Newsletter - March 18, 2019
Liberal Chamber Bash
The Liberal Chamber Bash is always an Ozsome event! This year was no different. It features one of the best steaks you’ve ever had (Thanks, National Beef), great live entertainment (this year was comedian Sam Adams), and most importantly recognition for those who work every day to make Liberal a better place. Executive Director Rozelle Webb needs a big shout out for all the work she does on this event and also the Duck Race but that doesn’t even touch all the other things she and her team do. Whether it’s ribbon cuttings, legislative forums or trips to represent Liberal and Southwest Kansas in Washington D.C. and Topeka, our Chamber team is continually working for a better Liberal. That includes all the hard work of our Chamber Board, President Kris Musgrave, Past President Holli Horyna, and the Chamber Ambassadors. If you’re looking for a way to get involved and make Liberal a better place, I hope you’ll consider getting involved with the Chamber of Commerce.
At this year’s Chamber Bash, it was my honor to present the Merit Award to Gary Dunnum. Gary is a true entrepreneur and innovator. He led the transition of local gas stations into convenience stores and developed Convenience Plus stores throughout Southwest Kansas. Gary has been an active developer of residential and commercial property in Liberal, owned an oil drilling company, and he’s been active in his church, SCCC and numerous other charitable initiatives in our community. I’ve always admired Gary because he doesn’t “talk the talk” he “walks the walk.”
It was also great to see our 2018 Cinco De Mayo Queen Amy Zeledon at the Chamber Bash. She is a freshman at SCCC. Our community is fortunate to have so many hard-working, poised and focused young adults that I hope will choose to stay here as our next generation of leaders.
Tom Harmon of Miracle Ear stopped by the Capitol this past week to talk about the Kansas business climate, the hearing aid industry and an issue he is passionate about known as “Convention of the States.” Convention of the States is a method under Article 5 of the U.S. Constitution that would allow for amendments to the Constitution through a state-led initiative rather than by Congress. Proponents say the best way to achieve the changes needed to fix some of the challenges facing our country is through a Convention of States where the federal government could be reformed through amendments proposed by this convention. Opponents are concerned there could be a runaway convention dominated by special interests. I would love to hear your thoughts on this matter. I get a lot of mass produced emails on this issue where someone just hits a link to notify all legislators whether they support or oppose this issue. Most of these emails come from people that don’t live in our district. I’m interested in what you think. There is a chance we will have a vote on this issue this year. Educate yourself on both sides of this issue and email me your thoughts at
Shannon.francis@house.ks.gov.
Floor Votes
SB 17 – Requiring class M driver's licenses when operating a motorcycle registered under a temporary permit. This only pertains to new purchases of a motorcycle when you haven’t had the training to ride one.
Final Action, 101-22
SB 39 – Compensation for warranty services under the vehicle dealers and manufacturers licensing act. This has to do with the way car dealers get reimbursed for warranty work by manufacturers.
Final Action, 122-1
HB 2133 – Required reporting for entities who deliver alcoholic liquors to consumers. This is directed at out of state mail order wine clubs.
Final Action, 121-2
SCR 1606 – Condemning the reproductive health act of New York. This condemned a new bill in New York regulating abortions.
Final Action, 85-38
Transportation and Safety Budget Committee
This week I presented my committee’s proposal for the Kansas Department of Transportation budget to the full House Appropriations Committee. Our proposal, which was accepted by the committee, comes after many weeks of research and work by our subcommittee. It includes funding for the next phase of the Highway 54 four-lane project in Seward County. It also includes funding to speed up the completion the remaining projects that were promised under the state’s T-Works plan but have not yet been completed, highway preservation, assistance for our local governments to maintain roads and bridges, and funding for smaller highway projects to help improve safety like passing lanes and turning lanes. My Committee also reviewed the performance budgeting measures and strategic plan of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. And, I have been working with agencies and other legislators on rural wildfire suppression and quality control for highway projects.
"We pray that peoples of all faiths, all races, all nations, may have their great human needs satisfied; that those now denied opportunity shall come to enjoy it to the full; that all who yearn for freedom may experience its spiritual blessings; that those who have freedom will understand, also, its heavy responsibilities; that all who are insensitive to the needs of others will learn charity; that the scourges of poverty, disease and ignorance will be made to disappear from the earth, and that, in the goodness of time, all peoples will come to live together in a peace guaranteed by the binding force of mutual respect and love." Dwight D. Eisenhower
Constituent Services
Please reach out to me any time I can assist you with a state agency concern. I do ask that you send the request to me by email. This ensures that I get the information correctly to the agency we are working with. You can reach me when I’m in Topeka by email
Shannon.francis@house.ks.gov, by phone (785) 296-7466, or by mail at 300 SW 10
th Avenue, 274-W, Topeka, KS 66612. My office at the Capitol is 274W, second floor west wing.
