Kansas House Overwhelmingly Adopts Structural Budget Reform
Topeka – This morning an overwhelming majority in the Kansas House voted to adopt structural reform of the budgeting processes through a “pay-go” provision in the House Rules. The measure specifies that on appropriation bills, amendments to increase spending will not be in order unless they reduce spending by a like or greater amount.

“The 76 to 45 vote shows that there is wide support in the House for meaningful budget reform at the state level,” said Speaker O’Neal. “This is the first step towards the fundamental changes needed to ensure the long-term fiscal health of our state. The House is committed to making the changes necessary to ensure that our appropriations process supports rather than undermines a responsible budget.”

Mast Works for Health Care Freedom
From Kansas.com:

In a pre-emptive strike on national health care, conservative state lawmakers and representatives of the "tea party" movement on Tuesday proposed changing the state Constitution to exempt Kansas from federal health insurance mandates.

"This is about ... preserving (patients') right to make their own individual decisions on health care and protecting the doctor-patient relationship, so that the physician and the patient together can make the best decisions," Rep. Peggy Mast, R- Emporia, said at the Wichita kickoff for the proposition.

For the rest of the article, click here.

Editorial: Why is my program not being properly funded?
I just got back from a legislative reception at our local mental health facility. There were people there from several surrounding counties and they were all telling us how critical mental health services are. I agree with them. I have worked with young people in the mental health field and see the need for services for this vulnerable population. They have been cut a huge amount and the funding issue is critical. They have also gotten notice of Medicaid reimbursement cuts and probably medicare as well.

Yesterday I received material from RCIL (Resource Center for Independent Living). They stressed the lack of funding and the waiting lists for services for physically and developmentally disabled individuals. I realize they are right. I see those individuals on a regular basis and hate that we can not remove the waiting lists and give them all the needed services, but the state of Kansas is out of money. The Governor has had to cut programs twice since we left the legislature last session.

For the rest of the editorial, click here.

Editorial: Cap and Trade Bad for US, Worse for Kansas
Emporia – Assistant Majority Leader Peggy Mast has promised to ensure that Kansans remain informed about federal cap-and-trade legislation and the negative effects it will have on the state and its citizens.

The U.S. Senate is using the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade legislation as a blueprint for crafting a bill proponents hope will be ready for vote as early as September. The Waxman-Markey legislation adopted by the House on June 26 is a blueprint for disaster. It will impose higher energy costs on American families, cut American jobs (a net loss even after government-funded “green” jobs) and slow GDP growth in the middle of a recession.

“The bill’s economic harms are distributed unevenly among states sparing California at the expense of the Heartland and the South,” said Representative Mast. “For example, to meet electricity needs under the allocation scheme adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives, Kansas would be forced to choose between buying extra credits from the coastal West and Northeast or paying foreign countries for offsets.”

For the full release on Rep. Mast's editorial comments, click here.

Representative Peggy Mast Tells Congress “No” to ObamaCare
Emporia, Kansas – Representative Peggy Mast signed onto an official letter from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) to Congressional leaders, which was delivered on July 29, expressing the will of more than 1,800 state legislators opposing federal reform efforts—particularly, the Medicare-modeled “public plan” and a national health insurance exchange—which will trample states’ rights and lead Americans down the road to single-payer health care.

“My constituents are very concerned about the future of their health care and believe that the government that is currently struggling with debt and out of control spending, should not be taking control of health care as well.” stated Representative Mast.

For the full release, click here.

Welcome to my Website.
A note from State Representative Peggy Mast....

Dear Friends,

Thank you for visiting my new website.

I believe that Kansas families deserve leaders who are capable of implementing positive change...leaders who understand the unique character of our communities, the strength of our citizens, and the importance of our children's future.

During challenging times, state government needs experienced leadership rooted in conservative values that can make a difference for our communities.

I pledge to continue to be a voice for the people I represent and not special interest groups. Putting the people of my district first has always been my top priority."