March 9th, 2009

Bleeding Kansas Bio

James Montgomery   December 22, 1814 - December 6, 1871

James Montgomery was one of Kansas's most famous (or infamous) "Jayhawkers."  Born in Ohio in 1814, Montgomery moved to Kentucky, taught school, and became a minister in the "Campbellite" church.  Then he went to Missouri where he lived with his second wife until soon after the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854.

Montgomery purchased a claim in Linn County, near Mound City, from a pro-slavery settler and quickly became a recognized leader of the free-state movement.  In 1857 he organized and commanded the “Self-Protective Company”, which had been formed to defend the rights of the anti-slavery settlers.  Backed by this company, Montgomery ordered some of the most rabid pro-slavery citizens to leave the territory.

Montgomery soon joined the regular service, being elected colonel of the Third Kansas Volunteer Infantry, a part of "Lane's Brigade."  When the Third, which gained quite a reputation along with the rest of the brigade for its jayhawking, was consolidated with some other units to form the Tenth Kansas Volunteer Infantry in April 1862, Montgomery remained the regiment's colonel.  In early 1863, however, he transferred to the Second Regiment, South Carolina Colored Volunteers, and helped fill its ranks with black recruits.  Throughout 1863 and part of 1864, Montgomery practiced his brand of Kansas warfare in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.  In 1864 he resigned his commission, returned to Kansas, and ended his military career as colonel of the Sixth Kansas State Militia, which was active in October of that year during the threatened invasion by General Sterling Price.  After the war, Montgomery returned to his Linn County farm, where he died, December 6, 1871.

Jill’s Activities

discussing the need for home and community-based/ physical disability waivers to assist people wishing to stay at home instead of a care facility (preferred by the person and a cost saving option).

including Barbara Inman from Parents as Teachers about funding for children’s programs.

.  There were art displays in the Docking Office Building and each legislator received a handmade ceramic sunflower pin.  HB 2130 creating a Kansas Arts license plate was passed by the House (111- 6) in February; I voted yes.

Luncheon Series presentation on “Accreditation of Local Health Departments.”

offering steaks and entertainment celebrating the city.  Fun Dodge City fact:  Boot Hill Cemetery was only a cemetery for six years. To be buried there, the person must have been shot.  Only one woman was buried in Boot Hill Cemetery.  Her name was “Squirrel Tooth” Alice Chambers.

.

’s dinner for legislators where I met with Dave Tozier, a constituent and independent agent.

Governmental Affairs Committee monthly legislative update

.  The Governor has recommended reductions for FY 2010 that will remove $4.2M from the Johnson County budget.  The decreases would come via the machinery and equipment repayment ($2M), liquor tax funds ($616,313), local ad valorem tax relief fund restoration ($700,000) and the special city and county highway fund ($840,000).

Committee Activities

Commerce & Labor

This bill would increase the minimum wage in Kansas to match the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour effective January 1, 2010. The wages of tipped employees would be raised to $2.13 per hour.  If tips and gratuities do not raise the wage to $7.25, the employer would be required to make up the difference.

, including the Department of Labor and Raise the Wage, Kansas!, point to an estimated 20,000 people who made below $5.15/hour in 2007.  The proposed increase to $7.25 is not tied to the federal level (will not automatically increase as the federal level increases) and still will not bring those who work 40 hours a week up to the federal poverty level.  Although 5 states have no minimum wage, Kansas has the lowest minimum wage in statute, $2.65/hour unchanged since 1988.   As of January 1, 2009, there were 26 states whose minimum wage exceeded the federal standard and 13 that matched it.  All businesses that accept credit cards are already covered by the federal standard. 

(Americans for Prosperity, Kansas Chamber of Commerce, and the National Federation of Independent Business) question whether anyone actually makes the minimum ($2.65/hour) since the data is extrapolated from population data.  There is also concern that raising the floor for wages will cause all wages to increase and will actually decrease the number of lower wage jobs employers can offer.  The bill passed the Senate 33 to 7; the bill has not been scheduled to be worked in the House Commerce committee.

SB77 State Use Law

This bill simply extends the state use law committee until July 1, 2014; however the testimony was very interesting. The state use law requires state agencies, school districts, and regents institutions to purchase products and services which are provided by non-profit vendors that primarily employ persons who are blind or disabled.  The State Use Law Committee, scheduled to sunset July 1, 2009, was created by the Legislature during the 2005 Session to work out compliance issues.  A catalog of products is available and includes such products as notebook binders, furnace filters, trash bags, signs, promotional buttons, etc.  You can view the catalog at: www.ksstateuse.org.  This bill was passed out of committee.

Health & Human Services

This bill requires insurance companies to cover the cost of special dietary formulas for certain metabolic diseases.  The family of a young boy with one of these disorders described their frustration at not being able to afford formula considered necessary for life and prescribed by their physician.  Insurance companies feel this is a matter for state government to handle.  A program that provides formula for those with PKU (phenylketonuria, which all Kansas newborns are screened for) is provided by the Kansas Department of Health and Human Services.  There will be consideration of a new program or expansion of the program by KDHE.

0ther Bills

This bill would remove the $10,000 earnings cap currently placed on policemen and firemen who have become disabled on the job but who are able to work part-time at a nonpublic job.  Currently, if they earn more than $10,000/year, their disability payment is decreased.  This cap was established in 1983 and is the only cap on retired KPERS employees.  This bill came to the House floor last week but was “passed over” because leadership feared unfriendly amendments might be attached to the bill.  I am advocating for this much-needed update to be returned to the House floor.

Correction

at the HyVee on 87th Street; not the 21st, as was noted in last week’s newsletter.  Please change your calendar.

Representing you,

*If you have my legislative business card, please note that my Topeka phone number and email have changed.