 Political Profile
Q & A With Kay Wolf
Kansas State Representative
Republican - 21st District - Prairie Village
Rep. Kay Wolf is the newest member of the Johnson County delegation, but she’s hardly a political novice. Before precinct committee members elected her to this open seat in 2005, Wolf was a two-term member of the Prairie Village City Council. She’s been active in the Overland Park and Northeast Johnson County chambers of commerce, including a term as chairperson of the Northeast Chamber board of directors. She currently is a member of the Johnson County Library Foundation and Temporary Lodging for Children & Families boards of directors. She attended the University of Oklahoma. Professionally, Kay is director of client services for Haren Laughlin Construction in Lenexa.
Q: Describe your impressions of the Kansas Legislature.
A: Kansas is an extremely diverse state both culturally and economically. The diversity becomes more apparent when one enters the Legislature and meets 124 peers. The process of how a bill becomes law was fascinating. The legislative procedural rules seem to be vast and rather complex. There is a great deal to learn as a new legislator. I have enjoyed my first term, learned a great deal and look forward to representing the 21st district in 2007.
Q: What were your priority issues for the 2006 and what is your view of their outcome?
A: First, education, education, education! Unfortunately, even though Johnson County legislators worked diligently to obtain more state money and local control for our schools, the outcome fell short of our goals. Second, we passed a bill to level the playing field for honest business owners that will penalize employers who intentionally misclassify their employees in order to avoid paying taxes and benefits. Third, one of the most important bills we passed was the property tax exemption on new machinery and equipment. The exemption is expected to stimulate Kansas economic growth by encouraging businesses to expand and by providing a more competitive environment for businesses to consider relocation to Kansas.
Q: What do you believe will be the key issues for the 2007 Kansas Legislature?
A: Definitely education, workers’ compensation reform and campaign finance reform. I will continue to work to change flaws in the school finance formula. Johnson County pays about 30 percent of the state taxes for education, enrolls 18 percent of Kansas students and receives only 8 percent of state funding. I am also a proponent of removing the ceiling on local option budget limits, with voter approval. Although we passed substantive workers’ compensation reforms in 2006, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius vetoed it. Our businesses are suffering from outdated and unfair practices within the workers’ compensation system.
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