Good morning.

I want to thank all of you who took the time to write, phone and e-mail me during the “special session”. You gave me your opinions about education, constitutional amendments, gambling, taxes and the Kansas Supreme Court. I represent approximately 22,000 people and it is only by hearing from you that I am able to do my job. With the large volume of communications I receive on a daily basis, without a staff to assist me, I cannot always accommodate you with an immediate answer. However, I take your comments and thoughts under advisement and do my best to answer when I can.

All elected officials, including myself, appointees and hired government employees work for you, “The People” of the great state of Kansas. As a government employee, regardless of the school district, city, county, or state, I must always remember that “The People” are in charge. You work hard for your income and I can appreciate that. Ranking at the top of my priority list is being your representative and being a good steward of your money.

Although I do not know exactly what it means, I have been called a “neo-con” in recent weeks. If the term means that I am fiscally responsible and that I want accountability for how the state spends your money, or if it means that I value hard working Kansans and future generations, then I gladly accept the label. My parents and teachers taught me that a dollar saved is a dollar earned!

Through sales tax, income tax and property taxes, you give a big part of your income to the state to help support many services. Many of you tell me that you do not mind paying your “fair” share of these taxes as long as that money is wisely spent. You want accountability! Whether you are managing a business or the family budget, you take into account all the needs of your business or the family, then allocate money to each need, hoping to cover each need, but knowing that there is never “enough” money to meet the maximum of all needs.

Everyone I talk to is feeling the pinch at the gas pump. In addition to the high cost of fuel and its related hardship, the state of Kansas is projected to be close to one billion dollars short of revenue in two years if the Kansas Supreme court orders you to add another $568 million to the $4.3 billion budget necessary to fund the K-12 education budget! The challenges of a slow economy, high fuel prices and growing budget demands can be met but I, for one, will be doing a little “belt tightening” and encourage all of Kansas to do the same.

Looking on the bright side, the economy in other areas has seen a rebound. The Kansas legislature created a Health Authority that will become a positive force in holding down healthcare costs. Southwest Kansas is projected to add six ethanol plants within the next five years. Representatives Neufeld and Powell, Senator Huelskamp, Debbie Pugh from Senator Pat Roberts’ office, Bob Wetmore and JoAnn Knight from the Ford County Development office and I met to discuss and present plans that will encourage a group of private investors to build an ethanol plant in Ford County. Additionally, Dodge City Community College President, Richard Burke, and I formulated plans to ask the State for increased funding (private and public dollars) for the community college. Utilizing funds from private industry, I am also working with Joni Clark, USD 443, on a project to increase parental involvement in grades K-12; there is no cost to you!

I encourage all of you to spend your dollars locally as often as you can. The best way to stimulate our local economy is to support it. Every dollar you spend locally goes back into the community turning three to five times again! Local spending goes a long way to provide extra funding for better roads, more recreational opportunities and needed school improvements, while increasing government funding for city and county services and expansion of community college programs.

In closing, Kansans will face many challenges during the next two years. Kansans, specifically residents of Southwest Kansas, have overcome hardships time and again. From my viewpoint as your Representative, there is a lot for which we can be grateful. Every day, I gain even more respect for “The People of Kansas”, always believing that YOU are our greatest ASSET!

Won’t you please contact me at george@house.state.ks.us? I look forward to hearing from you

Sincerely yours,

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