Pub. 6 2017 Issue 2

l e a d i n g a d v o c a t e f o r t h e b a n k i n g i n d u s t r y i n k a n s a s 8 KBA Chairman Jim Hoskins, Baxter State Bank, Baxter Springs welcomes his State Representative Monica Murnan (D-Pittsburg) to KBA’s reception.  July 2018. Mr. Ballentine explained that Senator Toomey serves on the Senate Banking Committee and is seeking action on the CFPB through the reconciliation process. They will probably repeal the Affordable Care Act through the same process. A panel consisting of Senate President Susan Wagle (R-Wichita) and Speaker of the House Representative Ron Ryckman, Jr. (R-Olathe) discussed their top priorities for this session. The centering point for both was the state budget with a continued shortfall for this fiscal year. Senator Wagle expressed her concern for the instability of the revenue stream. Representative Ryckman described the many factions of the Republican Party and he explained that they must all come together now for the good of the state. They discussed efficiencies, spending cuts, and modernizing infrastructure to help close the gap. Nick Jordan, Governor’s Economic Advisory Council, spoke to the formula adjustments that seem to be assisting the Revenue Estimating Group to predict state revenue with more accuracy. He discussed the process that got them to the new formula and showed a map of sales tax revenue by county. The challenge of the Governor’s Economic Advisory Council is to develop policy for growth. Kansas needs more small business start-ups and a global trade policy that is favorable for corn and other commodities from Kansas. A legislative issues panel included Eric Stafford, VP Government Affairs for the Kansas Chamber, Cindy Samuelson, VP Public Relations and Political Fundraising for the Kansas Hospital Association and Mark Tallman, Associate Executive Director of the Kansas Association of School Boards. The spirited conversation was centered around tax policy that helps small business and revenue for existing programs such as Medicaid and public schools. The new Kansas State Bank Commissioner Michelle (Miki) Bowman introduced herself to the group and discussed the significance of regulatory policy for community banks. Following Commissioner Bowman, KBA EVP- COO Doug Wareham provided the KBA state legislative agenda for this session. The 2016 Bank Leaders of Kansas class was introduced and presented with the wood block that signifies successful completion of the year-long leadership program. The conference concluded with a well- attended legislative reception at the Topeka Country Club. Nancy George, Girard National Bank, Girard catches up on activity at the Statehouse with State Senator Jacob LaTurner (R-Pittsburg). Alex Williams, The Halstead Bank, Halstead discusses state budget challenges with Senate Ways & Means Committee Chair Carolyn McGinn (R-Sedgwick). James Ballentine, EVP-Congressional Relations and Political Affairs, American Bankers Association outlined strategies for achieving meaningful regulatory relief in the first year of President Trump’s Administration. KBA Chairman Jim Hoskins, Baxter State Bank, Baxter Springs unveiled the goal of raising $130,000 for BankPAC in 2017.