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Opening of the Session The 2010 Legislative session officially began at 2:00pm on Monday, January 11th. It was a brief session on the floor as new legislators were sworn in and we read in bills. State of the State and the Governor’s Budget We were beyond disappointed with this idea because we realize that raising taxes on people in the middle of a recession is poor policy. A 1% increase in the state sales tax, as the Governor proposed, takes money out of your pocket and makes your dollar less valuable. Why should you and your families be forced to live within your means but the government doesn’t have to? This is not the way that you and I run our household finances. This is your money and it is imperative that the government spends the same way you spend at home, with careful consideration and priorities.
This session the economy is still the primary challenge and the solution is jobs, jobs, jobs.
Multiple Legislators have sponsored a resolution that will be introduced early this legislative session. The Health Care Freedom Amendment gives Kansas citizens the right to choose whether or not to join any health care system, allowing them to manage their own health care options. The legislation also allows citizens to pay directly for medical care without penalties or fines, which is not allowed in some single-payer countries. Under the legislation, any state attempt to require an individual to purchase health insurance—or forbid an individual from purchasing services outside of the required health care system—would be rendered unconstitutional. The measure may also cause a federalism clash if Congress passes a law with either of these provisions. The federal government does not have the ability to manage health care. The affected individuals are in the best position to decide what health care they need because one size does not fit all. Kansans can, and should, decide free of Federal Government mandates. Tougher Sentences for Sex OffendersHB 2345 has been introduced in response to two recent Kansas Supreme Court Decisions. In May, 2009, in the case of State v. Horn, the Court invalidated the imposition of enhanced sentences for individuals convicted of attempting to commit a sexually violent crime against a child. This decision was followed by an October, 2009 opinion in the case of State v. Trautloff in which the Court ruled that the Kansas habitual sex offender statute does not apply to individuals who were convicted of multiple sex offenses on the same day. I strongly support HB 2345 as it clarifies the original intent of Jessica’s Law and imposes significant mandatory minimum sentences for child sex offenders. Martin Luther King Day Coming Up Thank you for your good wishes and prayers during my recovery. I am grateful for the outpouring of support from friends and constituents that I have received lately. And as always, thank you for allowing me the honor to serve you as your 39th District Representative. Feel free to share your thoughts with me at owen@owendonohoe.com and I will follow up as soon as I am able. Sincerely,
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| Copyright © 2009 Owen Donohoe Campaign, Rebecca K. Chapman, Treasurer. |
One of the ideas I strongly support is the Governor’s recommendation to create an emergency fund during the good times to help us out during the bad ones. The House actually passed a budget stabilization reserve bill last session. With the recent proposal the voters must decide to pass a State Constitutional Amendment. This is great policy and it should be noted if we had been doing this over the last several years, when times were good and revenues were up, we would not be in the bind we are today. It is important to me that if we pass any stabilization fund that the mechanism exists to ensure that money is saved and that the fund cannot be looted for non-essential purposes. After all, we have a spending problem, not a revenue problem.