February is already upon us, and as we close out January I want to take a moment during this week’s legislative wrap-up to note a particularly important occasion for all of us--Kansas Day! With such rich tradition and heritage, I encourage each of you to spend a few minutes tracing the fascinating steps of our state history. We carry a rich tradition as a bellwether state where many of our nation’s formative battles were staged. It’s a legacy of leadership I certainly embrace, and strive to uphold.

Aside from our chamber’s spirited rendition of our state song, “Home on the Range” it was business as usual this week, with bills being read into the calendar and committees holding hearings on their designated topics. As these bills are processed through committees we will begin to see more reaching the house floor for full debate next week.

In addition to these House measures, we will also begin debate next week on Senate Bill 23, addressing the state budget for the 2009 fiscal year. With only a few months left in the fiscal year, the task of cutting over $300 million and perhaps more will be both daunting and painful. However, unless decisive action is taken, the cuts will be more dramatic for all of our affected agencies and citizens.

Perhaps more concerning though is the outlook for the 2010 fiscal year. As the nationwide economic downturn reaches the Midwest we face a projected deficit of somewhere around $1.2 billion in 2010—a figure that could certainly rise. While these are the difficult decisions we were elected to make, I hope I can count on your input and feedback as we navigate through the session.

The other relevant issue in our budget deliberations is the proposed “bailout” package being debated in Washington this week. While we will certainly not be planning on it, the assumption being made by most is that Kansas will receive a substantial allotment from this package. While we will certainly put this potential one-time help to good use, it’s important to recognize the spending habits that contributed to our current situation. I remain quite cautious of simply placing a band-aid on the matter and closing the session without fundamentally changing the way we spend your dollars. I’m strongly committed to fiscal accountability and responsibility. It’s the only way to regain our footing and avoid these situations in the future.

With the deadline for bill requests passing this week, we will soon have a clear vision of the important issues this session. Be sure to keep an eye on the bills emerging from committees to the house floor in the upcoming weeks and as always, contact me anytime with your comments or suggestions. It’s my honor to serve you, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts and seeing you in Topeka!