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We are now at the time in Session that committee meetings are very busy and available dates to have bills heard (hearings) are becoming few. Proposed legislation that addresses a wide spectrum and diverse issues important to the people of Kansas will now soon be debated on the floor of the House. Tax reductions, insurance sales, DUI testing, non-resident college tuition, and sexual predator legislation were all discussed under the dome this week. Debate is spirited and civil as we strive to make Kansas a better place to live, work, and raise our families.

LOUISBURG WILDCAT BAND RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE

The Louisburg Wildcat Band directed by John Cissetti and Assistant Dean Davison visited Topeka this Wednesday. Both the House and Senate took time and recognized with resolutions the band's numerous accomplishments including being chosen to represent our State this year at the Washington D. C. 4^th of July Parade. This is a very impressive honor in that only bands from 15 states are selected each year. 109 of the 119 member band attended. Some band members were at an FFA event. Also joining us on the floor of the Kansas House to receive the House Resolution were Superintendent Rick Doll, Drum Majors, Kevin Manning, Dean Symes, Megan Smith and Color Guard Captain, Haleigh Breight. The Wildcat Band preformed several selections with a patriotic theme on the second floor of the rotunda. Many spectators complimented that the band did a superb job. We should all be very proud of the hard work and accomplishments of the Louisburg Wildcat Band. Special recognition to Mr C. for his passion and love for his work. Everyone knows that he is one of the teachers who makes a real difference in the lives of the students at L.H.S.

SEC. OF STATE RON THORNBURGH - UPDATE

Last week Secretary Thornburg visited with our Caucus to give us an update concerning issues that his office has been working. Kansas is one of the first states to be live with a state wide voter data base. We also have interactive files with Dept. of Corrections and Bureau of Vital Statistics. This will give us the capability to make sure Kansas voters are all legal. By this next election every polling place will have at least one electronic voting machine that will allow unassisted voting with second chance capability. He discussed another HAVA requirement that makes our polling places ADA compliant and worked through with the most affordable and local solutions. Secretary Thornburg's Office recommended legislation relating to satellite voting bill and we have a hearing date set in our Government Organizational and Elections Committee to hear the bill. Secretary Thornburg also is planning to request removal of the $40 franchise annual report filing fee and only retain the processing charge of $6 for electronic filing and $20 for paper filing. The reinstatement calculation would change to a flat $45 fee and save the need for hiring a CPA to do the complicated calculation that is currently required.

MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT TAX REDUCTION

I spoke to Tax Chair Kenny Wilk about the concerns that my local government officials have about the impact on their revenues and the fact that they do not want to be forced to raise other property taxes. He assured me that he and the Committee have heard our concerns relating to insuring that the elimination of the tax on the State level doesn’t merely shift the tax to local units of government. Leading economists have endorsed the elimination of the tax and think that it would spur economic development and reinvestment in local economies and increase revenues in other areas to offset the loss of the M & E collection. Kenny also told me that we would have a "soft landing amendment" which has been offered allowing for a state reimbursement of any loss of M & E revenue by the counties, schools and cities. It would reimburse 100% of lost revenue in the first year and step down 20% per year until it is phased out in the fifth year. Debate continues on this amendment and the original bill. The bill, House Bill 2619, is expected out of committee late this week and should be debated by the entire House next week. It is right for us to pay at the state level for the tax policy that we are going to take credit for and not push the cost to local government to pay.

EMOTIONAL WEEK IN TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

Tuesday we heard the Graduated Drivers Licence Bill, that would require the driving age to be raised to 16 for restricted licence and 18 for a full licence. Proponents of the bill included two mothers who gave their own heart wrenching experiences of how they lost their sons. I was amazed at their strength and courage. Farm Bureau opposed the legislation because of the need for young drivers to be able to get to work to help on the farm. Chairman Hayzlett appointed a sub committee to meet with all the parties and see if there are improvements that can be made and that can be agreed upon such as not allowing drivers under 18 drive between 12:00 A.M. and 5:30 A.M.

The next day we heard a bill concerning leaving children alone in a car. We currently have a law that prohibits leaving pets in a car. A survey of 18 to 24 yr old parents found that 1 in 5 thought that leaving a child in a car was acceptable. Again the testimonies of medical professionals and tragic accidents was very emotional. Besides heat related problems, other dangers to children left alone in a car: vehicle set in motion, abduction or car theft, choking on a toy. Several of these I had not thought of myself. The bill passed out without a single "no" vote.

Another bill that we have passed out and that has passed through the House is to allow the D.M.V. to cycle out old vehicle plates that are 8 years old and worn. This will save our state 1.5 million dollars this year and, as always, just like at home, we have to watch for every chance to save in our budget.

JESSICA’S LAW

The House Judiciary Committee heard emotional testimony Wednesday from Mark Lunsford, the father of Jessica Lunsford, a young girl in Florida who was abducted from her bedroom, raped and buried alive by her captor, a repeat sex offender. We hope that Jessica’s father, motivated by this horrific tragedy, has continued success encouraging states to toughen penalties against sex offenders as he travels the United State. Wednesday morning I met Mark Lunsford at Caucus. He is very likable and a regular everyday guy now motivated to see a needed change across our country. This weekend Mark told me that he is traveling to New York.

The Kansas version of Jessica’s Law, HB 2576, introduced by Rep. Trish Kilpatrick, would do just that. Persistent sex offenders who commit sexually violent crimes would be punished by life without parole if the bill were passed. Chairman O’Neal answered my question that another bill will contain provisions that our offender list have better detail for those using the list as to the severity of the offenders criminal history and the level of danger to others.

PHASE OUT OF FRANCHISE TAX

A three year phase out of the State franchise tax was introduced as HB 2548, stating that Kansas is in the minority as a state that still employs a franchise tax on corporations that do business in our State. The tax has undergone many changes which have made it difficult to comply with over the years, and when given the choice, corporations may be more likely to establish business in one of 31 other states without this additional tax. This bill would phase the tax out equally over three years until it is eliminated. The fiscal impact, estimated at $15 million in the first year, would either be offset by the rebounding economy or by businesses moving into the State. The bill would leave in place a small report fee paid by the corporations when they file with the Secretary of State

COMING SOON TO COMMITTEE

Appropriations

Commerce and Labor

Judiciary

Taxation