• From the Statehouse: Week 8
• Budget Update: Governor announces sixth round of cuts
• Senate Bill 409 would jumpstart rail service in Kansas
• Social service programs on the chopping block, again
• House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee hears bills
• 2010 Census just around the corner

From The Statehouse: Week 8

It was another frustratingly slow week in Topeka.  Although we were on the floor each day, we only debated three bills all week.  The most noteworthy piece of legislation designated Little Bluestem as the state grass of Kansas.  Although I am pleased that we approved of the Little Bluestem as our state grass, it seems that our priorities are somewhat out of line.

This is the eighth week of our annual 12-week session.  The estimated budget hole has grown every month, and we have four weeks until First Adjournment (which is the next major legislative deadline).  I believe that citizens of Kansas are hoping we will yield more progress on the state's most pressing issues.  It is expected that sometime next week we will begin debating a bill that would eliminate or reduce many tax exemptions (more on that later).

Appropriations update:

As in the past weeks the Appropriations Committee continues to examine agency budgets and make recommendations for the coming fiscal year.  During this week we reviewed the following:

Monday, March 1

Budget Committee Report On:

• Board of Regents
• Emporia State University
• Fort Hays state University
• Kansas State University
• KSU-Extension System and Agriculture Research Program
• KSU-Veterinary Medical Center
• Pittsburg State University
• University of Kansas
• University of Kansas Medical Center
• Wichita State University
• Department of Revenue

Tuesday, March 2

• Budget Committee Report On:
• Citizens' Utility Ratepayer Board
• Kansas Corporation Commission
• Kansas Water Office
• State Conservation Commission
• Board of Indigents' Defense Services
• Kansas Parole Board
• Sentencing Commission

Wednesday, March 3

Budget Committee Report On:

• Attorney General
• Insurance Department
• Judicial Branch
• Judicial Council
• Kansas Public Employee Retirement System
• Lieutenant Governor
• Office of the Governor
• Secretary of State
• State Treasurer

Thursday, March 4

Budget Committee Report On:

• Department of Commerce
• Kansas Wildlife and Parks
• Department of Corrections
• Atchison Juvenile Correctional Facility
• Beloit Juvenile Correctional Facility
• Department of Corrections
• El Dorado Correctional Facility
• Ellsworth Correctional Facility
• Hutchinson Correctional Facility
• Juvenile Correctional Facilities
• Juvenile Justice Authority
• Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex
• Lansing Correctional Facility
• Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility
• Larned Juvenile Correctional Facility
• Norton Correctional Facility
• Topeka Correctional Facility
• Winfield Correctional Facilities

Friday, March 5

No meeting

Most of the sub-committee reports were approved as presented, however there were some who were pared back to FY 2010 levels.  During the discussion on the Department of Corrections budget, I made a motion to add $1.1 million to community corrections programs.  I noted that the Secretary of Corrections had provided testimony that the current inmate population is over capacity, and that many county jails are pushed to their limit.  Community Corrections programs are proven to reduce recidivism, lower the cost per inmate, and relieve pressure on local and state correctional facilities.  The full committee rejected my motion but agreed when the final budget is drafted in April and May to review the recommendation.

Governor announces sixth round of cuts

Actual revenues have fallen below estimates, further increasing the current FY 2010 budget shortfall.  February revenues are $71 million short for the month, for a total $105 million deficit in FY 2010.   On Friday, Governor Parkinson announced $85 million in additional cuts, transfers and adjustments to the FY 2010 budget.  As taxpayers file their returns this spring, it is hoped that revenues will rebound a bit later in the year.  If that is the case, the Governor's actions and recommendations today should prevent a seventh round of cuts in April.   

Here is a quick outline of the proposed cuts:

Cuts to transportation plan, $28 million

Medicaid HMO bed tax, $4 million

Suspension of  the state pension's death and disability fund, $12 million

Spending on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, $15 million

Reduced Medicaid payments, $16 million

Passing a mandatory seat belt law, $11 million

Most of these proposed cuts will require legislative approval.  The reductions in Medicaid and the Temporary Assistance programs are adjustments to meet the actual caseload and represent over budgeting the need.

If the Legislature chooses not to enact his recommendations, the Legislature will be responsible for finding those funds in other places of the state budget. 

It is worth noting that the jobs bill currently before Congress contains $140 million designated specifically for Kansas highways.  If the jobs bill becomes law, many of the cuts made to KDOT this round can be restored with federal dollars.

Revenue enhancements are never easy or popular, but there will be few alternatives if Kansans expect to keep receiving the services that keep their communities safe.  It is highly unlikely that the state budget- both for FY 2010 and FY2011- will be balanced without a responsible review of both expenditures and revenues.

Senate Bill 409 would jumpstart rail service in Kansas

On Wednesday, the House Transportation Committee heard testimony for Senate Bill 409, regarding the implementation of the Passenger Rail Service Program Act. The rail service aims to connect the Amtrak service from Kansas City, to Lawrence, Topeka, Oklahoma City and then finally Fort Worth, Texas. The bill would help get the program rolling by allowing the Secretary of Transportation to start initiating talks and plans with Amtrak, the counties and other states involved with the line, as well as the rail operators.

This transportation system should not require any immediate money out of the state budget, and actually is expected to generate funds (as well as new jobs, tourism, and economic development projects in the state).  Rail stations and railways are already standing and can be used currently. Few upgrades will be needed for the Amtrak system, and the upgrades would cost significantly less than upgrades to smaller sections of highways. The bill would allow the program to become eligible for the next round of federal funding.

While no opponents spoke against the bill, many supporters came out to voice their approval of this form of public transportation. Fifty-five communities and their city councils are in support of an inner city passenger service.  Trains are 18% more efficient than airlines and 24% more efficient than driving. Energy efficiency reduces dependency on foreign oil, as well as a decrease in pollution. By allowing commuters to travel via railway, congestion on highways is also lessened, which would also lessen highway maintenance expenses.

The Kansas Department of Transportation has already started working on a feasibility study of a rail program. There will be further discussions with Amtrak in the near future to help move this project forward.  

Social service programs on the chopping block, again       

This week, the House Social Services Budget Committee debated the budgets for SRS, the Kansas Health Policy Authority and the Department of Aging.  Some committee members contended that these agencies should be reduced to FY 2010 levels of funding in next year's budget. 

These agencies are responsible for providing services to Medicaid, Medicare, and other entitlement programs.  The dollars requested by these agencies are due to growing demand for services in nurseing homes due to cuts to in-home services to the elderly.  .  As our economy lags, this places additional pressure on our social services agencies, who then experience highly increased demands for assistance.   Agencies and other organizations voiced concerns about the detrimental cuts they have already endured, and advised against further reductions.

The cuts were voted out of committee on a straight partisan vote and will now go to the full appropriations committee for debate.  When the committee passed out its recommendation, I received in excess of 300 emails from across the state stating, "Don't cut out Kansas kids".  If you were one of those who joined in that email campaign, I would like to thank you for your advocacy.  There were simply too many for me to read them all and I apologize for not responding.

Miscellaneous bills underscore previous budget cuts

The House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources heard Senate Bill 497 this week.  This legislation would define "assisted opening" knives in statute, as law enforcement frequently confuse them with switchblades.  Opponents to the bill, including law enforcement, stated that the Attorney General's office has specifically outlined the difference between the two blades, which is the only necessary information for carrying out their duties.  They contend that this is more of an internal training problem, not a statutory issue and that we need not expend precious dollars on un-needed legislation.

Another proposal, Senate Bill 396, would allow the Department of Agriculture the ability to take any surplus money from their fee funds (up to 10%) and put it in the existing Laboratory Equipment Fund.  The Laboratory Equipment fund has no funding mechanism because the law that authorized these fees have sunset.  However, every agricultural program administered by the department still needs the equipment, which means they need money for maintenance and upgrades.  Most the fee funds were spent across state government in FY 2010, essentially leaving them bankrupt.  Legislation like this would give agencies a bit more flexibility to manage their money.  There were no opponents.

Senate Bill 395 proposes raising some fees associated with milk production until 2015.  If the fees are not raised, then the inspection program will not be funded past 2012 and Kansas would not be able to sell its milk to other states.  Right now most of Kansas' milk is exported to the southeast region of the United States.  The bill also has language allowing the Secretary of Agriculture to adjust the fees as necessary up to a certain cap.  There were no opponents to the bill.

Although these are fairly "low profile" bills, these are some examples of the extent to which state agencies have been cut, and the somewhat creative measures that must be taken to get by until conditions improve.  All state agencies are struggling, and it has a significant "trickle down" effect on every Kansas citizen.

2010 Census is right around the corner

Census Day, which occurs once every 10 years, is April 1, 2010.  The census is the country's most accurate source of quality data about our people and our economy.  The United States has been issuing a census every 10 years since 1790. 

The 2010 Census questionnaire will be mailed to you at your home.  It is quick, easy and confidential, consisting of ten short questions. I hope you will do your civic duty by taking about ten minutes to complete it.  The goal is to accurately represent your household and community, which can only be accomplished with your participation.

The census will create up to 4,000 jobs nationwide.  If you are in need of part-time work, you can go to work for the Census Bureau and help out your community, with wages starting out at $9.50 per hour with $.50 reimbursement per mile.  You can collect data in your own neighborhood and set your own hours.  You can become a temporary federal employee, for anywhere from six to eight weeks, and all that is required is a simple background check.  If you are interested you can call the toll free job hotline: 1-866-861-2010, or visit the census job website: http://2010.census.gov/2010censusjobs/ and find job opportunities in your area.

The census is important for a number of reasons.  The data collected will guide planning for hospitals, roads, schools, district zones, and reapportionment seats in Congress.  Some of you may already have seen advertisements by the Census Bureau, and can probably expect to see more in the upcoming months.  So on April 1, let's make sure our community gets accurately represented!