In honor of Veterans Day, Kansas Democratic Party Chair Larry Gates released the following statement:

Today's focus is on the important elections happening all across the country but we wanted to ta

We're on the verge of something historic -- both the House and the Senate are closer than ever t

Gov. Mark Parkinson announced the appointment of Troy Findley to the office of Lieutenant Governor today at press conference held in the Capitol.  Findley served as chief of staff to former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius since 2005 and has remained in that position under the leadership of Gov. Parkinson.  Prior to his service in the Sebelius administration, Findley spent eight years as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives representing east Lawrence.

Kansas Democratic Party Chairman Larry Gates released the following statement after the announcement:

“Gov. Parkinson has hit the ground running since taking office and once again he has made the smart, common-sense choice for the people of Kansas.  Troy Findley is an incredibly capable public servant who has dedicated his professional life to serving the people of Kansas.  I have known Troy for years and he is a man of impeccable character who has always worked for the best interests of Kansans.

 

 

“As both a former legislative leader and chief of staff to former Gov. Sebelius and Gov. Parkinson, our new Lieutenant Governor is uniquely positioned to continue finding the best solutions for Kansas.  Gov. Parkinson and Lt. Gov. Findley will continue to provide the leadership Kansas needs to tackle the challenges that face us.  I have the utmost faith in this team and this administration to lead our state.”

Yesterday the Kansas Democratic Party released the following statement:

While threatening to slash the salaries of state employees, Kansas Republicans line their own pockets from state coffers

TOPEKA – State party executive director Kenny Johnston released the following statement in response to the revelation that Kansas Republicans in the Legislature received thousands of dollars in special pay bonuses while pushing for furloughs and pay cuts for state employees:

“Apparently in these tough economic times Republican leadership in the Kansas legislature feels that it is fair to force hard-working state employees to shoulder the burden of balancing the state’s books. Maybe the first place Speaker O’Neal should look to cut state expenses is in his own offices.

“State employees are often underpaid and underappreciated as they do the hard work of making our state a better place. The revelation that staff members of Republican leadership have paid themselves thousands of dollars in bonuses while demanding that state workers go on furlough or take a pay cut is outrageous.

“This explains why these Republicans could stomach the idea of a five percent cut to their salaries – they knew they would end up with a generous bonus at the end of the year.”

Yesterday Gov. Sebelius signed legislation modifying the "Kansas Economic Revitalization and Reinvestment Act" to provide incentives to eligible solar and wind energy projects.  This bill is exactly what the folks in Topeka should be focusing on - making Kansas a leader in the new energy economy, not fighting to bring dirty and costly new coal plants to the state.

From Gov. Sebelius:

"To recover from this economic recession, we must look to new industries and new opportunities. Renewable energy companies are a perfect fit for Kansas as we're the third best state in the nation for wind energy and we have a trained and able workforce.  Kansas wind can provide the energy we need and create sustainable jobs right here at home."

The following is a column written by Kansas House Minority Leader Paul Davis:

The following is a column written by Kansas State Treasurer Dennis McKinney:

With the nation’s unemployment rates climbing to more than 8.1percent, Kansas, like many other states, is on the front line in dealing with this economic crisis. Many Kansans that have relied on employer-sponsored health benefits are faced with losing their family health insurance. In Kansas, we understand that having health care coverage is essential even during pressing economic times. But it is important for those facing loss of health coverage to know that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) can help.The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides assistance for up to 65 percent of monthly COBRA premiums for up to nine months for those workers that have nowhere else to turn. This COBRA premium assistance is a crucial part of the Recovery Act that will help to ensure that hard-working Kansans continue to have access to quality health insurance.Under this law, workers that have been involuntarily terminated between Sept. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2009 may be eligible to maintain their current level of health coverage at only 35 percent of the COBRA coverage cost. However there is a limited window of opportunity for many Kansans who have lost their jobs to receive these benefits.For laid-off workers that have declined COBRA coverage due to the high costs there is still time. Under ARRA, official notice must be provided by employers to eligible employees no later than April 18th, 2009. Workers will then have 60 days from the time that they are notified to re-enroll for COBRA coverage at the reduced rate, making coverage more affordable for the unemployed and their families.For further questions regarding eligibility it is important for Kansans to contact their former employers or visit www.dol.gov/COBRA.Kansans work hard and often find it hard to accept that they need help, but many families are struggling in our current economy. The Reinvestment and Recovery act contains some key provisions to get help directly to Kansas families until they can get back on their feet. For a complete list of the provisions please visit our website at www.kansasstatetreasurer.com.It is through our faith, our dedication to hard work and a spirit of cooperation, that Kansans will get through these difficult times and build a better future for our families.Ad astra per aspera.