Editor’s note: Sen. Mark Buhler, R-Lawrence, was appointed to fill out the remaining two years of the term of former Sen. Sandy Praeger, R-Lawrence. Buhler’s journal-style column will be published online throughout the 2003 session of the Legislature.

Monday, March 10, 2003

A short afternoon Senate session was followed by committee meetings. Ways and Means heard testimony for KU, K-State, and Wichita State. All the universities made very good presentations and were very honest about their funding proposals. Chancellor Hemenway was very candid about the university’s attempt to make adjustments, restructure programs and operate within the constraints of these tough times. His remarks made me proud to be a Jayhawk. (or a Wildcat or a Shocker if you are.)

Tuesday, March 11, 2003

Committee hearings continue in Financial Institutions and Insurance, Assessment and Taxation, and Elections and Local Government. No decisions were made. The committee process is very different than what we are used to at home in city, county or school board hearings. All comments need to be in writing, and issues many times are heard in one hour. Proponents, opponents and questions have to be covered in fairly short order. We may cover more than one bill in an hour.

Wednesday, March 12, 2003

Early morning Caucus on nine bills and continued discussion on S.B. 123. This bill would allow drug treatment as an alternative to incarceration in certain cases. Non-violent drug possession offenders, after certain conditions are met — may receive treatment for addiction in lieu of minimum security prison. Bills were debated in the Wednesday p.m. session.

Thursday, March 13, 2003

Committee meetings abound with the final action of several bills, including S.B. 123. I supported S.B. 123 with the hope that we can on a limited basis treat the addiction in lieu of what we do now. Now we arrest, imprison, arrest, imprison! There were several amendments to the bill that:

• rescinded retroactive provision out of the bill — if you’re in now, you get a “get out of jail free” card.
• delayed implementation until November. Some establishment of training could occur.
• allowed community-based programs to have faith-based option in them and a mechanism to limit the money spent based on the projections expected.

Friday, March 14, 2003

Short session in the a.m. and back to work by 1:30 in Lawrence. The next two or three weeks will be very active. Increased abortion clinic requirements passed the house. Social services want $99 million more than even the governor has in place. Our financial numbers are worse! Have a good Saint Patty’s Day!