2019 Senate Scene – Week 1 and 2

As we get settled into the second week of the 2019 legislative session, most of our work is concentrated in committees where bills are being prioritized and vetted. The Senate has 13 standing committees which cover many different topics, including education, agriculture, judiciary, and utilities—to name a few. In observation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the legislature and state offices were closed Monday, January 21st. However, the abbreviated week did not slow committees from introducing and holding hearings on proposed legislation. Once a committee completes hearings and votes on a bill, if passed, it will then make its way to the Senate floor and the full body will begin to debate and vote on the measure. Floor debates and votes will begin in the coming weeks. If you’re interested in tracking our work, you can head to our website at https://www.kslegislature.org.

Committee Assignments

My committees will remain the same as last year with one addition which is Transportation. I am the Chairman of Ethics, Elections and Local Government; I will serve on the Judiciary and Utility committees and will remain on the Historical Preservation Committee. I also was assigned to serve on the joint Legislative Post Audit Committee. This committee will not meet often during session but during summer and fall to consider specific subjects assigned to us. The Senate President assigned me to fill a vacancy on the Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund which meets quarterly and is directed by state statute to fund and evaluate key children’s programs across the state. As it is an elected position by the Republican Senators – I will remain the Senate Majority Whip for the next two years.

Inaugurations

On Monday, January 14th, Laura Kelly was sworn in as the 48th Governor of the State of Kansas. Governor Kelly enters the Governor’s office after serving 14 years in the Kansas Senate, representing Topeka. State officials also sworn in were Lynn Rogers, Lieutenant Governor, Derek Schmidt, Attorney General, Scott Schwab, Secretary of State, Vicki Schmidt, Insurance Commissioner and Jake LaTurner, State Treasurer. All 125 House of Representatives were sworn-in and 4 new senators – Kevin Braun (R-Kansas City) replaces Steve Fitzgerald after he resigned from the Senate in September. Vic Miller (D-Topeka) took Laura Kelly’s seat in the Senate. Eric Rucker (R-Topeka) took Vicki Schmidt’s seat in the Senate as she is now Insurance Commissioner. Mary Ware (D-Wichita) was chosen to replace Lynn Rogers in the Senate. Richard Hilderbrand (R-Galena) was also sworn in after winning his special election in November.

State of the State

On Wednesday, January 16th, Governor Laura Kelly delivered her first State of the State address. The governor laid out her agenda as she began her first term as governor. Some of her main agenda items include more money to public education, increased funding to hire more social workers for DCF, and Medicaid expansion. While Governor Kelly launched her agenda of increased spending in numerous areas, she vowed to keep her campaign promise of no increased taxes. During her address, Kelly explained she would be proposing a one-year budget with a separate proposal for a two-year education plan. Watch the full State of the State address below:

Governor’s Budget Proposal

Thursday morning, Governor Kelly presented her one-year budget proposal. The $18.4 billion proposal includes increased spending for areas such as K-12 education, DCF, and Medicaid expansion. A few highlights include a recommended $92 million inflation adjustment to state aid for K-12 public schools. This would be a phase-in of $364 million over four years. With this increase, the state’s education funding would increase 5.5 percent during the next budget year, to nearly $4.4 billion. The budget proposed a 14 percent increase in spending on foster care programs. Governor Kelly’s agenda includes the hiring of 55 additional social workers. This would increase the department’s budget 8.7 percent, to $727 million. Kelly’s budget included $14 million to initiate Medicaid expansion in Kansas. She explained that an expansion plan would be submitted to the Legislature by the end of the month. The budget provided $22 million for a 2.5 percent salary increase for state employees, excluding the judicial system and legislative branch. An additional $3 million was earmarked to increase wages for officers of the Kansas Department of Corrections. The budget proposal would complete restoration of a 4 percent, or $30 million, cut in 2017 from the Board of Regents. Kelly’s budget was built around the re-amortization of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System which essentially refinances the remaining $8.9 billion debt over 30 years. This is meant to provide $160 million in “short-term savings” but will extend the system’s debt until the year 2049. Larry Campbell, Governor Kelly’s budget director, said the debt would become an additional cost of about $7 billion and finally the $200 million would continue to be drawn annually from KDOT to finance basic government.

Senate Floor Action

State law in Kansas requires that certain appointments by the Governor or other state officials be confirmed by the Senate prior to the appointee exercising any power, duty, or function of the office. On Thursday, January 17th, the Senate confirmed 17 governor nominated appointments and 2 attorney general nominated appointments.

If I were Mayor Contest

This year, Smith Center 7th Grader Luke Franklin, was the north central regional winner of the “If I Were Mayor” memo contest. Over 450 7th grade students submitted essays from 25 schools across Kansas. Luke attended the Topeka celebration and a special lunch recognizing Kansas Mayors in cities of all sizes during Local Government Day on January 23rd.

2019 Keep it Clean Kansas Calendar – Kansas Department of Health and Environment

This yearly calendar features the winning artwork of Kansas students grades K through 12 who entered the calendar contest. The Bureau of Waste Management has sponsored this contest since 2000 to encourage students, their families and other Kansans to respect and take care of our Kansas land, water and air. Lexi Meitler, a kindergartener at Minneapolis Grade School drew the artwork for the January calendar page. Jordyn Wisinger at Phillipsburg High School was the 2019 Grand Prize Winner and is the front cover artist of the KDHE calendar. Calendars are available at no cost at KDHE by calling Julie Coleman at 785-296-1600.

Following the Kansas Legislature

You can view video streaming of both chambers via the Kansas Legislature YouTube page. In addition, many committees are now audio streamed. The Kansas Legislature website is easy use with Senate and House calendars and journals as well as the rosters of both chambers. Here are the relevant links:

Website: https://www.kslegislature.org

YouTube Streaming: https://bit.ly/2CZj9O0

Committee Hearings: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/View/Calendar/

Page Dates

The Page program is designed for students in middle school, junior high or high school. Working as a page in the Kansas Legislature is an excellent way to learn more about the legislative process. I was a page in 1981 for Representative Bill Fuller and I still have my black and white photo as a memento in my office. The dates assigned to us are Tuesday, February 12th, Wednesday, February 27th, Monday, March 11th, and Monday, March 25th. Other dates may be available upon request. Please call my office and speak to Randi or email [email protected] or [email protected] to reserve a space.

Office Information

My office remains in the same suite, 223E (East wing second floor) next to the cage elevator. Randi Walters who has worked in the Capitol for 16 years as an assistant and a committee assistant is in our office and Caitlin O’Toole is our Intern who is a KU Political Science major from Prairie Village. When visiting the Capitol, look for the kiosks in the Visitors Center where you will be able see the calendar of the day, events and directions to find the offices of Capitol staff and legislators.

As session progresses, not every bill introduced will make it to the governor’s desk, but that doesn’t mean opinions, facts and testimony weren’t heard. Your participation in the state legislature is vital. As we continue to weed through the different bills, I hope to hear from you. I want to know how legislation will impact you and our district, or the ideas you have to improve a bill. An email with your thoughts (not a form letter) is truly the best way to reach us as we sit in committees for most of the day and seldom get to stay at our desks for long periods.

Thank you for the honor of serving you!

Senator Elaine Bowers
Kansas State Capitol Building
Room 223-E
300 SW 10th St.
Topeka, KS 66612
[email protected]
785-296-7389
www.kslegislature.org

Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, is the 36th Dist. state senator and serves as the Senate Majority Whip. The 36th Senate District includes Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa, Republic, Rooks, Russell, Smith and Washington counties and portions of Marshall and Phillips counties.