Vicki's Voice Newsletter- January 26, 2013

Senator Vicki Schmidt's Newsletter

January 26, 2013

Dear Friends:

The second week is over! When you call or visit, you will be greeted by Barbara Bryans, my administrative assistant. Many of you know Barbara as she has been with me during my previous 8 years. Barbara celebrated a birthday! Please see the picture on the right. She looks forward to speaking with you! I am very fortunate to have her in the office!

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A few years ago I met a remarkable young man. His name is Jeremy McCullough. He was one of the nominees for a Boys and Girls Club award. I had the pleasure of introducing him. Well guess who I saw at the Capitol this week? JEREMY! He was assisting the Easter Seals Capper Foundation in distributing a CD called Successful Transitions. Please see his picture on the right.

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HAPPY 96TH BIRTHDAY TO MY CONSTITUENT AND FRIEND, ELON TORRENCE!!

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Congratulations to Marilyn Maye and Dick Davidson. They were named the 2013 Kansans of the Year by the Kansas Native Sons and Daughters. Dick Davidson is the retired President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Union Pacific Corporation. Marilyn Maye is an American cabaret singer and musical theater actress. Marilyn actually performed at the banquet.....AWESOME!!

EDUCATION AND PERSONAL ACTIVITIES

This week did have a surprise. The Governor's budget recommendation included nullifying the ability to deduct property taxes paid on your state income tax calculation. The Governor did not mention this in his State of the State address. The subject came up in a budget committee of the Senate. As you may recall, his proposal is to eliminate the mortgage interest payments as a deduction also. Both of these combined would generate approximately $230 million to the state general fund each year. These items will be discussed by the Senate Assessment and Taxation committee in the near future.
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Thank you to the Wabaunsee and Pottawatomie Republican committee's for inviting me to the annual soup luncheon and meeting on January 20th in Eskridge. It was such a pleasure to see everyone!
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Thank you to Dana Weaver for asking me to participate in a discussion with the Leadership Group for LeadingAge Kansas! What a group of dynamic individuals! Their questions were excellent and it was a pleasure to meet them.
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Tuesday morning I had the privilege of testifying on SB 7 before the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee. This bill was suggested by the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and Regulations. I chaired this committee last year. The bill clarified pieces of the legislation passed last year. Specifically, it clarified that "mixing" can occur on the premise with regard to the tasting of wine, beer and distilled spirits. Under the current interpretation by the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), a licensed retailer may NOT dilute distilled spirits on the premise for purposes of tasting.

I am pleased to report that the Federal and State Affairs Committee passed the bill out and placed it on the Consent Calendar. A bill is placed on the consent calendar when it is considered non-controversial. The bill remains on the Senate calendar for a minimum of 3 days. Any senator can "pull" a bill off of the consent calendar and have it placed on General Orders, where the full Senate will have debate. I will keep you posted on the progress of this bill.

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The Kansas Restaurant & Hospitality Association dropped by with some facts about their industry. I thought you might find them interesting!

In 2012, Kansas' restaurants are projected to register $3.7 billion in sales
In 2010, there were 4,964 eating and drinking places in Kansas
Every $1 spent in Kansas' restaurants generates an additional $0.77 in sales for the state economy
In 2012, restaurants in Kansas employ 126,300 people (9% of employment in Kansas)

Thank you to Bob Carmichael (Mr. Pancakeman) for giving me the statistics!

FLOOR ACTIVITIES

The Senate confirmed the following individuals:

The vote was 40-0 on all. I VOTED YES.

Leslie Evans, Kansas Electric Transmission Authority
Lori MacDonald, Kansas Employment Security Board of Review
Melvin Neufeld, Kansas Human Rights Commission
Rick Cox, Kansas Lottery Commission
Colonel Scott Dold, Kansas National Guard, Brigadier General
Eileen King, Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission
David Moses, Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission
Eric Meyers, Pooled Money Investment Board
Richard Fish, State Banking Board
Dale Koch, State Banking Board
James Needham, State Banking Board
Samantha Angell, State Board of Indigents Defense Services
Sue Christopher, State Civil Service Board
Shari Feist Albrecht, State Corporation Commission
Douglass Jorgensen, State Fire Marshal, Fire Marshal
Monte Coffman, University of Kansas Hospital Authority
Dave Kerr, University of Kansas Hospital Authority
S. J. Schaub, Kansas Bioscience Authority
Dean Reynoldson, Alcoholic Beverage Control, Director
Robert Smith, Kansas Bioscience Authority
Bill Gale, Inspector General, Department of Health and Environment

COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES

BRIEFINGS, EDUCATION, AND MORE BRIEFINGS AT EACH MEETING!

TRANSPORTATION

The committee received a lesson on "Transportation 101" from Tom Whitaker, Executive Director of the Kansas Motor Carriers Association. Did you know that the Kansas Turnpike was built in 1956? It required 18 months to build the 236.5 miles. The barrier system now utilized on the turnpike (cement retaining wall in the middle) cost $143,000 per MILE!

Updates were also given by:

Joel Skelley, State Multmodel Planner with the Kansas Department of Transportation
Chuck Ferguson, Director of Transportation, Johnson County
Shawn Strate, Planning Administrator, Johnson County Transit.

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FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS & INSURANCE

We received a briefing by Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger. She spoke of the organization and responsibilities of her department.

In addition the committee heard from the following:

Bill Sneed, State Farm Insurance Companies
Brad Smoot, American Insurance Association
Larrie Ann Brown, Property Casualty Insurers Association
Doug Wolff, President, Security Benefit
Rick Wilborn, Farmers Alliance
Will Larson, Kansas Association of Independent Agents
Lee Wright, Farmers Insurance
Jim Hall, American Council of Life Insurers
Scott Colby, National Association of Insurers and Financial Advisors (NAIFA)

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EDUCATION

What an honor it was to hear from the educators that were nominated for the Kansas Teacher of the Year program.

Dyane Smokorowski - Andover UDS 385, Middle School Language Arts - 2013 Kansas Teacher of the Year
Ramie Allison - Haysville USD 261 - Nelson Elementary School Physical Education Teacher
Sarah A. Berblinger - Buhler USD 313, Middle School Intensive Assistance Teacher
Sibyl "Sue" Commons - Baxter Springs USD 508 - High School Math Teacher
Judy M. Domke - Blue Valley USD 229, Elementary Inter Related Resource Teacher
Scott Keltner - Eudora USD 491 High School Math Teacher
Colleen Mitchell - Emporia USD 253 Elementary Language Arts Teacher
Laura J. Moyers - Leavenworth USD 453 Elementary Music Teacher

My congratulations to each and every one of these amazing teachers! Their testimonies from their experience in their classrooms were riveting. They were also recognized by the full Senate on Tuesday. Thank you for what you do for the students!

We had an update from the Kansas Board of Regents President and CEO, Andy Tompkins.

The following individuals provided information to the committee:

Cheryl Semmell, Director, United School Administrators
Mark Tallman, Associate Executive Director, Kansas Association of School Boards
Mark Desetti, Director of Governmental Affairs and Communications, Kansas National Education Association

GPSchmidt

Met with several members of the Kansas Credit Union Association.
Met with Kody Winterscheidt. He is a member of the Kansas Livestock Association Leadership Council. CONGRATS to him on being a part of this very special group!
Met with Charles Kuntz and Harveyville Mayor Dustin Kuntz (Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association) - Please see the picture on right
Met with Laura Kliewer and Mike McCabe - Council of State Governments
Met with Troy Findley - Summit Strategies Group
Met with Gary Adkins, Executive Director, State Employees Association of Kansas
Attended the KNEA Capital UniServ Chili and Chat event at Topeka High School
Met with Ernest Kutzley - AARP
Attended the Kansas Native Sons & Daughters Banquet - see pictures on right