To Kansas House of Representatives

Jan. 8, 2007

Let me begin this afternoon by first thanking my wife Maxine for her unwavering support -  without which I would not be here today. I also want to thank my family for all they have done to allow me serve in this great chamber.

I also thank all of you; you have given me something very special - the honor of allowing me to serve as your Speaker.  If I fail to listen to you and work with you I shall have failed you.

We arrive today at the beginning of the 2007 Legislative Session with many challenges and issues to resolve.  We know there are issues that divide us as members of different political parties.  But I believe there is one unifying goal that joins us together - to serve this great state and the people we are elected to represent to the best of our abilities.  If we put our differences behind us - we will achieve the best public policy for Kansas and empower our citizens to be all that they can be.

Minority Leader Dennis McKinney and I have served together in this House for a number of years. He has provided strong leadership and guidance for his party and this body.   Minority Leader McKinney, I know there will be tough times during this session and we won't see eye to eye on everything but I promise to work with you to benefit all Kansans.

 In this body we rely on parliamentary procedure to craft good public policy. This process exists to safeguard the rights of all members, to provide equal opportunities to be heard, to ensure fairness and good faith, and to promote full and free debate of the issues. Parliamentarian John Tilson said, "Every reasonable safeguard should be observed in the interest of decorum, dignity and better legislative results." As your speaker, I will make sure those safeguards are observed for the benefit of all and I ask you to do the same.

The House Rules say that where our rules do not apply, Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure shall govern. It says "It is the duty of all members to conduct themselves so as not to obstruct the like rights of other members." As your speaker, it will be my duty to make sure the body conducts itself with that same respect and decorum for one another.

Decorum is essential to policymaking.  It creates an appropriately formal atmosphere and encourages order and focus on the issue discussed, not on the person speaking. Policymakers, according to Parliamentarian Floyd Riddick, should be open to "humor and compromise, disagree agreeably, win graciously and lose gracefully." We must always remember that each member is not speaking as an individual but as a representative of their constituency.

Many times we forget that what we do here in this Chamber may change history. The legislation we pass may have a profound impact on tens of thousands of Kansans. I challenge each of you to remember this every day, as we make public policy and history for our Great State of Kansas.

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