As I look out my office window and watch the snow come down so beautifully, I am reminded how pure and simple we come into life, a true gift from God Almighty. Especially during the Christmas season, it’s easy to be grateful not only for the gift of life but also for all the gifts afforded us in our short time on this earth. As Americans, we enjoy a “Freedom” that is envied by other nations. During 2006, I challenge all of us to be grateful and thankful for the “Freedoms” we have come to know.

The 2006 legislative session will commence in Topeka on January 9th. Entering the second session of my term has me feeling very comfortable in the position as your elected State Representative. I spent the summer and fall months working on a number of issues that will knowingly arise in the upcoming session. I also became more familiar with issues that are important to citizens specifically in the 119th District and I’ve worked to find ways to bring those issues to the forefront during the 2006 session. I look forward to continuing my work in Topeka on solutions that will benefit southwest Kansas, as well as all Kansans.

School finance will again be a major topic as we await the results of an audit conducted over the past six months. The Supreme Court of Kansas will base their final school finance ruling on the audit results. It’s possible they may order the Legislature to add another $560 million to the $4.5 Billion currently appropriated for K-12 education. Keep your eye on Topeka for more information in upcoming months.

I continue to explore the prospect of bringing ethanol production to Ford County. Haskell County recently broke ground on an ethanol plant and there are plans to build several plants in Southwest Kansas. Currently there are seven ethanol plants already in operation or that have broke ground in Kansas. Congress recently authorized incentives for 7.5 billion gallons of ethanol per year, almost doubling the previous targets.

The ethanol produced in the Haskell County ethanol plant will replace the need to import millions of gallons of gasoline each year, which reduces our dependence on foreign oil. The plant will also use cattle manure as a renewable fuel, instead of natural gas, to power the plant’s operations. Approximately 400,000 head of cattle are needed to provide the yearly supply of manure! With approximately 2.5 million head of cattle within a 150-mile radius of Dodge City, the methane-powered ethanol plant is a viable option for Ford County. Members of the newly formed Kansas Energy Commission and the Kansas Bio-Science Commission continue to provide me guidance and recommendations concerning ethanol production. It is my belief that Kansas can double the number of ethanol plants and triple the production.

Other areas of concerns facing Kansans are business and health care. We must find ways to keep Kansas businesses profitable and attract new businesses and jobs to our region. Created last year, the Health Authority will become an increased force this year as they continue to look for solutions to ease the mounting costs associated with health care.

Joni Clark from USD 443 reported to me that she has over 5,000 entries in the “Getting Parents Involved” (Car-ticipation) Program designed to promote parental involvement education. Originally our estimation for a successful program was to receive 5,000 entries over the course of the entire school year. Since we have reached that number at the halfway point, we will easily surpass our goal and look forward to continued success with the program!

In closing, I want to thank everyone who has helped me over the past year. I wish each and every one of you a Blessed and merry Christmas!

The west wing of the Capitol, including my office, is being reconstructed during the 2006 legislative session. My office is temporarily relocated to the seventh floor of the Docking Building, just west of the Capitol. You may contact me at any time at: george@house.state.ks.us.

Sincerely yours,

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