Welcome to the eleventh edition of Ronnie's Report - a legislative report to the people of District 24.

In a few days, I will be posting on my website a summary of the legislative activity of the 2008 legislative session for your review.

In this report, I will be sharing with you some of my activities and other pieces of news from the end of the session in which I have been engaged as your state representative.

Since the end of the session, I've been very busy. There is a plethora of events to attend, briefings, forums, symposiums and other events that help form a foundational understanding of the critical legislative issues necessary in serving as your State Representative. There are also many speaking engagements for legislators.

I have enjoyed every facet of the position of being your State Representative. I really enjoy the opportunities to have interactive dialogue with you and others I serve in District 24. As I did last year, since the session ended, I have spent a lot of time seeking deeper conversations with you, my neighbors in District 24.

Here are a couple examples of where I have recently spoken and a synopsis of what I covered:

Metsker Speaks at 2008 Kansas State University Sustainability Dialogue
I was recently honored to be a guest panelist of the third annual Kansas State University Sustainability Dialogue held at the beautiful new KSU Alumni building Ballroom at the Manhattan campus. About 150 participants, mostly professors of science, engineering and geology attended the day long forum.

My role was to give the perspective of a state legislator regarding the recent energy debates in the Kansas legislature. I was joined by one other legislator, my good friend and colleague Rep. Tom Hawk (D), of Manhattan. Both Tom and I continue to be strong advocates of pursuing policy that will encourage renewable and sustainable energy resources.

I served on the panel two times during the day addressing a variety of Sustainability in Governance issues. While I was happy to accommodate the audience with my perspectives, I also learned more about the outstanding future of wind energy development in Kansas. The conference covered many sustainability issues during the day, but focused mostly on the development of wind energy initiatives in Kansas.

Most intriguing was an outstanding presentation on community wind farms that have become quite successful in Minnesota. One of the speakers came to us from the National Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy. After her fine presentation, she facilitated a stimulating dialogue. I learned how community wind farms utilize smaller wind energy turbines that are more attainable to purchase by individual families and individuals and yet are interconnected to a common power grid.

I will continue to study this and other possible areas where we can move forward with meaningful and responsible legislation to solve our looming energy crisis at the state level. I am committed to a comprehensive bi-partisan energy policy that serves all Kansans with sustainability, conservation, and efficiency.

As I told the panel at KSU, when we as Americans decide to set aside the petty political divisiveness, find common ground and unite in order to win this energy challenge, we can and will prevail. America resolved to do so in an effort to put a man on the moon in one decade; we resolved to do so in winning WW II; and we can win this energy challenge as well. Kansans can lead the way. I am committed to finding practical, attainable solutions and do so in a non-partisan way for the good of all Kansans.

Metsker speaks at Shawnee Mission Rotary
I was recently the featured speaker at the Shawnee Mission Rotary (of which I am a member). The program chair asked me to address the subject of the Kansas Bioscience Authority (KBA) and its legislative origins, purpose, scope, goals, and an update on its most recent successes. KBA was formed from the 2004 Economic Growth Act.

The Authority is an independent entity governed by a board of 11 appointees. The KBA is a $581 million initiative over a ten-year period for the purpose of expanding the state's world class research capacity and bioscience clusters, and to support the startups; and to stimulate bioscience business expansion and attraction. In its efforts, KBA strategically contributes to the creation of jobs, attracting capital investment and research money, and thereby improving the quality of life in Kansas.

The Authority has, since its inception, granted over $35 million in its role of helping launch, attract and expand bioscience businesses in Kansas. One nearby project of the KBA is the 92 acre bioscience business park in Olathe. At this site, we have seen successful programs that have developed cures for cancer, food safety, and more healthy green leaf and grain crops. Tom Thornton, the president and CEO of the KBA is a resident of Fairway. We are privileged to have him as part of our community.

As an illustration of current development efforts of the KBA, I reported about the proposed National Bio and Agro Defense Facility (NBAF)which, if approved by the US Department of Homeland Security, will be built in Manhattan, Kansas on the site of KSU. In future editions of Ronnie's Report, I will tell more about NBAF and why that is important to our area.

Westar begins construction of 100-megawatt wind farm project in Barber County
In a wind energy development that received little or no press in our area, Westar Energy and BP Alternative Energy North America recently announced it is breaking ground for a wind farm in Barber County. The Flat Ridge Wind Farm will be located in Nashville, Kansas, about 60 miles southwest of Wichita. The 100-megawatt wind farm is expected to be operational by the end of the year.

Tax reciprocity bill signed into law in Missouri
In case you missed the news report, Missouri finally got it right. Missouri Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder recently signed into law the tax reciprocity bill. That's the measure that now allows Kansas residents working in Missouri to once again deduct their property taxes. As Kansans, we still do not understand why this measure ever was passed last year, or why it was so difficult to get the contentious measure rescinded.

We do offer our thanks to those in Missouri who did the right thing to bring about this law reversal. It is however unfortunate 50,000 Kansas residents were negatively impacted by the 2007 legislation and its tax consequences.

To place pressure on the Missouri legislature, earlier in the year, with a unanimous vote of 118-0, the Kansas House approved HB 2641. Resolving this Kansas tax issue with Missouri for taxes paid by Kansans who work across state-lines is estimated to affect 50,000 Kansans. Enacting the law prevents $5 million dollars from leaving the state each year, ending up in Missouri.

I heard from many tax payers and accountants from District 24 on this issue, so I am happy to report that we were ultimately successful in getting this matter settled. If you were affected by this issue, contact your accountant for details on your next steps of action in response to this good news.

Mayor McConwell Selected as 2008 Kansas Mayor of the year
Mayor Laura McConwell, City of Mission, was announced as the 2008 Kansas Mayor of the Year at the recent Kansas Mayors Association meeting. The Mayor of the Year award is based on leadership and contributions by the nominee in promoting intergovernmental relations and the impact of the nominee on their community and its citizens. Mayor McConwell is one of only a few Johnson County Mayors to ever receive this honor.

Mayor McConwell has served as the City of Mission's Mayor since March 2002. During her tenure as Mayor she has provided optimistic and visionary leadership for the City in extensive redevelopment projects, storm water remediation, and infrastructure planning and maintenance, all accomplished by energizing citizens and businesses through public processes. Mayor McConwell has also been a leader in the Kansas City area in promoting sustainability issues not only in Mission, but throughout the region.

She spearheaded the Kansas City Area Mayors Sustainability and Climate Protection Conference in November 2007 which set the national record for the most mayors to sign the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement for a region in a single day.

I congratulate Mayor Laura McConwell in her well deserved honor.

Useful information for you

Do Not Call List
If you do not want to receive telephone solicitations, you may enter your telephone number into the National Do Not Call Database by dialing 1-888-382-1222 (TTY 1-866-290-4236) or by visiting < a href="http://www.donotall.gov">http://www.donotcall.gov.

If you received a telephone solicitation even though you have entered your number into the Do Not Call Database, you may file a complaint by calling the toll free numbers above or filing out a complaint form available at < a href="http://www.donotall.gov">http://www.donotcall.gov.

Unclaimed Property
The Unclaimed Property Act allows the Treasurer's office to pay interest on property claimed that was initially reported as an interest-bearing account. This bill impacts savings accounts and CD's; the State General Fund retains interest earned on these types of accounts. To contact the Treasurer's Office concerning possible interest returns on these accounts, call Rita Mohr, Director of Unclaimed Property at (785) 296-3171 or log on to http://kansasstatetreasurer.com

I have lived in District 24 for over 50 years, and truly believe it is not what I think, but what you think that matters. This is the essence of representation. I am looking forward to seeing and hearing from you.

Please feel free to forward this e-mail to others you know.