Capitol Comments
April 4, 2001
My time during the closing days of this session is spent in joint conference committees and attending long hours in the Senate chamber as we take final action on the host of bills before us.
SENATE APPROVES TWO-YEAR FINANCE PACKAGE
The Senate Education Committee has passed a bill providing $260 million in funding for K-12 Education over the next two years. Its basic components are the same as the proposal issued by the Governor several weeks ago.
This is the kind of long term commitment to our schools that everyone has been talking about this session. The Senate will vote on the bill this week, and I think it is time for legislators to either support education by voting for substantive funding or to stop saying they are education supporters. This vote will separate rhetoric from reality.
The bill increases Base State Aid per Pupil by $ll0 for FY 2002 and by $130 for FY 2003. It also provides increases in special education funding and funding for extra school hours, such as summer school and after school tutoring. Also important reward and incentive measures are included and money for the development of alternative compensation. Additional dollars are provided for correlation weighting, a reduction of 35 students
I’m sure that the plan will face opposition because of its funding sources. In order to fund the increase in BSAPP, the plan calls for a small tax hike on tobacco, liquor, and carbonated beverages. That is less than one cent on a can of beer, less than two cents on a can of pop and ten cents on a package of cigarettes. These taxes replace the Governor’s suggested two cents a gallon fuel increase. We heard much opposition to the fuel tax, primarily because gas is so much higher now than two years ago when the hike was originally suggested to fund the highway plan.
Also, there is a one-tenth of a cent sales tax increase this year, and a one-tenth of a cent increase next year; that equates to two cents on a ten dollar bill.
I have received hundreds of letters and e-mails supporting increases for education. I intend to continue working with a bi-partisan group of Senators and with the Governor’s office to make sure this state’s number one priority, education, is adequately supported. I need your help to do that.
FY 2002 BUDGET PASSES SENATE WITH SHORTFALLS
The Senate passed SB 348, adopting a $9.l billion budget for Fiscal Year 2002. The bill passed 22-18. Several times during debate it was mentioned that our first responsibility was to the bottom line. I believe we have a greater responsibility - to set our budget priorities to match the priorities of our constituents and I voted against the budget bill in its current form.
I am concerned that the budget falls well short of funding the Department of Corrections, Board of Regents, Judicial Branch, Juvenile Justice Authority, and stop movement for state employee pay. This budget ignores so many priorities and until we recognize our responsibility to Kansas is to fund priorities, not simply meet the bottom line, I doubt you will see full support for a budget. Several amendments were offered in an effort to fund the shortfalls. One amendment would have provided several agencies, ranging from State Libraries to Public Television, much needed funding at a cost of only $2.5 million.
Another amendment aimed to eliminate waiting lists at the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services. That amendment provided $2 million to eliminate the head injury waiver, another would have fully funded the Physical Disability waiver at a cost of $1.2 million.
This budget does not provide adequate funding for Home and Community Based Services a most important priority. Families deserve better than being placed on a list not only for financial assistance, but for qualified direct care workers. Workers at a grocery store earn more than HCBS staff.
CONGRESSMAN MORAN VISITS KANSAS VETERANS HOME
I was very pleased that Congressman Jerry Moran spent Friday afternoon touring the Kansas Veteran’s Home in Winfield. I have had several recent telephone conferences with Congressman Moran and his office as he worked on funding for the Veteran’s Home at the federal level. He has been most helpful in securing future federal per diem payments, as well as the per diem payments from the date of opening, totaling $493,964. Congressman Moran was very complimentary of the renovation of the buildings, the staff, and the veterans who make their home in our community.
IN CONCLUSION
It was my pleasure to have Reverend Rick Thornton, Senior Pastor of the First United Methodist Church, to act as Chaplin of the Senate this past week. His eloquent prayer was appreciated by our Senate body.
Assisting the Senate with paging duties this past week were two students, Katie Gomez and Bailey Young, from Winfield Middle School. It was a delight to have them in the Senate chamber.
We will be in recess until April 25, 200l, but you may continue to contact me via e-mail at ggoodwin@ink.org. Or telephone my home at 620-221-9058. On return to the Capitol, April 25-27, you may contact me at Ggoodwin@senate.state.ks.us. My mailing address at the State Capitol is Room 403-N, Topeka, KS 66612 and telephone number 785-296-7381. The toll free number is 800-432-3924. You can visit my web page at https://members.tripod.com/~Ggoodwin .
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