Legislative report by Kyle Hoffman —(Editor’s note — The following is the legislative report for March 5, 2013 by state representative of the 116th District. Reports from other legislators are encouraged. Sumner Newscow does not discriminate on reports provided).

 

Snow, snow, and more snow

With the snow storm blanketing the state the last couple of weeks, the legislature has been faced with some weather delays while trying to finish our business by our “Turnaround” deadline.  For everyone’s safety, the legislature closed on Thursday, February 23rd and delayed business on Tuesday February 26th by two hours. Although it’s been inconvenient for some, I know we are all thankful for the moisture and I am sure kids back home had as much fun as mine did playing in the aftermath of the “Blizzard of Oz”.

On Friday, March 1st, the Legislature finished up its halfway point, ending turnaround on schedule. The House has passed out 130 bills that will now go to the Senate for consideration.  Several were important pieces of legislation, when we return after the short break, we will continue to work on unresolved issues like tax policy, budget, education policy and funding, liquor laws, and corporate farming.

I appreciate those that have contacted me on many of these and other issues.  While we may not always agree on every issue, hearing what you are concerned about is important to me.

Please remember, committee schedules, bills, and other helpful information can be easily accessed through the legislature’s website atEQUAL ACCESS ACT

This last week by a vote of 71 to 53, the House passed to the Senate for consideration HB 2221, referred to as the Equal Access Act and would modify the Professional Negotiations Act.

The bill would require local school boards to give equal access of their professional employees’ email or physical addresses and to allow equal access for all professional employees’ associations to attend new teacher or employee school orientations and other meetings. Local school boards would also not be allowed to designate any day or breaks in a school year by naming or referring to the name of any professional employees’ association. Additionally, current law would be amended by the bill to expand the definition of “professional employees’ organizations” to include those existing for the purpose of professional development or liability protection.

HB 2221 would serve to ensure that all organizations that offer services for teachers are afforded equal access to the teachers in Kansas. A school board would not be able to give exclusive access of its teachers to one organization or another.

This will better provide that teachers are aware of all the resources available to them, particularly with regards to professional development and liability protection.

RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARDS

Several years ago during the Holcomb Power Plant debate, in an effort to move the plant forward, a compromise was reached and the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) was created. 

The RPS requires the state’s investor-owned and cooperative utilities to generate or purchase 10 percent of their electricity from eligible renewable resources in the years 2011-2015, 15 percent in the years 2016-2019, and 20 percent by 2020.

While I will agree the mandate has created a bigger market for renewables and our area has benefited with the buildup of wind energy, I don’t like mandates that take away from the free market and the ability of our utilities to make decisions based on economics and not politics.  With that in mind, another compromise was put forward this week in HB2241, that would repealed the 20 percent benchmark and set the new date to comply with the 15 percent to 2020.

I personally would like to get rid of the mandate, but most of our utilities are close to meeting the 15 percent and several have reached the 20 percent level so they have been neutral on the bill.  I thought the bill was a good compromise to getting us back to a more free market approach quicker, but I am not sure the timing is right, so Thursday I voted with the majority in the House to send the bill back to committee for further review.

I believe that wind power has been positive for the state and the RPS has probably helped that build up, but I believe as we go forward the approach needs to focus on the economics and not what looks good politically.

FEBRUARY REVENUE RECEIPTS

This week we received a report from the Legislative Research Department regarding the revenue receipts for February. Unfortunately, the revenues were down about $29 million or 11 percent for the month from estimates. However, we are up about $65 million for the fiscal year which ends June 30th.

The most depressed revenue stream for February was individual income tax, bringing in about $7 million or $33 million short of the target. The Department of Revenue attributed this downturn to an uptick in taxpayers filing for rebates.  Sales tax for the month came in at $166.2 million which was less than a million below the original estimate.

These reports are important as we continue to work on the budget and tax policy.  We will get a revised revenue estimate report in April.  This report will help us finish up the work and ensure that we have a balanced budget when we adjourn in May.

2ND AMENDMENT PROTECTION ACT

With the debate on the 2nd Amendment once again heating up in Washington, after turnaround, the Kansas House will get a chance to reaffirm its stance in regards to gun control.  House Bill 2199, called The Second Amendment Protection Act, seeks to block federal gun laws and executive orders.

The Second Amendment Protection Act, states that any personal firearm, accessory or ammunition that is owned or manufactured in Kansas and that remains in the state is not subject to federal law. Federal authorities trying to enforce any kind of rule on such a firearm would face possible prison time.  This may possibly be a first step in asserting the 10th Amendment rights of a state found in the US Constitution.

This bill, is a bold contrast from many bills currently introduced in other states, I hope it will get the attention of gun manufacturers who find themselves operating in states that are adding more gun restrictions and are looking to move to a more gun friendly state.

It will certainly be an exciting and I expect a vigorous debate on the House Floor.  I am a strong supporter of your right to own a firearm and I look forward to representing this fundamental Kansas value in the House.

LIBRARIAN OF YEAR

The architecture of the Capital building is truly awe-inspiring and nothing exemplifies this more than the newly remodeled state library.  With crisp, polished brass shelves and hand painted ceilings the library is definitely a place to visit when you are at the capital.

Our state librarians do a tremendous job of making the library a place that stands out among others in the nation.  Recently this effort was noticed by the Library Journal, which monitors libraries and librarians throughout the nation, and was rewarded.  Jo Budler, the State Librarian of Kansas was named Librarian of the Year, the highest honor that can be bestowed on a librarian.  She won this reward for her extraordinary effort in being a good-stewardess of public funding and her commitment to making books available for all Kansas citizens.  When her plan to make E-books available to all Kansans for free came under fire from rival book companies, Jo held her ground and set a precedent for not just libraries in Kansas, but all over the nation.

Jo started working at the Kansas Capital in 2010 and says she always enjoys the flurry of activity that comes from a new legislative year.  Jo says working at the Capital is “like going from one good moment to the next”.   Jo Budler is an excellent example of what Kansans can do and her devotion to expanding education opportunities and wise spending policies make her an excellent worker in the Capital.

VISITORS

Would your Junior-Senior High student like to be a page for a day at the Capitol?  The date available is; March 27.  If this date doesn’t work, but you would like to page, please call, we may be able to add more dates.  Along with paging on the House floor, they will also get a guided tour of the Capitol and their picture with the Governor; if interested, please contact my secretary June at 785-296-7643.

Capitol visitors and District meetings. 

This last two weeks I enjoyed meeting with several constituents from back home, thank you for coming and visiting.  One of my favorite events that occur every year is the 4-H Citizenship in Action Conference.  This year I enjoyed spending the evening with Barber County Extension Agent Robin Eubank, and Barber 4-Hers Sierra Cargill, Carrie Roland, and Kim Doman as well as Kim’s Mom, Paula Doman.

I’ll be happy to arrange a time to meet with you individually, but even if you are unable to come to Topeka, I’m always interested in hearing your thoughts on what you’re hearing around the district.  It’s very helpful for me when I have reliable feedback.  I am setting up meetings in the district so please watch the local paper or my website to find out when I will be in your area.

In closing

As always, I welcome your comments as I work through this session.  I want to thank you for this opportunity and I consider representing you a great honor.

Please feel free to forward this newsletter to your neighbors in District 116.