Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to participate in Rep.
Kinzer's "Veto Session Survey." The rsponse has been truly tremendous
and greatly appreciated. Please know that Rep. Kinzer takes your
responses very seriously and reads and considers each and every comment. Here are the results:
Question: Latest revenue estimates predict a budget shortfall of $510 million for FY 2011 using the Governor's proposed budget as a baseline. Under the Governor's budget spending would increase by 7% from FY 2010 to FY 2011 and would be $1.14 billion higher than it was in FY 2005. The Kansas legislature should:
- 73.2%: Approve a budget that spends no more than currently anticipated revenue even if this means spending less state dollars on K-12 education and services for the elderly and the disabled.
- 21.1%: Approve a budget that spends less than the governor proposes, but that also raises some taxes to close the revenue shortfall
- 5.7%: Approve a statewide tax increase in order to close the revenue shortfall and fully fund the Governor's budget
Question: In FY 2005 total K-12 education spending in Kansas was approximately $4.3 billion. In FY 2010 total K-12 spending in Kansas will be just over $5.5 billion (approximately $2.8 billion in state aid, $700 million in federal aid and $2 billion in local aid). In FY 2011 federal dollars available to fund K-12 education will decrease by just over $170 million. To deal with this issue the State should: (Check all that apply)
- 69.4% Spend no more state dollars on K-12 education than in FY 2010 even if this means less over all dollars for K-12 education;
- 26.6% Allow local school districts greater property tax authority (with voter approval) in order to make up for the loss of federal aid to K-12 education;
- 15.3% Allow Counties new sales tax authority directed to school districts (with voter approval)in order to make up for the loss of federal aid to K-12 education.
- 9.7% Raise state taxes in order to make up for the loss of federal aid to K-12 education.
Question: Kansas has traditionally passed a comprehensive transportation plan for new road construction every 10 years. The Kansas legislature should:
- 72.4% Delay passing a comprehensive transportation plan and only fund road maintenance needs until revenues improve
- 20.3% Suspend funding for all but critical road maintenance needs and use the savings to fund other programs.
- 7.3% Pass and fund a comprehensive transportation plan to build new roads even if this requires raising state sales taxes and vehicle registration fees
Question: The federal government recently passed legislation that will significantly change the American health care system. This new law will ultimately, among other things, impose sanctions on individuals who elect not to purchase health insurance. Many States have initiated lawsuits to challenge the constitutionality of this law. The Kansas legislature should:
- 87.1% Pass legislation directing the Kansas Attorney General to sue the federal government alleging that the new law is unconstitutional;
- 12.9% Take no action to challenge the new federal health care law.
Question: Under Kansas law a late term abortion of a viable unborn baby can be performed to prevent “substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function” of the mother. Governor Parkinson recently vetoed legislation that would require a doctor to provide a specific medical diagnosis in order to justify such an abortion. The Kansas legislature should:
- 91.6% Over ride the Governor’s veto so this bill becomes law;
- 8.4% Allow the Governor's veto to stand
