I serve on the Agriculture, Water, and Higher Education Budget Committees in Topeka. I believe that serving on the Agriculture and Water committees is a good fit for me, since I’m a farmer in central Kansas. Water issues are very important to central Kansas, and I’ve learned a lot of valuable information about water in our state during my two terms in the Kansas legislature.

In the Water Committee, I voted for a bill which increased funding for water programs in Kansas. Although I’m a strong fiscal conservative, I still recognize that regulating water is an essential function of government. The water funding bill also contained new funding to help with the Quivira issue in my district. The bill contained funding for a water banking program along the Rattlesnake Creek, a program that will involve helping farmers along the Rattlesnake creek sell part of their water allocation to farmers that live further away from the creek. I believe this program will help solve the Quivira impairment issue along the Rattlesnake Creek.

In Agriculture Committee, we passed what’s known as “the fake meat bill,” a bill which requires plant-based meat products to be properly labeled. This bill passed out of committee, and it passed the legislature as H Sub for SB 261. I’m a strong believer in free markets and generally support reducing government regulations. However, I do believe that companies should have to be honest about the products they sell.

Prosecuting fraud is a legitimate function of government. I certainly believe that these companies should have the right to sell their products. However, I simply believe that they should be required to label their products accurately, rather than falsely claiming that their products are real meat. I believe this bill will help the cattle industry in Kansas, by creating an even playing field and requiring truth in labeling.