Capitol Comments
February 20, 2001
The seventh week of the 2001 legislative session is beginning, and the clock is ticking. Friday was the 40th day of the 2001 session, which means we only have 50 more days to finish up business.
State Lottery
The lottery being extended for two more years by the Senate last week surprised many legislators who were looking for a longer time period before this body would have to go through the emotional hassle again. This is an important funding issue for our state as it provides funding for the Economic Development Initiative Fund and educational programs, such as funding to the Board of Regents for research and workforce and industrial training. With the lottery bill now going to a House/Senate Conference Committee, I look for a possible expansion beyond the Senate's two-year extension.
Education Funding
Speaking of education funding, four
members of the Senate Education Committee have disclosed a new financial plan that will
provide more funding for education. I fully support this effort in keeping our
children educated with the best means made available. The major components of
this bill are:
- Increasing the base budget per pupil by 90 dollars for FY 2002, 2003 and 2004.
- Raise special education funding from 85% to 96% in FY 2003-2004.
- Fund after school programs and summer school for students who did not make state and
local standards from K to 3.
- Adds $2 million to the Parents-as-Teachers Program.
- Adds $1.5 million for a new teacher mentor program.
- Provides half a million for a study to determine the cost of providing a suitable
education.
This is an important piece of legislation that should garner much support. The plan would increase the state sales tax by 0.2 percent for each of the next three years. This is clearly a feasible increase that will show benefits for all Kansans in the future. I do not believe that the state can ever catch up for the inadequate funding we have provided funding the past several years without a tax increase.
School Visitation
I spent a most enjoyable afternoon with the administration, school board members, teachers, and students at Belle Plains last week. I was most impressed by the outstanding educational training these students are receiving. The Early Childhood and All Day Kindergarten programs were exceptional. As I traveled the state this past summer, as a member of the Governor's 21st Vision Early Childhood Task Force, I became more aware of the extreme importance of those programs in helping our children be ready to learn when they enter first grade. I perceived Supt. Poage's dedicated teaching staff to be always striving to do better. As I spoke on the recent Study on the Organization of Kansas School Districts, I emphasized that there is no recommendation in the study to closing schools and I would seriously doubt there would ever be a state mandate as such. I believe what is emphasized is improving test scores and doing what is necessary for the success of our students. Mergers do not always mean mergers of buildings, but could mean merging extra curricular or other departments of a school.
Health Wave Worries
I have heard from several single state employed parents who have been unable to access the state's Health Wave program only because of their being a state employee. I do not like the idea that children of struggling state employees are excluded by federal law from a program that would provide them preventative health and dental care. I believe other lawmakers are receiving the same message and are of a firm belief that we should try to reshuffle some of our budget priorities. Health Wave currently provides coverage for more than 19,000 Kansas children whose families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford private health insurance. I feel the elimination of state employee's children in that total is an injustice to Kansas' children.
Conclusion
As we have approached
the turn-around bill time of this session where the Senate bills go to the House and the
House bills come to the Senate for the second chamber consideration, I will continue to
stay on top of those issues important to our district.
My efficient administrative assistant, Betty, is always anxious to help with any of my
constituents concerns.
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.