Wednesday found me sitting in the chamber all day where we debated the mega appropriations bill which contains all the budgets for the many agencies within the state. This bill is the culmination of all the efforts of the various budget committees following the hearings, review, and discussion of the individual agency budgets.
The FY 2009 recommendation for the State General Fund is $6.358 billion, which is $35.5 million below the governor’s recommendation. This number is an increase of $246.1 million or 4.0 percent above the FY 2008 budget. When we throw in all funds available from fees, permits and the like the state will have close to $13.6 billion to spend.
The required increases includes $165.4 million for the third year of K-12 School finance; Caseload increase for Health Policy Authority and Aging, which are entitlement programs a net of $43.6 million; Replaces on-going debt service payments instead of using expanded gaming revenue as recommended by the Governor, $40.2 million; Additional disaster relief for the Adjutant General to help pay for the 2007 ice storm $22.1 million.
There will be many attempts to increase spending in the budget by bringing up amendments that seek to specifically identify needs that have been cut or left out of consideration in the base appropriations bill. What actually takes place is that many of the votes will be challenged and requests for individual vote records will be very popular.
Many of us often vote to keep amendments off just until we can identify if we will have the funds to support the proposals. An initial no or yes vote can make a great campaign issue, unfortunately the mail cards or voting records normally are only half true. The issue we vote for or against today can be reversed with additional knowledge. That is the reality of our political process
The budget is not complete by any means because we still have numerous funding issues that we are waiting to take action on. We will wait for the latest revenue estimates that will tell us how much money we have on hand or hope to have when the bills come due. The term we use is the "omnibus bill". This final budget recommendation will take place on the 21st and 22d of April after we come back from our long break.
Last Saturday afternoon I attended a meeting of the Sunflower Community Action (SCA) organization. This meeting was held to provide information to the public, those people that use Pay Day loans, the leadership for SCA, myself. There apparently are some that feel the interest rate charged by these lending organizations is too high. The going rate is $15.00 for a $100.00, 2 week loan.
Rickie Coleman the President of SCA and Monty Shaw the President of the NE Chapter of SCA stated they wanted to run the organizations out of the state. She told the audience that the industry was not regulated and that the interest rate was over 400% for the loans. In a subsequent communication with me Rickie said after talking to the Banking Commissioner she had been informed the pay-day loan industry is indeed regulated with published rules and regulations.
During our meeting we heard from both sides of the issue. For many people this is the place of last resort to get any short term loan. Often friends and family are unable to give you $100- $200 for a couple of weeks and the banks or savings and loans will not make such a short term low value loan. Personal responsibility is important to make sure the money is repaid. I appreciate the effort put forward to provide an informational meeting for the public.
Our session will end around the 4th of April and I will have a couple weeks at home to attend to some pressing issues. The budget committees come back a few days in late April to work the "omnibus bill" and prepare for the Veto or wrap up period in early May. Final adjournment will take place sometime late May. That date is not set until completion of the Veto Session.
I hope we all have a great weekend and that we can spend some time with friends and family.
I consider it an honor to be your representative in Topeka and I want to know what you think. Please contact me at home 1115 Rim Rock Road, El Dorado 321-2087, johng@carlisleinc.net,
State Capitol Room 411-S, 785-296-7655 or grange@house.state.ks.us.
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