2008 Legislative session is gaveled in
6:07 p.m. Monday, January 14, 2008
Lawmakers were back at work today, but only for a short while.
The first day of session is typically ceremonial, mostly just housekeeping items on the docket.
"The committee to notify the governor on the part of the House will be representatives Landwher, Dahl, and Williams," Speaker of the House Melvin Neufeld said.
The House and Senate both gaveled in for a short time around 2:00 this afternoon.
Many of the lawmakers we spoke to say their top priorities this year are health care reform and finding ways to address energy issues.
Senator Laura Kelly, who represents Topeka, says those will be the big issues of the year, and she hopes to get more direction on how to accomplish those goals tonight in the governor's State of the State address.
"I hope the governor lays out a road map to health reform," Kelly said. "I hope she emphasizes the importance of economic development in the state and ways we can deal with our energy issues and I hope there's a heavy focus on early childhood education."
After the governor lays out her priorities for lawmakers tonight- her budget proposal will come out tomorrow.
Two years ago "school finance" dominated the session.
Last year it was expanded gaming.
This year it looks like health care reform may be the big item. It's actually already stirred up some controversy with the Health Policy Authority's recommendation of a statewide smoking ban in public places and a proposed cigarette tax increase to pay for some of those health reform initiatives endorsed by the governor.
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