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April 1, 2004
Transportation Plan - Hwy. 169 Complete, Hwy. 69 Project Still On-Going
Completion of the additional two lanes on Hwy. 69 to the south is of vital importance to Miami County’s economic development and will provide safer travel for our families.
We will soon realize increased commerce in the Paola and Osawatomie communities due to the Hwy. 169 improvements. Today, we are thankful for the lives saved, which was our first priority, and why we all worked hard together to pass the 1999 Transportation Plan.
The House passed by a vote of 119 to 6, on Tuesday, March 23, 2003 a plan to shore up the 1999 Comprehensive Transportation Plan without increasing taxes. All promised projects will be completed. Currently, the State Highway Fund has been underfunded for the last three years and is expected to run out of money in the next two to three years.
State highways have been funded through a combination of bond money, gas tax and sales tax, but recent governors have transferred money that was to go to the Highway Fund and used it to finance general budget expenditures.
In order to shore up the Highway Fund, the plan calls for additional bonds to be issued and takes a portion of the money raised from the current 5.3% statewide sales tax and directly allocates it to the Highway Fund. The direct allocation will be increased from a quarter of a cent to just under two-thirds of a cent, which will raise an additional $207 million. By doing so, no further governors can avoid paying for the Transportation Plan.
This legislation gained bi-partisan support. A large number of Democrats contributed to the process of funding Kansas roads. Additionally, the Governor abandoned her own Transportation Plan that called on issuing large amounts of bonds in favor of this proposal.
Request for Federal Project Funding - Traffic Signal at Hwy. 68 and Price Chopper
Earlier this session, I arranged a meeting between Secretary Miller of the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and a delegation* from Louisburg including myself. The meeting went well. It was refreshing to find how eager Secretary Miller was to assist us. We thanked her for her help in lowering the speed limit in front of our schools on Hwy. 68. She had intervened on our behalf on the speed limit issue as a result of a meeting which took place one year ago.
About three weeks ago, Secretary Miller called me and asked if we would want her to request federal project funding for our stop light and the safety redesign. She told me that because of our meeting, she was aware of our needs and thought pursuing the federal project funding was a good opportunity to address the issue. I contacted the office of Congressman Jim Ryun and explained to a member of his staff the need for this project. It now looks as though we could see the safety improvements early next year.
* I would like to give special thanks to the members of the delegation:
Frank Kelly, Sheriff
Arlen Thompson, Mayor
Ted Hayden, City Manager, City of Louisburg
Doug Carder, Editor, Louisburg Herald
Patty Bortner, President, Louisburg Chamber of Commerce
John Cleek, President,, U.S.D. 416 (Louisburg) School Board
Several Open Government Bills Pass the House
I am proud of the work done on open government issues by the House Local Government Committee, which I Chair. One of the tasks before our committee was to address proposed changes in the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA). I served as Chairman of the Special Committee on Local Government, an interim study committee. This committee reviewed exceptions to the Kansas Open Records Act. After seeing the huge gulf of disagreement on the issues, I asked several interested parties to meet, discuss the controversial components, and see if there were areas of common ground where they could agree. After a couple of meetings it seemed very unlikely that compromises could be reached by the working group. I told our House Committee we would work the firebrand issues and not back away. This seemed to encourage our working group who then started coming together on several of the more contentious points. I carried the product of those discussions, House Bill 2889, to the floor of the House where it passed 123-2. Compromise was achieved on six key areas that provide more openness in government and better direction to our public information officers. The Senate did not schedule hearings on the bill until we applied pressure. At this late time, the bill has not yet reached the floor of the Senate.
House Bill 2601 allows attorneys’ fees and reasonable costs to be recovered by the plaintiff or government agency if one of them is found to be in total disregard of the Kansas Open Records Act or it’s determined that the denial of the records or the records request itself is a frivolous request. This bill passed the House 125-0 but had no hearing held in the Senate. I amended the contents into Senate Bill 317. It is important that the public be dealt with in fairness. This is the position of the House.
Our Local Government Committee passed House Bill 2767 which increased the discovery period for open meetings from 10 days to 21 days. An amendment on the House Floor increased the time frame to 60 days. The bill passed 113 to 9. Again, this bill had no hearing in the Senate. I amended the provisions into Senate Bill 387.
FY 2005 Budget
On Wednesday, March 24, the House debated House Bills 2898, 2899 and 2900. All three bills dealt with FY 2005 budget. On Thursday, March 25, all three bills received majority votes in final action and were then sent to the Senate for their approval.
Funding for Research at Kansas Universities
In addition to the Governor’s budget recommendations, the House committee budget found in House Bill 2898 would accentuate the funding designated for research at various state universities. Half a million dollars would be allotted to the Kansas State University Extension Systems and Agricultural Research Program. The University of Kansas Medical Center in Wichita would receive $1 million for life sciences research. Finally, Wichita State University would receive half a million dollars for aviation research. All designated funds will enhance the existing strengths of these Kansas universities.
Funding for Children’s Mental Health Facilities
In the Governor’s plan for Larned State Hospital, the Governor eliminated funding for all mental health services for children twelve and under. Her recommendations also failed to create badly needed employment positions in the Sexual Predator Treatment Program. In contrast, the House committee budget found in House Bill 2900 would add more than $1.5 million and 19 employment positions to restore mental health services for the children. Additionally, the suggestions by the House Committee for the Sexual Predator Treatment Program would create 72 employment positions.
Providing Pay Raises for State Employees
A 3 percent base salary increase is provided for all state employees in the Governor’s budget. In the House Committee adjustments found in House Bill 2900, the same 3 percent pay raise is present, but almost $70,000 is saved by not giving the pay raise to legislators. Additional funds are also allotted for an incentive bonus plan that will encourage session secretaries to work for multiple sessions. Bonuses will also be given to those secretaries that work for multiple legislators.
Eliminating Wasteful Funding for the Circle K Ranch
The state would save almost half a million dollars by not purchasing the Circle K Ranch. The House Committee recommends that those returned funds be spent on implementing a better water plan for the state. This adjustment can be found in House Bill 2900.
Bill to Help Teacher and Nurse Shortage
The House passed Sub. for Senate Bill 260 which allows employees who reach the retirement threshold to continue working if they so desire. The bill eliminates the earnings cap for:
Licensed professional and practical nurses who work at State hospitals AND public school teachers who return to hard to fill positions.
The bill helps Osawatomie State Hospital:
Eliminates loss of valuable veteran nurses.
Saves training and orientation costs.
Assists with staffing in difficult recruiting times.
I am sure that the public schools will also experience similar benefits.
Signage on Hwy. 69 stating Louisburg as the Home of Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Terry D. Scott: Approved by KDOT
Warren McCandles began the effort for the signs. With support of our American Legion Post, the City of Louisburg and myself, Kansas Department of Transportation has approved our request for signage on Hwy. 69 stating that Louisburg is the home of Master Chief Petty Office of the Navy (MCPON) Terry D. Scott. The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) is the senior enlisted person in the Navy. The MCPON serves as the senior enlisted leader of the Navy, and as an advisor to the Chief of Naval Operations and to the Chief of Naval Personnel in matters dealing with enlisted personnel and their families.
Terry is a very good friend of mine. We grew up together through grade school, boy scouts, and were teammates on the high school wrestling team. We are all proud of his achievements.
Best Regards,
Jene Vickrey