Some of these ideas may have great merit, but how the state can start any new programs or policy proposals when we are funding our budget through continued sweeps of KDOT transportation funds, delaying payments to KPERS and public schools, borrowing against a pooled investment fund, and selling a future revenue stream for a one-time budget fix all seems so illusory, and fails to address the structural imbalance between revenue and expenditures.

ON THE FLOOR

This is the earliest I recall having significant debate and a vote on House bill and rules. With the very limited amount of time and the severity of the fiscal crisis, I’m glad to see us pick up the pace. 

HB 2017 was introduced in response to the selection of Wichita Congressman Mike Pompeo to be the next CIA Director. This requires him to vacate his seat in Congress. The Republican Party will elect a replacement by special election. This part of the statute was more than 50 years out of date, and required independent candidates to collect 17,000 petition signatures in just over 30 days in order to get a candidate on the ballot.  The bill passed to change the number to 3,000 and to extend the time required to call an election to allow candidates to campaign.

HR 6004 The rules under which the House and Senate operate are adopted each biennium and mostly to not change. However, there are a few sticking points at the start of each legislative two-year cycle and this year’s rules discussion included extensive debate on:

1. Whether the House should stop work at midnight;

• In general, our work is best done in the light of day – both for transparency and clear minds for legislators. However, with the enormity of the crisis we face and the short timeframe to fix it, I am concerned cutting off debate at midnight might force us to stay in session for additional days, costing the state money it just doesn’t have. The new rule simply says if we are in the middle of debating a bill, then we can go past midnight so we can finish the work we started.

2. Whether a bill with a cost associated should also include language on how to fund the bill’s cost (“pay as you go” or “Pay-Go” for short);

• Republican leadership sought to maintain Pay-Go until the state reaches its statutory ending balance of 7.5%. Democrat leadership sought a complete removal of Pay-Go to pass bills without finding a funding source from current revenue sources. I voted for maintaining Pay-Go and to build up our rainy day fund.

3. The ability for the legislator sponsoring a bill for their name to be removed if the content of the bill changes via amendment; and

4. Whether a legislator requesting a bill be introduced by a committee should also have the legislator’s name attached to the bill throughout the session.

• Background for #3 & 4: Legislators do not typically introduce bills in their own name, but request a bill to be introduced by a committee. Why? “Gut-and-go” amendments are common and strip a bill of its original contents, replacing it with entirely new text. So, your bill to allow medical marijuana is amended to be a full legalization and taxation structure for the drug – not quite the bill you introduced. That’s why legislators wanted a rules change so they could introduce bills but have their name removed when the initial intent is changed.  The Committee Chair can address so much of the frustration expressed over transparency by how they run their committee. When a legislator is asking that a committee bill be introduced there needs to be a full explanation of the bill’s intent, and the committee minutes can reflect the name of the legislator bringing the bill before the committee.  

It was a rigorous, thoughtful, and thorough debate, and while there were passionate supporters on each side, everyone was civil and respectful. If every debate continues like this, we are in for a great session!

COMMITTEE WORK

For the 2017-2018 legislative sessions, I have been appointed Vice Chairman of the Taxation Committee and as a member of the Commerce, Labor & Economic Development, Veterans & Military Committees. 

Commerce, Labor & Economic Development
A flurry of bills were introduced this week as the committee made introductions and held our first meeting with Lana Gordon, Secretary of Labor for an update on jobs and activity in the labor market. Next week, we will meet with the Secretary of Commerce, Antonio Soave and learn about workforce development programs throughout the state. 

Taxation - Vice Chairman
Appropriations and Tax Committees killed two birds with one stone this week and held a joint meeting to review the governor’s budget. This is a positive step in recognizing that the budget likely isn’t going to work without revenue enhancements (politically correct words for “tax increases”). To that end, a bill was introduced to reinstate the LLC tax exemptions and make it retroactive to January, but the sad truth is that alone will not create enough revenue to shore up the FY 2018 $580 million anticipated shortfall.

I anticipate numerous tax bills being introduced during this session designed to explore a variety of budget funding options. The overall strategy is to create a comprehensive tax solution. To do so, however, the committee is planning to analyze each component as a separate bill in order to fully comprehend the implications on individuals and businesses. Eventually the committee will likely consider one bill to pass to the House floor for one vote on tax policy.

This session is going to especially challenging because of the various committees working on creating a 2-year budget, identifying new government efficiencies, and rewriting a new school finance formula, as well as a court ruling on the adequacy of funding public schools. The final work on these three major legislative initiatives, and one judicial ruling, has a direct impact on government expenditures, which in turn determines how much revenue needs to be raised to fund a final budget. Until a better understanding of how the committees resolve their respective work, the final tax plan will likely need to wait so the final tax bill reflects the committee’s policy directives and budget numbers. 

Veterans & Military
The committee began this week with member and staff introductions and will begin receiving updates from Legislative Research and the Veterans’ Affairs Office next week.  Over  the past several weeks, I have been working with the office of Brigadier General Patrick Frank at Fort Riley to organize a “State Legislators’ Day” to bring members of the House, Senate, and Governor’s office to spend a day touring and learning about Fort Riley.  The event is scheduled to occur on January 27^th.