Calling all government efficiency ideas

The Legislative Division of Post-Audit has set up a link on its Web site for people to submit ideas about how the state could save money and operate more efficiently.

The idea for the effort came from Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, R-Independence.

Barb Hinton, head of the Post-Audit Division, said auditors will collect the ideas several times a year and present the most promising ones to legislators for consideration.

Ideas can be submitted by logging onto www.kslegislature.org/postaudit and clicking on “Submit Your Idea” link.

KU football snub

It may have a 12-1 season, Orange Bowl victory and coach of the year in Mark Mangino, but Kansas University’s football team hasn’t scored many points with state senators.

State Sen. David Wysong, R-Mission Hills, a huge KU fan, was recently complaining that the Jayhawks had fumbled a good public relations opportunity by not visiting the Senate.

But KU associate athletic director Jim Marchiony said the football team plans to visit the Legislature as soon as possible. Scheduling conflicts have gotten in the way so far, he said.

Google bragging rights

When the Senate Ways and Means Committee was studying a Google map of a property that Kansas University is trying to sell, state Sen. Marci Francisco, D-Lawrence, couldn’t resist bragging.

She noted that the creator of Google Earth, Brian McLendon, was a KU graduate. McLendon is engineering director for Google Earth and Google Maps. He graduated from Lawrence High School in 1982 and KU in 1986.

Paving the way for transportation plan

With the current $13 billion, 10-year transportation plan set to expire soon, the groundwork is being laid for the next one.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee on Monday will conduct a hearing on Senate Bill 670, which would establish a House-Senate committee that will submit a report about transportation needs before the 2009 legislative session.

What’s next

8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday – Kansas University faculty and staff will participate in the fifth annual KU in the Capitol event.

1 p.m. Monday – Senate Judiciary subcommittee meeting on House Bill 2617, mandatory implied consent testing for drugs in serious injury and fatal accidents, room 192-East, Capitol.

1:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday – Possible action on immigration reform bills before House Federal and State Affairs Committee, room 313-South, Capitol.

9 a.m. Tuesday – House Appropriations Committee works on higher education funding, room 514-South, Capitol.

10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday – Coalition of community groups, environmentalists and natural gas interests will ask lawmakers to oppose measure to allow two coal-fired plants in southwest Kansas, Capitol.

10:30 a.m. Wednesday – Possible action on immigration reform before Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee, room 526-South.

10:30 a.m. Wednesday – Senate Ways and Means works on higher education funding, room 123-South Capitol.

Quote of the week

We diminish the ability of homeland security and local law enforcement to protect us from real dangers if we force them to spend precious material and human resources to hunt down those who have come to our country to pursue the American dream of working hard to improve oneself and provide for the basic needs of one’s family.”

– Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kan., speaking in opposition to Senate Bill 458, which proposes immigration reforms