Press Releases

Senate Republican Leaders Request Meeting with Boeing Officials
Topeka  - (December 7, 2011) Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, announced that Senate Republican Leadership, along with members of the south central Kansas delegation, have requested a meeting with top officials from Boeing in response to the company’s recent announcement that it will undertake a study to determine the future of its Wichita manufacturing plant.
You can read the full press release in pdf format here.

Senate President Calls for Citizen Input on Tax Policy Issues
Senator Donovan to Chair Tax Study Group
Topeka  - (October 10, 2011) Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, today announced plans to form a tax study group to analyze options for reducing taxes in Kansas in order to create a more business-friendly environment. The bipartisan study group, which will meet during the 2012 Legislative Session, will be comprised of both senators and members of the public.
You can read the full press release in pdf format here.

Senate President Steve Morris Seeks Re-election in 2012
Topeka  - (October 7, 2011) Kansas Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, today filed paperwork in his hometown of Hugoton and issued a formal statement that he will run for re-election to the 39th District State Senate seat. He stopped at several communities in the district, including Garden City, Lakin, Ulysses and Elkhart to bring his announcement to local supporters and media.
You can read the full press release in pdf format here.

Senate President Steve Morris Announces New Legislative Director
Travis Lowe Joins Republican Leadership Staff with Focus on Redistricting
Topeka – (August 18, 2011) Senate President Steve Morris today announced that Lawrence resident Travis Lowe has been hired to serve as the President’s Legislative Director. Lowe succeeds Joshua Lewis who recently was named Chief of Staff in the President’s Office.
You can read the full press release in pdf format here.

Senate President Steve Morris Becomes President of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - (August 11, 2011) - Kansas Senate President Stephen R. Morris has officially become president of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the nation’s 7,382 state lawmakers. Senator Morris began his new leadership role during NCSL’s annual Legislative Summit on August 11th in San Antonio, Texas.
You can read the full press release in pdf format here.

Senate President Morris Appoints Pasmore to Kansas Employment First Oversight Commission
Wichitan is President of KETCH, providing employment to persons with disabilities
Topeka – (July 26, 2011) - Senate President Stephen R. Morris, R-Hugoton, today announced the appointment of Ron Pasmore, Wichita, to serve on the Kansas Employment First Oversight Commission. The Commission was created this year by the Kansas Legislature to oversee state programs and services supporting employment of Kansans with disabilities that are required to consider competitive and integrated employment as a first option.
You can read the full press release in pdf format here.

Senate President Steve Morris Appreciates Governor's Concern
Extreme Drought Conditions Warrant the Administration's Attention
TOPEKA – (July 12, 2011) - Kansas Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, today issued a statement expressing appreciation to Gov. Sam Brownback for his interest and concern for the extreme drought conditions decimating Southwest Kansas. The Governor plans to visit Elkhart, Hugoton and Liberal on Wednesday, July 13 to visit with area residents and leaders.
You can read the full press release in pdf format here.

Senate President Steve Morris Announces Change in Chief of Staff Position
Joshua Lewis Will Succeed Michael White as Chief of Staff on Aug. 15
TOPEKA - (July 6, 2011) - Kansas Senate President Steve Morris announced today that Joshua K. Lewis, a native Kansan and current leadership staffer, will become Morris’ Chief of Staff on Aug. 15th.
You can read the full press release in pdf format here.

Senate Republican Leaders Offer Positive View of Challenging 2011 Legislative Session
TOPEKA – (May 13, 2011) - Republican Leaders in the Kansas Senate, following a long day and a very late night on the Senate floor, today released a statement regarding the conclusion of the 2011 Legislative Session and those measures they considered among the most important accomplishments. Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, acknowledged senators’ hard work on regular standing committees, special committees and conference committees.
You can read the full press release in pdf format here.

Senate reports significant progress, balanced budget at first adjournment
TOPEKA – (April 1, 2011) - Senate leadership today reported significant progress - including passage of a balanced budget - as the Legislature reaches first adjournment. The Legislature is expected to adjourn later today (April 1) before returning April 27 for its Veto Session.
You can read the full press release in pdf format here.

Ness City Students Page for Senate President Steve Morris
TOPEKA – (March 28, 2011) - Senate President Steve Morris (R-Hugoton) last week welcomed two local students - Addison “Addie” Beutler and Nashon Copeland– as pages for the day in the Kansas Senate.
You can read the full press release in pdf format here.

Mound City Students Page for Senate President Steve Morris
TOPEKA – (March 28, 2011) - Senate President Steve Morris (R-Hugoton) last week welcomed two local students - Hannah Casner and Blaise Schneider – as pages for the day in the Kansas Senate.
You can read the full press release in pdf format here.

Senate President Steve Morris Reiterates Position on Senate Bill 1
TOPEKA – (March 22, 2011) - Senate President Stephen R. Morris, R-Hugoton, today offered a response to questions regarding the Senate’s intent to act on a tax bill – Senate Bill 1 -- that yesterday was ruled materially altered and referred to tax committee for further study.
You can read the full press release in pdf format here.

Senate Republican Leadership Comment on Budget Proposal
Senate Committee cut $535 million, offers balanced 2012 budget
TOPEKA – (March 18, 2011) - Senate Republican Leadership, at their regular media availability in the Senate President’s Office today, offered statements in support of the budget bill that passed out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee yesterday. Ways and Means completed its work to balance the 2012 budget, paring $535 million from the total and leaving the state with a positive ending balance.
You can read the full press release in pdf format here.

Senate Leadership Offers Engineering Initiative
Kansas Senate Unveils Engineering Initiative Key to Kansas Job Growth and Economic Improvement
TOPEKA – (March 10, 2011) - According to Kansas Senate leaders who unveiled a multi-year program to address the state’s engineering workforce shortage, Kansas must expand capacity at its three schools of engineering if Kansas employers are to meet current and future workforce needs. “Convincing data shows the demand for engineering graduates remains high, and projections are very clear that this trend will continue,” stated Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton.
You can read the full press release in pdf format here.

Garden City Students Page for Senate President Steve Morris
TOPEKA – (March 9, 2011) - Senate President Steve Morris (R-Hugoton) today welcomed two local students - Alex Depperschmidt and Angel Herrera – as pages for the day in the Kansas Senate.
You can read the full press release in pdf format here.

Syracuse Students Serve as Pages for Senate President Steve Morris
TOPEKA – (March 7, 2011) - Senate President Steve Morris (R-Hugoton) today welcomed Syracuse students Samantha Seal, Chelsea York and Erik York as pages for the day in the Kansas Senate. Senate President Morris said, “It is always enjoyable to have young people from the district visit and serve as pages. I hope their visit to the state capitol and the Kansas Senate will always be a good memory and encourage them to become involved in government by voting, paying attention to the issues of their day and making their opinions heard. Perhaps one of them will seek elected office someday.”
You can read the full press release in pdf format here.

Senate Leadership Supports National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility and Prepares for Meetings with Congressional Leaders
WASHINGTON, DC – (March 2, 2011) - After last week's passing of a Kansas Senate Resolution urging construction of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, Kansas, Kansas Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, and Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, are part of a Kansas delegation in Washington meeting with key Congressional Leaders to underscore Kansas’ commitment to the project and to encourage full funding in the federal budget.
You can read the full press release in pdf format by clicking here.
You can read a copy of Senate Concurrent Resolution 1605 here.

Johnson County Girls Serve as Pages for Senate President Steve Morris
TOPEKA – (February 15, 2011) - On Tuesday, Feb. 15th, Senate President Steve Morris (R-Hugoton) welcomed Johnson County students Emma Holmberg and Tresa Newman as pages for the day in the Kansas Senate. Emma Holmberg is from Merriam and attends Bethany Lutheran School; Tresa Newman is from Shawnee and attends Hope Lutheran School.
You can read the full press release in pdf format here. 

Morris to Lead National Legislative Organization
Kansas Senate president becomes president-elect of the National Conference of State Legislatures
DENVER – (January 14, 2011) - The president of the Kansas Senate, Stephen R. Morris, has been named president-elect of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), a bipartisan organization that serves the nation’s 7,382 state lawmakers. Morris will serve as president-elect for seven months before becoming president of NCSL at the 2011 Legislative Summit in San Antonio, Texas. Morris, a Republican, has been actively involved in NCSL for more than a decade. Leadership of NCSL alternates between parties every year. As the voice of state legislatures within our nation’s federal system of government, NCSL is poised to tackle many challenges in the next few years.
You can read the full press release in pdf format here.

Senate Republican Leadership Offer Statements in Reaction to Governor Sam Brownback's First State of the State Address
TOPEKA – (January 12, 2011) - Republican leaders in the Kansas State Senate this evening issued supportive statements in reaction to Governor Sam Brownback’s first State of the State Address which took place in the Kansas House of Representatives Chamber in the Kansas Statehouse tonight.
You can read the full press release and their statements in pdf format here.

Senate Republican Leadership Announce Leadership Staff
TOPEKA – (January 5, 2011) - Republican leaders in the Kansas State Senate today announced the leadership staff who will serve the leadership team and all 32 members of the Republican caucus through the 2011 session and beyond.
You can read the full press release in pdf format here.

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