By: Shirley Palmer, 4th District State Representative
First Adjournment
The 2010 Legislature worked long hours on Tuesday, March 30th and adjourned at 1:30 A.M. on Wednesday, March 31, until April 28th. The recess came earlier than expected but will help save the cost of legislative days that may be needed for the final veto session. On April 28, legislators will return for the wrap up session, when the budget bill, some conference reports, and any vetoes by the Governor will be considered.
This will be my last news release until we reconvene on April 28. I have tried to keep you informed with highlights of the session on a weekly basis. I am grateful to the newspapers who have allowed me to do so.
PAGES
I enjoyed having four Fort Scott High School Juniors serve as PAGES for me on Tuesday. They were Austin Bailey, Kacie Brown, Jordyn Grey, and Gabe Quick.
Governor Seeks Agricultural Disaster for Linn County
Governor Mark Parkinson sent a letter March 29 to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack asking that he declare Allen and Linn counties agricultural disaster areas for crop production losses due to severe weather between September 1 and December 31, 2009. The severe weather consisted of excessive rain that delayed harvest of fall crops and prevented wheat from being planted.
A secretarial disaster designation will make farmers eligible for low-interest loans through USDA’s Farm Service Agency, as well as any other aid that may be available through the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program approved in the 2008 farm bill.
The PEAK Bill
The PEAK bill, (providing employment across Kansas) which provides some employers with up to 90% of the state income tax withholding they pay new employees, has passed both chambers, after amendments in conference that appear to have reduced its cost to the state to virtually nothing next year. The tactic: take money from some relatively little-used economic development programs to balance out the loss of income tax revenue. The bill is a major eco-devo effort among some legislators. It is on the way to the governor for his signature.
School Employee Notice
SB 362 passed by both chambers. This bill identifies the date school boards must notify teachers and administrators of non-renewal and the date by which employees must respond if they do not wish to continue their contract. Currently the dates are May 1, and May 15. The new law will set the non-renewal notice date for boards as the third Friday in May every year. The response day would be the Friday two weeks (14 days) later. The deadline of the third week in May for boards and two weeks later for teachers will be permanent unless changed by a future Legislature. The bill will be sent to the Governor. Assuming the Governor signs the bill, it will take effect when published in the Kansas Register. It appears likely that will occur before May, thus allowing the bill to take effect for the current year.
SB 359 (Education)
Three issues pertaining to education in SB 359 passed by both Houses and were sent to the Governor. First, the bill amends the special education catastrophic state aid law for the 2009-2010 school year by increasing the threshold for eligibility from $25,000 to $36,000 and by requiring that state special education state aid and federal special education state aid, including Medicaid Replacement state Aid, be deducted in determining the amount of reimbursement per special education student. In school year 2010-2011 and the years thereafter, the catastrophic state-aid reimbursement threshold would increase to twice the state aid per special education teacher from the previous year. State and federal special education aid, including Medicaid Replacement State Aid, would be deducted in determining the amount of reimbursement per special education student.
Second: the bill allows a pilot program that changes the special education funding formula from a teacher-based formula to a census-based formula.
Finally, the bill amends a provision in the special education law, which provides for the payment of Medicaid Replacement State Aid to school districts.
Nursing Facility Bill Sent Back to Committee
The Senate debated a bill which would have implemented a new $30 million fee on Kansas nursing homes, before sending the bill back to committee for further review.
Under S Sub for Sub HB 2320, Kansas nursing facilities would be assessed on the number of beds that the facility is licensed for as of July1st each year. The assessment amount would be $1,325 per bed annually. The money generated by the provision is intended to supplement the current 10 percent Medicaid cut that the Governor put into place earlier this year. The $30 million fee would have drawn down $56 million in matching federal funds.
Transportation Plan
On Tuesday, the Senate Transportation Committee passed to the floor – where it will reside on the calendar for a month before debate – a new, $8 billion-plus transportation plan. The plan will take advantage of about $300 million of federally subsidized “Build America” bonds. The bill includes a .3-cent sales tax increase to take effect in 2013 and is believed to be worth about $120 million a year. Transportation Chair, Dwayne Umbarger, Thayer, said he wanted the bill on the calendar so people can start talking about it and get feedback from constituents during the legislative break.
Unemployment Insurance Bill
Governor Mark Parkinson this week signed legislation to protect Kansans’ unemployment benefits and ease the financial burden on businesses as the state works its way through the national recession.
Cemetery Trust Fund
The Kansas house approved legislation designed to protect Kansans against cemetery trust funds that are not able to cover the services promised. The bill would give the Secretary of State’s office broad new powers to work with cemeteries that have underfunded prepaid trust funds. Consumers who purchase pre-paid funeral plans need to be protected.
Keep in Touch
My office in Topeka will be closed during the recess. If you would like to get in touch with me please call my home telephone 620-223-4104 or e-mail me at home at rspalmer1862@sbcglobal.net. Enjoy this nice spring weather. Best regards, Representative Palmer.
Showing posts with label Kansas Legislation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kansas Legislation. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
LEGISLATIVE INSIGHT, Number 10, 2010
By: Shirley Palmer, 4th District State Representative
The pace picked up a lot this week in the Kansas Legislature as we are approaching the end of the 2010 regular session. Only two weeks remain before First Adjournment, so this was the last week for committees to pass out bills. However, bills that were never worked may still find a way onto legislation as amendments or provisos.
Next week the House will be on the floor all day Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in an effort to get as much done as possible before the end of the regular session. We will not convene on the floor Thursday and Friday, although conference committees will continue to meet. Things tend to move quickly from here on out. Stay tuned.
New Secretary of State
Citing his experience, professionalism and dedication, Governor Mark Parkinson named Chris Biggs as the new Secretary of State this week. The Office of Kansas Secretary of State performs many public service functions and plays a vital role in maintaining the fairness and credibility of our elections. Chris has been in public service for more than 20 years. Until this appointment, Biggs served as the state’s Securities Commissioner. Prior to being named Securities Commissioner in 2003, he had served as an attorney in public service including 14 years as Geary County Attorney. He is a graduate of Kansas State University and the KU Law School.
Kansas Agriculture Day
“If you eat today, thank a farmer.” That was the message Kansas commodity groups, along with the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the Department of Commerce shared on Kansas Ag Day, March 18th at the Kansas Capitol in Topeka. Agriculture has always been a leading industry in Kansas. It’s a tradition that predates our statehood and it continues to contribute to our economic well-being.
Kansas Agriculture Facts
I’d like to share with you some important facts about agriculture in our state. Kansas has 65,531 farms; 85% of the farms are family owned; 8% are partnerships and the balance owned by corporations, estates or trusts. The average farm size is 707 acres. Kansas has 46.2 million acres of farmland and $13.9 billion market value of all agricultural products sold in 2008.
In 2008 Kansas ranked first in wheat produced and milled and in sorghum produced; second in cropland; third in land in farms, sunflowers produced, cattle and calves on grain feed, and cattle processed; sixth in cash receipts for farm marketing; seventh in corn produced; tenth in soybeans produced and hogs on farms and seventeenth in upland cotton and milk produced.
Kansas Highways # 1
Reader’s Digest has ranked Kansas highways #1 in the nation. Three Governors and four former Transportation Secretaries held a news conference this week to celebrate the great news. This accomplishment was possible because of the investments Kansans have been willing to make in their transportation system. The timing couldn’t have been better as the legislature is currently holding hearings on future transportation programs for our state.
Hunter Orange Requirement
We discussed HB 2646 again this year in an Agriculture and Natural Resources committee this week. This bill would amend KSA 32-1015 to clarify when hunter orange is required for hunting elk or deer during elk or deer firearms seasons. Fort Riley conservation officials first approached the Dept. in regard to this topic in the fall of 2008. As elk and deer seasons have expanded, the statutes have not kept pace with the expanded seasons. Firearms elk seasons and archery deer seasons now overlap completely in some areas of the state and as a result, large numbers of archery deer hunters are required to wear hunter orange in those areas for a very small number of firearm elk hunters annually. While many other seasons for other species overlap with either firearm elk or firearm deer seasons, hunters hunting the other seasons and species are not required to wear hunter orange and the Department feels that removing this restriction on deer and elk is in line with the rest of the hunting seasons across the state.
Budget Proposal
Despite the fact that the budget has been dramatically cut six times in the last 18 months, the majority party continues to assert that Kansas has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. Ten weeks into the legislative session, House Republican leadership offered on Thursday a FY 2011 budget proposal. It basically cuts approximately $361 million from state services, in addition to $200 million in cuts to Kansas public school districts. Here are some key components of the proposal:
* $200 million in cuts to Kansas public education
* $5-7 million in cuts for mental health programs impacting 90,000 Kansans who need mental health assistance.
*A 5% across the board salary cut to all state employees. (There is also a proposal to begin closing state offices at 3:00 p.m. on Fridays, which is essentially a 12-day furlough).
*$37.9 million freeze on KPERS employer contributions
*1% cut in all state agency budgets, resulting in more layoffs and service cuts
* Increased premiums for children’s health insurance
We all know this is a difficult year and tough choices are inevitable. In the past, we have worked through the budget process in a bipartisan manner. After 67 days with no proposal from the majority party, this plan was passed out of committee on a straight party line vote, after about an hour of discussion. I am concerned about the deep proposed cuts. The budget debate is just getting started. This proposal will come to the House floor for full consideration early next week at which time we will have opportunities to add amendments. The bill could be voted down altogether and sent back to the drawing board. Whatever passes must be reconciled with the Senate budget bill and signed by the Governor. We will then reconvene in late April-after the most recent revenue estimates are announced – to make more adjustments through the Omnibus Budget. We have a long way to go!
Education Rally
Approximately 1,000 teachers, students and parents from across the state – as far away as Colby – took advantage of Spring Break last Tuesday by marching to the Capitol to protest further cuts to public schools. Education funding has been slashed by at least $300 million (about 10 percent) over the last year.
State Employees
More than 250 members of the Kansas organization of State Employees came to the Statehouse on Wednesday to visit with legislators. Since state employees receive their paychecks directly from the State of Kansas, their jobs, wages, and retirement are directly linked to what happens in the Capitol. State employees work in every county of Kansas. They work in agencies that keep our state running efficiently. They include social workers, psychologists, mental health techs, correctional officers, transportation workers and investigators, to name a few. Their work helps keep you safe and provides the basic services that you depend on every day. Kansas is near the bottom in state employee wages. Kansas taxpayers cannot receive their money’s worth if quality state employees are not kept on the payroll to answer the public’s call.
Mental Health Advocacy
On Thursday over 300 people arrived in Topeka as a group in an umbrella coalition of more than 30 organizations that represent consumers of mental health services, their family, community mental health centers, individual providers of mental health services, advocacy organizations, and child welfare providers. Many of these organizations operate under a state mandate to serve everyone who walks through their doors, regardless of a patient’s inability to pay. As a result, they heavily rely upon Medicaid funding to provide the treatment and care of Kansans in need. They have been deeply impacted by the 10 percent Medicaid cut imposed by the Governor in November. The coalition lobbied for the restoration of that funding in FY 2011.
Keep in Touch
It is a special honor to serve as your state representative. I value and need your input on the various issues facing state government. Please feel free to contact me with your comments and or questions. My Topeka office telephone number is 785-296-7646. My home telephone number is 620-223-4105.
Additionally, you may e-mail me at shirley.palmer@house.ks.gov in Topeka or rspalmer1862@sbcglobal.net at home. You may call the legislative hotline at 1-800-432-3924 to leave a message for me. You can also follow the legislative session online at www.kslegislature.org.
The pace picked up a lot this week in the Kansas Legislature as we are approaching the end of the 2010 regular session. Only two weeks remain before First Adjournment, so this was the last week for committees to pass out bills. However, bills that were never worked may still find a way onto legislation as amendments or provisos.
Next week the House will be on the floor all day Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in an effort to get as much done as possible before the end of the regular session. We will not convene on the floor Thursday and Friday, although conference committees will continue to meet. Things tend to move quickly from here on out. Stay tuned.
New Secretary of State
Citing his experience, professionalism and dedication, Governor Mark Parkinson named Chris Biggs as the new Secretary of State this week. The Office of Kansas Secretary of State performs many public service functions and plays a vital role in maintaining the fairness and credibility of our elections. Chris has been in public service for more than 20 years. Until this appointment, Biggs served as the state’s Securities Commissioner. Prior to being named Securities Commissioner in 2003, he had served as an attorney in public service including 14 years as Geary County Attorney. He is a graduate of Kansas State University and the KU Law School.
Kansas Agriculture Day
“If you eat today, thank a farmer.” That was the message Kansas commodity groups, along with the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the Department of Commerce shared on Kansas Ag Day, March 18th at the Kansas Capitol in Topeka. Agriculture has always been a leading industry in Kansas. It’s a tradition that predates our statehood and it continues to contribute to our economic well-being.
Kansas Agriculture Facts
I’d like to share with you some important facts about agriculture in our state. Kansas has 65,531 farms; 85% of the farms are family owned; 8% are partnerships and the balance owned by corporations, estates or trusts. The average farm size is 707 acres. Kansas has 46.2 million acres of farmland and $13.9 billion market value of all agricultural products sold in 2008.
In 2008 Kansas ranked first in wheat produced and milled and in sorghum produced; second in cropland; third in land in farms, sunflowers produced, cattle and calves on grain feed, and cattle processed; sixth in cash receipts for farm marketing; seventh in corn produced; tenth in soybeans produced and hogs on farms and seventeenth in upland cotton and milk produced.
Kansas Highways # 1
Reader’s Digest has ranked Kansas highways #1 in the nation. Three Governors and four former Transportation Secretaries held a news conference this week to celebrate the great news. This accomplishment was possible because of the investments Kansans have been willing to make in their transportation system. The timing couldn’t have been better as the legislature is currently holding hearings on future transportation programs for our state.
Hunter Orange Requirement
We discussed HB 2646 again this year in an Agriculture and Natural Resources committee this week. This bill would amend KSA 32-1015 to clarify when hunter orange is required for hunting elk or deer during elk or deer firearms seasons. Fort Riley conservation officials first approached the Dept. in regard to this topic in the fall of 2008. As elk and deer seasons have expanded, the statutes have not kept pace with the expanded seasons. Firearms elk seasons and archery deer seasons now overlap completely in some areas of the state and as a result, large numbers of archery deer hunters are required to wear hunter orange in those areas for a very small number of firearm elk hunters annually. While many other seasons for other species overlap with either firearm elk or firearm deer seasons, hunters hunting the other seasons and species are not required to wear hunter orange and the Department feels that removing this restriction on deer and elk is in line with the rest of the hunting seasons across the state.
Budget Proposal
Despite the fact that the budget has been dramatically cut six times in the last 18 months, the majority party continues to assert that Kansas has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. Ten weeks into the legislative session, House Republican leadership offered on Thursday a FY 2011 budget proposal. It basically cuts approximately $361 million from state services, in addition to $200 million in cuts to Kansas public school districts. Here are some key components of the proposal:
* $200 million in cuts to Kansas public education
* $5-7 million in cuts for mental health programs impacting 90,000 Kansans who need mental health assistance.
*A 5% across the board salary cut to all state employees. (There is also a proposal to begin closing state offices at 3:00 p.m. on Fridays, which is essentially a 12-day furlough).
*$37.9 million freeze on KPERS employer contributions
*1% cut in all state agency budgets, resulting in more layoffs and service cuts
* Increased premiums for children’s health insurance
We all know this is a difficult year and tough choices are inevitable. In the past, we have worked through the budget process in a bipartisan manner. After 67 days with no proposal from the majority party, this plan was passed out of committee on a straight party line vote, after about an hour of discussion. I am concerned about the deep proposed cuts. The budget debate is just getting started. This proposal will come to the House floor for full consideration early next week at which time we will have opportunities to add amendments. The bill could be voted down altogether and sent back to the drawing board. Whatever passes must be reconciled with the Senate budget bill and signed by the Governor. We will then reconvene in late April-after the most recent revenue estimates are announced – to make more adjustments through the Omnibus Budget. We have a long way to go!
Education Rally
Approximately 1,000 teachers, students and parents from across the state – as far away as Colby – took advantage of Spring Break last Tuesday by marching to the Capitol to protest further cuts to public schools. Education funding has been slashed by at least $300 million (about 10 percent) over the last year.
State Employees
More than 250 members of the Kansas organization of State Employees came to the Statehouse on Wednesday to visit with legislators. Since state employees receive their paychecks directly from the State of Kansas, their jobs, wages, and retirement are directly linked to what happens in the Capitol. State employees work in every county of Kansas. They work in agencies that keep our state running efficiently. They include social workers, psychologists, mental health techs, correctional officers, transportation workers and investigators, to name a few. Their work helps keep you safe and provides the basic services that you depend on every day. Kansas is near the bottom in state employee wages. Kansas taxpayers cannot receive their money’s worth if quality state employees are not kept on the payroll to answer the public’s call.
Mental Health Advocacy
On Thursday over 300 people arrived in Topeka as a group in an umbrella coalition of more than 30 organizations that represent consumers of mental health services, their family, community mental health centers, individual providers of mental health services, advocacy organizations, and child welfare providers. Many of these organizations operate under a state mandate to serve everyone who walks through their doors, regardless of a patient’s inability to pay. As a result, they heavily rely upon Medicaid funding to provide the treatment and care of Kansans in need. They have been deeply impacted by the 10 percent Medicaid cut imposed by the Governor in November. The coalition lobbied for the restoration of that funding in FY 2011.
Keep in Touch
It is a special honor to serve as your state representative. I value and need your input on the various issues facing state government. Please feel free to contact me with your comments and or questions. My Topeka office telephone number is 785-296-7646. My home telephone number is 620-223-4105.
Additionally, you may e-mail me at shirley.palmer@house.ks.gov in Topeka or rspalmer1862@sbcglobal.net at home. You may call the legislative hotline at 1-800-432-3924 to leave a message for me. You can also follow the legislative session online at www.kslegislature.org.
Monday, February 15, 2010
LEGISLATIVE INSIGHT Number 5, 2010
By: Shirley Palmer, 4th District State Representative
Week 5
I’m happy to report that the pace has picked up significantly in the Statehouse. Most committees had a full schedule on a variety of high profile issues, including: the FY 2010 rescission bill, tax policy, school funding lawsuits, health care, smoking bans, and liquor sales.
My Husband Ron
I’m sure many of you know my husband, Ron, has been very ill and in the hospital with pneumonia and other health issues. We have been to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for further evaluation. We are happy to report he is doing well and full recovery is expected soon. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.
Secretary of State Resigns
Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburg announced this week that he planned to resign in order to take a position in the private sector. Thornburgh said his last day in the state office will be Feb. 15th. Governor Mark Parkinson will appoint a replacement to serve out the remainder of Secretary Thornburgh’s term, which is set to expire on January 10th, 2011. The Secretary of State is one of four state-wide officers elected by voters every four years. The Secretary’s primary responsibility is to ensure the safe and fair administration of statewide elections. The office also oversees business entities and the uniform commercial code.
K2 Bill Passes Both House and Senate
This week, the House followed suit with the Senate by passing a bill that will add three chemicals to the state’s list of illegal drugs. Two of the chemicals, called “K2” or “Spice”, are added to herbs and smoked like marijuana. The substance is typically sold as incense. The third is a form of the drug Ecstasy. Under this legislation, it will become illegal to possess or sell those chemicals, just as it is for marijuana. No other state has banned this substance. (If K2 is a synthetic version of marijuana, making it illegal eliminates one possible option for easing the discomfort of cancer patients without exposing them to THC.) There are some differences between the House and Senate versions, so the two chambers must reconcile those differences before the legislation can go to the Governor for his signature or veto. A ban would take effect within two weeks of the Governor’s signature.
Budget Update
Because state revenues have been consistently lower than expected, it was necessary to make additional cuts to the FY 2010 budget that will ensure we end the fiscal year with a positive ending balance (referred to as a rescission bill). Most of the necessary cuts were made in November by Governor Parkinson, but some required statutory action. The Appropriations Committee voted the rescission bill out of committee last week and we took it up on the House floor this week.
For the most part, the Legislature accepted Governor Parkinson’s proposal, with only a few amendments. Specifically, a floor amendment was adopted that will reduce the salary of every elected official by 5 percent (this includes all public officials who are paid with state monies: statewide offices, state legislators, district judges, etc). Some Medicaid cuts were also shifted that will enable health care providers to receive more in matching funds. The total state cut remains 10 percent, but by making a few changes we were able to lessen the loss of federal dollars.
We probably aren’t finished with FY 2010 budget. Revenues were lower than expected again in January, and the state will likely be short approximately $40 million by July even with the additional cuts we approved this week. I expect we will revisit this again in April when the most updated round of revenue estimates are released and we have a more accurate picture of the shortfall. In the interest of the legislative calendar, it is best to turn our attention to FY 2011 for now.
School Finance
The Kansas Supreme Court has denied a petition by the school districts to reopen the 2006 MONTOY school finance case. Friday’s ruling from the court means that any new challenge to the state’s school finance system must start over at the district court level.
Taxation
After five rounds of budget cuts and a $400 million budget deficit still looming – revenue proposals have been a major component of the budget debate. The House Committee on Taxation began a series on various proposals. HCR 5028 would establish a three-year moratorium on the granting of new tax exemptions, tax credits or economic development incentive programs involving employer withholding taxes. This idea in addition to rolling back some tax exemptions has been widely floated throughout the interim as an alternative to a sales tax increase. This proposal is a nonbinding resolution and would not affect exemptions already in place (a repeal of any tax exemptions already on the books would require additional legislation). The Kansas Advisory Council on Intergovernmental Relations testified that the number of tax credits has increased exponentially in recent years, putting a significant dent in the state’s revenue stream. As we work through massive cuts in Medicaid and public schools, it is critical to protect what revenue we have until the economy stabilizes.
Opponents came forth from the business community who testified that a moratorium would prevent Kansas from being open to new business investments. For years, the Legislature has arbitrarily granted or denied tax exemptions with no set criteria on which to base its decision. If nothing else, this proposal highlights the need for clearly defined and consistent guidelines for granting exemptions in the future.
There are several other proposals out there and will discussed this week.
Unemployment
The Secretary of Labor talked to us Thursday about the surge in unemployment claims. If you are having trouble filing for your unemployment benefits consider going on line to: Kansas Benefits. This process is fast, simple and secure. You simply click, claim and collect! Kansas is working hard to reduce the congestion in the call center to better serve claimants. (Kansas has paid out over $766 million in unemployment benefits. Kansas processes nearly $14 million a week in benefits.) We will have to borrow from the Federal Government by the end of February. 38 other states will be borrowing by the end of the year. This is a program that has been in existence for 75 years and was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Keep In Touch
It is a special honor to serve as your state representative. I value and need your input on the various issues facing state government. My office telephone number is 785-296-7646 and my home number is 620-223-4105. You may e-mail me at Shirley.Palmer@house.ks.gov. or rspalmer1862@sbcglobal.net.
Week 5
I’m happy to report that the pace has picked up significantly in the Statehouse. Most committees had a full schedule on a variety of high profile issues, including: the FY 2010 rescission bill, tax policy, school funding lawsuits, health care, smoking bans, and liquor sales.
My Husband Ron
I’m sure many of you know my husband, Ron, has been very ill and in the hospital with pneumonia and other health issues. We have been to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for further evaluation. We are happy to report he is doing well and full recovery is expected soon. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.
Secretary of State Resigns
Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburg announced this week that he planned to resign in order to take a position in the private sector. Thornburgh said his last day in the state office will be Feb. 15th. Governor Mark Parkinson will appoint a replacement to serve out the remainder of Secretary Thornburgh’s term, which is set to expire on January 10th, 2011. The Secretary of State is one of four state-wide officers elected by voters every four years. The Secretary’s primary responsibility is to ensure the safe and fair administration of statewide elections. The office also oversees business entities and the uniform commercial code.
K2 Bill Passes Both House and Senate
This week, the House followed suit with the Senate by passing a bill that will add three chemicals to the state’s list of illegal drugs. Two of the chemicals, called “K2” or “Spice”, are added to herbs and smoked like marijuana. The substance is typically sold as incense. The third is a form of the drug Ecstasy. Under this legislation, it will become illegal to possess or sell those chemicals, just as it is for marijuana. No other state has banned this substance. (If K2 is a synthetic version of marijuana, making it illegal eliminates one possible option for easing the discomfort of cancer patients without exposing them to THC.) There are some differences between the House and Senate versions, so the two chambers must reconcile those differences before the legislation can go to the Governor for his signature or veto. A ban would take effect within two weeks of the Governor’s signature.
Budget Update
Because state revenues have been consistently lower than expected, it was necessary to make additional cuts to the FY 2010 budget that will ensure we end the fiscal year with a positive ending balance (referred to as a rescission bill). Most of the necessary cuts were made in November by Governor Parkinson, but some required statutory action. The Appropriations Committee voted the rescission bill out of committee last week and we took it up on the House floor this week.
For the most part, the Legislature accepted Governor Parkinson’s proposal, with only a few amendments. Specifically, a floor amendment was adopted that will reduce the salary of every elected official by 5 percent (this includes all public officials who are paid with state monies: statewide offices, state legislators, district judges, etc). Some Medicaid cuts were also shifted that will enable health care providers to receive more in matching funds. The total state cut remains 10 percent, but by making a few changes we were able to lessen the loss of federal dollars.
We probably aren’t finished with FY 2010 budget. Revenues were lower than expected again in January, and the state will likely be short approximately $40 million by July even with the additional cuts we approved this week. I expect we will revisit this again in April when the most updated round of revenue estimates are released and we have a more accurate picture of the shortfall. In the interest of the legislative calendar, it is best to turn our attention to FY 2011 for now.
School Finance
The Kansas Supreme Court has denied a petition by the school districts to reopen the 2006 MONTOY school finance case. Friday’s ruling from the court means that any new challenge to the state’s school finance system must start over at the district court level.
Taxation
After five rounds of budget cuts and a $400 million budget deficit still looming – revenue proposals have been a major component of the budget debate. The House Committee on Taxation began a series on various proposals. HCR 5028 would establish a three-year moratorium on the granting of new tax exemptions, tax credits or economic development incentive programs involving employer withholding taxes. This idea in addition to rolling back some tax exemptions has been widely floated throughout the interim as an alternative to a sales tax increase. This proposal is a nonbinding resolution and would not affect exemptions already in place (a repeal of any tax exemptions already on the books would require additional legislation). The Kansas Advisory Council on Intergovernmental Relations testified that the number of tax credits has increased exponentially in recent years, putting a significant dent in the state’s revenue stream. As we work through massive cuts in Medicaid and public schools, it is critical to protect what revenue we have until the economy stabilizes.
Opponents came forth from the business community who testified that a moratorium would prevent Kansas from being open to new business investments. For years, the Legislature has arbitrarily granted or denied tax exemptions with no set criteria on which to base its decision. If nothing else, this proposal highlights the need for clearly defined and consistent guidelines for granting exemptions in the future.
There are several other proposals out there and will discussed this week.
Unemployment
The Secretary of Labor talked to us Thursday about the surge in unemployment claims. If you are having trouble filing for your unemployment benefits consider going on line to: Kansas Benefits. This process is fast, simple and secure. You simply click, claim and collect! Kansas is working hard to reduce the congestion in the call center to better serve claimants. (Kansas has paid out over $766 million in unemployment benefits. Kansas processes nearly $14 million a week in benefits.) We will have to borrow from the Federal Government by the end of February. 38 other states will be borrowing by the end of the year. This is a program that has been in existence for 75 years and was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Keep In Touch
It is a special honor to serve as your state representative. I value and need your input on the various issues facing state government. My office telephone number is 785-296-7646 and my home number is 620-223-4105. You may e-mail me at Shirley.Palmer@house.ks.gov. or rspalmer1862@sbcglobal.net.
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