It was another frustratingly slow week in Topeka. Although we were on the floor every day, we only heard three bills all week. The most noteworthy piece of legislation designated Little Bluestem as the state grass of Kansas.
From The Statehouse: Week 8
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 sincerely hope that next week will yield more progress on the state’s most pressing issues. We have a lot of work to do.
Budget Update: Governor announces sixth round of cuts
As I mentioned last week, revenue estimates continue to come in below expectations, further increasing the budget shortfall. February revenues came in $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 folks file their taxes 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 FY 2010.
Several adjustments are directed at the Kansas Department of Transportation, freezing maintenance work on bridges and highways and halting new projects that are not federally funded. I was relieved that Governor Parkinson was true to his promise at the State of the State that no further cuts would be imposed onto safety net services, public safety, or public schools. Some of his actions will be effective immediately, but approximately $54 million of his plan will require legislative action. 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. I appreciate Governor Parkinson doing the heavy lifting with this budget crisis for a sixth time, enabling the Legislature to instead focus on FY 2011.
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. After 10 years of work to improve our state’s infrastructure, it would be highly counterproductive to let our roads and bridges fall to disrepair now. I would strongly encourage you to contact your congressman, as well as Senator Brownback and Senator Roberts and encourage them to support this legislation after it comes out of conference committee.
Looking to FY 2011, some legislators continue to insist that Kansas has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. I have a hard time accepting this over-simplified talking point after six rounds of cuts and a growing revenue shortfall. The Legislature is constitutionally required to balance the budget. We can’t make money appear out of nowhere, which is why deep cuts have been necessary. However, state government is also required- and expected- to fulfill certain obligations to the public, which isn’t free. 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 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. It is important to understand that these agency budgets don’t grow due to wasteful spending. They grow because the services they are responsible for providing are received by persons who are entitled to funding by the federal government. As our economy lags, many Kansans turn to the government for help. 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.
Over the objection of Democratic members of the committee, the proposed additional cuts were passed and will now go to the full Appropriations Committee for extended debate. If this proposal makes its way into the FY 2011 budget proposal (which the Appropriations Committee is responsible for bringing to the House floor), there will be traumatic, long-term consequences. These cuts will make it even harder for hurting Kansans to address immediate needs in their lives. The primary function of state government is to address the needs of its citizens, especially the most vulnerable citizens among us. Vulnerable citizens will require our help eventually. If we fail to provide it now, we will pay for it later after conditions get even worse and the needs of citizens grow more serious due to delayed assistance.
House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee hears bills
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 switch blades. 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.
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 fees that sustained it 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 across state government were swept 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. Proponents did speak to the bill because equipment is invaluable to their programs.
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!