Governor to Announce Budget Balancing Plan Date: March 4, 2010
Governor Mark Parkinson will offer a plan to balance the budget in the face of a grim February revenue report. He's already made 2 rounds of cuts this fiscal year, and a third could come tomorrow (FRI).
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House Committee Approves Health Care Amendment Date: March 2, 2010
The House Health and Human Services Committee today approved a constitutional amendment bill that would exempt Kansas from federal health care insurance requirements.
The legislation now goes before the full House.
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KS House Committee Holds Tax Exemption Hearing Date: March 1, 2010
The House Taxation Committee today (MON) held a hearing on a tax break for insurance companies. The law gives insurance companies a credit for bringing jobs to the state. The committee heard from insurance regulators and industry representatives. The committee is evaluating tax exemptions and credits. They could reduce or eliminate some of the rules, to held the state get through a budget crunch.
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House Debating Texting While Driving Ban Date: February 19, 2010
Senate Judiciary Chairman Tim Owens (R-Overland Park) is taking questions on SB 351, which would ban texting while driving. He's taking questions from Senator Jeff Colyer (R-Overland Park). Colyer is a physician and is questioning if he could use his work pager and violate the law.
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Governor Outlines SOS Job, Shows Support for Holland Date: February 18, 2010
Governor Mark Parkinson today (THUR) said he could choose a secretary of state in the coming two weeks. He says the candidate doesn't have to be a Democrat, or be willing to run for a full term as secretary of state. Parkinson says the most important thing he's looking for is someone who can run the 2010 elections effectively.
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Audit: Officials Missed "Red Flags" in Prison Sex Scandal Date: January 28, 2010
A legislative audit has found prison officials missed "red flags" that warned of sexual misconduct between staff and inmates at a Topeka Women's prison.
You can read the full report here:
http://www.kslegislature.org/postaudit/audits_newest.shtml
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Gov's Tax Bill Killed in Committee. But Is It Really Dead? Date: January 27, 2010
The House Taxation Committee today killed Governor Mark Parkinson's proposal for a 1-cent sales tax increase.This comes after a Senate Committee refused to introduce the bill for consideration.
If there were different levels of deadness, this one wouldn't be really dead, just kind of dead.
Yes, this exact version of the bill has been killed. But, the House Taxation Committee is exempt from the usual legislative deadlines, so a similar bill could be introduced later. Chairman of the committee, Richard Carlson (R- St. Marys), said he will actively consider any tax bills later in the session.
This leaves open the option of a bill that could include a different kind of tax increase, or perhaps a smaller sales tax increase. Only time will tell.
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Cuba Trip Date: January 27, 2010
I took a one-day trip to Cuba on Friday. I flew there with around a dozen Kansas Air National Guard troops who were going to help with Haiti recovery efforts. The troops have since been ordered to Haiti.
If you want to listen, follow this link:
http://www.kansaspublicradio.org/newsstory.php?itemID=19829
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Senate Committee Could Vote on Death Penalty Bill Friday Date: January 20, 2010
Death penalty testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee continued today. The committee heard from both opponents and supporters. The testimony is scheduled to end tomorrow, but could spill into Friday.
The bill would eliminate the death penalty as a sentencing option, and replace it with life without parole.
Committee members could vote on the bill as soon as Friday.
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Senate Committee Begins Hearings on Death Penalty Date: January 19, 2010
The Senate Judiciary Committee opened three days of hearings today on legislation to repeal the death penalty in Kansas. Legislation to end the death penalty made it out of committee last session, but was put back in committee after a series of questions on the legislation.
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Statewide Smoking Ban Will Be a Challenge Date: January 13, 2010
Governor Parkinson listed a smoking ban as one of his priorities in the State of the State speech. A smoking ban passed the Senate last session, but not the House. I talked with Rep. Landwehr (R-Wichita), the House Health Committee chair, and she listed a few stumbling blocks. Those include an exemption for state-owned casinos, and a lack of enforcement provisions.
Landwehr says she isn't in favor of a smoking ban, but she will explore a compromise.
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Legislator Says School Lawsuit Won't Affect Appropriations Date: January 12, 2010
House Appropriations Chair Kevin Yoder says efforts to reopen a statewide school funding lawsuit won't affect the appropriations process.
The group Schools for Fair Funding has filed a motion to reopen a case that ended with a three-year plan to increase funding.
I'll have more on this story both Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning on KPR news.
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Governor Recommends Sales Tax, Tobacco Tax Increases Date: January 12, 2010
Democratic Governor Mark Parkinson recommended raising the sales tax by 1 cent for a three-year period. He also wants a tobacco tax increase from the current 79 cents per pack to the national average of $1.34 a pack.
These proposals didn't find much favor with Republican leaders. Here's a story that outlines both the State of the State speech and Republican Leaders' reaction:
http://www.kansaspublicradio.org/newsstory.php?itemID=19585
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Legislature to Gavel In Date: January 11, 2010
At 2:00 pm today lawmakers will gavel in the 2010 session, kicking off a session where lawmakers will have to fill a more than $300 million budget hole.
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