Capitol Comments
March 13, 2000
The budget process appears to be moving at a slow pace. With very little surplus to work
with this session, makes every decision more important. The present main obstacle standing
in the way of major budget decisions is the state’s crowded prison system. The
Governor’s proposal to spend $17.3 million on renovation projects has brought
criticism from many legislators who feel that money could be spent in more efficient ways.
As a member of the Sentencing Commission, I have been meeting with a diverse group of
Senators in an attempt to help resolve the state’s dilemma of prison overcrowding.
Many proposals have been brought forward to the Ways and Means Chairman for his
consideration. The bottom line is that we’ve got prison facilities that are full and
we’ve got to keep them open. Cutting programs for inmates and Community Corrections
is definitely a step backwards as we try to control the expansion of prison beds.
RAILS TO TRAILS SAFETY PROTECTION ACT
Hearings were held in the Senate Judiciary Committee on the Rails to Trails Act which would put city- county-owned recreational trails out of business. The bill also would require operators of trails on abandoned rail right-of-way to meet a flurry of insurance, maintenance, grooming, and fencing provisions among other things. The result of the passage of this bill would spell the end of rails to trails parks in Kansas. We heard from many cities and counties which opposed the measure as it would also be an end to all bicycle paths and walking paths built in our parks. I look for this legislation to either stay in my committee, or in the alternative, amend out the cities and counties of the bill’s provisions. I have appreciated the several calls which I have received from my district issuing strong opposition to this bill.
K-STATE ANIMAL WASTE MANAGEMENT STUDY PRESENTED
The long awaited study conducted by K-State at the request of the Governor was presented on Tuesday to my Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee. The study was presented by Dr. Jay Ham, Professor of the Department of Agronomy. Dr. Ham stated that the average seepage rate from the 15 lagoons studied in Kansas was 1/20 inch per day. The existing 1/4 or 1/8 inch per day design standards can be achieved with soil-lined lagoons at most locations in Kansas. He further went on to say that the risk of groundwater contamination is very site- and species-specific. A prototype site-specific design tool has been developed by K-State which was demonstrated to our committee. He indicated that plastic lined lagoons or alternate manure storage might be needed at sites with very vulnerable groundwater. His research showed that at more than 30 waste lagoons it showed that the risk of groundwater contamination from soil-lined lagoons is minimum except in areas for vulnerable aquifers. I believe the research showed what most legislators believed to be the conditions in Kansas. In the past few months, K-State has been requested by the Governor’s Office and KDHE to focus their efforts in the remainder of this year and next year on the Equus Beds region of the state.
WATER SAFETY LEGISLATION
One of the big issues before the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee is the protection of the Equus Bed from contamination. This emotional issue brought a standing room only crowd in the committee room. A surprising turn in the process occurred when Secretary of Agriculture, Jamie Clover Adams, testified on her expanded bill. She said "we have no knowledge of hog farming damaging the water table, and felt if there is such interest in protecting the Equus Beds, we should spread a wider net." She advocated for a solution that addresses all potential sources of pollution, instead of singling out just one industry. The Secretary’s bill would place a moratorium on permits for water and wastewater related facilities in the Equus Beds region of South Central Kansas commencing July 1, 2001.
GOVERNOR’S VISION 21ST CENTURY TASK FORCE APPOINTED
Governor Graves has announced all of his appointments to his Vision 21st Century Task Force. The membership is divided into seven groups, i.e., Agriculture, Early Childhood, Economic Development, K-12 Education, Challenges of Serving Special Care Kansans, Water and Workforce Development. I was pleased the Governor asked me to be his Senate appointment to the Early Childhood: Care, Education and Health group. We start our challenge at our first meeting on Thursday of this week. Our final report, due to the Governor on December 1, 2000, should list priority policy objectives to address the task force’s findings. I feel the creation of this task force to be of extreme importance to enhance the care, education and health of our young children. I will be searching for input on these issues from the South Central Kansas area.
IN CONCLUSION
This past week was Winfield page week in the Senate. I enjoyed having Lauren Pettey, Elizabeth Mura, John Eastman, Alex Gottlob, Scott McSpadden, Kelli Casad and Kelli Price assist the Senate with their duties.
I enjoy staying in touch with those I represent. If I can be of assistance please let me know. I have appreciated the many calls and communications I have received with your suggestions or thoughts. I appreciate all of them.
I appreciate receiving all concerns and opinions on legislation which is being acted on this session. You can reach me via E-mail at ggoodwin@ink.org. Or Goodwin@senate.state.ks.us. My address is State Capitol, Room 403-N, Topeka, KS 66612, telephone (785) 296-7381 or l-800-432-3924. You can visit my web page at members.tripod.com/~Ggoodwin.
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