NEWS RELEASE SEP AUG AUG Close 3 captures 28 Help 25 Sep 06 - 27 Aug 08 2006 2007 2008 03 January, 2006 Governor names Kansas native to oversee credit unions Kansas credit union members expect a high level of service and integrity. Ensuring the safety of their deposits is an important job, which is why Governor Kathleen Sebelius has named a Kansas native with extensive experience in the field to serve as state credit union administrator. John P. Smith is set to return to Kansas to once again lead the Kansas Department of Credit Unions, a position he held from 1993 to 1998. “Whether they’re seeking a home or car loan, or looking to build up their savings, Kansans deserve to know their credit union is operating with the utmost integrity. John will ensure the Department of Credit Unions continues to look out for the best interests of credit union members,” said Sebelius. “Plus, it’s always great to be able to bring a Kansan back to his home state.” The Kansas Department of Credit Unions protects Kansas citizens from undue financial risk by overseeing Kansas credit unions to ensure sound operation and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Subject to Senate confirmation, Smith will serve a four-year term. Smith returns to Kansas from Missouri where he has served as director of the Missouri Division of Credit Unions since 1999. Prior to his previous tenure as administrator of the Kansas Department of Credit Unions, he was director of the Wesley Employees Credit Union in Wichita from 1970 to 1993. Smith recently served as a board member and chair-elect of the National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors (NASCUS). He also served as chair of the NASCUS Professional Standards Committee. Prior to 1993, Smith was also manager of the microbiology laboratory at Wesley Medical Center, an adjunct clinical professor at Wichita State University’s College of Health Professionals, and a panel member of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Smith received his undergraduate degree from Emporia State University and his master’s degree from Kansas State University. http://web.archive.org/web/20070828012521/http://www.governor.ks.gov/news/NewsRelease/2006/nr-06-0103a.html[6/16/2011 2:43:04 PM] NEWS RELEASE SEP AUG JUL Close 3 captures 28 Help 25 Sep 06 - 20 Jul 08 2006 2007 2008 03 January 2006 Secretary of Aging retires; Governor appoints long-time consumer advocate as acting secretary After 30 years of public service, Secretary of Aging Pamela Johnson-Betts announced her retirement in a letter to Governor Kathleen Sebelius late last week. “I’d like to thank Pamela for her service to the people of Kansas and wish her all the best in retirement. She helped make our state a better place for Kansas families, representing their best interests,” Governor Sebelius said. Johnson-Betts served as secretary of the Department of Aging since February 2003. Prior to that appointment, she served as executive director of the Kansas African-American Affairs Commission and also worked with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Department of Social Rehabilitation Services throughout her 30-year career in public service. In 2002, Johnson-Betts was recognized by the Project Equality Inc. of Kansas/Missouri as recipient of the “Pride in Excellence Individual Award” for her impact on diversity in the workplace, commitment to diversity and inclusiveness, social concerns and outreach. She also received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by The Living the Dream, Inc. in 2002. With Johnson-Betts’ retirement, Sebelius has announced her appointment of Kathy Greenlee as acting secretary of the Department of Aging. Greenlee has extensive experience with seniors and Kansas insurance consumers. She worked as assistant secretary of the Department of Aging prior to being named long-term care ombudsman in August 2004. Before working in the Governor’s office as chief of operations and chief of staff in 2002, Greenlee had important roles at the Kansas Insurance Department, running the Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansans program in the Consumer Assistance Division, and later serving as general counsel. Greenlee was instrumental in then-Commissioner Sebelius’ decision to halt the merger between Anthem of Indiana and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. Sebelius said, “Kathy’s years of work on behalf of consumers and experience with senior issues will be essential as she steps into this role. Given Kathy’s background as long-term care ombudsman, her experience running SHICK, and her service as consumer division director at the Kansas Insurance Department, she is the right person at the right time to lead the Department of Aging.” Governor Sebelius named Deputy Ombudsman Deborah Merrill as acting state long-term care ombudsman to ensure continuity of service to residents of long-term care facilities across the state. These changes are effective today. http://web.archive.org/web/20070828010746/http://www.governor.ks.gov/news/NewsRelease/2006/nr-06-0103b.html[6/16/2011 2:42:35 PM] NEWS RELEASE SEP AUG JUL Close 3 captures 29 Help 25 Sep 06 - 4 Jul 08 2006 2007 2008 03 January 2006 Sebelius aims to lower Kansans’ heating bills WARM Kansas to help families save on energy by insulating homes Kansas families who need help lowering their heating bills will have a new place to turn for assistance if Governor Kathleen Sebelius has her way. The Governor today announced WARM Kansas, which aims to help Kansas families better insulate their homes and save on energy costs. “I’ve heard from many Kansans who want to save money on heat, but they can’t afford to insulate their homes and pay their heating bills at the same time,” said Sebelius. “WARM Kansas would help these families insulate their homes and get their heating bills down.” As part of WARM Kansas homes would be fitted with insulation, and would have doors and windows caulked and sealed to reduce drafts. Furnaces would also receive maintenance to ensure both safety and fuel efficiency. Governor Sebelius said the improvements covered under WARM Kansas could reduce home heating costs by up to 20 percent. “There are a few simple ways to reduce heating costs. Adding attic insulation can save up to 5 percent a month, for example,” said Sebelius. “Helping Kansans conserve energy saves money, and it makes us less vulnerable to price spikes like we’ve seen recently with natural gas.” The Governor also said there were at least one thousand Kansas families on a waiting list for help from the federal government, with wait times stretching up to three years. She said even more Kansans were eligible for help beyond those on the waiting list. “Every month that goes by, more of their money literally goes out the window. I want to step in and help Kansas families lower their energy bills,” said Sebelius. The Governor said more than 2,000 homes could be weatherized as a result of WARM Kansas. The initiative would provide both grants and loans to Kansas families. Two million dollars would be made available through local lenders via a revolving loan program for families with incomes at or below 80 percent of the area median income. Another $2 million in grants averaging $2,800 per home would be available to families with incomes at or below 60 percent of the area median income. WARM (Weatherization Assistance, Retrofitting and Maintenance) Kansas will be included in Governor Sebelius’ FY 2007 budget, which will be presented to the Legislature next week. The initiative would be funded by using a portion of higher than expected oil and gas severance tax receipts from producers – receipts that have increased as a result of the same higher fuel prices that are driving up heating bills. The Governor’s budget also proposes devoting $1 million of these taxes to help more Kansas families through the federal government’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. http://web.archive.org/web/20070829081427/http://www.governor.ks.gov/news/NewsRelease/2006/nr-06-0103c.html[6/16/2011 2:42:07 PM] NEWS RELEASE JUL AUG AUG Close 2 captures 27 Help 27 Aug 07 - 27 Aug 08 2006 2007 2008 03 January 2006 Governor names Overland Park man to Lottery Commission Kansas Lottery products are sold at nearly 1,900 retail locations across Kansas. Overseeing the lottery is the mission of the Kansas Lottery Commission, to which Governor Kathleen Sebelius has appointed Robert Van Cleave. “The Kansas Lottery continues to increase in popularly because of its innovative games, and by playing, Kansans are supporting job creation in our state through the economic development initiatives the lottery funds,” said Sebelius. The Kansas Lottery Commission works with the lottery’s executive director to establish policy and approve major contracts, rules and regulations for lottery games and promotions. The commission also approves the lottery’s annual budget. Subject to Senate confirmation, Van Cleave will fulfill an unexpired four-year term. Van Cleave, Overland Park, has thirty-five years of legal experience and is currently an attorney in private practice. Between 1972 and 1991, he was a partner with McAnany, Van Cleave & Phillips P.A. In 1991, he became counsel at Gates & Clyde, Chtd., before leaving in 1997. A member of the Kansas and Johnson County Bar Association, Van Cleave serves on the Kansas Bar Association Ethics Grievance Panel. He is also a member of the Kansas Bar Association Fee Dispute Committee and Johnson County Bar Fee Dispute Committee. Van Cleave received his law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1970. He obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas in 1966.