From the Bleachers by Dr. Jack Welch

FROM THE BLEACHERS-757

BY DR. JACK WELCH

 Trust the Team, Trust the Mission

Does a leader show love and demonstrate trust? When you’re dealing with people, you’re not just dealing with skills and responsibilities, you’re dealing with fear, uncertainty, and sometimes even past hurt. Scripture gives us a simple but powerful truth in 1 Corinthians 8:3: “But whoever loves God is known by God.” That verse reminds us of something important, leadership is not just about being known for what you do. It’s about how you love and how you treat people along the way. When people know they are valued, respected, and they matter, that’s when trust begins to grow.

Now here’s the reality, not everyone walks into your organization full of confidence and trust. Some have been burned before. Some have seen decisions made that didn’t go their way. Some are carrying fear; fear of change, fear of losing their role, fear of the unknown. Fear has a way of whispering things that aren’t true. It tells people to pull back. It tells people to doubt. It tells people to protect themselves instead of trusting the team, but here’s the truth: Fear has never made a team better. Fear tightens people up. Trust frees them.

One of the greatest examples of this kind of leadership comes from Abraham Lincoln. He led during one of the most divided and fearful times in our nation’s history, the Civil War. He had every reason to rule with force and authority alone. Instead, he led with dignity. He listened to people who disagreed with him. He surrounded himself with individuals who didn’t always see things his way. When he had to make difficult decisions, decisions that impacted thousands of lives, he never lost sight of treating people with respect. Lincoln understood something every leader needs to understand: You can make the right decision and still care deeply about the people affected by it. That’s leadership.

Now here’s the other side of that coin. Those being led also have a responsibility. When change comes, you have to choose trust over fear. You may not see the whole picture. You may not understand every decision, but if you’re part of a team, there comes a moment where you either pull together or you drift apart. Fear doesn’t help you. Not one bit. It doesn’t improve your performance, strengthen your relationship or build anything worth keeping. All it does is hold you back. Some resort to gossip and slander. Trust, on the other hand, moves teams forward.

Consequently, whether you’re leading a team or part of one, remember this: Treat people with dignity, communicate with honesty, lead with love, and when change comes, choose trust over fear because the best teams aren’t just built on talent, they’re built on trust.

Thought for the Week, “Fear divides. Trust unites. Choose the one that builds your team.”  Jack Welch

Dr. Jack Welch serves as President of Fort Scott Community College. With a career spanning professional sports, public education, and rural community development, he brings a servant-leader mindset and a passion for building trust-driven cultures that empower people to thrive in the classroom, on the field, and in life. He is also the author of Foundations of Coaching: The Total Coaching Manual.

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran Newsletter


March 30

Hello,

Welcome to “Kansas Common Sense.” Thanks for your continued interest in receiving my weekly newsletter. Please feel free to forward it on to your family and friends if it would interest them.

Good News: EPA Permits Year-Round Sale of E15
On Wednesday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it was issuing a waiver to extend the nationwide sale of E15 during the 2026 summer driving season. Current regulations prevent the summer sale of E15 without a waiver, which is why I have long supported legislation to allow the year-round sale of E15 to provide certainty to the fuels industry. Year-round availability of E15 expands markets for Kansas farmers and ethanol producers, supports American energy independence and provides consumers with more affordable options at the pump. I applaud the administration’s action to help meet our nation’s energy needs, and I will continue working with my colleagues to make this change permanent. You can learn more about my efforts to support year-round E15 here.

Urging Reinstatement of Sanctions on Russia & Iran
This week, I spoke on the Senate floor, expressing my concern over the administration’s decision to relax oil sanctions on Russia and Iran. The 30-day waiver permits both countries to sell their oil at market prices, potentially providing billions of dollars that they otherwise would not have had. This windfall provides resources for both Moscow and Tehran to sustain their wars against Ukraine and in the Middle East. It makes no sense to give financial relief to two adversaries who actively work, in cooperation with each other, to threaten American lives and interests around the world. I called on the President to rescind these waivers now and for them to not be extended once they expire. I also highlighted the importance of investing in domestic energy production to reduce America’s reliance on foreign countries for energy.

The U.S. military operations in Iran continue into its fifth week. As a member of the Defense Appropriations subcommittee, I received another classified briefing on the war. While there is potential for ceasefire talks to begin, I am monitoring reports of plans to send more forces into the region that could lead to introducing troops on the ground.

You can watch my full remarks on the Senate floor here.

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Passing Legislation to End Partial Government Shutdown

After weeks of trying to negotiate a deal in the Senate on funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), President Trump took action to provide emergency pay for TSA workers who were facing a third missed paycheck. While this action will provide relief for the TSA employees and alleviate strain on air travel, a DHS funding bill must be enacted to ensure our national security and make certain thousands of employees do not continue going without pay. Despite the Appropriations Committee negotiating a bipartisan DHS funding package that includes resources for body-worn cameras for ICE and increases funding for the DHS Office of Inspector General to conduct investigations and hold the department accountable, my colleagues across the aisle rejected this package and additional offers for reform.

While Republicans worked in good faith to offer reforms for ICE and Border Patrol, defunding these critical agencies is not an option. Thanks to additional funding provided last year in the Senate Reconciliation Bill, ICE and Border Patrol operations will continue to be funded for the foreseeable future, and Senate Republicans will look for alternative ways to fund these agencies potentially through another Reconciliation Bill.

Requesting Update from DHS on World Cup Security Plans

As the U.S. prepares to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, I led my colleagues in requesting an update from the newly appointed Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) efforts to support the safety and security of host cities across the nation, including Kansas City. Kansas City’s role during the FIFA World Cup presents a unique opportunity to showcase our state and country but also requires significant coordination between federal, state and local partners to address evolving security threats. Specifically, I requested additional details on how DHS is working with law enforcement and emergency management partners to prepare for the event, as well as how federal resources are being allocated and which special designations would be granted to host cities to make certain they have the necessary tools in case of an emergency.

I appreciate the many Kansas-based law and fire departments that have visited with me in recent weeks to express their concerns and share questions ahead of the World Cup, and I look forward to remaining in contact with the emergency services community on the response we receive from Secretary Mullin. I remain committed to working to make certain our communities are as prepared as possible for the World Cup.

You can read more from KSHB here.

Calling for Briefing on Holding Perpetrators of Oct. 7 Attack Accountable
This week, I led 13 of my colleagues in requesting that Attorney General Pam Bondi and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel convene a briefing on the Joint Task Force October 7 (JTF) to update Congress on efforts to investigate and prosecute terrorist networks such as Hamas. The task force was established in the wake of Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel and stands to investigate and hold accountable individuals connected to acts of violence and global terrorist organizations. In the letter, we requested an update on the task force’s progress, including the number of investigations underway, actions taken to hold perpetrators accountable and any additional authorities or resources needed from Congress to support the JTF’s critical work. As Chairman of the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee, I remain committed to making certain the Department of Justice and the FBI have the tools necessary to carry out their mission of keeping Americans safe. You can learn more from Jewish Insider here.

Touring Thales Group U.S. Headquarters
On Monday, I visited Thales Group’s U.S. headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, and met with members of their team to learn more about the work they are doing to support air traffic control modernization. We also discussed Thales Group’s presence in Kansas, including its facility in Overland Park that repairs air traffic control navigation and surveillance equipment. Thank you to the Thales Group team for hosting me and for conversations on strengthening aviation safety.

Leading Legislation to Protect Consumer Data Privacy
This week, I reintroduced the Consumer Data Privacy and Security Act to strengthen laws that govern consumers’ personal data and create clear standards and regulations for American businesses that collect, process and use consumers’ personally identifiable data. As more states adopt their own comprehensive data privacy legislation and as consumers face new and evolving threats to the security of their personal data, the need for a clear federal standard for data privacy has become more pressing, both for consumers seeking to secure their data and for businesses contending with a patchwork of state laws governing how that data is to be handled.

My legislation would establish a clear federal standard for data privacy protection, provide consumers with control over their personal data, create appropriately-scaled business requirements based on a company’s size and resources, require notification and consent measures, implement robust security programs and provide the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general with the resources and authorities needed to enforce this clear federal standard.

As Congress works to develop a comprehensive federal privacy standard, I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate and soliciting feedback from consumers and industry leaders to make certain that this legislation manages the risks to consumers’ data privacy in a way that American businesses can execute.

You can learn my about my legislation here.

Introducing Bill to Bolster Training on Dementia Detection & Treatment
This week, I joined my colleagues, Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), in introducing the Accelerating Access to Dementia & Alzheimer’s Provider Training (AADAPT) Act. This bipartisan legislation seeks to bolster training for primary care providers so they can better diagnose Alzheimer’s and other dementia and deliver high-quality care in community-based settings.

The bill would make certain primary care providers have the tools they need to deliver earlier diagnoses, improving access to care and outcomes for individuals with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. I am committed to supporting robust funding for Alzheimer’s and dementia research to improve treatments and work towards a cure for these devastating diseases.

You can learn more about this legislation here.

Pittsburg office
306 N. Broadway, Suite 125 (rear entrance of bank)
P.O. Box 1372
Pittsburg, KS 66762
Phone: (620) 232-2286
Fax: (620) 232-2284

Legislative Update by Kansas Senator Caryn Tyson

Caryn Tyson
Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson
March 27, 2026
The Property Tax Revenue Limit bill (Senate substitute for HB 2745) was sent to the governor; it puts the breaks on annual property-tax collection increases with a revenue limit (the previous year’s property tax collection plus Midwest Consumer Price Index or 3%, whichever is lower).  If a governing body attempts to exceed the limited amount, a voter petition of 10% of registered voters in that taxing subdivision can stop the increase.  The Senate added some safeguards: the revenue‑neutral notices you get in the mail must flag if a budget exceeds revenue‑neutral (property tax collected the previous year) levels and if revenue limits are to be exceeded; if revenue limits are exceeded a petition signature area is to be included on the notice; petition signatures may be collected Aug. 10–Sept. 15, and if 10% of registered voters sign, the governing body may not exceed revenue neutral.  The House had changed the petition process so that they do not have be notarized.  It’s a meaningful step to slow government growth.  I hope the governor signs it.  It passed the Senate 22–18.  I voted yes.
Early in the session, House and Senate leaders agreed to work on two items: an assessment cap (Senate position, 3%, that must be implemented by constitutional amendment) and a revenue cap (House position, allowing voters to stop increases 3% or more by petition).  Each measure would offer protection: the assessment cap would protect individual properties, while the revenue limit would help slow government growth.  Unfortunately, the assessment cap was rejected by the House – even after the House offered a 10% cap and no rollback on assessment values; the Senate position was 3% or lower with a 2022 baseline year.  To move on the measure, I was asked to acquiesce to a 9% cap, with the understanding it could be lowered by statute, and a baseline assessment value year of 2024, which the House accepted – but rejected it on the House floor.  There is still a slim chance to pass something in veto session.
Some House members continue to spread misinformation about assessment limits, demonstrating a lack of understanding of the legislation.  For example, claims that it “will hurt first-time homebuyers” are inaccurate: the measure transfers the capped assessed value to the new homeowner.  A major benefit because the capped assessment value goes with the property, unlike today where some are seeing increases that can tax them out of their home in just a few years.
As Chairman of the Senate Tax Committee, I worked day and night trying to get a limit on property tax increases passed – one that would protect homeowners and save them money.  We need to stop these runaway increases.  However, as a leader in lowering your taxes, there are members of the legislature trying to blame me for not getting results when they vote against the limits.  Go figure.
The Legislature will return April 9th for consideration of bills vetoed by the Governor and possible action on other legislation.  Currently, there are 50 bills on the Governor’s desk for consideration and over 80 bills on the way to her desk.  All legislation can be found at www.KSLegislature.gov.
 
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn

Republican Scam Alert

SCAM ALERT!!

Do not buy gift cards for a County GOP chair or other GOP official without talking to the requestor via telephone first!

Scammers are targeting Republican activists, posing as GOP officials and asking that the activists purchase gift cards on behalf of the GOP. WE DON’T NEED GIFT CARDS!! Please do not purchase any cards or any other item without making a phone call first!

We don’t want to see anyone else get scammed.

Paid for by the Kansas Republican Party. Roger Lomshek, Treasurer
Kansas Republican Party | 114 SW 8th Ave. | Topeka, KS 66603 US

U. S. Congressman Derek Schmidt Newsletter

Rep. Derek Schmidt's header image

 

Friends,

Late last night, the House passed a continuing resolution that will fund the entire Department of Homeland Security for the next 60 days as negotiations continue to secure full-year funding. This 60-day funding resolution marks the fourth time the House has passed funding for the department, which would end the needless shutdown. Earlier this week, the House also passed for the third time a full-year funding bill for the department. Full-year funding received bipartisan approval in the House earlier this year before being blockaded by Senate Democrats. This shutdown has to end so the Coast Guard, Border Patrol, Secret Service, TSA and other critical agencies that keep our country safe can resume normal operations at this time of elevated threat.

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I continue to receive briefings on Operation Epic Fury. My prayers continue to be with our troops, particularly those Kansans serving in the operation.

Last Sunday, I joined NewsNation to discuss the latest developments.

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In committee action Thursday, the House Judiciary Committee held a markup which included a bill I introduced to clarify the ability of Executive Branch officials — not unelected judges — to temporarily appoint acting U.S. Attorneys while the individuals appointed by the president to permanently serve in those roles are pending confirmation in the U.S. Senate. Delay tactics by members of the minority party in the Senate should not be used to prevent the administration from having their chosen attorneys represent them in federal courts. My bill will take a step toward addressing that issue.

Also on Thursday, the House Armed Services Committee unanimously passed out the  Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT) Act of 2026 (H.R. 7613), which includes key reforms recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board to prevent future tragedies, such as the 2025 midair collision at Reagan National Airport of American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita and the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter.

As families across the Second District wrap up their tax returns over the next few weeks, I’m hearing from many Kansans who are receiving bigger refunds this year thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts that were enacted last summer. Thanks to the larger standard deduction, expanded child tax credits, senior deduction, small business pass-through deduction, no tax on tips and no tax on overtime, the average refund is up more than 10% from last year. That’s real money Kansans are saving by having a more affordable federal government.

There was also good news for Kansas farmers this week with key announcements from the administration on renewable fuels:

First, the EPA announced it is once again issuing a waiver allowing E15 to be sold during the summer. While we continue to work in Congress to make year-round E15 permanent — a bill I have cosponsored — I’m grateful the administration has once again waived the burdensome regulation, giving fuel retailers and consumers the choice to offer and purchase higher ethanol blends, which can result in real savings at the pump.

The EPA also announced the new Renewable Fuel Standards for 2026 and 2027, which will result in the highest-ever volumes of biofuels in our nation’s history. This is expected to create billions of dollars in value for farmers and continue reducing our reliance on foreign oil.

Freeman Appoints New System Director of Revenue Cycle

 

Christina Clifford. Submitted.

 

Christina Clifford Brings Vast Experience to Freeman Health System  

        

Christina Clifford has been named Freeman Health System’s System Director of
Revenue Cycle. She’s excited to return to the employer that helped launch her professional
career from 2007 to 2015 as Freeman’s patient accounts support coordinator.

“[Freeman] is where I first discovered my passion for healthcare revenue-cycle operations and
improvement,” Clifford said. “Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to lead teams across
multiple health systems and physician groups, focusing on technical billing, workflow
optimization, and compliance. Returning to Freeman feels meaningful and full circle. I’m
grateful for the chance to bring my experience back to an organization that serves the
community I care deeply about.”

After leaving Southwest Missouri, Clifford worked for various healthcare systems based in
Texas, Maryland and, most recently, Michigan, where she worked for Healthrise, in support of
Trinity Health System, as regional director of revenue site operations and revenue integrity.

What excites her most about her new role at Freeman has everything to do with partnering
with teams systemwide to strengthen processes, reduce friction, and support the people doing
the difficult day-to-day work, she said.

                            

 

Bad Coffee by Carolyn Tucker

Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker

Bad Coffee

When I was in high school, I worked in the kitchen at the Holliday Restaurant in Stockton. The owner would often ask me if I’d like a cup of coffee. I’d thank him and respond, “I don’t drink coffee.” This same conversation occurred over and over and over. Finally, one day Vaughn told me, “Well, whenever you decide to drink coffee, learn to drink it black.” I stored that in the back of my mind and eventually began to drink coffee. (After all, I couldn’t convince anyone that I belonged to the Montgomery/Jennings family if I didn’t drink coffee!) Later, through the years, I switched to drinking coffee with “num-nums” in it. That’s hillbilly for the following ingredients: heavy whipping cream and pure maple syrup, or homemade chocolate satin sauce. I simply flipped around Vaughn’s advice because, if the coffee is bad, I can fix it with yummy additives.

I have a coffee mug that has “Life is too Short for Bad Coffee” imprinted on it. We can take that quote and run 100 miles with it. For example, “Life is too short for bad company, bad living, bad attitudes, and bad breath.” And I would take it a step further and add that life is too short to consume rice cakes, unsweetened tea, chicken gizzards, and raw fish. Those things are just not right!

Life is certainly too short to spend it foolishly. God’s Word reminds us of the brevity of our lives. Moses penned a prayer in Psalm 90:5,6,12 NLT: “You [God] sweep people away like dreams that disappear. They are like grass that springs up in the morning. In the morning it blooms and flourishes, but by evening it is dry and withered. Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” We don’t want to spin the tires of our life going nowhere.

“You [God] turn people back to dust, saying, ‘Return to dust, you mortals!’ For You, a thousand years are as a passing day” (Psalm 90:3-4 NLT). God’s timetable and ours is not the same and it’s difficult to wrap our heads around that fact. It’s a fact that life is quickly passing by and we truly don’t have time to waste. We should treat each day as a precious treasure. We shouldn’t procrastinate on achieving the God-given dreams and goals we have for our lives. I grew up with the motto, “Don’t put off ‘til tomorrow what you can do today.” Whoever said that first was a wise person. (I think it was my mom.)

Now is the time to move forward and do what you need to do, whatever that is for you. In regard to eternity, every day we should be preparing to die. There’s no guarantee of tomorrow, so all we really have is today. Apostle Paul gave wise advice, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:3 NKJV). We should not dismiss the opportunity that today affords. Pick up the phone and make that apology, write the letter, forgive, pay back what you borrowed 12 years ago, read the book, write the book, etc. Life is a beautiful experience but it’s surprisingly brief. Time waits for no one.

There is an urgency for doing the right thing now – today. We all have a window of opportunity and we don’t know when that window will close forever. Life is too short for unforgiveness, jealousy, hatred, bickering, disunity, and complaining. As long as we’re breathing, it’s not too late to do the right thing. Ready or not, the aging process will catch up with you and you better have your “house in order” (2 Kings 20:1). Don’t just talk about the things you want/need to do – do ‘em now. Now is the time.

The Key: Aging isn’t a choice like black coffee or coffee with num-nums. However, where you spend eternity is a choice: smoking or nonsmoking.

Fortunately, Unfortunately by Patty LaRoche

Patty LaRoche. 2023.
Author: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection
www.alittlefaithlift.com
AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Assoc.)

“The amount of good things in your life depends on your ability to notice them.” Anonymous

In the theater classes I teach, we are working on a new Improvisational Acting activity. The students line up across the front of the room, and starting with Student #1, he/she starts a sentence with “Fortunately.” “Fortunately, I passed Calculus.” “Fortunately, I just bought my first car.” “Fortunately, I’m not grounded this week.” Whatever comes to mind.

Then the next student starts a sentence with “Unfortunately” and must choose a sentence that counters whatever Student #1 has said. “Unfortunately, passing that one test did not bring my grade to passing.” “Unfortunately, the engine caught fire the first day I drove it.” “Unfortunately, I’m only ungrounded to babysit my little brother and sister.”

Student #3 must add to the story, this time with a “Fortunately.” On it goes until we go through the line a couple of times.

There are two reasons I chose this activity: (1) It teaches students Improvisational skills like keeping dialogue going and thinking on their feet, and (2) They are forced to consider both sides, especially the positive one (which seems more difficult for them).

This started when I began noticing far too much negative thinking as my students answered a Roll Call question. Last Tuesday was a perfect example. “What is the best thing about living in America?” was the question (a far different one from the usual, “What’s your favorite dessert?”). Most students couldn’t think of anything, and those who did, answered with, “Well, it certainly isn’t the government” or “Maybe chocolate?” or “Absolutely nothing.”

I took a few seconds to respond. “Nothing? I’m confused. You are sitting in a desk, getting an education paid for by other people. Did any of you sleep in a cardboard box in an alleyway last night? None of you are starving, and if you are, you know where to find snacks in my desk drawer. Clearly, you all have clothes on. You girls will be allowed to drive and get a job, choose your own husband and speak your mind. You all can protest peacefully if you want something changed, and you say, “Absolutely nothing?”

No one responded.

Since Covid, there has been an increasing sense of hopelessness and negativity. Even my students who attend a weekly church group exhibit a pessimism I did not see when I taught 13 years ago. I have to remind them to say “thank you” when I hand them a pencil or a brownie, and if I don’t, I wait for one of them to thank me and then announce to the whole class, “Thank you, “Roni,” for saying thank you.

In the Old Testament, we read that Jeremiah, the “weeping prophet,” watched as his nation, Israel, deteriorated. They were captured, the city of Jerusalem was destroyed, and he felt hopeless. Sometimes, I feel like weeping over the state of our country, and especially the mess we are handing off to our children and grandchildren. I remind myself that God has a plan. In spite of our sinful nature, He offers us a way out. And do we deserve it?

Absolutely not. If there is anything we need to notice, that truth alone should negate our pessimism.

Alleged Disorderly Election Conduct Video

On October 25th, 2025, early voting was taking place at the Bourbon County Courthouse. The hallway outside the commission meeting room held voting booths, and the commission meeting on the North side of the hallway was being used as an area to validate voters and deal with provisional ballots. The use of the areas was described in a memo written by the Clerk on October 10th and discussed at the October 14th commission meeting.

The charges by the Kansas Attorney General against Commissioner Milburn-Key cite an October 25th incident that led to the two counts. The following is a summary of the contents of a video from the security camera in the commission room on that date, and is likely the incident in question. The Kansas Attorney General’s office gave FortScott.biz permission to view the video, but did not provide the actual file. A narrative of the video contents follows:

At 9:37 am, Commissioner Mika Milburn enters the commission meeting room, sits at her usual spot at the table, and takes out a newspaper. County Clerk Susan Walker enters at 9:38, and they converse. The conversation is hard to hear, but it is clear that Walker is telling Milburn that, under election law, people aren’t allowed in the commission room while it is being used as a polling place. Milburn appears to object

Milburn remains at the table and continues to read the newspaper after Walker leaves. To Milburn’s immediate right are a stack of provisional ballots that have been cast, but won’t be counted until they are verified.

Sounds of people coming in to vote can be heard on the recording. Milburn is sitting on the North side of the table, facing South toward the open door that opens into the hallway where people are coming in to vote.

At 9:40 Milburn unrolls her laptop charger, plugs it into the wall behind her and continues reading the newspaper. She uses a remote to adjust the TV at the back of the room.

At 9:41, someone enters the hallway, apparently to get their ballot, and Milburn waves and greets them through the open doorway.

Around 9:48, Walker returns and reiterates that election laws do not allow Milburn to be in the polling areas. Commissioner Milburn objects, saying that this is her office and that it won’t take her long to prep things. Walker says that she does not make the law, but she will call the police if necessary. This all happened right around 9:49.

The exact wording is hard to hear, but Milburn seems to be saying that her prep work won’t take very long. Walker gestures to the office 4 or 5 feet behind Milburn and asks her to move into that room. She offers to help her move her things into that office, where she can continue to work.

At 9:50 Milburn asks how long this is going to go on and how long she will not be able to use the commission room as her office. The clerk says the area will be used for voting while the elections are ongoing, and the discussion continues for a bit with Milburn saying that she needs to be in there to do her work.

Walker reiterates that she is asking Milburn to please leave the room, but Milburn says that it is unreasonable. Walker suggests it is not unreasonable.  At 9:51 Milburn takes her stuff into the adjoining room, comes back and gets her bag, and then mostly closes the door.

Ken Collins Kansas State Representative-Second District Newsletter

Ken Collins. Submitted photo.

 

Thoughts From Under the Dome

Ken Collins

Kansas State Representative-Second District

 

 

Benny’s Bill was passed unanimously in the Senate as I have previously reported and was bundled in conference committee with three other public safety measures and is now on the way to Governor Kelly’s desk for approval. The package combines several good pieces of legislation and was done in the memory of the late Representative John Resman. The bill includes:

 

Benny’s Bill (HB2412): Elevate child endangerment charges from a misdemeanor to a felony if the victim is under the age of six.

 

Electronic Monitoring for Domestic Violence (HB2479)

 

Blackmail and Deepfake Protections (HB2594): Expands blackmail laws to include threats involving images especially involving minors including cases involving AI.

 

Position of Authority Law (HB2762): Strengthens law prohibiting sexual relations with students by clarifying adults in positions of authority at schools.

 

The Pharmacy Benefit Manager bill (SB 360) that I have previously mentioned was recently passed by the House under the new designation of SB 20. This bill puts some much needed regulation on the PBM monopoly that currently exists in this country. The House vote on this measure was 104-17 and it is now headed to the Governor for her signature.

 

Recently the House voted on and rejected by a vote of 46-75 was House Bill 2527. The purpose of HB 2527 was to restrict registered sex offenders from entering school property. That is a goal that I think that almost everyone would support but the bill did not address some of the possible scenarios that could come about and thus could cause unintended consequences. I voted no and I believe that was why most of my colleagues did as well.

 

The House and Senate are both adjourned until April 9th when we return for veto session. I would like to remind everyone that I have two legislative update events planned. The first one will be at the Mulberry Senior Citizens Center on Monday April 13th at 6:30 with the other one a week later on April 20th at the Galesburg Community Center. Ad Astra Per Aspera.

 

 

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