FY 2011 Budget Update
Every legislative
session since 1996, a "Mega Appropriations Bill" has been
voted on prior to the April break. It includes the bulk of
funding for state agencies. The Legislature reconvenes
approximately a month later for the Veto Session (also referred to
as the Wrap Up Session) to pass an "Omnibus Budget
Bill." The Omnibus Bill normally contains technical
adjustments to previous appropriations bills, financing for
Governor's budget amendments which were not considered as part of
regular appropriations bills, and financing of substantive
legislation that passed earlier in the session. The calendar
is structured in this manner to allow time for the Legislature to
make budget adjustments based on updated revenue estimates, which
become available in mid-April.
We had expected to debate the Mega Appropriations bill on the House
floor last week, but it is now being rumored that we will not work
a budget until after First Adjournment. This would be a
highly unusual change in procedure. However, given the unique
and dire circumstances of this particular year, this procedural
detour, while unusual, is probably appropriate.
The appropriations process is always challenging, but the current
financial crisis makes it nothing short of devastating. The
revenue gap was projected to be $400 million when the last
estimates were made in November. Since then, that gap has
inched closer and closer to the $500 million mark every
month. It is nonsensical to take up the Mega Budget bill if
major Omnibus adjustments will likely send us back to the drawing
board no matter what. After six rounds of budget cuts, there
is a big difference between a $400 million and a $500 million
hole. There are also some federal proposals pending that
would have a significant impact on the size of the budget
gap. It is probably in the best interest of the body to wait
for the most accurate numbers before casting the most difficult
votes of the session.
I know many of you are waiting anxiously to find out what the House
will do with the FY 2011 budget. I am hopeful that House Leadership
will announce their plans for the budget bill early this week.
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Health Care Freedom Amendment fails to pass House
Early last week,
the floor discussed House Concurrent Resolution 5032, which would
have been a constitutional amendment to essentially "opt
Kansas out" from provisions of the federal health care bill
that was signed into law this week.
I fully understand the frustration the public has toward the
political process and its impact on federal health care reform
efforts. However, the constitutional amendment would have
done nothing to deter the regulations included within the federal
health care bill. Many constitutional law experts confirmed
that the new law falls well within the authority of the federal
government.
Furthermore, challenges to federal law are examined by the United
States Supreme Court on the basis of the United States
Constitution. The Kansas State Constitution has no bearing on
those decisions. Taxpayers expect the Legislature to engage
in thoughtful debate and to cast meaningful votes. While I
respect your personal opinion about federal health care reform, it
would be disingenuous to vote for any piece of legislation with no
legal authority.
Regardless of where you stand on health care reform, no one can
deny that the debate has been passionate, contentious, and even
dangerous in recent days as acts of violence have taken place
against elected officials across the country. The federal
health care bill has been law for just over a week. The
Kansas State Constitution, however, has been in existence since
1859. It is not designed to be amended on a political whim in
response to a hot button issue.
Last Tuesday, the proposed resolution failed 75-47, nine votes
short of the two-thirds majority it needed to advance. The
following day, a motion was made to reconsider the measure, which
also failed to pass.
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Rainy Day Fund will stabilize Kansas budget
Another proposal to amend the constitution came before the
Legislature last week to help solve a recurring problem in Kansas
government. SCR 1614 would create a debt stabilization fund
as well as a debt prepayment fund in Kansas' treasury.
Beginning July 1, 2011, the amendment would require any taxes
the state receives that are 3 percent above the previous year's tax
receipts will be put aside in a budget stabilization fund, up to a
full percentage point of the tax receipts. The savings would
occur only during years of excess, and the saved funds would be
available in the future for years in need.
This is a familiar concept to Kansas families who put a little
money away every month (when they have money to spare) in the event
that they come upon hard times. It's time to follow their
example. State revenues will always operate in cycles.
When times get tough and revenues plummet, it puts all the services
of state government on a rollercoaster ride. Putting a little
money away when the state is prospering will help lessen the hit
that many agencies and organizations take when the economy
falters. Additionally, it is always important to help pay
down state debt, and this amendment would require, and enable, the
state to do just that.
On Wednesday, the House floor passed the resolution favorably with
a vote of 102-20, which was far above the 84 needed to
advance. If the proposal is approved by the Senate, voters
will be able to decide on the amendment in the next election.
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Unemployment Insurance bill signed into law
Last week,
Governor Mark Parkinson signed legislation to protect Kansans'
unemployment benefits and ease the financial burden on businesses
as the state works its way through the national recession.
"This legislation is critical to Kansans during these
difficult economic times. Our Unemployment Trust Fund offers a
lifeline to those who are struggling to find work and depend on
benefits to provide for their families," said Parkinson.
"With this bill, businesses will receive the necessary relief
in providing to the fund, while Kansans needing assistance will be
able to maintain their benefits."
House Bill 2676 will reduce contribution rates for employers in
rate group 1 through 32 to the 2010 original tax rate computation
table. Contributing employers in rate groups 33 through 51 remain
at their current capped rate of 5.4 percent. In addition,
House Bill 2676 gives employers 90 days past the due date to pay
their contribution taxes without being charged interest.
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Open Records events planned
In honor of Sunshine Week, Attorney General Steve Six will host
open government regional training opportunities this June.
The regional trainings will bring together public officials, Kansas
citizens, media and more to better understand the Kansas Open
Records Act (KORA) and the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA).
The workshops will be held June 22 through July 1 in Salina,
Wichita, Olathe, Pittsburg and Topeka. The workshops are available
free to the public, although registration is required. Last
year, over 400 people participated in the first KORA KOMA regional
training workshops.
I encourage you to participate in these important programs. Under
Kansas law, citizens have the right to access public records and
observe many meetings where decisions are made that affect our
state. It is important that Kansans know and understand their
rights.
For more information please visit, http://www.ksag.org/page/national-consumer-protection-week-2010.
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Keep in Touch
It is a great honor to serve as your state representative. 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 the legislative hotline
at 1-800-432-3924 to leave a message for me. Additionally,
you can e-mail me at mike@mikeslattery.org.
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Useful State Numbers and Resources:
The following is
a list of the numbers I receive the most requests for during the
legislative session. 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:
785.296.4653
800.922.5330
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 |
Paid for By
Slattery for
Kansas House
Aaron Otto
Treasurer
PO Box 1171
Mission KS 66222 |
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