TOPEKA – Economic Lifelines, today, designated several area lawmakers as Pro-Jobs/Transportation Legislators, because of their support for transportation. Economic Lifelines is the state’s chief transportation and economic development coalition.
“We are grateful to these policymakers for their efforts to advance the state’s economy,” said Julie Lorenz, Economic Lifelines chief executive at a news conference at the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce Office. “Creating jobs and economic value in our state through a solid transportation program is a winning strategy for our state.”
Lorenz noted that the state’s current transportation program – T-WORKS – will deliver 37 major new improvement projects throughout the state, make travel safer, and return more than $10 billion to the Kansas economy. In addition to improving access to markets and making the state more competitive, T-WORKS provides an estimated 175,000 construction and supplier jobs over the life of the program. The state’s T-WORKS program preserves highways across the state and keeps them in good repair. It also makes important improvements to local airports, short-line railroads and transit service support vital to communities throughout Kansas. It was approved in 2010 through a combination of revenue sources including motor fuel fees and sales tax.
 “Transportation is critical to the economic future of this area of the state,” said Lorenz. “Which is why having the support and leadership of these legislators in Topeka is so important.”
 Here is the list of Pro-Jobs/Transportation Legislators:
Senators Pete Brungardt, Jay Emler, Oletha Faust-Goudeau, Marci Francisco, David Haley, Anthony Hensley, Tom Holland, Laura Kelly, Kelly Kultala, Jeff Longbine, Garrett Love, Bob Marshall, Carolyn McGinn, Steve Morris, Tim Owens, Roger Reitz, Allen Schmidt, Vicki Schmidt, Jean Schodorf, Ruth Teichman and Dwayne Umbarger.
Representatives Barbara Ballard, Barbara Bollier, Tom Burroughs, Sydney Carlin, Pat Colloton, Paul Davis, Nile Dillmore, Bill Feuerborn, Gail Finney, Geraldine Flaharty, Sean Gatewood, Ramon Gonzales, Bob Grant, Broderick Henderson, Jerry Henry, Don Hill, Don Hineman, Annie Kuether, Harold Lane, Judith Loganbill, Ann Mah, Melanie Meier, Tom Moxley, Bill Otto, Jan Pauls, Eber Phelps, Louis Ruiz, Tom Sloan, Sheryl Spalding, Vern Swanson, Annie Tietze, Ed Trimmer, Caryn Tyson, Ponka We Victors, Jim Ward, Vince Wetta, Valdenia Winn, Kay Wolf, Kathy Wolfe-Moore, and Ron Worley.
Retiring:
Senators Terrie Huntington and John Vratil. Representatives Bob Bethell (*deceased), Terry Calloway, Doug Gatewood, Meody McCray-Miller, Charlie Roth and Jerry Williams.
Selection of these policymakers was based on votes taken to support the state’s transportation program. House votes: S Sub for HB 2360, S Sub HB 2650 & Sub HB 2768/H Sub SB 177 amendments to restore transportation funding. Senate votes: S Sub HB 2360, S Sub HB 2650 and S Sub HB 2117.
Economic Lifelines is the statewide coalition of organizations and community groups which provide the grassroots support for Comprehensive Transportation Programs in Kansas. Members include Great Bend, Lawrence, Newton, AAA Kansas, and several other organizations and businesses. For more information, visit economiclifelines.com.
For information on the legislators, visit kslegislature.org.