From the Statehouse: Week 8

Dear Friends and Family,

It was another frustratingly slow week in Topeka.  Although we were on the floor every day, we only heard three bills all week.  The most noteworthy piece of legislation designated Little Bluestem as the state grass of Kansas.  Last week was the eighth week of our annual 12-week session.  The estimated budget hole has grown every month, and we have four weeks until First Adjournment (which is the next major legislative deadline).  I sincerely hope that this week will yield more progress on the state's most pressing issues.  We have a lot of work to do.


Sincerely,

Mike Slattery
State Representative

Budget Update: Governor Announces Sixth Round of Cuts

As I mentioned last week, revenue estimates continue to come in below expectations, further increasing the budget shortfall.  February revenues came in $71 million short for the month, for a total $105 million deficit in FY 2010.   On Friday, Governor Parkinson announced $85 million in additional cuts, transfers and adjustments to the FY 2010 budget.  As folks file their taxes this spring, it is hoped that revenues will rebound a bit later in the year.  If that is the case, the Governor's actions and recommendations today should prevent a seventh round of cuts in FY 2010.   

Several adjustments are directed at the Kansas Department of Transportation, freezing maintenance work on bridges and highways and halting new projects that are not federally funded.  I was relieved that Governor Parkinson was true to his promise at the State of the State that no further cuts would be imposed on safety net services, public safety, or public schools.  Some of his actions will be effective immediately, but approximately $54 million of his plan will require legislative action.  If the Legislature chooses not to enact his recommendations, the Legislature will be responsible for finding those funds in other places of the state budget.  I appreciate Governor Parkinson doing the heavy lifting with this budget crisis for a sixth time, enabling the Legislature to instead focus on FY 2011.

It is worth noting that the jobs bill currently before Congress contains $140 million designated specifically for Kansas highways.  If the jobs bill becomes law, many of the cuts made to KDOT this round can be restored with federal dollars.  After 10 years of work to improve our state's infrastructure, it would be highly counterproductive to let our roads and bridges fall to disrepair now.  I would strongly encourage you to contact your congressman, as well as Senator Brownback and Senator Roberts and encourage them to support this legislation after it comes out of conference committee.

Looking to FY 2011, some legislators continue to insist that Kansas has a spending problem, not a revenue problem.  I have a hard time accepting this over-simplified talking point after six rounds of cuts and a growing revenue shortfall.  The Legislature is constitutionally required to balance the budget.   We can't make money appear out of nowhere, which is why deep cuts have been necessary.  However, state government is also required- and expected- to fulfill certain obligations to the public, which isn't free.  Revenue enhancements are never easy or popular, but there will be few alternatives if Kansans expect to keep receiving the services that keep their communities safe.  It is highly unlikely that the state budget- both for FY 2010 and FY2011- will be balanced without a responsible review of both expenditures and revenues.

Social Service Programs on the Chopping Block, Again

This week, the House Social Services Budget Committee debated the budgets for SRS, the Kansas Health Policy Authority and the Department of Aging.  Some committee members contended that these agencies should be reduced to FY 2010 levels of funding in next year's budget.  It is important to understand that these agency budgets don't grow due to wasteful spending.  They grow because the services they are responsible for providing are received by persons who are entitled to funding by the federal government.  As our economy lags, many Kansans turn to the government for help.  This places additional pressure on our social services agencies, which then experience highly increased demands for assistance.  
Agencies and other organizations voiced concerns about the detrimental cuts they have already endured, and advised against further reductions. 

Over the objection of Democratic members of the committee, the proposed additional cuts were passed and will now go to the full Appropriations Committee for extended debate.  If this proposal makes its way into the FY 2011 budget proposal (which the Appropriations Committee is responsible for bringing to the House floor), there will be traumatic, long-term consequences.  These cuts will make it even harder for hurting Kansans to address immediate needs in their lives.  The primary function of state government is to address the needs of its citizens, especially the most vulnerable citizens among us. Vulnerable citizens will require our help eventually.  If we fail to provide it now, we will pay for it later after conditions get even worse and the needs of citizens grow more serious due to delayed assistance. 

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.

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Paid for By

Slattery for Kansas House
Aaron Otto Treasurer
PO Box 1171
Mission KS 66222