on education this session.  Senator Downey, who is the ranking minority member on the Senate Education Committee and an educator herself,  acknowledges that there has been a lot of talk about education policy and funding and she believes the best way for children to learn the 3 R’s is to give teachers the proper tools which are the 3 R’s outlined in her plan.  It is projected that 50% of our teachers will retire within the next ten years and steps must be taken now to prepare to increase the number of persons who are going into teaching.

As I spoke to all U.S.D. 465 teachers at the opening of the school year, it was evident to me that we have highly qualified teachers in our schools, but lack any incentives for them to stay in their professions when the private sector offers them many advantages.  One of the tools we must develop is increasing salaries, not only to bring their salaries up to the national average, but also raise the starting salaries for teachers.  I truly believe our schools are doing a good job for the most part, but we are sorely lacking in teacher development, attracting new teachers, and retaining those teachers we do have.  I am hopeful that the Governor will step forward and support this most important plan to help the state recruit quality teachers, retain quality teachers and retrain quality teachers.

  HEARINGS ON NATURAL GAS COSTS DID NOT OFFER SOLUTIONS

I have been very sympathetic to my constituents struggling with the high natural gas payments they are receiving.  One call in particular was most disheartening when I learned that one small church in my district was forced to close their sanctuary and other rooms in their church in an effort to stave off further high gas bills which their small congregation cannot afford.  Their approximately $150 monthly gas bill climbed to $951 this past month.   We wonder how this can happen.  After listening to some of the many hours of hearings this past week addressing this critical problem, we certainly know of the problem but what is lacking is a solution which seems to be out of the legislature’s reach.  The federally deregulation of gas which was done many years ago has come to haunt us.  The high prices, for complicated reasons that didn’t start in Kansas, will not end in Kansas.  The Senate has had legislation introduced which would use the higher collected severance tax and some sales tax to be used for an assistance program for those individuals facing the exorbitant natural gas bills

IN CONCLUSION

I was pleased to be invited by Lt. Governor Gary Sherrer to accompany him to Winfield to attend the Winfield Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet last week.  The Cowley County area certainly is blessed to have such outstanding leaders who were recognized during the evening.  Every citizen of our area would truly benefit from hearing the exceptional message  highlighting economic development which the Lt. Governor so eloquently delivered.