Kansas.com: State Government

State cuts won't exempt schools

JEANNINE KORANDA AND LORI YOUNT — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:38 CST

With the state facing a potential $1 billion shortfall in the next budget, state officials are starting to say that all areas -- including kindergarten through 12th-grade education -- are facing cuts.

"I believe we will try to not impact education as much as the other areas, but it is still 50 percent of the budget," said Sen. Jean Schodorf, R-Wichita, who chairs the Senate Education Committee.

Lawmakers aren't the only ones watching what happens.

School funding in the past several years has been a "roller-coaster ride" for school districts, said Diane Gjerstad, director of governmental relations for Wichita public schools.

She said she plans to work with legislators if the district has to make cuts, but she would also make lawmakers aware of the ramifications of such action.

State's tax shortfall 'not looking good'

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 01:38 CST

Kansas collected 7.2 percent less than anticipated in general tax revenue in December, a sign that its budget problems might not have hit bottom.

"It's obviously not looking good at all," incoming Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jay Emler, R-Lindsborg, said Friday. "But I'm not surprised at all."

Legislative researchers already have projected the state will end its current fiscal year on June 30 with a $141 million budget deficit. They also say if the problems aren't addressed, the shortfall between anticipated revenue and current spending commitments will surpass $1 billion by June 30, 2010.

Preliminary figures from the Department of Revenue showed the state collected almost $482 million in general tax revenue in December. But financial forecasters had predicted more than $519 million in tax collections -- a difference of $38.6 million.

Revenue also fell short of expectations in November, just weeks after state officials and university economists issued the current fiscal forecast for state government.

Bill's goal: Truth in telemarketing

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 01:35 CST

A legislative leader is proposing new restrictions on companies that raise money for charities in hopes of giving Kansans more protection from unscrupulous telemarketers.

Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt said his bill was inspired by a recent personal experience with a telemarketer. The Independence Republican plans to introduce his measure after the 2009 Legislature convenes Jan. 12.

The bill would require professional solicitors to tell potential donors what percentage of the money being raised will go to the charity. Schmidt called it a "truth in giving" proposal.

"This is a problem that becomes more pronounced each year around the holidays, when the number of charity solicitations rises and when people are in an especially giving mood," he said in a written statement. "It's about openness and honesty."

State law already requires many charities raising money in Kansas to register annually with the Secretary of State's Office. Professional fundraising firms also are required to register each year.

Sebelius explains her decision to stay in Kansas

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 06:32 CST

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has had an eventful year. She started by giving the Democratic response to President Bush's final State of the Union and ended facing a potential $1 billion shortfall for the next budget year, which begins July 1.

In between, her name surfaced as a potential vice presidential candidate for President-elect Barack Obama. Later she reappeared as a potential Cabinet pick.

Ultimately, she chose to stay in Kansas -- a decision she discussed Tuesday -- and deal with the looming budget problems.

"I know there are all sorts of speculations about ulterior motives," she said. "It really, for me, came down to that... this wasn't the right time to leave a job that I had asked voters to give me for a second term."

Sebelius, a Democrat, said she is working to develop a revised budget proposal that does not include a tax increase. She hopes to have recommendations for cuts to this year's budget ready by the Jan. 12 start of the Legislative session.

Utility to push coal plants

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 01:39 CST

A western Kansas utility is planning to push again next year for legislative approval of two proposed coal-fired power plants, and environmentalists are preparing for the debate.

Sunflower Electric Power Corp. wants to build the plants outside Holcomb, in Finney County. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' administration has been blocking the plants for more than a year over their potential carbon-dioxide emissions.

During their 2008 session, legislators approved three bills to clear the way for the plants, but Sebelius vetoed each one. Sunflower spokeswoman Cindy Hertels told the Lawrence Journal-World that the company "certainly" will try again once the 2009 Legislature convenes Jan. 12.

"It's all going to depend how the bill is crafted," she said. "We are hopeful. We know we have a lot of support."

Sebelius spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran said Monday that the governor hasn't modified her position against construction of both plants and limits on the power of the secretary of health and environment. Secretary Rod Bremby denied an air-quality permit to Sunflower in October 2007.

Wichita at-risk programs OK

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 01:39 CST

A legislative audit has raised questions about how some Kansas school districts are spending money for programs for at-risk students and whether those programs are well-administered.

The auditors examined only 10 out of 296 districts statewide. But in their report this month, they said half of those 10 were struggling with their at-risk programs.

The Wichita school district was one of the 10 studied for the audit, but the report took no issue with Wichita's programs or practices for at-risk students.

In general, the report said the 10 districts' at-risk services are research-based, and eight of the 10 had a good process for addressing at-risk students' needs.

Such programs are designed to help students who are considered at risk of failing. The state expects to spend $368 million during the current school year on such programs, for which funding has increased dramatically in recent years.

Lawmakers alter immigration plans

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 01:38 CST

Legislators who want to crack down on illegal immigration are changing their strategy for getting something passed.

Lawmakers spent weeks last spring debating an immigration bill that eventually failed. Supporters have decided thatsmaller might be better after lawmakers reconvene Jan. 12, especially with a looming budget crisis likely to dominate the session.

Rep. Lance Kinzer, R- Olathe, who pushed this year's big bill, said he'll focus on specific issues, including repealing a state law providing lower, in-state tuition at state universities and colleges to children of some illegal immigrants.

"Starting out with goals that are achievable is a good way to start and may give us a chance to go with some bigger things," he said. "Going down the road on passing another comprehensive bill, we end up closer to where we were last session, with gridlock."

Hispanic groups contend the federal government should address illegal immigration. But many states have grown weary of waiting on Congress.

Legislators face difficult budget fixes

CARL MANNING — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:39 CST

The state's worst budget crisis since the Dust Bowl days will require legislators to focus more on compromise than confrontation.

Last month, state economists projected a $141 million deficit at the end of the current budget year. If left unchecked, that could blossom to $1 billion by the end of the next budget year.

There seems to be no single solution and the alternatives are limited: reduce state services, find new revenue sources, raise taxes, suspend planned tax cuts or some combination of those.

That's in contrast to May, when legislators ended their session and went home thinking the budget would have a $121 million surplus.

But revenue for the previous budget year that ended June 30 was $41 million less than expected. Forecasters said current budget revenue is expected to fall about $211 million below original estimates.

GOP legislators get assignments

JEANNINE KORANDA — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 01:37 CST

Several south-central Kansas lawmakers will lead House committees in the legislative session that begins Jan. 12.

The Republican House leadership announced the chairs and vice chairs Wednesday.

Wichita Rep. Jason Watkins will be vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee, which handles budget issues. He will also head the General Government Budget Committee; Arkansas City Rep. Kasha Kelley will be vice chairwoman.

Chairs control whether bills get hearings in their committees and how much time is spent on different issues. A chair can kill a proposal simply by never letting it be voted out of the committee.

"We are facing challenges that are unprecedented in Kansas," said Speaker-elect Mike O'Neal of Hutchinson. "I believe we have identified an excellent team of talented caucus members to address these challenges over the next two years"