2009 Legislative Update - #2
Dear Friends,
What a difference a weekend makes. After a somewhat slow start, the session is beginning to pick up momentum.
Legislative Calendar
House and Senate Leadership just informally announced this year’s deadlines and moved some significant deadline dates up by a week. Some of the key dates that will drive our work this session are:
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January 26th – Last day for Legislators to request bill drafts
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January 30th – Last day for non-exempt committees to request bill drafts
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February 4th – Last day for Legislators to introduce bills
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February 6th – Last day for non-exempt committee to introduce bills
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February 21st – Turn Around Day (Bills must be passed out of their original chamber)
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April 4th – Drop Dead Day (Bills must be passed out of both chambers)
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April 29th – Veto Session begins
The committees exempt from most of the above deadlines are budget committees; federal and state committees; and judiciary committees.
Budget Progress
Legislation to address the state’s budget shortfall is beginning to pick up speed. The budget committees have been hearing from the various state agencies and departments about how budget cuts could affect their programs and services.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee spent the weekend putting together a plan that makes $300 million in across the board cuts for Fiscal Year 2009 (which ends June 30th) and then voted Monday to send the bill to the full Senate for their consideration later this week.
If the bill passes in the Senate, it goes to the House Appropriations Committee who will debate the bill and then send it to the full House for a vote.
The House Taxation Committee held a hearing on the Governor’s proposal to postpone indefinitely the phasing out of the franchise tax. It’s part of her overall plan to address the state’s budget shortfall and would bring in about $13 million.
It is the Republicans’ opinion to not suspend any tax cuts that help grow our state’s economy – especially during a time when many families and businesses are experiencing financial difficulties. House Republicans believe now is not the time to be asking Kansans to pay more.
Legislation Requests
With the state’s difficult finances in mind, I requested the House Government Efficiency and Fiscal Oversight Committee (of which I am a member) to introduce a bill to establish a “budget stabilization fund”. The idea behind this bill is to deposit revenue into the fund during the good financial years. Then when our economy takes a turn for the worse, we will have a savings account to lean on during the difficult time.
I also asked the House Elections Committee to introduce a bill that would require voters to show a photo ID card before they are allowed to cast their ballots. It is the same legislation that the legislature passed last session but was vetoed by the Governor.
This legislation will ensure our elections are secure from fraud. The bill does exempt a number of groups – those 65 and older; military members and their spouses serving overseas; registered voters living overseas; etc. It also provides for free photo IDs for those 18 and older.
I have enjoyed working on a number of election issues that increase the accessibility and the security of elections over the past couple of years. I believe fair and reliable election results are a fundamental and basic expectation of our citizens and are of the utmost importance in any society.
As always, it is an honor to serve you. Please do not hesitate to call or email me if I can be of any assistance.
Sincerely,
Mike
Rep. Mike Burgess
51st House District
785/296-7632
Mike.Burgess@house.ks.gov
Mike Burgess serves north and west Shawnee county and southern Wabaunsee county, including Alma, Eskridge, Harveyville, Rossville, Silver Lake, Willard and a little bit of Topeka.