Representatives who committed to speaking in attendance, but because of illness, accident, or family matters did not attend were Rob Bruchman, District 20,

Bob Montgomery, District 26, and Mike Kiegerl, District 43.

Invocation by Barb Kreigshauser

Pledge of Allegiance

A Certificate of Appreciation was presented by President Christie Kriegshauser

to Doris Riley for her outstanding service as 2008, 2009, and 2010

President of the Sunflower Republican Club

District Representative Ethan Patterson spoke on behalf of Kansas U.S. Third District Representative Kevin Yoder on the issues, recent votes, and upcoming votes.

Extreme budgeting concerns. State budget is broke. The budget ballooned from $13.6 Billion to $17.7 Billion. $120 million has been cut, leaving a $35 million balance this session. Last year the State had $800 "left over." 80% of budget is spent on education, KPERS, Medicaid and SRS. If Senate won’t balance the budget, then Governor will have to do it; will be taking $200 million out of KDOT next year.

Education commission considering bill to force schools to retain third grade students who do not read at their grade level. Only 32% of third graders in Kansas can read at their grade level. State needs $200 million to balance the pension budget over the next ten years. Bill passed to give Kansans recourse to annexation they don’t want it. House passed the Healthcare Freedom Amendment with 91 votes. Arts commission to be defunded.

Governor Brownback has initiative for western Kansas residents to not pay taxes for five years in order to help grow their quickly-depleting population. Federal Government blocking any energy development through regulation. Workers Compensation bill passed.

Election Committee passed SAFE Act; looking at moving elections to combine all elections with fall elections to save money. Homeless and specific health issue of autism being considered in the Child and Family Committee. State is now looking and beginning the sale of unused state property; this took two years to simply receive the listings of the property from the department of records.

The general "spirit" and "morale" within the Capitol building has changed from the incumbent representatives’ points of view, from former administrations of Governors Sebelius and Parkinson. This includes a more religious nature undercurrent from Governor Brownback to including the new representatives and other administrators. Planned Parenthood issue likely to be defunded in upcoming voting, Tighter abortion laws being passed; specific "Feel the Pain" bill regarding viable life and when a fetus can feel pain. Governor Brownback fired the head of SRS who was helping former Wichita abortion doctor, George Tiller, file paperwork--some of which is still under question about being ethical-unethical and perhaps unlawful.

Three main problems in Kansas are fiscal, cultural, and social. State is moving toward the Fair Tax; Missouri is further ahead in acquiring fairer tax measures; opinion is that Missouri was very pleased with recent past Kansas legislative and administrative increase in sales tax, as residents would cross state lines from Kansas to Missouri for purchases.

Yvonne Starks, Corresponding Secretary for Recording