3-31-2010 Newsletter
3-31-2010
Budget?
House leadership said that they had planned to work our budget this week. However, the Senate had decided they will not run their budget until the Veto Session. Historically, the House and Senate each pass a budget. They then go to Conference Committee where they work out the differences and, together, pass one bill to the Governor. The Governor then has the power of line item veto, gives us direction as to what he would likely support, and when we return at Veto Session, an “Omnibus” Budget reconciles our spending with the April revenue estimates. The April revenue estimates are considered the most reliable indication that can be used to project the state’s income from revenue for the rest of the year. The Senate has theorized that because the March revenues had declined that April revenues will also be down and, most likely, so will revenues for the year. Therefore, they believe that a first budget would be of little use. Last week, the House attempted to debate taxes to determine if there is support to add revenue to plug into the budget. A motion was brought forth to table that bill until May 3rd and delay the debate. It passed. I voted against that motion. Waiting until the last few days, or probably the last hours of session, to make huge decisions concerning the budget will, most likely, result in flawed legislation and problems that will linger through the balance of the year. This, again, is a departure from the way the process is designed to work. We will face tough votes to determine priorities in a frenzy of activity and without the benefit of either a previous first budget or Governor Parkinson’s direction of that budget. The work remaining when the legislature returns for Veto Session will be extremely difficult. However, we have been able to move the deadlines of the session forward and save extra days for the final wrap up session (Veto Session). Usually, we only have four days scheduled for the Veto Session but this year we have been able to set aside an additional nine days. It is very clear that the reason our state revenues continue to drop is that the economy continues to sag and along with that so has the average family income. This year, the state’s revenue will, likely, be somewhere around the same amount as the 2007 revenue. Just as families and business have to figure out how to make their money stretch, our state must find its priorities during the Veto Session which will begin on April 28th.
Texting Ban Conference Committee
The Conference Committee has met a couple of times and will meet again to reconcile the differences in the two versions of the bill. At my suggestion, we have lessened the warning period from 1 year to 6 months and will keep the fine higher (although down from $100 to $60). I have been an advocate for the ban because it is very evident that the dangerous practice (texting while driving) places lives in real danger. It is fact that close to 90 percent of accidents are directly affected by driver distraction within 3 seconds of the accident. This is a peril that needs to be addressed as soon as possible and in a meaningful way. We are also working to separate the issue of the inclusion of the primary enforcement of seat belts for adult drivers by placing it in a different bill. We want to make sure that the texting ban has the best opportunity to be passed.
March 30th Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day
March 30th marked the anniversary of the date of the completion in 1973 of the withdrawal of U.S. combat units from the former South Vietnam. Our veterans in many cases were not welcomed home with gratitude and were blamed for the failings of a war waged under four administrations. Vietnam Veterans of America endorsed the establishment of March 30th as “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day” to honor and recognize the contributions of veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces in Vietnam during war and during peace. The day is established by Senate Resolution No. 451 which further stated that at the peak, the U.S. had 543,00 troops in Vietnam, suffered more than 58,000 lives lost, more than 300,000 members of the Armed Forces wounded, and that the divisive issues among the public caused a generation of veterans, who served bravely and faithfully, to wait too long to be honored and recognized. Encouragement was included for cities and counties to also recognize the day, to provide appropriate recognition, and promote opportunities to assist young veterans returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr. Golladay, an 8th grade Government teacher, was a Vietnam veteran. Because of the experiences that developed his character, he influenced our lives and was loved by my Louisburg class of 1977. He had e-mailed and asked for my support for the day to recognize our Vietnam veterans. I am proud to support this day of recognition for him and for all the other well deserved veterans.
How to Contact Me
The legislature adjourned around 1:00 a.m. early this morning. I’ll be returning home to Louisburg and will be working there. During this break, you can call me with your thoughts and concerns at 913.837.2585 (my home number). You may also e-mail me @ vickrey@jenevickrey.org. I’ll be returning to Topeka by April 28th for the start of the Veto Session.