2009 Legislative Update - #3
Friends,
The past week has been very busy trying to get legislation finalized for introduction. The first couple of legislative deadlines are approaching rapidly.
Legislative Shadows
Last week, Dylan Keim, Mayor of the City of Willard, and Laura Lord, Willard City Clerk, came to the capitol to shadow me for the day. I really enjoyed showing them a day in the life of a legislator and helping them to feel more comfortable in how to participate in the process.
Budget Progress
The Kansas House Appropriations Committee passed out a bill that makes $322 million in adjustments to the 2009 budget. The bill is tentatively scheduled to be debated by the full House on Wednesday and then a vote on it the next day.
The Kansas Senate’s plan reduces the FY 09 budget by $335 million dollars. Both bills use a combination of spending cuts and one-time funding tactics but in a few different ways.
If a revised 2009 budget is approved by the full House, a conference committee made of lawmakers from both chambers will meet to iron out the differences in the two bills.
Voter ID Bill
I told you earlier about my continued work to bring more credibility to the state’s electoral process and ensure every qualified Kansan’s vote is counted by requesting House Bill 2077, a voter ID bill.
The House Elections Committee will hold a hearing on the bill this Wednesday, February 4th, at 3:30 p.m. at the Statehouse in Room 446-N (assuming we are not still on the House floor debating the budget bill).
HB 2077 is similar to legislation passed last year by the Kansas Legislature but vetoed by the Governor.
Over the last several years I have worked to improve our elections system at all levels. Kansas now offers satellite voting across the state so voters have better access to voting. And candidates and political action committees are now required to file campaign finance reports during the 10-day period prior to elections so voters know who’s trying to influence the election with last-minute spending.
Graduated Drivers Licenses
The House Transportation Committee has started discussing a graduated drivers license bill (HB2143). The provisions being discussed are much more workable than earlier versions. Although the focus of the bill is obviously on the safety of our young drivers, I’m pleased that it now provides for more structured ways of providing young drivers opportunities to gain experience rather than simply limiting driving opportunities.
Proposition K
A group of Kansas legislators and the Flint Hills Center for Public Policy want to change the way property is valued for tax purposes.
“Proposition K” would essentially automate the property-appraisal process and limit property valuation increases to two percent a year. Supporters say the change would stabilize property taxes and force local governments to justify tax increases, rather than letting increases in appraised value raise spending year after year.
Among the proposition's key provisions:
- Property valuation increases would be capped at two percent a year. At present, the law requires that all properties be valued within ten percent of fair market value.
- Property buyers would inherit their tax valuation from the seller, rather than have the property revalued based on sale price.
- New construction would be valued based on the per-square-foot value of surrounding property of similar use, rather than the cost of the new construction.
- Local governments would still be able to increase the mill levy used to figure out property taxes and citizens would be able to appeal their tax bills.
You can read more about Proposition K at www.flinthills.org.
Unemployment Rises in Kansas
The Kansas Department of Labor announced Tuesday that the state’s jobless rate is growing.
The Kansas unemployment rate increased to 4.9 percent in December, up from 4.8 percent from the previous month and 4 percent in December 2007.
In addition, initial claims for unemployment benefits in December were 37,482, more than double the 18,212 initial claims in December 2007.
As expected, these increases have led to an unusually high volume of inquires to the Unemployment Call Center. Kansans call the center regarding both regular unemployment and the extended unemployment program. Wait times to talk with a representative are averaging 30 minutes – with Mondays and Tuesdays experiencing even longer waits and actually disconnecting people after a while.
The KDOL has apologized for the inconvenience and suggests if you need to speak with a Call Center representative, try calling on Wednesdays and Thursdays when wait times are typically shorter.
A variety of information about your claim also is available on the KDOL website – https://www.dol.ks.gov
Here’s the link to the online claims filing service: https://www.uibenefits.dol.ks.gov/Choose.asp
Cancer Designation
Kansas State University and The University of Kansas announced this week they will work together to get the KU Medical Center designated as one of the country’s top cancer-fighting facilities.
The “National Cancer Institute” certification at KUMC would bring more cutting-edge, experimental treatment options for cancer patients now available in other states to Kansas.
The state earmarks $5 million annually for NCI development. The NCI application will be submitted in 2011.
A similar joint-approach was used to bring the $650 million National Bio and Agro-Defense research facility to Manhattan.
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,
Rep. Mike Burgess
51st House District
785/296-7632
Mike.Burgess@house.ks.gov