From the Statehouse: Weeks 1 and 2

Dear Friends and Family,

There was not much to report from Topeka at the conclusion of our second week. The Legislature was not in session on Monday, due to the Martin Luther King Day holiday, and the House was adjourned on Friday (although I was in the building doing constituent work). Some committees heard testimony on bills late last week, but it is clear that this session will be almost entirely dominated by the $400 million budget shortfall. It is clear that all Kansans will be directly impacted by this year's budget in some way, no matter how we reach the ending balance. I have included a summary of activity in the House Appropriations Committee from last week; I will have more to report in the weeks ahead.

Know that even though this session appears to be one of the most difficult in the history of our state, I will be available to you 7 days a week during the session. Whether doing constituent services in Mission, Overland Park and Roeland Park, or working on the challenges our state faces in Topeka, I am on the job to represent you. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.

Sincerely,

Mike Slattery
State Representative

Budget Updates

The House Appropriations Committee continued to hear briefings from state agencies last week regarding individual agency budgets. Below is a general update about some issues of interest:

School funding continues to be a key issue. Adequately funding our schools and ensuring that students receive a quality education that will prepare them for the work force is important not just to them, but to the economy of Kansas. While it is imperative to adequately fund our schools, it is also important to see that those funds are allocated wisely. Testimony was presented in committee this week regarding responsible school funding and educational requirements. While across the board cuts to education are one way to go about things, they can also gut what we have worked so hard to build.

The Unemployment Trust Fund been severely depleted over the past year. In 2007, the Legislature approved an unemployment tax break to business owners because the UI Trust Fund was very healthy. A stipulation of this legislation was that the 2007 tax rates would be triggered in the event that the trust fund dipped to $100 million. Three years later, after a year of tremendous economic hardship, the trigger has been reached.

We are fortunate to remain among the 23 other states that do not have outstanding loans from the Federal Unemployment Fund, some owing billions of dollars. However, Kansas's unemployment is higher than it has been in 25 years. These benefits are critical to help struggling families pay for basic essentials while they search for new work. When the trust fund is replenished, the reduced tax rate will be restored.

The Kansas Department of Revenue has been steadily increasing individual and corporate back tax settlements with those who have gotten behind on their state taxes for one reason or another. These collections have been a steadily increasing source of revenue for our state for a decade. Last year alone, $140M was raked in through such settlements. In the first half of this fiscal year, the Kansas Department of Revenue has already captured $40M in unpaid taxes.

Hearings begin on Governor's sales tax proposal

On Thursday, January 21, the House Taxation Committee held hearings for House Bill 2475, which is Governor Parkinson's proposed 1% sales tax increase. Governor Parkinson introduced this proposal in his State of the State address as a means of protecting Kansas schools, essential services, and vulnerable citizens from deeper budget cuts.

The hearings last week were focused on supporters; opponents were scheduled for earlier this week. Concerned parents, Kansans with disabilities, and public school representatives all testified that a revenue package was the only way to prevent school closings, teacher layoffs, increased class sizes, and general subpar public education throughout the state.

I am not ready to endorse or reject any revenue proposal just yet. We have yet to review all budgetary options, including tax exemptions. I will consider both sides with a singular focus on what is best for our district and state. However, it is important to point out that Governor Parkinson's budget proposal does not increase state spending. If his revenue package passes, it will only maintain current funding levels. After five rounds of cuts, those funding levels are so low that we risk serious, long-term damage to the future of our state. Ultimately, state government can't keep you safe, educate your children, or help you through this difficult economic time unless it has the funds to operate.

Obviously any dialogue about tax policy is tough to maneuver, but I'm not serving as your state representative to take the easy way out. I am interested in your honest feedback on these discussions. Should we continue to cut these services or should we seriously consider a revenue package of some kind? Please contact me and tell me what you think.

House Democrats unveil proposal to cut
legislative spending by nearly 10 percent

Kansas has endured five rounds of budget cuts in the last year, with another revenue shortfall expected for 2011. As a result, every state agency has been significantly scaled back- except the budget of the Kansas Legislature. While House leadership scheduled another day off last Friday, House Democrats announced a proposal to rein in spending within the legislative branch.

I proudly support this proposal. It's time for the Legislature to make the same sacrifices that the rest of state government and Kansas families have been making since this recession began. Everyone else has been spending less and doing without. Now it's our turn.

While agencies have suffered deep cuts affecting the delivery of essential government services, the Legislature has allowed its budget to grow by 29 percent in the last five fiscal years, for a total spending increase of $3.6 million. House Democrats called upon legislative leadership to endorse legislation to affect the following cuts in the Legislature's own budget:

A five percent cut in legislators' session pay;
(Saving approximately $66,000)
A two-year moratorium on legislative pay increases;(Preventing increased spending)
The adoption of a nonpartisan redistricting commission;(Saving approximately $600,000)
A five percent cut to Legislative Division of Post Audit;(Saving approximately $128,000)
A two-year moratorium on any further spending for the legislative computerization process; (Saving approximately $450,000)
A 50 percent cut in legislators' franking privileges. (Saving approximately $128,000)

If passed, this proposal will save Kansas approximately $1.37 million and reduce legislative spending by approximately nine percent.

We aren't going to fill the entire budget gap with this proposal alone, but this is about leading by example. Every penny we cut from our own budget is a penny we don't have to cut from public schools and vulnerable seniors. These are reasonable, cost-saving measures that will enable the Legislature to be part of the solution to this crisis.

Keep in Touch

It is a great honor to serve as your state representative, particularly during this difficult economic time. I deeply value and need your input on the various issues facing state government. Again, I am here to serve and represent you, and communication between us is vital. Please feel free to contact me with any comments and questions. My office address is Room L-8, Docking State Office Building, Topeka, KS 66612. You can reach me at (785) 296-7665 or call me at home at (913) 362-7528. Additionally, you can e-mail me at mike@mikeslattery.org.

Useful Numbers and Resources:

The following is a list of the numbers that has been helpful to many in our district. You can find these as well as many others online at http://da.state.ks.us/phonebook. I hope you will find this information useful.

Adjutant General:                                   Department on Aging:
785.274.1001                                         800.432.3535

Attorney General:                                   Better Business Bureau:
785.296.2215                                         785.232.0454

Child/Adult Abuse Hotline:                       Child and Family Services:
800.922.5330                                         785.296.4653

Commerce:                                           Consumer Protection:
785.296.3481                                         800.432.2310

Crime Tip Hotline: Crime Victim Assistance:

800.572.7463 800.828.9745

Driver's License Bureau: Gov. Mark Parkinson:

785.296.3963 800.748.4408

Kansas Health Wave: Highway Road Condition: 800.792.4884 800.585.7623

Housing Hotline: Insurance Hotline:

800.752.4422 800.432.2484

Kansas Lottery: Legislative Hotline:

785.296.5700 800.432.3924

Mental Health Services: Department of Revenue: 888.582.3759 877.526.7738

School Safety Hotline: Social Security:

877.626.8203 800.772.1213

State Capitol Tours: Taxpayer Assistance:

785.296.3966 800.259.2829

Tax Refund Status:                             Teacher Certification:
800.894.0318                                       785.296.2283


Unclaimed Property:                             Unemployment:

800.432.0386 785.296.5074

Vital Statistics: Voter Registration:

785.296.1405 785.296.4561

Welfare Fraud Hotline: Workers' Comp:
800.432.3913 800.332.0353

Workforce Center:

785.235.5627

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