6A= THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
THURSDAY,APRIL 11,2002
House rejects new ID bill
The Associated Press
TOPEKA — The House rejected a bill supporters saw as an attempt to balance concerns about security and identity theft with a desire by some lawmakers to allow undocumented workers to drive legally.
House members voted 60-57 yesterday against advancing the measure to final action.
It remained on the debate calendar and still could be considered.
The bill would fight identity theft by requiring U.S. citizens who apply for a new driver's license or renew one after July 1,2003 to submit a facial photo kept as a digital image in a computer database.
It would address post-Sept. 11 security concerns by requiring noncitizens — whether they are in the U.S. legally or not — to submit both the photo and a thumb print or other identifier to obtain permission to drive.
That permission would be a temporary driving permit, good for a year.
Advocates for immigrants and Hispanic groups wanted legislators to allow non-citizens to receive regular driver's licenses, good for six years, with a tax identification number from the Internal Revenue Service.
They have argued undocumented workers drive anyway.
The temporary permit - which would resemble but not be identical to a citizen's license - is an attempt to deal with that issue.
But critics said non-citizens still could get a permit for longer than they could stay legally in the United States.
The measure also would increase fees by $1.50 to offset the Division of Vehicle's costs.
A person with a six-year noncommercial Class C license would pay $18.50 instead of the current $17 in license, photo and exam charges.
ONELAST LOOK
Matthew Patton, Kansas City, Mo., puts the finishing touches on his lip gloss as he prepares to take the stage as Robin Banks, his drag persona. A drag show was held last night at Tremors, 729 New Hamshire, as part of Pride Week.
The Associated Press
WICHITA — Martin and Gracia Burnham are as healthy as could be expected, in spite of 10 months of captivity in the Philippine jungle, according to the missionary organization that supports them.
Florida-based New Tribes Mission said yesterday the news came from sources it had built in its decades of mission work in the country.
Martin Burnham's family has received few updates on the kidnapped couple since they appeared emaciated and exhausted in a videotaped November interview.
"It means they're alive," Martin Burnham's father, Paul Burnham, said from his Rose Hill home. "We really don't know what they mean when we hear they're 'OK.' We think it means they aren't sick or injured."
They were glad to hear that, contrary to some reports, Martin and Gracia have not been separated, he said.
the missionaries were among 20 people kidnapped May 27 by the Abu Sayyaf from a Philippines island resort. The Burnham's
were at the resort celebrating their wedding anniversary.
Sorting through the many rumors that have poured from the Philippines concerning their son and daughter-in-law's situation has become a regular chore for Paul Burnham and his wife, Oreta.
In the past few months, they've heard false reports ranging from a release to impending rescue attempts.
New Tribes spokesman Scott Ross, said the latest news comes from local contacts in the Philippines that the mission trusts. He wouldn't elaborate on who they were.
While it's good to hear that Martin and Gracia are surviving, Ross said, there is still no question that they're without proper food and rest.
"We don't think their situation has improved since November, so their health probably continues to deteriorate," he said. "Time is still an urgency."
House debates disaster training bills
About 160 U.S. Special Forces are on the island training Filipinos to fight the Abu Sayyaf, which has been linked to al-Qaida.
The Associated Press
TOPEKA — Legislation to improve the state's disaster training and response advanced in the House yesterday after one member leveled accusations of politics, favoritism and fiscal irresponsibility.
The House debated two bills allowing the adjutant general to hire one halftime and nine full-time employees to train emergency personnel and be available to assist cities, counties and local volunteers in disasters.
The Senate has already passed the measures, which are so-called "enabling"billsthatauthorize creation of the new positions but do not fund them.
House members advanced them on a voice vote to final action, expected Thursday, after Rep. Carlos Mayans questioned some proponents' motives.
state's adjutant general, to visit Kansas guard members.
Mayans suggested some legislators supported the bills because they planned to travel to Europe on April 18 with Maj. Gen. Greg Gardner, the
"I don'tbelieve we should be developing public policy based on if we get to take a free vacation or not," said Mayans, R-Wichita, a member of the House Select Committee on Kansas Security.
With Gardner on the House floor during the debate, Mayans also questioned why the bills, which would cost $698,000, had not gone through the House Appropriations Committee. The figure includes the cost to equip new employees.
Rep. Carl Krehbiel, R-Moundridge, chairman of the security committee, said the bills only allowed Gardner to hire the additional staff when money becomes available.
He added: "Just for the record, no,
I'm not flying on the trip to Germany."
Mayans also questioned Gardner's management.
"We're asking to use money for something that we should already be doing." Mayans said. He said the programs amount, in his mind, to repetitive training.
Gardner later said Mayans' allegations were not true, adding: "I don't understand the motivation."
Eight legislators are to travel with Gardner to Germany to visit members of the 2nd Battalion of the 137th Infantry and the 190th Air Refueling Wing based in Topeka.
The 137th is participating in Task Force Santa Fe, which is supporting active duty troops by filling security missions at various locations.
Expected to make the trip are Sens. Jay Scott Emler, R-Lindsborg; Rip Gooch, D-Wichita; Chris Steineger, D-Kansas City; Jean Schodorf, R-Wichita; and Ruth Teichman, R-Stafford; and Reps. Lisa Benlon, R-Shawnee, and Tom Sloan, R-Lawrence, House Majority Leader Shari Weber, R-Herington, was also invited but has a prior family commitment.
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Includes Irregulars, Damaged & Customer Returns
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