LEGISLATIVE UPDATE #37, October 23, 2007

Does it seem like the older we get the more complicated our lives become and the faster time flies by?

Thanks to the many of you that have taken the time to tell me that you appreciate these regular updates, lately I have received many calls on issues and have had requests for constituent services. I appreciate the El Dorado Times for giving me this venue in which to provide a vehicle for communication.

Susan B. Allen Hospital in El Dorado is sponsoring its 2d Annual Free Flu Shot Clinic on Saturday, Nov. 3d, 2007. There are two opportunities that day to get a free flu shot. The first opportunity is at the SBA Cancer Center, 700 West Central, in El Dorado from 8:00-10:00 a.m. The second opportunity will be held from 12:00 Noon until 2:00 P.M. at the Augusta United Methodist Church at 2420 Ohio, in Augusta.

At either location, if you are in line at the cutoff time you can still receive your shot. Vaccinations will be given to anyone 5 years of age and older. Who should get a flu shot? I am glad you asked here is your list:

 Families with children,

Women who are pregnant during flu season,

People with weak immune systems,

People who deal with the young and elderly regularly,

People in high-density workplaces,

People living in dormitories and crowded conditions,

People planning to be in large groups for holiday gatherings. 

Did I leave anybody out?

Well the proposed power plant at Holcomb went down in flames, didn’t it? What amazes me is that Secretary Bremby’s own staff recommended approval. The current environmental standards were met or exceeded, a large $3.5 Billion dollar investment in a rural area of Western Kansas would have had a huge positive impact on employment for generations years and years to come, and the proposed construction would have included power lines for transmission that could have encouraged wind farm development as well!

I just have to wonder the wisdom of allowing one person having that level of power without some type of oversight and review. There are many that support the decision and as many that are disappointed. I doubt that natural gas fired units are the answer; the Hugoton field is expected to deplete in 20 years at the current usage rate. What happened to the nuclear plants? Someone hopefully has the correct answers.

Last week I attended a conference of our state legislators in which we heard from many nationally known speakers on a wide range of topics. Did you know that Kansas ranks 6^th nationally in providing health care insurance to its citizens?

 The Kansas Health Policy Authority says 1/3 of those not getting health insurance in Kansas include many in the 21-29 age group who consider themselves “bullet-proof” and choose not to get insurance although it is available. The second 1/3 is currently unemployed and between jobs or insurance plans and will have insurance plans on their own within 13 months. The other 1/3 of that 10% include those that are under employed, have pre-existing conditions, or work where insurance is not provided.

The message I took from this two-day seminar was that the real issue should be “health” and not “health insurance”. Do we not want to live a long prosperous life and be productive? The real cost of health care predominately comes in the last stages of our life. This is when age, chronic diseases, poor life choices, improper nutrition, lack of exercise, terminal illness and accidents all add up. I do not know the answer except to do what we can to help ourselves live a longer and more enjoyable life. What do you think?

Another issue we discussed had to do with reducing the cost of government and how we pay for our future commitments. The State of Kansas is currently $5 Billion in debt with $3.5 Billion in unfunded KPERS teachers’ retirement liability.

There are currently 80 million baby boomers beginning their retirement, with approximately 60 million workers following to fund the social security commitment, and this does not take into consideration how their own social security retirement is paid.

Some economists say we should limit government-spending growth to the rate of inflation plus population. This works out to about 3.5%. But I ask is this even sustainable? Some states require justification of each department for their current level of spending as well as what they consider necessary increases. When you think about it, it comes down to what are we willing to accept in the way of services and what are we willing to pay for them?

Another issue that we may see again has to do with raising the legal driving age. In the past when we were mostly rural, the lower driving age was to allow for farm kids to drive the annual harvest to town, pick up a soda and head back to the fields. Now that we are declared mostly urban, is the lower age a necessity?

Statistically younger drivers have more accidents than their more experienced and older counterparts. Is this to say that 14-16 year old drivers lack the experience and therefore are involved in more accidents? So what happens if we raise the driving age and they become inexperienced 18 year-olds? Or raise it even further and they become inexperienced 20 year-old’s? Who drives the rural Kansas kids to school?

Gosh do you not enjoy the questions I raise?  Well I am looking for answers so help me out, let me know what you think.

Through a generous contribution to the Friends of El Dorado Lake, the State Park we will soon have some updated electrical hook-ups for campers and motor homes at the Walnut Camp Ground Area of El Dorado Lake. We will be able to upgrade electrical services to close to 100 campers working on the $500 million expansion and improvements at Frontier Refinery. I will to announce the benefactor soon and am encouraged by others willing to help as well.

I consider it a privilege an honor to be your Representative in Topeka and I want to know what you think. Contact me at home 316-321-2087, 1115 Rim Rock Road, El Dorado. www.johngrange.net, johng@carlisleinc.net, grange@house.state.ks.us. Thanks, John.