Senate President Steve Morris 39th District
Kansas Senator

Welcome

Welcome to my website! I've had the tremendous opportunity to represent the citizens of the 39th District in the Kansas Senate since 1992. As a farmer and a life-long resident of Southwest Kansas, I have firsthand knowledge and experience in the issues and concerns facing the corner of our state. I am grateful for the opportunity to bring a Southwest Kansas perspective and sensibility to the Statehouse.

Following the 2004 November elections, I was elected by my senate colleagues to serve as President of the Kansas Senate. This puts me in a unique position to have a greater impact on all committees and legislation.

In the 2005 and 2006 LegislativeSessions, our main focus was on education; we made major changes to the amount of money allocated to our K-12 schools and how those dollars are spent. We also put safeguards in place to ensure Kansans' hard earned tax dollars are put to the most effective and efficient use, with significant legislative and non-legislative oversight.

The 2007 session will most likely be remembered as the year Kansas lawmakers voted to expand gaming, laying the groundwork for the state to recapture the millions of dollars that have been leaving the state to be spent at casinos and racetracks in neighboring and nearby states. We also started the process of addressing deferred maintenance at our state universities. Another major focus is the future of the bioscience industry in Kansas; we continue to work with the federal government and private companies to expand Kansas' role in this increasingly critical area. I am convinced Kansas should - and will - be a major player in developing the future of biofuels that may one day make the U.S. energy INdependent.

Overall, serving in the leadership of the state senate is challenging and rewarding. I feel it is a privilege to serve the people of this great state -- and particularly those in Southwest Kansas, in my own 39th District.