Kansas: House GOP set to release budget

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March 17, 2010

Anonymous The Joplin Globe Wed Mar 17, 2010, 10:38 PM CDT

The Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan. — A key House Republican said Wednesday that the GOP is ready to release a plan to balance the 2011 Kansas budget without raising taxes.

Appropriations Chairman Kevin Yoder said the plan, to be released Thursday in committee, would include a variety of budget cuts, spending freezes and other “innovative policies” to bring the plan into balance.

“It may even have a 7.5 percent ending balance,” said Yoder, making a reference to the statutory requirement for all state budgets that is seldom fulfilled. “The question is how we can afford to increase the cost of government when unemployment remains high.”

The Overland Park Republican’s comments came a day after the House debated several tax proposals, including repealing numerous sales tax exemptions for churches, veterans groups and utility bills. None of the increases, nor several efforts to lower taxes, were adopted. Instead, the House voted to postpone debate on the exemptions bill until May 3.

“The instructions were clear. The majority of legislators determined that they didn’t want a budget that relied on higher taxes,” Yoder said.

The state is facing a $467 million gap between projected revenues and mandated spending in the 2011 budget. Gov. Mark Parkinson has proposed raising the sales tax for three years to close that gap. He has said repeatedly that state programs, including public schools, social services and public safety, have been cut enough.

The outline of the House plan was in stark contrast to the version that emerged last week from the Senate, where the Ways and Means Committee endorsed a $13.8 billion package that still need $364 million in new taxes to be balanced.

Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt said the chamber’s debate on the budget was on hold, likely until next week.

“I think a lot of senators are digesting what is in the bill, and what’s not in the bill,” said Schmidt, an Independence Republican.

Two groups of people affected by legislative proposals — soda vendors and state employees — spoke out Wednesday. About 400 vendors wearing blue Pepsi shirts and jackets gathered outside a committee room where a Senate panel took testimony on a plan to tax soda and other sugary drinks.

The idea from Sen. John Vratil, a Leawood Republican, would increase the cost of a 12-ounce can of soda by a dime. Such an increase would raise an estimated $90 million for the state beginning July 1.

An alternative plan floated earlier raises that tax by four-tenths of a cent per teaspoon of sugar.

Representatives of the beverage industry said raising taxes was too much to swallow in a bad economy.

“It’s not about fighting obesity at all and not even one penny is earmarked to be spent on a program that addresses obesity. This bill, simply put, is about money,” said John Barnes, president of the Kansas Beverage Association.

Meanwhile, members of the Kansas Organization of State Employees lobbied legislators on budget issues, hoping to protect their wages, pensions and other benefits.

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2.6 magnitude earthquake recorded in Oklahoma
The U.S. Geological Survey has recorded a 2.6 magnitude earthquake near Wellston in central Oklahoma.
No injuries or damage is reported.

January 19, 2011
Audit: $108,000 taken from Missouri Veterans Commission JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A former employee of the state auditor’s office embezzled nearly $108,000 while working as an accountant for the Missouri Veterans Commission, the state auditor alleged Monday.

Stacy Griffin-Lowery was fired by the Veterans Commission in March 2008 and pleaded guilty three months later to a misdemeanor theft charge. She repaid the state $17,665, the auditor’s office said.

But Missouri Auditor Susan Montee on Monday accused Griffin-Lowery of swiping an additional $90,192 by getting reimbursed for cash advances and purchases made on her personal credit card.
April 12, 2010
Race in Kansas’ 2nd District could heat up for GOP incumbent TOPEKA, Kan. — A conservative Kansas legislator said Monday he will announce in a few weeks whether he will challenge freshman U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins in the Republican primary.

State Sen. Dennis Pyle’s actions in recent months suggest the Hiawatha farmer, who’s served in the Legislature since 2001, is running against Jenkins in the Aug. 2 primary. He set up a campaign organization in November and has a Web site featuring a brief video of him on his farm, asking viewers for support.
April 12, 2010
Oklahoma tea party leaders, lawmakers envision militia OKLAHOMA CITY — Frustrated by recent political setbacks, tea party leaders and some conservative members of the Oklahoma Legislature say they would like to create a new volunteer militia to help defend against what they believe are improper federal infringements on state sovereignty.

Tea party movement leaders say they’ve discussed the idea with several supportive lawmakers and hope to get legislation next year to recognize a new volunteer force
April 12, 2010
Missouri: Senate panel cuts $500 million from proposed budget JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A Senate committee declared Thursday that it has sliced more than $500 million from Missouri’s proposed budget for next year — meeting a target set by Gov. Jay Nixon to bring it in balance.
April 8, 2010
Kansas: Wichita-area casino in doubt after governor’s decision TOPEKA, Kan. — A proposed casino south of Wichita was in doubt Thursday after Gov. Mark Parkinson refused to grant its developers a regulatory reprieve. Partners in the $225 million Chisholm Creek project wanted to delay a state board’s decision on their plans.
April 8, 2010
Oklahoma: Groups oppose education spending initiative OKLAHOMA CITY — A coalition of business and labor groups said Thursday it will work to defeat a ballot initiative to dramatically increase spending on public education that coalition members said would devastate the budgets of many other state services and possibly force tax increases.
April 8, 2010
Missouri: Gov. Nixon affirms support for tuition freeze COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has no plans to sit idly while lawmakers consider whether to preserve a tuition freeze deal he assembled before the state’s dire financial status was fully known.
April 7, 2010
Kansas: Agency uses YouTube to illustrate road woes TOPEKA, Kan. — It’s one thing to hear about potholes and state budgets. It’s another to see how the two are connected. That’s part of the thinking behind a new video presentation on YouTube this week from the Kansas Department of Transportation.
April 7, 2010
Oklahoma: Pathologist says girl’s throat might have been cut OKLAHOMA CITY — A 7-year-old girl who was found dead in Oklahoma near the body of her suspected kidnapper likely died after her throat was cut, an independent pathologist said Wednesday, the same day the child’s funeral attracted hundreds of mourners.
April 7, 2010
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Kansas: House GOP set to release budget

Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr wants the city to distribute weather radios to all Joplin homes that don’t have one. That’s 11,000 radios. Do you think that’s a good use of $300,440?

Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr wants the city to distribute weather radios to all Joplin homes that don’t have one. That’s 11,000 radios. Do you think that’s a good use of $300,440?

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