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News Release for 3-7-08 Your Topeka Connection – Representative Tom Moxley Quote of the week: There are two ways to live: one is as if nothing is a miracle, the other as if everything is. -- Albert Einstein A VIEW FROM HERE: We resumed our regular legislative schedules this week, attending committee hearings, working with constituents and considering bills on the House floor. Most of the bills we see from now on will be ones sent to us by the Senate after last weeks “turn around”. In similar fashion the Senate is now looking at the many pieces of legislation sent to them by the House. The budget debates, which really outline our priorities, will begin at the end of the month. Fortunately the business economy of Kansas has been very good and tax revenues have likewise been holding up well. Agriculture, aircraft and the oil industries are all on a roll. In 2006 the court ordered and the legislature implemented a significant three-year step up in school funding for which we are obligated. The final year of that plan is 2009 for which the price tag is on the order of 147 million dollars of new money for K thru 12. DEBT: A little known and often misquoted fact is that the state of Kansas has a debt obligation of about $1800 per person. This is mostly for long-term infrastructure, like roads and prisons. Other parts of that debt obligation are to a few big businesses that promise to add a significant number of jobs for which Kansas becomes part of the loan guarantor. The 1999 Comprehensive Highway program was quite costly and will be paid off over the next 10 to 20 years. This is not a lot different than you and I would finance a home or a major improvement. Kansas has the 3rd best main arterial roads in the nation for a reason. The next question is what do we do to improve the safety of our secondary roads out where most of us live. Most have no shoulder and the slightest miscue and the car is upside down. It costs 24 cents a gallon for state gas tax, about a penny a mile. Is that too much for safe roads? We will be deciding that next year in the 2009 session. Raising taxes with the already to high fuel price will be a tough row to hoe, even if we’re talking a penny a mile. ENERGY BILL: As I view the last week the overriding issue is one that everyone can find something to love and to hate. I’m speaking of the Conference Committee Bill on Energy (SB 327). It is considerably “Greener” now than it went into conference. The highlights are as follows: Establishes energy efficiency requirements for state buildings and equipment. Creates the Kansas Electric Generation Science and Technology Commission with a goal of science and not politically based planning for our energy needs. Requires using the best available control technologies to implement carbon dioxide capture. Sets a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) of 10 percent renewable production by 2012, 15 percent by 2015 and 20 percent by 2020. Establishes net metering for solar power. Clarifies the roles and duties of those involved in the regulatory process. Creates tax incentives for energy efficiency improvements of non-owner occupied housing units. Requires mercury emission reduction of 80% by generating units that begin operation after January 1, 2008 and that use coal. It also provides incentives for power companies to help consumers control and reduce energy consumption. I believe that our citizens have a better future with the passage of this bill than without it. Therefore I voted aye. We have not seen the end of this as the Governor will likely use her veto and send a message back to the Legislature of what she would like added or subtracted. I appreciate the views sent to me on this and other issues over the last few weeks. NEW TRANSPARENCY WEBSITE: The House Republicans have made budget transparency a top priority this year. I am very pleased to announce that on March 1st, the web site went live. It can be found at: http://www.kansas.gov/kanview/. We have already received over 550 responses to the survey I sent you about 2 weeks ago, which was not sent at taxpayer expense. Thank you for your informative messages. It does not hurt to know that we are doing well or if we need to correct course. I read every comment. PARTING THOUGHT: You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him. James D. Miles As always, it is my privilege to serve you. Please keep in touch. Representative Tom Moxley 68th House District (Dickinson and Morris Counties) 785-296-7636
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