Newsletter – June 2008

District 53 Constituents and Friends:

The 2008 legislative session is over and it was my honor to serve on your behalf.  This newsletter highlights some of thehundreds of proposals that became law this year.  We kept our commitment to quality public education, made a significant investment in children, provided incentives to grow business in our state, and developed a new pay plan for state employees. 

This term I pledged to focus on schools, tax reductions for seniors, health care, and jobs.  During my term I helped make improvements in all those areas.  I personally sponsored major legislation restructuring technical education in Kansas and six other pieces of legislation that were filed at your request to deal with local issues.  All are now Kansas law.

The most rewarding part of the job was getting to work with you directly on issues impacting your lives – township issues, city issues, setting up neighborhood watch groups, help for families in crisis, and many more.  I truly appreciate the opportunity to solve problems.

On a personal note, Larry is finishing up another year as a bus driver for the Shawnee Heights district.  He is also doing taxes for H&R Block and enjoys working with people.  Our son, Cary, is a service manager for Expert Tire.  My sister and brother-in-law moved to the Topeka area this spring, and it is nice being together again after 30 years in different cities.

Thank you for taking the time to write, call, and email.  Your input and support are invaluable.  I wish you a safe and fun summer, and look forward to visiting with you when I’m in your neighborhood.

Regards,

State Representative – District 53

Several tax reductions were passed or expanded this year:

1. The Homestead Property Tax Refund program was expanded to allow seniors to subtract disability income from the qualifying income calculation.
2. Senior citizens with an adjusted gross income of less than $75,000 per year can exempt Social Security benefits from state income taxes. 
3. To help grow businesses, we continued to waive unemployment insurance payments.  We also continued the phase-out of the business and machinery property tax exemption and the phase-out of the corporate franchise tax.  We also lowered the corporate income tax rate.

KPERS retirees get one-time payment

The House of Representatives voted to approve the Governor’s plan for a cost of living adjustment for KPERS retirees, but the Senate would not agree.  KPERS retirees who have been retired more than ten years and who retired with ten years or more service will get a one-time $300 payment. 

Budget news

While Kansas fares better than many other states, we had serious budget issues this year.  2008 revenues at first exceeded the forecast, then flattened out.  The federal government cut funding by over $60 million.  Gaming revenues were put on hold pending the outcome of a court decision on the new Kansas law.  The federal stimulus package also had a negative impact on Kansas revenues of $87 million. 

As a result, many worthy programs received no increases or were cut this year.  Those were tough decisions to make, but we held the budget to a 4.4% increase in 2009 over 2008 spending.  We expect business incentives we put in place the last two years to continue to keep Kansas in good financial shape.

Technical education update

It’s not your father’s workplace anymore.  A high school education is just the start.  Now it’s lifelong learning for all workers.  We are training students for the future, and that requires a different approach to teaching and learning beyond high school.

important if we want to be a leader in high-tech industries. 

HB 2556 created the Technical Education Authority to be the point of contact for job training and to provide a seamless transition from high school to work.  The Authority is now standardizing technical education courses across the state.  This will ensure we graduate the best-trained workers.

Health care reform

The Kansas Health Policy Authority (KHPA) held meetings across the state with health care providers, insurers, and those of us who use health care.  The KHPA made 21 recommendations to improve health care in Kansas, but few were implemented this session.  Budget concerns were the main roadblock.

Some of the proposals that were approved and funded include:

1. The Safety Net Clinic Assistance Program helps safety net clinics (like the Marian Clinic) finance construction and equip their facilities.  Enabling the nonprofit and faith-based community to participate as health care providers is a way to leverage public-private partnerships to fill the gaps in health care coverage.
2. Pregnancy care for women on Medicaid will be expanded to include women earning up to 200% of the poverty level.  It also includes help to stop smoking.
3. The Coordinated School Health Program was kept afloat after federal funding disappeared.  This program promotes physical fitness and nutrition.

There were bills in both the House and Senate for a state-wide smoking ban in public places, but those bills did not get as far as a vote in either house.  I was disappointed that we did not do more to help the working poor get health insurance or to help small businesses provide health care plans.  The KHPA will review all the proposals that did not require funding to implement and prioritize those for the coming year.  We still have much to do. 

Good news for Kansas children

One thing we did right this session was to ensure that young Kansans get a healthy start and a quality education.  The 2009 budget contains $14.4 million that will go directly to expand early learning opportunities.  That means more children will get to participate in programs that help prepare them for school.

Included in the $14.4 million is $11.1 million to establish a Kansas Early Childhood Block Grant.  The block grant will help fund both public and private programs that meet rigorous quality standards.  It also includes $2.3 million for newborn screening and $1 million for Tiny K to help children at the earliest stage of development.  The United Way Success By Six initiative receives funding from this grant and it is making a big difference for families and the community.

New salary plan for state employees

The legislature approved a new pay plan for state employees along with a 2.5% raise.  The pay plan is a more business-like model.  Instead of the current “one-size-fits-all” pay matrix, there will be five categories of pay.  Pay categories will reflect the type of job, training required, and level of responsibility.  We will still give a longevity bonus to current employees in good standing with ten years or more service.  The new plan also introduces merit pay for some job titles.

Many state employees’ wages are below the market rate for similar jobs in private industry.  Over the next five years we plan to raise all positions to pay levels that reflect what the market pays so that we can attract and keep the most qualified employees. 

Gaming update

Four Kansas communities voted to allow state-owned casinos this past year.  If the Kansas Supreme Court rules that the bill passed in 2007 is constitutional, destination resort casinos will be built in Cherokee, Ford, Wyandotte, and Sumner counties.  A ruling is expected in June.

The Facility Review Board is now selecting managers for the casino operations.  The state is also in negotiations with race track owners in Wyandotte and Crawford counties to add slot machines there.  If the Court rules in favor of the state law, race track slot facilities could be operational by January 2009, but casinos would likely be a couple years away.

The Sunflower coal plant debate

Last fall the Secretary of KDHE denied a permit to Sunflower Electric and its out-of-state partners to build two coal-fired electric plants near Holcomb.  The plants were to have cost over $3 billion to construct and produce over 200 permanent jobs. 

In an effort to go around KDHE, three bills were introduced this session to remove the Secretary from the approval process.  Governor Sebelius vetoed all three of those bills.  Some have said the vetoes were simply a move on the Governor’s part to “go green” without concern for the potential economic impact and our future energy needs.  That is not true. 

The Governor tried to negotiate a compromise with Sunflower last year that included one coal plant to meet our base load needs for the next ten years.  It will be at least ten years until “clean coal” technology is available, but it is clear that coal will need to be part of our energy mix.  The Governor asked Sunflower for a more responsible energy plan that included coal, wind, increased efficiency, and net metering.   (Net metering allows private individuals to put energy onto the public grid from their private wind generators.) 

The Governor’s compromise would provide jobs, energy for economic growth, and have less environmental impact.  But Sunflower would not compromise.  They quit talking to the Governor when they got assurances that the legislature would clear the way instead for all the coal plants they wanted.

Other Kansas utilities have already committed to better balanced energy portfolios.  Westar, for example, plans to build three 100 megawatt wind farms and a natural gas energy plant. 

I support the Governor’s compromise plan.  Here are some other reasons I opposed the Sunflower proposal:

1.  Of the two plants proposed to be built now, only one-third of one plant would provide energy to Kansas.  One entire plant would be built to provide electricity to Colorado.  This plant is not being built in Colorado because Colorado turned it down for environmental reasons.  Sunflower plans a third coal plant just to serve Colorado once the Secretary of KDHE is out of the way.

1. Commission from rate oversight.  This is a bad deal for consumers.
2. Removing the Secretary of KDHE from the plant approval process opens the rest of Kansas for more coal plants without regard to their impact on the environment.

I knew that no matter how I voted on this issue, I would disappoint some constituents.  So I made the best call I could for all Kansans.  We can have affordable energy, jobs, and smart energy policy.  But that will not happen until Sunflower comes to the table ready to negotiate in earnest.

Addressing the immigration Issue

Washington continues to fail to address immigration with a comprehensive immigration reform policy and adequate border security.  While immigration is a national issue, we have an obligation to be sure that all Kansas businesses play by the rules. 

I co-sponsored HB 2680 to hold Kansas employers accountable for their hiring practices. When unscrupulous employers hire illegal workers at low wages, they put honest employers out of business.  They also cause workers’ wages to drop.  We do need more workers in Kansas, but we need them to be legal, making a fair wage, working in safe conditions, and paying taxes.

The Kansas House passed a bill requiring employers to verify social security numbers when hiring new employees.  The House bill also protected churches and non-profits that wanted to provide help for humanitarian reasons. The Governor had already made sure that state agencies follow federal guidelines for citizenship verification for Medicaid and other benefits. 

However, the Kansas Senate would not support the House bill.  The Senate bowed to the pressure of the State Chamber of Commerce to be sure that Kansas did not address the immigration issue this session.

Growing businesses and jobs in Kansas

We took steps to keep business growing in Kansas.  Governor Sebelius formed the Kansas Innovation Consortium to bring together key high-tech industry leaders.  The Consortium will work to bring investment in research and development to Kansas.

We expanded the Economic Revitalization and Reinvestment Act to encourage Cessna Aircraft to build its new business jet in Wichita.  This brings a $300+ million payroll and over 1,000 new jobs to our state.  Over 50% of the planes flown in the world are made in Kansas, so it is important to support this key Kansas industry.

We supported the state’s bid to house the new National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility at Kansas State University with additional bonding authority.  Kansas is one of six finalists in the nation for the NBAF. 

It’s a wrap!

This newsletter is a summary of only a few of the hundreds of bills that became law this year.  If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to write to me at Lmah@cox.net or call me at 785-266-9434.  I would be glad to visit with you at any time.  It is truly an honor to serve on your behalf.

Voice your opinion
on today's question:

Click Here to cast your VOTE.

Larry, Ann, and Cary at home with their dogs, Cindy and Angel.

Letter /Info
Click the for a new larger
browser window.

“Ann with principal Ed West
and Betty Kline, from Free
State High School.”

State Employee Pay Plan:

KPERS 101 Newsletter:

Flash Player is needed
to see the letters.

School Funding 101: