Jill's Journal

April 24, 2009

Chat with Jill    

10-Noon   Saturday, April 25th   HyVee at 87th & Pflumm

This Saturday, the 25th, is the April “Chat with Jill.”  Join me for an informal discussion of the regular session and the upcoming veto session.  This is a time to talk personally or in a small group, for a few minutes or the entire two hours.

More Kansas History

Many of you have mentioned that you enjoyed the Bleeding Kansas Bios.  For you history buffs, check out this website created by Charles Clark, current Prairie Village City Councilman and volunteer at the Shawnee Indian Mission:  http://kansasboguslegislature.org/index.html.  Here is an excerpt from the site.

The First Kansas Territorial Legislature, meeting in 1855, was called the "Bogus Legislature" by its free-state opponents. Its thirty-eight members were chosen for office in an election in which 5,000 Missouri "voters," led by Senator David Atchison and his followers, took over the polls in Kansas Territory. The Bogus Legislature quickly adjourned from its appointed meeting place on the prairie, four days ride to the west, to the more convenient Shawnee Manual Labor School, near the Missouri line. Its pro-slavery members adopted the statutes of Missouri as the law of Kansas; they enacted the infamous "Black Law" with criminal sanctions for helping fugitive slaves, or even advocating that "persons have not the right to own slaves in [Kansas] territory"; and they disenfranchised territorial voters by appointing all the first county officials by legislative fiat.

Much of what followed in the unhappy history of "Bleeding Kansas" was a consequence of these actions. Most settlers had come to Kansas for cheap land without much thought for politics. Free-state organizers Charles Robinson, James H. Lane and others were able to turn the resentment the Bogus Legislators aroused into political action. Soon there was a Free-State political party and even a competing free-state Legislature. The pro-slavery forces fought back against these "unlawful" acts of free-state men, creating their own "Law and Order" political party and mobilizing the "Kansas Militia" to put down the free-state rebellion.

Jill’s Activities

Meal, tour, and presentation at the Midwest Sikh Gurdwara during their celebration of Vaisakhi.  Members shared the history and principles of their faith and gave a tour of their place of workship.  For more information about the Midwest Sikh Association, go to www.kcmsa.org.

Tour of Head Start of Shawnee Mission serving children and families with incomes at or below 100% of the federal poverty level ($18,000 annually for a family of 3) who live within the Shawnee Mission school district boundaries.  I found dedicated teachers; students achieving academically, socially, and emotionally; and money well spent.

Tour of Lenexa United Methodist Preschool during their Spring Open House and Book Fair.  An evening filled with parents, family, and neighbors all excited over the achievements of their student.  

Tour of public schools in the 17th District:  Shawnee Mission Northwest, Shawnee Mission West, Trailridge Middle School, Westridge Middle School, Rising Star, Shawanoe, Rhine Benninghoven, Christa McAuliffe.   I heard about individual and building-level successes, new programs, the impact of budget cuts, and AYP progress.  I also toured the buildings to meet students and teachers, to see education in action, and to admire the bond construction projects.

CASA of Johnson and Wyandotte Counties Promise of Hope Luncheon.  Their mission is to empower abused and neglected children with a volunteer’s voice in court seeking a safe and permanent home for each child.

Lenexa Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Luncheon where Representative Ron Worley and I discussed legislation from the session, our outlook for the veto session and the budget with about 30 Lenexa business members.

The Close of the Regular Session

The regular session of the Kansas Legislature ended on April 3.  That week was a flurry of action on bills.  There is a lot of bundling of bills at this time.  There is no limit to the number of bills that can be bundled together  into one bill except that they must all deal with the same subject.  Here is an example:  House Substitute for SB145.  This bill has three parts:  

• A requirement that motorists drive on the right, (SB145)  
• Increased fees for overweight or oversized vehicles (SB 300 and HB 2146), and 
• Raising the axle weight limit for cotton modules (Sub for SB 145).  

These three parts all have the common subject of vehicles.  What makes this challenging is that some of these parts were never debated on the floor of the House, in this case the “Move Right” portion.  

In addition, it is likely that even the portion of the bill on which you already voted was changed in conference committee.  Not to mention the possibility of supporting some portions of the newly bundled bill but being against others!  The debate/discussion on the House floor becomes very important as does speed reading the committee report.  There are lots of moving parts to each bill at this time of year.  Steve Kraske comments on some of the problems with bundling in the KC Star online at:  http://www.kansascity.com/news/columnists/steve_kraske/story/1149715.html.

The Upcoming Veto Session

The main order of business is passing a balanced budget for 2010.  The Consensus Revenue Estimating Group predicted a $328M deficit for 2010.  That means more cuts or finding ways to increase revenue.  The House Appropriations Committee has drafted proposed legislation which will be considered by the House when we return to the Capitol on April 29th; likewise, the Senate Ways and Means Committee has drafted a bill for the Senate to consider.  The House budget subcommittees were asked to make additional 5% across the board cuts to agencies.  Those cuts coupled with temporary delays in tax cuts for estates, franchise, corporations, severance and other measures could come close to the $328M needed.

Several bills have been vetoed by the Governor and may be reconsidered by the legislature during the veto session.  These include:  HB 2014, the energy/coal plant bill; HB 2121, the milk labeling bill, HB 2172, a bill containing several tax exemptions; and SB 218, an abortion bill.  None of these bills had a veto proof majority in the House.  There may also be attempts to pull bills out of committee/conference committee to force action on the House floor….possibly for HB 2221, the Kansas Clean Indoor Air Act (statewide restriction of smoking in public places) and HB 2367, Kate’s Law (requiring individual and group insurance coverage of autism spectrum disorders).   

I will share information on specific bills in my next newsletter.  I hope you will try to stop by HyVee for my chat on Saturday.  The face time gives me a chance to get to know you and it is much easier to exchange thoughts in person.  

My apologies but the links in today's newsletter are not connecting to their sites.  You will have to copy and paste them onto your browser.

Representing you,

Jill Quigley

Representative, 17th District

Home phone:  913-541-9645

Topeka phone:  785-296-7682

Hotline:  1-800-432-3924

jill@jillquigley.com

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