Tax policy and budget appear to still be the main items of focus for local lawmakers as first adjournment quickly approaches.
17th District Senator Jeff Longibine, 60th District Representative Mark Schreiber and 13th District Representative Duane Droge all attended the second legislative dialogue of the year inside of Flint Hills Technical College Saturday morning. The dialogue came just a few short days after the Kansas Senate passed Senate Bill 539 by a 29-11 vote.
SB 539 is a tax reform package designed to offer residents several forms of tax relief by adjusting and simplifying tax rates for individuals, as well as increasing both the standard deduction and personal exemption. It also eliminates the sales and use taxes for food and food ingredients effective July 1 while increasing the extent of property tax exemptions for residential property when related to statewide school levies.
The package will now go before the Kansas House for consideration, however, Longbine does not believe it will pass the House in its current form.
Schreiber believes it could pass the House, however, it will not do so by a veto-proof majority for several reasons, namely the cost of the package.
When asked his thoughts on the tax policy, Droge stated his only concern is that the state can still afford to conduct the business of government.
In addition to tax policy, Longbine says the budget will continue to be at the forefront of many lawmaker’s minds in the coming days. The Senate just recently passed its budget with the House set to take up the matter this week.
First adjournment is coming April 5th followed by the veto session on April 29. Schreiber anticipates the veto session will not be overly long, likely lasting only a “couple of days.”
Ahead of that time, the legislature will be holding hearings regarding Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s plan to expand Medicaid. Those hearings are set for Wednesday starting at 10:30 am with a joint meeting of the Senate’s Ways and Means and Public Health and Welfare committees followed by the House’s Health and Human Services Committee hearing the governor’s proposal at 1:30 pm.
A date for the final legislative dialogue of the year is currently pending. Dialogues are sponsored by the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce Government Matters Committee and the League of Women Voters Emporia chapter.
