3-5-2010 Newsletter
March 5th, 2010
President Eisenhower was President the last time that KU and K-State where both ranked in the top 5. That was 1958. Never before in our state’s history have revenues dropped four years in a row. It is clear that the states revenue decline reflects the down turn of the economy and also the struggle that Kansans are wrestling with to make ends meet in their family budgets. No one knows where the bottom of this recession is and even if we are there yet. Last week, we received more bad news when February receipts to the state dropped another $71 million below projections. Now that session is just past “turn around” the House and Senate are holding hearings on the bills that came over from the other body. It is interesting that the $71 million drop hasn’t been a topic of discussion. First, let me explain that “Calendar” is a time when our Republican House members meet to discuss the bills, motions and issues that will be on the floor that day. In Calendar, the morning that the House leadership had scheduled HB 2649 to be debated on the floor, the question was asked of the House Speaker, “ just where we are at with the budget?” After a pause, the Speaker answered that his plan is to bring the tax issues to the “Floor” and see what the “appetite” is concerning tax increases. At that point, the budget committees would be instructed to base their budgets on the available revenues at that time.
Tax Debate on the “Floor” Next Week
HB 2549 was amended in House Tax Committee removing the provisions that affect nonprofit organizations such as American Legions, PTA’s, PTO’s, Boy and Girl Scouts and many more. The contents of the bill to be debated will come to the “Floor” with two major proposed policy changes. The first would repeal the sales tax exemptions on certain property and services purchased by religious organizations. Additionally, it would remove the sales tax exemption on residential utilities (gas, water, electricity) which would add 5.3% sales tax on your bill.
I will not vote for this bill. I do not support the removal of these exemptions. Adding to the already increasing cost of families’ utility bills would be very difficult in this economy. To add a tax increase would be devastating to just too many of my constituents that either are unemployed and looking for work or are living on a drastically reduced income because of the economy. Just as our local school boards toil with very heart wrenching budget decisions so are most families. I don’t support removing the tax exemption that would charge sales tax on purchases made by churches
The bill would also remove the sales tax exemption on lottery tickets, a move that could potentially cost the state money. In order for Kansas to be eligible to participate in multistate drawings such as Power Ball, the Kansas Lottery agrees to defined ticket prices. By adding the tax, we would be effectively withdrawing Kansas from the multistate drawings and foregoing the additional $36 million dollars in revenue that it brings in every year.
Ignition Interlock Devices
Another example of why it is vital that both Houses work and debate fully every issue has now been brought to light. Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s (MADD) National President, Laura Dean-Mooney gave testimony to the House Judiciary Committee Hearing on SB 368. She asked the committee to strike a floor amendment that would weaken the current ignition interlock law and urged the committee to amend the bill to include a requirement of interlocks for first time offenders. Very often the work that seems to be good policy, when further reviewed in the second house, reveals problems that need to be corrected. This is much greater when amendments are debated and adopted on the “Floor” of either body.
Kansas was one of a few states to see an increase in drunken driving deaths in 2007-08. 131 people lost their lives in alcohol related crashes. We need to strengthen the statute, not only for those convicted of a DUI but also for those who refuse the administration of a breathalyzer, as a crucial step in preventing the increase of DUI offenses. States with the interlock requirement show marked decreases in repeat offenders.
Teacher Tenure Bill
House Education budget committee held hearings on HB 2699 this Wed. The proposed bill would extend the time allowed to local school boards to tenure a teacher from 3 years to 5 years. School administrators stated Wednesday they need more time to determine if teachers have what it takes or if they should be released from employment. The Kansas Association of School Boards say they hear from school board members that explain the effects on their schools because of the present law. They often would be willing to give a new teacher a fourth contract year but often fear that they now let teachers who have great potential go because three years hasn’t given them enough time.
Little Blue Stem
Little Blue Stem being designated as the official state grass passes the house. At first, I’d thought that I would vote against HB 2649 given the stress Kansans are under as our economy continues to struggle. The day before the bill came to the “floor”, Ken O’Dell had e-mailed his support of the bill. I took just a moment to give him a quick call and he explained that Kansas is the only state without an official grass and that the little blue stem is a native grass that grows throughout the state. A very attractive plume of the copper color with fuzzy tails sat on Representative Tom Moxley’s desk. It is important that we always recognize the importance agriculture to our state. This will be a good symbol. I voted for the bill.
Contact Me
I have had a great response to the Legislative survey. I am reading through them in the evenings. Your thoughts on the issues are a great help and encouragement. I do appreciate a letter to the editor urging my continents to send me an e-mail at vickrey@jenevickrey.org. Even though it is very busy, e-mail is a great medium for contact and I do find time to read each e-mail some time through even the busiest days.