Melanie Meier's Adventures in the Statehouse
Kansas House of Representatives
40th District
Volume 2011, Issue 3: January 24-30, 2011
In This Issue
- Happy 150th Birthday Kansas!
- The Sale of "Strong Spirits"
- Raising the Speed Limit
- Veterans, Military & Homeland Security Committee
- Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee
- Judiciary Committee
- Around Home
- Keep in Touch
Happy 150th Birthday Kansas!
This was a special week at the State Capitol as Kansas celebrated its 150th birthday. The week was filled with special events. On Wednesday, the Postal Service unveiled a commemorative stamp, which carries the "forever" designation, to mark the occasion. The Kansas Supreme Court moved from the Judicial Center across the street to the Old Supreme Court Room in the Capitol to work on Thursday (which is the first time they have worked in the Capitol since 1970s). Then on Friday, I joined a group of Kansans in Leavenworth to celebrate our 150th Birthday with cake, good food and fun!
The Sale of "Strong Spirits"
Legislation emerged this week that would expand liquor sales to retail stores that also sell food and drink (grocery stores, gas stations, etc). Currently, only stand alone liquor stores are allowed to sell liquor and full strength beer. Proponents say that this change would create an estimated 15,000 jobs, $343 million in wages, and $72 million in state and local tax revenue. Opponents, primarily "mom and pop" liquor stores, say that this legislation would put them out of business. They argue that about half of Kansas' 750 liquor stores would close if the market were opened to competition from the nation's retail giants.
This proposal has come before the Legislature before, but this year there is a new twist. The proposal includes a provision to freeze the current number of liquor licenses for 3-4 years so that if the Bill passes, the grocery and convenience stores that wish to sell liquor, wine, and strong beer will have to purchase a license from one of the current liquor stores.
Raising the Speed Limit
On Wednesday, the House Transportation Committee held a hearing on House Bill 2034, which would raise the speed limit to 75 mph on separated highways. Three of the four states surrounding Kansas have maximum speed limits of 75 miles per hour on freeways.
Proponents of raising the speed limit say Kansas' quality highways, safer engineering of newer vehicles and posting of 75 mph limits in a majority of states bordering Kansas are reasons to raise the limit. Opponents say raising the limit 5 mph on heavily traveled highways could result in more accidents because drivers would have less time to respond to emergencies. Opponents also state that another potential problem with the new 75 mph speed is that drivers will inevitably go several miles an hour above the new limit, transforming a 75 mph limit into a 78 mph or 79 mph for some drivers.
A brief history on the changing maximum limit in Kansas: the speed limit in 1957 was 70 mph during daylight hours and 60 mph at night. In the 1960s, the Kansas Turnpike had a maximum speed limit of 80 mph. The limit dropped nationally to 55 mph in 1974, but was modified in Kansas to 65 mph in 1987 and to 70 mph in 1996.
Veterans, Military & Homeland Security Committee
On Tuesday, January 25th, the new Adjutant General of the Kansas National Guard gave the Committee an update on the missions of the Kansas National Guard and how the Legislature can help veterans. MG Tafanelli stated that the State needs to localize support for Post Traumatic Stress counseling and improve the job skills of young veterans returning from multiple deployments. Jack Fowler, the Director of the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs (KCVA), and Charles Yunker, the Adjutant of the Kansas American Legion, also testified. Mr. Fowler stated that enough money was collected through the Kansas Veterans scratch off lottery tickets last year that the KCVA was able to purchase two mobile offices so that Veteran Service Officers can aid veterans in the western part of the State. He also stated that $81,320 is still needed to get the Veteran's Home in Winfield Medicare compliant. The Kansas Director of Vehicles also gave the Committee the required annual update on the Kansas driver's license system which uses state of the art facial recognition technology to combat identity fraud.
Several Bills were introduced this week for Veterans including a Resolution to create a caucus on mental health issues, establishment of a Gold Star Family license plate, creation of a check-off box on the Kansas income tax form for donations to the KCVA, and establishment of a set aside program to provide priority to disabled veteran owned business contracts.
Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee
The Committee had a hearing on HB2049 that proposes adding the Class of synthetic tetrahydrocannabinols (THC or marijuana) to the Kansas Controlled Substances List. Last year Kansas was the first state to outlaw the manufacture, sale and use of K-2, a synthetic copy of marijuana that was being sold in convenience stores and smoke shops. Fifteen other States have followed our lead and now 25 more variations of synthetic marijuana have been found in Kansas out of the 100 known. 75 of the 100 are ten times or more potent than the THC found in the marijuana plant. The Committee heard testimony from forensic scientists, law enforcement and family members of young people who have hallucinated, become addicted to and have even died as a result of the use of the substance. No opposition was offered to the Bill.
The Committee also had a hearing on HB2044 that proposes stiffer penalties for drivers who commit "hit and run" in accidents involving serious injury and death. We heard testimony from the Kansas Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor, the Douglas County District Attorney, family members of accident victims, and the Kansas Sentencing Commission who determines the affects of sentences on current bed space in State correction facilities. The proposal is to raise the penalties from presumed probation to presumed jail time with the goal of making it worse to run from an accident without rendering aid or calling for help than for staying and facing a possible DUI. No opposition was offered to the Bill.
Judiciary Committee
This week we had several hearings on proposals to make current statutes easier to understand in the Kansas Rules and Regulations Filing Act, the Insurance Interest amendment to the Kansas Uniform Trust Code, and the Open Records Act. There was a hearing on HB2010 that adds new offenses to the list of conduct that could give rise to forfeiture of property by the State of Kansas. The proposed new offenses are usually focused on taking advantage of or the abuse of elderly Kansans. There was also a hearing on HB2029 that proposes adding ultra-sound technicians to the list of medical practitioners who are covered by the State in case of malpractice suits when performing volunteer services. The Bill was introduced by the "Jay Doc" clinic that is operated by third year KU medical students. The clinic is the only completely free clinic in the Kansas Safety Net Coalition and sees over 2000 patients per year. The students determined that there is a need for X-Ray and Ultra-sound services, but discovered the technicians are not included on the list of volunteer medical parishioners covered by the State.
Around Home
This was also a busy week in the 40th District. I attended the Leavenworth Board of Education Meeting on Monday night to hear their legislative priorities for the year. Thursday night was the Lansing/Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet. It was a beautiful gala that welcomed the Chamber's new President, Karalin McKain, awarded Bill Geiger the Chamber Community Service Award and awarded Cushing Memorial Hospital the Business of the Year Award. On Friday night, I helped to cut the cake for Kansas' 150th Birthday party at JW Crancers in Leavenworth and, of course, I had to watch the KU/K-State showdown on Saturday where Leavenworth's own Wayne Simien was honored by having his number 23 retired.
Keep in Touch
It is a special honor to serve as your State Representative. I value and need your input on the various issues facing state government. Please feel free to contact me with your comments and questions. To write to me, my office address is Kansas State Capitol, Topeka, KS 66612. You can also reach me at (785) 296-7668 or call the legislative hotline at 1-800-432-3924 to leave a message for me. Additionally, you can e-mail me at melanie.meier@house.ks.gov. Don't forget that you can also follow the legislative session online at www.kslegislature.org.
