* 2010 Session Underway
* Governor Delivers State of the State Address
* Parkinson Outlines Budget Recommendations
* Bill would outlaw K2
* SB 342 Would Prohibit Sale of Novelty Cigarette Lighters
* Death Penalty Bill to Receive Hearing
* Kansas Celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
* Apply Now for LIEAP
* Senators Kelly, Vratil propose “Rainy Day Fund”
* Registration now open for “Knowledge is Power” Student Workshop
* Useful State Phone Numbers
2010 SESSION UNDERWAY
On Monday, January 11th, the Kansas Legislature convened for the 2010 legislative session. Confronted by the worst economic crisis in state history, I am sure that the legislature will face many difficult decisions in the coming days. Still, I am confident that by putting partisan politics aside and working together, we will be able to pass a number of bills that improve the lives of all Kansans while protecting our most important priorities.
I am honored to serve as your Senator and am humbled by the support I receive from my community. I want to thank the people of the 5th District for allowing me this opportunity. As you may know, the State Capitol is currently undergoing major renovations, so my office has been relocated. My office is located in room 124-E. Please feel free to visit, or to contact me at 785-296-7357 or kelly.kultala@senate.ks.gov, if you should have any questions.
Complete daily calendars are available at www.kslegislature.org along with other information on the legislature. To hear legislative proceedings, click on the “Listen in Live Link.”
GOVERNOR DELIVERS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
On Monday, January 11, 2010, Governor Mark Parkinson delivered what most in Kansas felt to be a moving and inspirational State of the State address to a joint session of Senate and House members – all without the aid of a teleprompter or notes.
In his speech, Governor Parkinson outlined his plan for responsibly balancing the state budget without cutting deeper into essential state services.
In part, he said, “generations from now, historians will look at how Kansas handled the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression. We have the opportunity to astonish them. The decisions that you can make will mean that not only did we fight back, not only did we protect what our ancestors built, but while everyone else was in a panic, we moved forward.”
With no political considerations or hidden agenda, Governor Parkinson offered what he felt to be the most responsible and realistic proposal to see this state through the worst financial hardship we have ever faced. While I don’t agree with each of the Governor’s recommendations, I appreciated his leadership and foresight.
Moving forward, I hope that legislators from both parties will work with Governor Parkinson to make the tough choices which I know are inevitable. After all, this is more than a discussion about our budget, it is a discussion about our overall quality of life. We owe it to our fellow citizens and future generations to do whatever we can to protect it.
To view Governor Parkinson’s full address, please visit http://governor.ks.gov.
PARKINSON OUTLINES BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS
Kansas, like almost all states, must come to grips with a very difficult financial challenge for the coming budget year. As a result of the recession, state funds have declined for an unprecedented four straight years, while total spending has been slashed more than $1 billion in the last 18 months. Excess spending has been completely erased and further cuts would permanently damage our schools, public safety, and economic development efforts.
Within this difficult financial context, Governor Parkinson this week outlined his state budget recommendations for FY 2010 and FY 2011. The Governor’s budget proposes additional spending cuts, increasing the tax on cigarettes and tobacco, and temporarily raising sales tax by 1 cent.
The Governor’s plan also makes it possible to repair a number of crippling cuts which were made this past year. Under his budget proposal, Medicaid provider rates would be restored, Base State Aid would be increased, and $10 million would be provided to Kansas universities, community colleges and vocational and technical colleges.
Education:
Governor Parkinson’s budget proposal recommends a small increase in public school funding from FY10 to FY11. This recommendation will increase Base State Aid per Pupil (BSAPP) by $50 for every Kansas school child, from $4,012 to $4,062. The Governor also recommends that $3.6 billion in spending be allocated for various aid programs including Special Education, KPERS, and federal programs for schools.
To retain the best and the brightest students, Governor Parkinson’s budget includes $21.6 million for student financial assistance. More than $1 million is allocated for the State Scholarship Awards Program, which assists financially needy state scholars. These programs will allow more students to attend the Kansas school of their choice without worrying about the cost of tuition, books or living expenses.
Safety:
The Governor’s plan will help keep criminals off the street by enhancing funding to the state’s Department of Corrections by $3.6 million in FY11. This increase will prevent the state from having to release prisoners early to free-up bed space and will ensure that parole supervision is maintained when prisoners are released.
More than $1 million in enhanced funding from the State General Fund would reduce the backlog in DNA analysis cases at the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI). Currently, there are more than 30,000 DNA samples – which could be used to convict criminals – backlogged at the KBI.
Medicaid:
The Governor’s budget restores the 10 percent cut to Medicaid in FY11. Currently, two-thirds of Kansans on Medicaid are pregnant women or children. Restoring these cuts protects not only the 150,000 Kansas children who rely on Medicaid, but all vulnerable populations.
In order to implement these services while maintaining a balanced state budget, Governor Parkinson recommended a number of new revenue sources, including:
$ Temporarily increasing the sales tax rate by one percent, from 5.3 percent to 6.3 percent.
$ Increasing the cigarette and tobacco tax rate to the national average, from 79 cents to $1.34 on cigarettes and 10 percent to 40 percent on tobacco products.
$ Transferring $107.4 million from the Highway Fund.
While I do not agree with all of the Governor’s recommendations – especially the prospect of implementing a sales tax increase – I appreciate his efforts to balance the state budget in such a tough fiscal year.
By working together with Governor Parkinson and state agency heads, I am confident that we can find solutions to the many challenges facing our great state. We must commit ourselves to balancing the budget with common sense, strategic investments, and an understanding that we’re all in this together.
To access the Governor’s Budget Report in full, visit the Kansas Division of Budget’s Web site at http://budget.ks.gov.
BILL WOULD OUTLAW K2
On Wednesday, members of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee recommended approval of a bill that would 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 an incense. The third is a form of the drug Ecstasy.
Senator David Haley was the only dissenting vote, stating that further research was needed before the committee moved forward on the bill. Having received committee approval, however, Senate Bill 348 will be sent to the full Senate chamber for further debate.
SB 342 WOULD PROHIBIT SALE OF NOVELTY CIGARETTE LIGHTERS
One of the first bills introduced this year would outlaw the sale of novelty cigarette lighters targeted to children. Senate Bill 342 would prohibit retailers, manufacturers and distributers from selling or giving away as promotional items lighters that resemble cartoon characters, guns, vehicles, toy animals, or that play music or have flashing lights. The bill would not affect traditional-style lighters or those designed for adults.
If enacted, violators could receive up to a $500 fine, which would be designated for use by the tobacco products regulation fund.
The bill awaits debate by members of the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee. If approved, the bill would then be sent to the full Senate for further discussion.
DEATH PENALTY BILL TO RECEIVE HEARING
A bill introduced last year is scheduled for a hearing by members of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, January 19.
As introduced, SB 208 would repeal capital punishment in Kansas beginning on July 1st, 2010. The law would not change the status of Kansas’ 10 state inmates currently awaiting execution.
Last year, the Judiciary Committee agreed to send the bill to the full Senate floor for discussion. During floor debate, however, a number of questions about the bill’s intent were raised by Senators, including the possibility that it would potentially eliminate the state’s sentence of life without parole. Others questioned whether inmates currently on death row would be able to escape the sentence if they appealed the court decision after the law was enacted.
Citing the need for further study, a majority of Senators chose to send the bill back to Judiciary Committee so that it could be re-introduced this session.
Although it has not carried out an execution since 1965, Kansas reinstated the death sentence in 1994. A 2003 Kansas legislative audit found that the estimated median cost of a case in which the death penalty was given is approximately 70% more than non-death penalty murder cases ($1.26 million compared to $740,000).
SENATORS KELLY, VRATIL PROPOSE “RAINY DAY FUND”
Last week, Senator Laura Kelly and John Vratil joined forces, calling for a constitutional amendment that would create a state Rainy Day Fund intended to protect vital services and slow the growth of spending in hard financial times.
Their proposal would create a “Rainy Day Fund” that could total up to at least 7.5% of the state general fund budget and could only be used in times of budgetary stress. Currently, Kansas is one of only five states that does not have such a fund.
If enacted as a constitutional amendment, the fund would require the Legislature to set aside at least 1 percent of the state general fund revenues any year those revenues increase by 3 percent or more over the previous year. This money would be locked away from use by the Legislature unless state general fund revenues were to drop below the previous year’s total. At that time, money in the fund could be used for any purpose a majority of the Legislature and The Governor approves. Should this fund reach 7.5 percent of the total state general fund budget, the set-sides could be suspended.
Governor Parkinson has already endorsed the creation of such a fund and I believe this proposal deserves serious consideration by both chambers.
The state financial crisis has forced funding cuts of nearly $1 billion over the past year. As a result, schools are facing increased class sized and reductions in staff, Kansas colleges and universities are increasing student tuition, services for the disabled and the frail elderly have been seriously curtailed, and the Department of Corrections has nearly eliminated its highly successful community corrections program and could be forced to close a prison.
Much of our current situation could have been avoided if the state had established a Rainy Day Fund years ago. For instance, if a RDF had been created in FY 1991, the state would have had at least $465 million to help us through the present crisis.
Setting aside savings in times of economic crisis makes sense. Wise families set aside savings for a rainy day, and businesses hold back money for revenue downturns. It’s high time the State of Kansas follow their lead.
KANSAS CELEBRATES DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY
Governor Mark Parkinson and the Kansas Commission on African American Affairs hosted the Governor’s Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration in Topeka on Thursday. This year’s event featured remarks by the Governor and a keynote address by University of Kansas Chancellor, Dr. Gray-Little. The celebration also included a traditional Ceremonial march from the Judicial Center.
The official Martin Luther King Day will be on Monday, January 18th, 2010. Celebrations will take place across the state, including several in our community.
WORKSHOPS TO TEACH HIGH SCHOOLERS FINANCIAL LITERACY
As part of the 2010 National Consumer Protection Week, Kansas Attorney General Steve Six will host two student workshops entitled “Knowledge is Power”. The free events are intended to teach Kansas high school students about important consumer protection issues, including ID Theft, Predatory Lending, Contracts and Lease Agreements. The events will also include scholarship opportunities and prize giveaways.
Workshop #1:
Dodge City Community College
February 26, 2010
9 am - 3 pm
Workshop #2:
Wichita State University
March 5, 2010
9 am - 3 pm
Both events are open to all high school age students, although space will be limited. Registration forms can be found at www.ksag.org and will be accepted through January 25th, 2010.
APPLY NOW FOR LIEAP
Kansans struggling to afford energy costs this winter may be able to find relief with help from the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP). LIEAP is a federally-funded program that helps eligible households pay a portion of their winter heating bills by providing a one-time per year benefit.
To qualify, applicants must be personally responsible for direct payment of their heating bills at their current residence. Applicants must also demonstrate that they have made payments on their heating utility bill during the last three months and those combined payments must be equal to 10 percent of the household’s gross income or $80, whichever is less.
Individuals with disabilities, elderly persons, and families with children are the primary groups assisted, although any Kansan who meets all criteria may receive assistance.
Anyone receiving an SRS benefit (cash, medical, food assistance or LIEAP) will automatically receive an application packet in the mail and they are encouraged to use the application and return envelope that is included to expedite processing. LIEAP applications can also be requested by calling toll-free 1-800-432-0043 or visiting www.ks-energy-assistance.com to apply online beginning January 19th. SRS will be accepting applications from January 19, 2010 through Monday, March 31, 2010
USEFUL STATE PHONE NUMBERS
The following is a list of numbers I often receive requests for during the legislative session. You can find these as well as many others online at the following Web site: http://da.state.ks.us/
Child/Adult Abuse Hotline
(800) 922-5330
Crime Tip Hotline
(800) 572-7463
Crime Victim Referral
(800) 828-9745
Driver’s License Bureau
(785) 296-3963
KPERS
(888) 275-5737
Constituent Services
(800) 748-4408
Highway Road Conditions
(800) 585-7623
Lt. Governor’s Office
(800) 748-4408
Housing Hotline
(800) 752-4422
KS Department on Aging
(800) 432-3535
Kansas Jobs
(785) 235-5627
Kansas Lottery
(785) 296-5700
Legislative Hotline
(800) 432-3924
Live Homework Help
School Safety Hotline
(877) 626-8203
Attorney General’s Office
(888) 428-8436
SRS
(785) 296-3959
Tax Refund Status Info
(800) 894-0318
Taxpayer Assistance
(800) 259-2829
Unclaimed Property
(800) 432-0386
Vital Statistics
(785) 296-1400
Voter Registration
(800) 262-8683
Welfare Fraud Hotline
(800) 432-3913
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