Kansas Lawmakers: One Month In
What legislature is doing in relation to Governor's State of the State goals
4:16 p.m. Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The truth is: they're not following the proposals very closely at all.
Lawmakers have been on the job for over a month and a lot of that time, they've been consumed with one issue: energy, specifically, the bill to allow two coal fired power plants to be built in Kansas.
In her State of the State address, Governor Kathleen Sebelius spoke about energy, about conserving and making better use of renewable resources. But so far, lawmakers haven't tackled those issues.
Sebelius also used the speech to support the Kansas Health Policy Authority's proposed health plan.
The plan includes a statewide ban on smoking in public places, health treatment and prevention programs, plus a way to pay for it all: a 50 cent tax increase on a pack of cigarettes.
The governor suggested passing the health plan in its entirety because without the cigarette tax, the state will be hard pressed to come up with the money to come up with the other health initiatives laid out in the plan. Legislative leaders decided not to run the bill as a whole. Instead they've broken it up into pieces. That could create potential challenges down the road if health initiatives are passed without a cigarette tax or any other way to fund them.
Aside from the coal plant legislation, lawmakers are also working on "the pill bill" to develop statewide monitoring of all prescriptions filled in Kansas.
They’re also moving on "Amanda's Law" to mandate drug testing for drivers involved in serious accidents.
Kansas lawmakers have been at work 26 of the required 90 days served each legislative session.
Coming soon, local, young television talent will shine on 49 News Kidcasts. Check back to see local kids, 4th through 8th grade, give the weather on TV.
Comments
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Feb. 20, 2008 at 7:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)situveux1 (anonymous)
Really, their not following what the governor told them to do? Those silly kids. I mean, making sure thousands of jobs come to western Kansas when the Gov didn't want them...the nerve. I mean, really what they ought to be doing is going to Wisconsin to campaign for Obama and then take a vacation to Ohio. That's what the state really needs.
I think Gena needs to write a story rather than an editorial. Or at least give two sides.
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