First of all I want to encourage everyone to get out and vote. As you read and hear about the trouble spots around the world, I am reminded of the main thing that separates the United States from many other countries and that is the right to vote. Not only do we have the right to vote, we do it freely and accept the results of our elections. With the primary election coming up next week, I encourage you to vote on August 1st and in the general election on November 7th.

I just returned from speaking at the National Conference on Substance Abuse. One year ago I was asked by the National Conference of State Legislators (N.C.S.L.) to be part of an advisory committee on substance abuse. Saving money is an important driving force behind the work of the advisory committee, but most important is to save families and lives. As part of the committee we looked at the best treatment practices from an effective and efficient standpoint. Our findings are being published in a report titled: “Blueprint for States”. The Blueprint outlines what works to prevent and treat substance abuse and will be made available to legislators in all states. One of the most interesting findings is that when prevention and treatment is “done right” the state budget is positively impacted. By addressing substance abuse, states have the potential to save considerable amounts of money in areas such as child welfare, foster care, criminal justice, drunk driving expenses and Medicaid. I have been asked to make presentations around the country on behalf of N.C. S. L. By giving my time to report on the findings, I hope to have a positive impact on Kansas and many other states.

The Kansas budget, or more specifically the state bonded indebtedness, continues to trouble me. Currently the state owes approximately $4 billion. If you include city and county debt, we have over $21 billion in obligations to repay. I am not against borrowing but I am against borrowing too much. I also believe that Kansas would like to reduce some of this debt. None of us want to burden our children with excessive future obligations. If extra money is available, as we have seen in the past three quarters with an increase in tax receipts, I will continue to push for the reduction of debt and to spend your money (tax collections) wisely.

Positive things are happening locally. I have been in conversations with people that represent large financial holdings, as well as local economic development groups, and I believe that Ford County and southwest Kansas are breaking out of a slow cycle. Ethanol and Bio-Diesel plants are coming to southwest Kansas, hopefully Ford County. These plants will help the construction industry, provide a boost to the local job market and most importantly our farmers will see benefits and opportunities. Other manufacturing groups are looking at southwest Kansas, which will create new jobs as well. Outside investors are looking at southwest Kansas because of the recent repeal of the state machinery and equipment tax, they like that Kansas is fiscally conservative and responsible and the number one reason is because of the solid values that southwest Kansas people/labor force believe in and live by.

As always I am humbled to represent the people of 119th district. Feel free to contact me via email at george@house.state-ks.us. or online at www.patgeorge.org.

Sincerely yours,

Pat George
Representative for the 119th District
State of Kansas
House of Representatives