Lawmakers are heading into their spring break with a lot accomplished and some key pieces of business left to finish when they return in a few weeks.
17th District Senator and Senate Vice President Jeff Longbine of Emporia says he’s largely pleased with the progress of the regular session, with the budget “substantially completed” and K-12 public school funding adjustments awaiting both Governor Laura Kelly’s signature and Kansas Supreme Court approval. Longbine says the $90 million addition to school funding tracks with last year’s guidance from the high court, so it should find favor with the court.
Longbine says there are legitimate concerns from fellow Republicans about funding the overall budget, especially with public education taking up a greater percentage of that budget over time. Other concerns include how to keep state services going when the economy goes sour or what to do if the Supreme Court says lawmakers didn’t earmark enough money for public education.
Both Longbine and 60th District Representative Mark Schreiber, also of Emporia, voted for the bill. Schreiber says the legislative branch is obligated to properly fund education.
Once lawmakers get back to Topeka in early May, the main focal points will be finishing the budget — and possibly getting Medicaid expansion efforts to the Senate floor for a vote. The House has already passed an expansion package, and Gov. Kelly has supported expansion. Longbine says the Senate will consider a motion to bring a bill out of committee to the floor. That will bill will need 24 yes votes just to take that step. It would then need 27 yes votes to guarantee a vote.
Both Longbine and Schreiber would like more discussion and potential action on new policy to decouple state income tax itemizations from their federal counterparts as part of Senate Bill 22. Governor Kelly vetoed that bill, which also included a reduction in the state food sales tax. Neither House nor Senate have enough votes to override, although discussions may start up in both chambers about an alternative plan once the veto session begins next month.
