By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The 2024 Kansas legislative session should be a busy one. Rep. Tory Marie Blew of the 112th congressional district that includes most of Barton County, said the first week back in Topeka is largely ceremonial with Gov. Laura Kelly's State of the State address Wednesday evening, and the State of the Judiciary also scheduled.
"It's very important that we spend that first week heading from the other branches of government to hear what are their top priorities as well," Blew said in a YouTube video. "We're only in session 90 days, and it's a quick, quick 90 days. We need to make sure what are their top priorities so we can make sure all three branches of government can work together."
Blew will not be serving on any morning committees this session but was added to the Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development Committee which meets at 1:30 p.m. daily. She remains on the Insurance Committee which meets Mondays and Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. She believes childcare issues will come through the Commerce Committee.
"This has been my No. 1 priority for the past three years," she said. "We need to do something as a state to open up these slots. Childcare is very, very expensive, and no wonder people aren't working because your whole entire paycheck is going straight to child care."
Blew also announced that Dalton Dicks, another Great Bend High School graduate, will be her full-time intern this session. A total of 655 bills from the last session remain active and on the calendar for 2024, including a proposed 5.15 percent flat income tax rate for Kansas residents.