Capitol Comments
January 15, 2001
The new 2001 legislative session officially began on January 8. This session finds many new faces in the senate. Fourteen new Republican senators and one new Democrat senator have joined the 35 returning senators to make up the senate body. The retirements of long time Senators last year left many empty spaces to fill. I foresee tough decisions having to be made on additional funding for education, social services and public safety, lottery renewal, water and other environmental issues just to name a few. It proves to be an interesting session.
EDUCATION
The numerous challenges before us this year are taking shape very early. The Governor has strongly indicated that education will be the top priority and without a doubt, is the issue most talked about. The Governor proposed state funding for all-day kindergarten, full cost of providing special education, and raising teacher salaries to be more competitive in the private sector. The Governor’s budget includes $68.4 million in new money for K-12 education, which includes bringing the base per pupil funding to $3,870, and bringing state payment for excess costs for special education to 85.3%.
The Comprehensive Study on the Organization of Kansas School Districts was presented to the House and Senate Education Committees on the third day of session. The report certainly gave all legislators a great deal to ponder. The factors shown in the report are that districts are too small in population or too high in cost, pupil performance low, or the combination of the two. One of the recommendations coming from the study is to reorganize the 304 current school districts to 282, 265, or 255. The legislature mandated the study by legislation in 1999 and the study has been ongoing since October 1999. We hear the words such as consolidation, mergers, tax increases for education, funding for results, equitable funding, and accountability very often in our daily education discussions. I have received many calls from the administration and parents of the seven targeted schools in or bordering my senate district. I am pleased that my constituents are showing great concern over the education being offered in their schools.
CHILDREN TO BENEFIT FROM 21ST CENTURY TASK FORCE PROPOSALS
I was very pleased to see that the Governor accepted several of the proposals which came from the Governor’s Vision 21st Century Early Childhood Task Force which I served on this past summer. As we traveled the state, we heard from many parents who needed assistance in affording health insurance for their children. Governor Grave’s additional budget funding proposal for the HealthWave program, designed to provide health care for uninsured children, will enable most Kansas children to be insured. In addition, his proposal funds the elimination of the current six-month waiting period children have before being eligible for the insurance. The funding provided for 1,300 more day care slots was welcome news as our task force also heard of the severe need for quality child care in our state. These were our task force’s high priority recommendations.
HEATING COSTS CONTINUE TO INCREASE
Every legislator came to Topeka last week after hearing from many constituents of their plight with the rising costs of the gas prices in our state. Although this is an issue that must be addressed at the federal level, I was pleased that the Chairmen of the Senate and House Utilities Committees had followed the requests from many legislators and scheduled hearings for this week. Monetary assistance with the paying of these high heating bills may be the only help we can give at the state level but I believe we will all benefit and better understand from hearing what has caused this sharp increase.
RENEWAL OF LOTTERY
I have had several constituents call or write regarding the renewal of the lottery. Several people were not aware this money comes back to the counties to help with business developments to create local jobs. The Governor has called for an early renewal so that future budget planning for economic development programs can be ongoing. To accomplish this, the proposal will have to stand on its own merits to pass. Some legislators are asking that casino gambling, slots at the race tracks, and other innovative pet projects be included in the renewal, which more than likely will kill the entire issue. I do not believe this is the bill that should be held hostage for other special interests.
My senate district has received substantial grant awards made by the Kansas Department of Commerce & Housing from the Economic Development Initiatives Fund (EDIF) which is funded by the proceeds of the lottery. Since the fiscal year 1994, Cowley County has received $1,706,399 from the EDIF, and Sumner County has received $386,159. During a presentation made this past week by the South Central Kansas Higher Education Consortium, consisting of Butler, Cowley, Hutchinson, Pratt Community Colleges and the Wichita Area Technical College and Wichita State University, it was reported they had received $4,448,623 from the EDIF. Without the renewal of the lottery, it would be very difficult to come up with these monies from local funds.
IN CONCLUSION
I consider it a privilege to represent the people of the 32nd Senate District. I pledge to do my best to listen and act on the many issues critical to my district.
I have a few slots for additional pages for this session. To be a page, a student would provide their transportation to the Capitol and assist the Senate in many areas, as well as witness government in action on the Senate floor with me. Please call my office administrator, Betty, should there be those interested in spending a day in the Capitol.
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) 296-7381or l-800-432-3924. You can visit my web page at https://members.tripod.com/~Ggoodwin.
Copyright © February, 2001 by Jamiebro Web Publications. All rights reserved.