June 9, 2008

Topeka, Kansas

TOPEKA – Senator Laura Kelly, D-Topeka, announced today that she has filed by petition with the Kansas Secretary of State for a second term serving the Senate’s 18th District. Kelly was first elected in 2004.

"It is an honor to serve the people of the 18th District in the legislature,” she said. “l will continue to work hard to represent the values and principles important to Shawnee and Wabaunsee counties."

As the Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Kelly is responsible for recommending to the legislature an annual state budget that addresses the needs of Kansas veterans, public education, working families, and services for disabled and older Kansans. In 2007, she helped pass new funding that improves benefits for Kansas veterans and provides free in-state tuition to more active-duty military personnel. “Kansas provides tuition benefits to police officers, firefighters and emergency medical service workers, as well as their dependents. These same benefits should be available to the brave men and women who defend our country."

Senator Kelly was also instrumental in passing legislation that enhances early childhood programs. “To ensure that all children are ready to learn by the time they reach kindergarten, the Senate this year approved $23 million in block grant funding for early childhood education. These grants will also include opportunities for expanded pre-natal care, newborn screening, Parents as Teachers, and Early Head Start,” she said. “It’s important that we keep our commitment to Kansas kids in the coming years, as studies have found that for every dollar invested in education programs $17 is saved on education remediation, crime, incarceration, health care and job training in the future."

In 2007, she was appointed by Governor Kathleen Sebelius to help Kansas schools integrate math and science innovation into their curriculum. “Kansas kids deserve the best education possible," she continued. "Improving math and science programs in our public schools will provide students with the skills they need to meet today’s job market and will help boost our economy by attracting new businesses to Kansas."

As a member of the Joint Committee on Health Policy Oversight, Senator Kelly has been a strong advocate for accessible and affordable health care. “Providing adequate health care options for Kansans has been important to me for a number of years. In 2008, the legislature passed a health care plan that put into motion several initiatives to ensure prenatal care for pregnant women, expand cancer screenings, and expand capacities in safety net clinics. Next session, I hope the legislature will continue working together to create true, viable solutions to the many health care challenges facing our great state."

Kelly also serves on the Senate Commerce Committee, where she works to attract new businesses opportunities to Kansas. “Job creation is an important issue to Shawnee and Wabaunsee counties. We have to take more constructive steps to address the growing need for good-paying jobs in our area," Kelly said.

Kelly is a member of the Senate Commerce Committee; the Joint Committees on Legislative Budget, Pensions, Benefits and Investments, Children’s Issues, State Building Construction; the Health for All Kansans Steering Committee; the Kansas Capitol Restoration Commission; the Capitol Area Plaza Authority; and the State Employee Compensation Oversight Commission.

In 2006, she was appointed by Governor Kathleen Sebelius to serve on the Kansas Council on Travel and Tourism Board of Directors, which works to promote state attractions and improve the travel industry within Kansas. She has also been appointed by the governor to serve on the Kansas Children’s Cabinet, Kansas, Inc. Board of Directors and on the Kansas Advisory Group on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

Prior to joining the Kansas Senate, Kelly spent 18 years as executive director for the non-profit Kansas Recreation and Park Association, where she advocated for stronger communities and healthier Kansans.

She and her husband, Ted Daughety, have two daughters; Kathleen, a 2006 graduate of Kansas University, and Molly, a student at KU.

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