Capitol Comments
February 12, 2001
The Senate calendar is beginning to grow at a rapid pace as many committee bills are being sent to the full Senate floor for debate. My calls and e-mails continue to run high on the education funding issue. The many school administrators, parents, and students contacting me from rural schools also sends the message of anxiety on the Comprehensive Study on the Organization of Kansas School Districts. I have attended the second meeting of the House and Senate Joint Committee looking at the study. Thus far, nothing has indicated which direction this committee might be heading.
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HEATS UP
Due to the large volume of bills in my Senate Judiciary Committee, we are seeing several subcommittees also hard at work in an attempt to pass as many bills as possible for further debate. The Senate Judiciary has held hearings on several controversial bills in the past two weeks. One bill which has brought much attention is the Governor’s seatbelt proposal. Under the Governor’s bill, not wearing a seatbelt would be a primary offense, which would allow law enforcement officers to make stops for seat belt violations. Under the present law, a motorist cannot be ticketed for not wearing a seatbelt unless the motorist is stopped for another traffic violation. The Governor also requested this bill last year and feels it is time to enforce the law for not buckling up.
Two other bills brought a full room of conferees and much discussion concerning firearms. One of the bills would give special protection for gun manufacturers and dealers. We heard many conferees indicate that this would create a special class of citizen which has immunity from laws everyone else has to follow. Several cities came forth stating that the bill before us would set a poor precedent of preempting local governments’ regulatory and enforcement authority traditionally recognized as being within the purview of local government .
STATE’S FUNDING MECHANISM FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SURVIVES
In a debate that suddenly became more about tax cuts than funding education, the Senate passed legislation renewing the state’s 20 mill property tax levy. All revenues from the 20 mill levy go directly to fund public schools. As we continued to discuss alternatives to find more funding for our education system, it was imperative that the 20 mill levy bill pass. The bill survived an attempt to lower the tax levy during floor debate. The vote of 17 in favor and 23 against the proposal to decrease education funding was a wake up call for those of us shouting from the roof tops to increase education funding this year. The vote gave a strong message that the school districts of the 17 Senators who voted to decrease education funding obviously are not in need of additional education revenues. Perhaps those 17 Senators would waive their share of any increase seen in education funding this session. I am hearing voters speak in my district to spend more on schools.
TAX BILLS NEED CAREFUL CONSIDERATION
Several bills are receiving hearings in my Senate Tax Committee, most of which are asking for tax relief for certain classes of people. Most of the bills are ones which everyone would like to support as it returns money back to our districts. However, careful consideration is needed on these bills as some have detrimental consequences. For instance, one bill which had committee hearings would provide a two percent credit for those individuals and businesses who file Kansas retailers’ sales tax and compensating use tax reports. This credit would be limited to $1,000 per month per taxpayer. The Secretary of the Kansas Department of Transportation testified in opposition of the bill as the Department of Revenue estimated that reduction in total sales and compensating use tax receipts for year 2002 would be $23.7 million, and FY 2003 $23.3 million. Since KDOT receives a transfer of a portion of the sales tax deposited in the State General Fund as part of the funding for the 2000 Comprehensive Transportation Program, the Department of Transportation estimates that for the balance of the Comprehensive Transportation Program, FY 2002 to FY 2009, the Department would have a $42 million decrease in revenue. Due to previous decreases in the KDOT budget, I believe there is now a very fine line between success and failure of the program. This particular bill points out that the state cannot continue to give sales tax relief without harming other important programs. We certainly cannot have it both ways.
IN CONCLUSION
I enjoyed having Michael Harris, Justin Underwood and Amanda Jo Underwood assist the Senate in paging this week. I am always grateful for the parents who see that the students have transportation to Topeka to observe Kansas Government in action.
Should you have concerns or issues of a legislative nature, 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.