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In November of 2004 I was re-elected to a fourth term and will be continuing to serve on the Appropriations, Health and Human Services and Social Services Budget committees.

I was assigned to four committees as I entered into the House of Representatives of the State of Kansas. Those committees are Education, Health and Human Services, the Social Services Budget and the Social and Rehabilitative Services Transition Oversight. As a true "freshman" I had the opportunity to serve in leadership roles in both areas of Education and Health Care. I was assigned to two sub-committees from the Health and Human Services Committee. One dealt with the confidentiality of HIV testing, the other with licensure of Masters Level Psychologists. I was also appointed Chairman of a sub-committee of the House Education Committee to study an aspect of Special Education. The sub-committee studied SB129, made recommendations to the full committee concerning the role of the local school administration in determining the site of required services. The full committee reviewed the recommendations and passed the bill as amended favorably. The bill was then passed and the law enacted.

During the second year of my first term I was again appointed as a Chairman of a sub-committee of the House Education Committee to study Charter Schools. With my leadership this sub-committee made a recommendation to the full committee removing the cap on the number of Charter Schools, creating an appeal process for denied applications and increasing the term of the charter. I was appointed Chairman of a sub-committee of the House Health and Human Services Committee to study some issues concerning the State Board of Nursing. This report contained recommendations to change time limitations on temporary licenses, to allow LPNs to take courses for IV therapy without waiting to complete a year of clinical training after graduation from LPN school, and to change the makeup of the Board allowing for added continuity. I introduced three bills that provided better service to the residents of the State of Kansas. These bills dealt with Long Term Care and EMS issues.

In the second and third terms of office I continued to be involved with issues of importance for the delivery of healthcare to the most vulnerable citizens of Kansas.  I was also appointed to the Appropriations Committee and appointed Vice-Chairperson of the Kansas Futures Committee.  These appointments necessitated my being removed from the Education Committee and the Health and Human Services Committee.  During my second term I was also elected Caucus Chairperson.  During my third term the Kansas Futures Committee was abandoned and I was reappointed to the Health and Human Services Committee and was appointed Co-Chairperson of the Long Term Care Services Task Force, a committee that was created by legislation in 2000 and is comprised of Senators, Representatives and Citizens of Kansas.  You may acquire a copy of the reports of this task force by going to the Kansas Legislature website and searching for the Long Term Care Services Task Force.

You may contact me through this website or by calling my home in Alden, Kansas at 620-534-3085.

                           The State of Kansas has a declining population base in more than one quarter of the State’s counties. This condition has a very dramatic impact on the ability of communities’ to provide quality educational and long-term care services. My interest in being a part of the Legislative process directly relates to the provision of these services to rural Kansans. My previous experience, I feel, allows me to be actively involved with the shaping of the delivery of these services. The difficulty of recruitment and retention of qualified personnel further complicates the delivery process. I believe there are alternative delivery systems that, as they are set into place, will use developing technologies to relieve these problems. I have during discussions in committee expressed, what I feel is, the opportunity to use the Internet to provide consultation and instruction in a cost-effective manner in rural Kansas. I have been in contact with individuals and corporate personnel concerning a partnership with private and public organizations to accomplish this goal. It is my desire to be one of those persons that makes the commitment, and uses my talents, to improve the lives of all Kansans.