Thank you to the people from the 40th Senate District for attending the annual March for Life held on the south steps of the state capitol. Remarks were made celebrating the success of the last session. These remarks included Born Alive Protection Act, Women’s Right to Know Act, Alternatives to Abortion Program and Safe Haven Baby Boxes. This session the Kansas legislature will continue to work on the dignity of life and supporting mothers and babies.
As expected, Governor Kelly vetoed the single rate tax plan that included reduction in property tax, sales tax, and income tax on social security. In Governor Kelly’s veto message, she claimed this would wreck the budget. She claims this tax was an experiment. However, when we check income taxes in other states there are already eleven states with a similar flat rate tax policy, including two of our neighboring states Nebraska, and Colorado. Colorado’s Democratic governor has endorsed a bill in the Colorado legislature that will drop their current flat rate of 4.4% to 4%.
Our budget committee continues to work on subcommittee budgets and has had numerous report outs to the full committee last Wednesday and Friday.
A meeting was held with retired U.S. Senator Pat Roberts regarding the opioid and fentanyl additions in the United States. Senator Roberts reported that 200 Americans die from fentanyl and opioid drugs every day. Kansas currently ranks second in the nation per capita in deaths from these deadly drugs. Senator Roberts' group is looking for funding to provide four beds for fentanyl and opioid detoxification. These beds will be located at the Valley Hope facility located in Atchison, Kansas. We will be working to find additional funding to pay for this important program. Any schools interested in having a program presented to your students can contact the KBI director Tony Mattivi or his staff to set up a presentation informing our students of these deadly drugs.
The legislature continues to encourage and ask Governor Kelly to be proactive in trying to stop the drugs and human trafficking from entering the United States and the state of Kansas illegally.
My office has several dates available for 6th graders through high school to serve as a page. Working as a page in the Kansas Legislature is an excellent way to learn more about the legislative process. If your child is interested in being a page for my office the following dates are available: February 12th, February 19th, and March 11th. You may contact my office: 785-296-7399.
It has been an honor to represent the 40th Senate District of Kansas. I have been asked if I plan to run for reelection. Yes, I do plan to file for reelection for the 40th Senate district. I feel there are many issues I can still work on to make a better Kansas.
Do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions or concerns. My email is: [email protected] or you may call me, my office number is 785-296-7399 or my cell is 785-899-4700. If you are in Topeka, you are welcome to stop by my office, room 545-S.
Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, is senator of the 40th District which includes: