Governor calls on legislature to exercise fiscal restraint, focus on ending school finance litigation

On a day when the Kansas Senate is debating a tax cut bill reminiscent of the Brownback tax experiment, Governor Laura Kelly encouraged the legislature to remember the priorities of working families and focus on funding education and ending the school finance litigation once and for all. 

“I was elected to rebuild this state, and I take that responsibility very seriously,” said Kelly. “It is time to put the priorities of Kansas families first and fund our schools. With a Supreme Court deadline fast approaching, the legislature should be focusing on education, not another irresponsible tax plan.” 

Since the session began, the governor has introduced a bill to address the Kansas Supreme Court ruling and fix inflation in the school funding formula. Kelly also proposed a structurally balanced budget that begins to repair the mismanagement of state agencies and the severe damage done to the state’s finances by the failed tax experiment. 

“In the last month, my administration has offered clear direction and priorities for the future of Kansas,” said Kelly. “We are listening to the people of Kansas and focusing on the priorities critical to improving the lives of Kansas families and children. I encourage the legislature to do the same.” 

State senator Richard Hilderbrand 13^th district

communications from the state capitol

February 1, 2019∙ Week One

HARD FACTS:

• Senate Bill 9 would credit $115 million to the public school unit within KPERS, which has an unfunded liability of more than $6 billion and retains the system’s lowest actuarial funded ratio at 61.6% (Topeka Capital-Journal).
• Kansas Sales Tax 8^th Highest in Nation. Kansas has the eighth highest state and local average sales tax rate, per a new study from the Tax Foundation. It revealed that Kansans pay an average of 8.67 percent in sales taxes on retail purchases within the state.
• The 1859 Kansas Constitution Makes No Mention of Abortion. A case currently before the Kansas Supreme Court is worrying many pro-life Kansans, because a lower court ruled that there is an independent right to abortion in the Kansas Constitution, which was crafted in 1859. In examining the historic document, we can find no mention of that right. In fact, Article 1 of the Kansas Bill of Rights says, “1. Equal rights. All men are possessed of equal an inalienable natural rights, among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Early Learning Resources from the State Library

BookFlix is an online resource from the State Library of Kansas for children in grades PreK-3 that pairs video storybooks with related nonfiction e-books. Imagine Curious George paired with a nonfiction book about monkeys. The read-along storybook highlights each word as it is read. This option can be turned off. Related games reinforce early learning reading skills. BookFlix requires Flash.

Britannica E-Stax (PreK-6) features nonfiction books that can be read online or downloaded to any Internet enabled device.

Both are available at no charge through the State Library’s web site http://kslib.info/storytime . If the page above asks for a Kansas Library eCard number, you may get one at any library in Kansas.  Most people will be automatically recognized as being in Kansas and will not need this step. Adobe Flash is needed to view the animation and hear the narration.  Questions: [email protected] or 785-296-3296. 

STOP THE TAX INCREASE BILL

The Senate Select Committee on Federal Tax Code Implementation approved Senate Bill 22 on Thursday with a party-line vote of 7-2. The bill which would allow Kansans to deduct interest on their mortgage, property taxes, and health care expenses, was created in response to President Trump’s historical tax cuts of 2017.

The bill is expected to deliver millions from the unexpected tax windfall back to individuals and businesses in Kansas. Numerous proponents of the legislation stressed the point that inaction or failure to pass the bill, would result in a tax increase for Kansans with the possibility of Kansas-based companies leaving the state to find more affordable options. The windfall directly linked to the Trump tax cuts belongs to Kansas taxpayers, not government and Senate Bill 22 would allow Kansans to fully benefit from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

The Kansas Senate is expected to debate SB 22 next week.

KANSAS TEACHER OF THE YEAR

This week, the Senate recognized the 2019 Kansas Teacher of the Year, Whitney Morgan of Wyandotte High School. The Kansas Teacher of the Year is nominated to represent Kansas in the National Teacher of the Year program.

Whitney was joined by seven other teachers who were winners of the regional competition administered by the Kansas Department of Education.

Kansas Teacher of The Year:

• Whitney Morgan, Kansas City USD 500

Regional Finalists:

• Jennifer S. Brown, Geary County USD 475
• Megan Clark, De Soto USD 232
• Signe A. Cook, Great Bend USD 428
• Nicole L. Corn, Lawrence USD 497
• Lan T. Huynh, Wichita USD 259
• Sharon L. Kuchinski, Leavenworth USD 453
• Tim “T.J.” Warsnak, Halstead-Bentley USD 440

NEXT WEEK

Monday –

• Presentation on: Concurrent Enrollment: Kansas Department of Education, Kansas Board of Regents, Kansas Association of Community College Trustees – [Senate Education Committee; February 4 at 1:30 pm]

Tuesday –

• Hearing on: SB 27, removing a restriction, for purposes of employment security law, on leasing of certain employees by client lessees of lessor employing units – [Senate Commerce Committee; February 5 at 8:30 am]
• Hearing on SB 40, removing expired warning provision for approach of an emergency vehicle traffic violation – [Senate Transportation Committee; February 5 at 8:30 am]
• Hearing on SB 41, clarifying that a violation of the statute requiring seat belt use is a traffic infraction – [Senate Transportation Committee; February 5 at 8:30 am]
• Presentation by: Roger Werholtz, Kansas Department of Corrections – [Senate Judiciary Committee; February 5 at 10:30 am]

Wednesday –

• Hearing on: SB 15, amending the definition of “service-connected” in the Kansas police and firemen’s retirement system – [Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee; February 6 at 9:30 am]
• Hearing on: SB 45, enhancing penalties for offenses causing death or serious bodily injury to public sector employees – [Senate Judiciary Committee; February 6 at 10:30 am]
• Hearing on: SB 44, appropriations for the department of education for FY 2019, 2020, and 2021; increasing BASE aid for certain school years; continuing 20 mill statewide levy for schools and exempting certain portion of property used for residential purposes from such levy – [Senate Select Committee on Education Finance; February 6 at 1:30 pm]

Thursday –

• Briefing on: Property taxes by the Kansas Department of Revenue – [Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee; February 7 at 9:30 am]
• Hearing on: SB 16, authorizing school districts to expand at-risk education funds on evidence-based learning programs – [Senate Education Committee; February 7 at 1:30 pm]

Thank You for Engaging

Thank you for all your calls, emails, and letters regarding your thoughts and concerns about happenings in Kansas. Constituent correspondence helps inform my decision-making process and is taken into great consideration when I cast my vote in the Kansas Senate. I hope you’ll continue to engage with me on the issues that matter most to you, your family, and our community. If you are on Twitter or Facebook, I encourage you to follow along with the #ksleg hashtag for real-time updates on legislative happenings in Topeka.

Please know that I am fully committed to addressing the current issues in our state, and I am proud to be your voice in the Kansas Senate.