It is hard to believe we are already done with our second week in Topeka. Although the legislative session is still quite young, we are beginning to see the debate on several of the larger issues develop, including alternatives being proposed in the areas of school finance, taxes, KPERS, Medicaid and the budget.

I want to acknowledge the number of people who have written me in reaction to the Governor’s proposals and mention I’m taking all the thoughts and insight into consideration. School finance, taxes, KPERS and Medicaid are issues we must examine carefully before enacting law, and I look forward to continuing to hear your input as these proposals develop into actual bills and navigate their way through the legislative process.

For the rest of the update, click here.

Shawnee, KS – As a participant of the Shawnee Police Department’s Citizen Police Academy, State Sen. Mary Pilcher-Cook (R-Shawnee), said, “I believe one of the first priorities of government is the protection of its citizens. By participating in this academy with such well-trained and well-qualified police officers, I am able to gain a better understanding about the work required of our local police. It has been a worthwhile and educational experience.”

For the full release and photographs, click here.

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Mary Pilcher-Cook Welcomes Citizens Tax Reform Ideas
Shawnee – Senator Mary Pilcher-Cook, R-Shawnee, today launched an effort welcoming citizen input for potential tax reform in the state of Kansas. Pilcher-Cook believes input from citizens is critical, in response to President Steve Morris forming a tax policy study group comprised of several Senators. Emails can be sent directly to Pilcher-Cook at mary@pilchercook.com.

For the full release, click here.

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Funding Facts: The Truth of Education Spending in Kansas
Did you know Kansas spends more than 67 percent of the state budget on education? More than 55 percent of the funding is for K-12 education and about 11 percent is for higher education.

Read the entire "Funding Facts: The Truth of Education Spending in Kansas" by clicking here

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Inside ALEC Column: Health Care Freedom in Kansas
Mary Pilcher-Cook wrote the following column for the "State Spotlight" section of "Inside ALEC", the monthly newsletter for the American Legislative Exchange Council. For the PDF, click here.

When thinking about how a sequence of events leads to a certain outcome, it can be difficult to recapture all the milestones. However, before the federal health care bill became law, I remember picking up the July 2009 issue of “Inside ALEC” and reading an article about Arizona State Rep. Nancy Barto’s efforts for a “Healthcare Freedom Act” she had sponsored. Her arguments were compelling; I had no doubt Kansas needed this same type of legislation.

For the rest of the column, click here.

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Kansas Chamber Names Mary Pilcher-Cook Pro-Jobs Legislator
TOPEKA, Kan. (July 28, 2011) – The Kansas Chamber of Commerce has named Senator Mary Pilcher Cook as a Pro-Jobs Legislator for the 2011 Legislative Session.

For the rest of the release, click here.

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The Road to Prosperity in Kansas
Senator Mary Pilcher-Cook has written a column entitled "The Road to Prosperity in Kansas", detailing the budget situation in Kansas, including information regarding the recent votes on the FY 2012 budget as well as the road going forward.

To read the column, click here.

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Senate President Commends Sen. Mary Pilcher-Cook for Perfect Voting Attendance
TOPEKA – Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, today issued a statement commending State Senator Mary Pilcher-Cook, R-Shawnee, for achieving a 100 percent voting attendance record in the 2011 Legislative Session.

For the full release, click here.

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Donate Online and help Mary Pilcher Cook!
Mary is excited to announce you can now help the campaign by donating online through PayPal! Just click the button below and you can make a donation to the campaign. Donations in this cycle are limited to $1000 per person. Thank you!