Legislative Newsletter 2

Welcome to my Legislative Newsletter! On Monday, January 12th, 2009 the House of Representatives began by swearing in all of its members.  I was honored to be sworn in as the representative of our district, and I look forward to serving as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives. It is my privilege to communicate with you on a regular basis during the session.  My goal is to keep you up to date on issues before the Legislature.  I will be composing a newsletter on a weekly basis to keep you informed on the issues the Legislature is working on this year. Additionally, my hope is that this will also encourage you to become active in the political process. I always appreciate hearing your thoughts on the issues concerning our district. Once again, I want to thank you for the opportunity to represent our district and want to let you now I will be working hard for you in the coming months. Governor's 2010 Fiscal Year Budget  Governor Sebelius unveiled her FY 2010 Budget Report.  This year's budget recommendation required significant reductions in state agencies and could not provide much room for new initiatives.  We all know that this trying time will prevent us from funding everything we want, but I am committed to protecting essential services and vulnerable Kansans.  The Governor has taken a measured approach to reductions that will balance the budget without increasing taxes. Five basic principles guide the Governor's budget recommendations: •         Resolve the budget gap without raising taxes •         Protect the state's investment in public education •         Fund human service caseload costs •         Ensure the public safety and basic state services •         Include all state agencies in the budget solution K12 Education A quality education is essential to a prosperous future.  If we do not adequately prepare students for 21st century jobs, we do a disservice to our children and our state. Education will take a hit along with every other state agency in this tight fiscal year, but care has been taken to propose a budget that holds Kansas schools paramount.  Vulnerable Kansans While tough economic times have caused the Governor to propose cuts in virtually all areas of state government, Governor Sebelius and House Democrats are attempting to protect the most vulnerable Kansas citizens.  The physically disabled waiver list is one of the few sections of the 2009 budget where the governor proposes an increase in spending.  The over $8 million increase will help keep cuts at a minimum in that program. State Employees Last year we made significant progress in moving state employees to market.  Although state agencies face tighter budgets, the second year of the state employee pay plan is funded under the Governor's recommendation.  A one percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) for Kansas retirees is also funded, in addition to a modest longevity increase. "Across the board slashes" vs. "Targeted reductions" Throughout the session there will be a significant debate focused on "across the board" budget cuts versus "targeted" budget cuts.  Although making across the board cuts is an easy way to go through the budget process, it is terribly inefficient.  We must go through the budget with a scalpel, not a hatchet.  There will be no easy decisions this year, but the recommendations are targeted and thoughtful.  It is possible to balance the budget without devastating our most vulnerable Kansans, but we can't do it by making reckless slashes throughout state government.

Kansas Transportation We are nearing the completion of a ten-year comprehensive transportation program passed in 1999. In this economic downturn we will be forced to temporarily scale back.  Some projects are moving forward but several are on hold until more funding becomes available. In a tight budget year when our most critical investments face reductions, transportation projects may seem frivolous.  We must not underestimate the importance of a quality infrastructure.  It is estimated that for every $1 spent on improving our transportation infrastructure, we receive a $3 return in the form of economic benefit for the state.  The expiring transportation program resulted in 25,000 new jobs for Kansas workers over ten years.  Additionally, interest rates are currently at historic lows and construction materials are drastically lower than they were a year ago.  Investing in transportation projects now will not only get folks back to work, it will save taxpayer dollars in the long run. Last summer the Governor created the T-LINK Task Force (Transportation - Leveraging Investments in Kansas) to further explore needs and opportunities throughout Kansas' transportation system.  The task force, headed by Department of Transportation Secretary Deb Miller, is looking for a new approach to transportation that reflects today's realities but also creates a framework that prepares for the future of Kansas. House Energy Committee hears Net Metering Proposal This week, the House Energy and Utilities Committee stayed busy when it held hearings on legislation that would establish net metering in Kansas. Net metering is an opportunity for customers to generate their own electricity by way of renewable resource, meter it bi-directionally on one meter, and receive credit for their contributions, paying only for the "net" electricity provided to them by their utility.  House Bills 2043 and 2051 are mirror bills, meaning they are essentially the same piece of legislation, only one addresses wind generation and the other addresses solar generation. Net metering is already offered in 35 states. Similar to the RPS proposals heard by the committee, I expect other net metering proposals to come before the committee in the near future and I will keep you up to date as those proposals surface. I am hopefully we will find a way to create an effective and productive policy that advances our long-term energy goals for the state.   Keeping in Touch It is a special honor to serve as your state representative.  I value and need your input on the various issues facing state government.  Please feel free to contact me with your comments and questions.  My office address is Room 761, 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.slattery@house.ks.gov  You can also follow the legislative session online at www.kslegislature.org.

© Mike Slattery 2008 | Paid for by Slattery for the Kansas House, Mike Slattery Treasurer