Kansas Farm Bureau Endorses Lance Kinzer
The Kansas Farm Bureau has announced today they have endorsed Lance Kinzer for the Kansas House of Representatives in the 14th District. Click here for the list of endorsed candidates.
Rep. Lance Kinzer Endorsed by Kansas Chamber PAC
Topeka, KS (June 29, 2010) – The Kansas Chamber PAC has announced today they have endorsed Lance Kinzer for the Kansas House of Representatives in the 14th District.
For the rest of the release, click here.
Rep. Kinzer Receives Kansas Republican Assembly Endorsement
Lance Kinzer has been endorsed by the Kansas Republican Assembly. On Saturday, June 19, 2010, Kansas Republican Assembly (KRA) members from across the state met for their biennial endorsing convention at the Ramada Inn in downtown Topeka. Numerous candidates were on hand to meet and speak with the members before they began discussing and voting on the following seats: United States Senate (US Senate), United State House of Representatives (US House), Kansas Statewide offices (Governor/Lt Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Insurance Commissioner & State Treasurer) Kansas State Board of Education (SBOE), Kansas State Senate 7 (KS Senate 7) and the Kansas State House of Representatives (KS House).
Rep. Lance Kinzer received their endorsement in the 14th District. You can see the full list of endorsed candidates by clicking here.
Rep. Kinzer Receives Kansans For Life Endorsement
Rep. Kinzer Receives Kansans For Life Endorsement: Kansans for Life (KFL) has has endorsed the re-election bid of Rep. Kinzer. In making this endorsement, Mary Kay Culp, Executive Director of KFL noted, “Rep. Kinzer’s re-election is vitally important to the pro-life cause. He is a tireless advocate for the sanctity of life and has demonstrated unparalleled leadership in his advocacy of pro-life legislation. Rep. Kinzer has earned our full and unequivocal support.” During his time in the Legislature Rep. Kinzer has authored, sponsored and/or carried numerous important pro-life bills and amendments including among many others, the Comprehensive Abortion Reform Act, The Woman's Right to Know and See Act, Alexa's Law, enhanced enforcement provisions regarding late term abortions, limitations and use of taxpayer dollars by Planned Parenthood, and legislation providing greater protection for the disabled and terminally ill. Responding to KFL's endorsement Rep. Kinzer said, "Government has an obligation to work to defend the core values necessary for a healthy society. This includes standing up for the vulnerable: the elderly, the disabled, and the unborn. KFL has been a key ally in working toward these vital goals, I am honored by their support." To see the full list of KFL endorsed candidates visit here.
Rep. Kinzer Earns 100% Rating on AFP Scorecard
Now that the 2010 Legislative session is adjourned, Americans for Prosperity-Kansas has issued their legislatove scorecards for the session on key issues. Rep. Kinzer earned a 100% rating. You can find out more about the votes of Lance and his colleagues by clicking here.
State Representative Lance Kinzer Announces Re-election Bid
May 20, 2010 -- State Representative Lance Kinzer (R - Olathe), has filed for re-election to the Kansas House. Rep. Kinzer has represented District 14, which consists of much of Northern Olathe, since July of 2004.
Rep. Kinzer Receives Highest Ranking on Kansas Economic Freedom Index
Legislative Scorecard
Voice For Liberty Wichita recently released it Kansas Economic Freedom
Index, an evaluation of State Legislators on eight key votes during the
2010 legislative session. Rep. Kinzer received a 95% rating which tied
for the highest "pro-liberty" percentage among House members. The index
focuses on votes that support the principles of individual liberty,
limited government, and free markets. To see the complete rankings go
to this website.
Rep. Kinzer Testifies in Favor of HR 6036 Challenging Constitutionality
of New Federal Health Care Law
Lance Kinzer recently provided testimony in favor of HR 6036, a resolution from the House challenging the Constitutionality of the new federal health care law. To read this testimony, click here.
Veto Session Survey Results
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to participate in Rep.
Kinzer's "Veto Session Survey." The rsponse has been truly tremendous
and greatly appreciated. Please know that Rep. Kinzer takes your
responses very seriously and reads and considers each and every comment. Here are the results:
Question: Latest revenue estimates predict a budget shortfall of $510 million for FY 2011 using the Governor's proposed budget as a baseline. Under the Governor's budget spending would increase by 7% from FY 2010 to FY 2011 and would be $1.14 billion higher than it was in FY 2005. The Kansas legislature should:
73.2%: Approve a budget that spends no more than currently anticipated revenue even if this means spending less state dollars on K-12 education and services for the elderly and the disabled.
21.1%: Approve a budget that spends less than the governor proposes, but that also raises some taxes to close the revenue shortfall
5.7%: Approve a statewide tax increase in order to close the revenue shortfall and fully fund the Governor's budget
Question: In FY 2005 total K-12 education spending in Kansas was approximately $4.3 billion. In FY 2010 total K-12 spending in Kansas will be just over $5.5 billion (approximately $2.8 billion in state aid, $700 million in federal aid and $2 billion in local aid). In FY 2011 federal dollars available to fund K-12 education will decrease by just over $170 million. To deal with this issue the State should: (Check all that apply)
69.4% Spend no more state dollars on K-12 education than in FY 2010 even if this means less over all dollars for K-12 education;
26.6% Allow local school districts greater property tax authority (with voter approval) in order to make up for the loss of federal aid to K-12 education;
15.3% Allow Counties new sales tax authority directed to school districts (with voter approval)in order to make up for the loss of federal aid to K-12 education.
9.7% Raise state taxes in order to make up for the loss of federal aid to K-12 education.
Question: Kansas has traditionally passed a comprehensive transportation plan for new road construction every 10 years. The Kansas legislature should:
72.4% Delay passing a comprehensive transportation plan and only fund road maintenance needs until revenues improve
20.3% Suspend funding for all but critical road maintenance needs and use the savings to fund other programs.
7.3% Pass and fund a comprehensive transportation plan to build new roads even if this requires raising state sales taxes and vehicle registration fees
Question: The federal government recently passed legislation that will significantly change the American health care system. This new law will ultimately, among other things, impose sanctions on individuals who elect not to purchase health insurance. Many States have initiated lawsuits to challenge the constitutionality of this law. The Kansas legislature should:
87.1% Pass legislation directing the Kansas Attorney General to sue the federal government alleging that the new law is unconstitutional;
12.9% Take no action to challenge the new federal health care law.
Question: Under Kansas law a late term abortion of a viable unborn baby can be performed to prevent “substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function” of the mother. Governor Parkinson recently vetoed legislation that would require a doctor to provide a specific medical diagnosis in order to justify such an abortion. The Kansas legislature should:
91.6% Over ride the Governor’s veto so this bill becomes law;
8.4% Allow the Governor's veto to stand
House overrides Governors Veto of HB 2115
On May 3, 2010 by a vote of
86 to 35 the Kansas House was able to override the Governor's veto of HB
2115. An initial procedural vote to reconsider last week’s failed
override attempt passed with 85 votes after which the House went
directly to final action on Rep. Kinzer's motion from last week to pass
HB 2115 notwithstanding the Governor’s veto. The bill now moves to
the Senate where 27 votes are needed to override. You can contact your
Kansas State Senator by calling 1-800-432-3924..
Take Lance Kinzer's 2010 Veto Session Survey
Lance Kinzer wants to know your opinion on the issues facing the Kansas Legislature during the 2010 Veto Session. To take the survey, use the link below:
Rep. Kinzer's Bill Restoring Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Sex Offenders Becomes Law
On Thursday the Governor signed HB 2435 a bill written and introduced by Rep. Kinzer. This legislation restores tough mandatory minimum sentences for certain classes of sex offenders in Kansas and was made necessary by recent Kansas Supreme Court opinions reducing some such sentences.
Interesting Video Regarding Public Opinion on Education Funding in
Kansas
Rep. Kinzer Discusses State Budget Situation and His Proposal to Increase Local Control and Flexibility Relative to K-12 funding
As the legislative session moves toward the final stretch I wanted to take a moment to share with you some thoughts about the budgetary challenges currently facing our state. I have had the privilege of receiving a great deal of constituent input over the past several months and while those communications include much nuance, the three most prevalent messages I hear are: 1) Please do not raise taxes, but instead spend more efficiently; 2) Please do not decrease state funding for schools; 3) Please do not decrease state funding for the elderly and disabled.
Click here for Lance's complete newsletter detailing the current Kansas budget situation.
Detailed Infomation on House Appropriations Budget As of 3/18/10
The House Appropriations Committee has released detailed information about the House Republican Budget Proposal. The House position expends the same amount of state Dollars for K-12 Education in FY 2011 as FY 2010.
Kansas Budget Facts that Might Surprise You
#1 - Despite all the talk
of huge cuts to State government the Governor's proposed FY 2011 Budget
proposes increasing spending from FY 2010 to FY 2011 by 7%. Under this
proposed budget State General Fund Spending would be $1.14 billion
higher than it was in FY 2005.
#2 - The current fiscal
condition of the State must be understood in the context of the overall
economic situation in Kansas. In that regard according to the Bureau of
Labor Statistics from December 2007 to December 2009 the private sector
in Kansas lost 57,900 jobs while state, local and federal government in
Kansas added 3,200 jobs.
# 3 - How is Kansas spending
General Fund tax dollars in FY 2010? Education $3.6 billion (66%); Human
Services $1.2 billion (22%); Public Safety $368 million (7%); General
Government $230 million (4%); Ag & Natural Resources $27 million (1%);
Transportation $9 million (less than 1%).
# 4 - In Kansas 56.8% of
K-12 funding comes from State dollars and 35.8% from local dollars. The
national average is 46% State and 44.4% local. For other States in our
region it is 41.1% State and 47.5% local.
# 5 - From FY 2005 to FY
2009 State General Fund spending increased from $4,690.1 Billion to
$6,064.4 Billion. Total projected available revenue for FY 2010 is
$5,393.5 Billion.
# 6 - Of the projected
$5,393.5 billion in FY 2010 revenue 47% comes from Individual Income
Taxes; 35% from Sales and Use Taxes; 5% from Corporate Income Taxes; 2%
from Tobacco Taxes; 2% from Insurance Premium Taxes; 2% from Severance
Taxes; 1% from Alcohol Taxes; and the balance from other taxes
Rep. Kinzer Introduces Bill to Restore Tougher Sentences for Sex Offenders
Topeka - Today Rep. Lance Kinzer (R-Olathe), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee introduced HB 2435 in response to two recent Kansas Supreme Court decisions that had the effect of reducing criminal sentences for sex offenders in Kansas. In May, 2009 in the case of State v. Horn the Kansas Supreme Court invalidated the imposition of enhanced sentences for individuals convicted of attempting to commit a sexually violent crime against a child. This decision was followed by an October, 2009 opinion in the case of State v. Trautloff in which the Court ruled that the Kansas habitual sex offender statute does not apply to individuals who were convicted of multiple sex offenses on the same day.
Rep. Kinzer Leads Effort Against Legislation to Decrease Criminal Penalties for Sex Offenders Who Fail To Register, Methamphetamine Manufacturers and Others
Rep. Kinzer is leading the effort to stop HB 2332 from passing in its current form. HB 2332 includes provisions that would decrease criminal penalties for a significant number of serious crimes. Under the bill as it came out of committee, drug manufacturers and distributors, along with sex offenders who fail to register, 3rd time domestic batterers, kidnappers and many others would have faced significantly reduced criminal penalties. For more details on HB 2332 see a memorandum prepared by Rep. Kinzer here: PROVISIONS IN HB 2332 THAT DECREASE CRIMINAL PENALTIES.
Rep. Kinzer offered more than 10 amendments in the House Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee in an effort to remove many of the most egregious provisions of the bill. While many of these amendments initially passed they were latter stripped out prior to the bill being sent to the floor. Commenting on HB 2332 Rep. Kinzer stated, “While there are some good reforms in HB 2332 that actually strengthen and clarify criminal law and penalties, the package as a whole simply includes too may provisions that send the wrong message to some of the most serious criminals in Kansas. I think the best alternative may be to send this bill back to committee so we can remove the many objectionable provisions, and then bring a better product back to the full House. Crimes like Methamphetamine manufacturing, drug distribution and failing to properly register as a sex offender and truly serious crimes that deserve stiff punishment. Reducing the penalties for such crimes would be a huge step backwards in the effort to protect all Kansans from crime.”
About this website...
The goal of my website is to be an online resource for you--to learn more about what is going on in the Kansas Legislature on the very important issues we deal with. Please feel free to pass this site along to friends and neighbors. If you would like to subscribe to my newsletter, send an e-mail to: newsletters@lancekinzer.com.
For questions or comments, please contact me in Topeka at (785)
296-7663, in Olathe at 913-782-5885, or e-mail me at
lance@lancekinzer.com. You may also visit my office at the Capitol,
Room 531N, when the Legislature is in session. I would love to hear
from you.
Sincerely,
Lance Kinzer
Paid for by Lance Kinzer Campaign; Lance Kinzer, Treasurer
