1) Kansas House Passes Initial Budget - The Kansas House gave approval to a General Fund budget that would spend $6.316 billion in fiscal year 2009; an increase of 3.35% over the General Fund budget for fiscal 2008. While this increase is comparatively modest it is important to note that efforts to greatly increase this initial budget are certain to be made before the end of the legislative session. Furthermore, even this preliminary budget spends some $140 million more than the state will take in during fiscal 2009. The simple reality is that Kansas faces stark fiscal choices this year and in years to come. The reason for our impending fiscal crisis is clear; we continue to spend beyond our means. For FY 2006 – 2008 General Fund spending increased by almost a billion dollars, almost 20%, far outstripping the growth of our state’s economy.
All of the above information should be considered in light of the fact that this year state and local taxes will capture 11.2% of the overall income in Kansas . At no other time in Kansas history have state and local governments imposed such a heavy tax burden on Kansas residents. Furthermore, Kansas continues to increase its debt burden at an unprecedented rate. In 1992, Kansas ’ government debt was approximately $424 million. By 2005 our state debt had increased to $3.95 billion, an increase of about 832%.
With the above in mind I will continue to do my best to limit the growth of government spending to an amount approximating inflation plus population growth. Consistent with this commitment, during recent floor debate I voted against every amendment that attempted to increase spending above the 3.35% percent provided in the preliminary budget.
2) Rep. Kinzer’s Kansas Comprehensive Abortion Reform Act (CARA) Advances to Senate - On March 18, 2008 the Kansas House passed House Substitute for SB 389, by a vote of 84 to 40; a veto proof 2/3rds majority. It was my great honor to carry this important legislation on the House Floor. The bill now heads to the Senate where it is expected to be voted on this week. To learn more about this important legislation please visit this link.
At its best the pro-life movement in the United States has stood for the bedrock principles of human dignity, compassion and the rule of law. The intent of CARA is to advance each of these important values. All Kansans have a right to expect that existing laws limiting late term abortions in Kansas will be followed and enforced. Furthermore, women should have the right to accurate medical information when making a decision regarding abortion. CARA includes a number of provisions designed to strengthen enforcement of existing late term abortion laws. The bill further attempts to protect minors who are seeking abortions from coercion and expands the relevant information that that must be provided to women who are considering abortion.
3) House Committee Advances Rep. Kinzer’s Immigration Reform Proposal – On March 14, 2008 The Kansas House Committee on Federal & State Affairs passed House Substitute for SB 329. This legislation would enact far reaching reforms in Kansas law relating to unauthorized aliens. Detailed information regarding the contents of this bill can be found here:
http://www.kslegislature.org/supplemental/2008/SN0329.pdf. Among the reforms included in this bill are:
- Making it unlawful for a Kansas business to knowingly hire an unauthorized alien.
- Implementing a three year phase in requiring all Kansas employers, including government entities, to participate in the federal e-verify system in order to determine the immigration status of potential employees.
- Establishes license suspension as the penalty for repeat offenders who knowingly hire an unauthorized alien.
- Require state and local law enforcement to inquire into the immigration status of persons arrested for violation of any law.
- Prohibit the establishment of sanctuary cities.
- Direct the AG to enter into an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security to designate specific state law enforcement officers as qualified to exercise enforcement powers of federal immigration officers
- Would deny public benefits (except for those required by federal law) to persons not lawfully present in the United States .
- Creates the crime of employment identity fraud making it a level 8 nonperson felony to willfully present false or misleading identification documents to an employer for purposes of obtaining employment.
- Requires the Dept. of Revenue not to issue a drivers license to an alien unless verified as lawful pursuant to 8 U.S.C. 1327(c).
- Increases the penalty for dealing in false identification documents (level 6 nonperson felony), and vital records identity fraud (level 7 nonperson felony).
- Provides that when a non-citizen is charged with a crime their immigration status must be verified. If the person is an unauthorized alien then their shall be a rebuttable presumption that they are a flight risk for purposes of granting an appearance bond.
- Creates a new crime of inducing or aiding a person to vote who is not lawfully registered. This crime, as well as voting if not lawfully registered, are both level 9 nonperson felonies.
4) Rep. Kinzer Carries Bill Closing Loopholes in Kansas Criminal Law
Late last month I carried HB 2780 on the House floor. This bill provides that where an offended is convicted in one jurisdiction while on probation in another, the prosecutor in the 1st jurisdiction must be informed so that they may seek to have the person’s probation revoked. This bill will lead to greater efficiency in the criminal justice system.
The bill also provides for a fine of $500 to $2,500 for convictions of second or subsequent offense of animal cruelty; increases the fine for a third or subsequent domestic battery to $1,000 to $7,500; clarifies that a person serving a nonprison sentence who is revoked, can be subject to future post release supervision after his confinement if the crime is “sexually motivated” (current law had inadvertently omitted this category of offender from post release supervision); further clarifies that post release supervision can be imposed on probation violators whose original crime justified presumptive imprisonment under the sentencing grid.
5) Rep. Kinzer’s High School Football Championship Venue Bill Advances
The House Federal & State Affairs Committee passed HB 2801clarifying the right of the Kansas State High School Activities Association to hold State Championship football games at the University of Kansas and Kansas State University . Majority Leader Ray Merrick and I introduced this bill in order to respond to the input of numerous high school football coaches, players and parents who expressed concern that in resent years the tradition of plying championship games at our state’s premier venues has been abandoned. Among the highlights during the hearing on this bill was testimony by current Bishop Miege head coach and former Kansas City Chief, Tim Grunhard.
Commenting on the bill Mr. Grunhard said, “I would love for our kids to have the opportunity to play at one of our state-of-the-art university facilities and to be able to experience the greatness of what Kansas has to offer. Let them play and let them have pride in our state and their accomplishments.”
