The 2013-2014 Kansas legislative session may be the most challenging of any yet witnessed by a host of Kansas public interests. Public employees, education and human service advocates – and others – are all uneasy as they anticipate the “perfect storm” that awaits them.
The 2012 legislature enacted over $700 million in tax cuts which the Governor quickly signed into law, thereby placing in jeopardy any chance for relief for underfinanced State budgets for this year or next, or in the worst case, for years into the future. Add to that a recent court ruling which estimates that an additional $400+ million is needed for the State to comply with previous court rulings on school funding. Add to that, for the disability networks, budgets will be impacted additionally by the influence of insurance companies who will be managing the State’s Medicaid budget.
The makeup of the newly elected legislature has tilted further to the conservative side of the spectrum, and this will be most markedly felt in the Senate, which last year had been dominated by a moderate GOP caucus which aligned with Democrats on key spending and social issues. That coalition was buried in the August primary election. A large number of moderates were either defeated or retired and were replaced by more conservative candidates.
The Governor has indicated he will propose a two-year budget, designed as a new way to manage spending for the future. Critics have been quick to point out that such a plan also may be intended to eliminate any budget debate next year, when he will be up for reelection. Coincidentally, the most significant budget impacts of the dramatic draining of State revenues stream will be felt beginning in July of this year, and the outcry would focus itself in January of 2014 when the legislature returns for work – unless of course, there is no budget debate due to the Governor’s new “two-year” plan.
If that is not enough to make your head spin, consider the dynamics formed when trying to educate a legislature in which more than a third of the legislators are new, or will be in new offices (i.e. former House members now elected to the Senate). And so on …
If you start to feel faint as you read this, don’t worry, that is a rational response to a budget debate unlike any we have ever had to face, with a legislative climate more conservative than any we have ever faced. Before you decide, like Rip Van Winkle, to sleep through it, hoping to wake in a new world of a brighter day, remember this ... however challenging this budget picture may be, we are not without some hopeful signs.
The administration has not yet proposed cuts for our budgets, and KDADS has gone so far as to recommend modest budget increases for waiting lists and rates. (NOTE: as this is being written, we have heard that the Secretary’s budget recommendations are not likely to be incorporated into the Governor’s budget recommendations, but, the fact that such increases were recommended will be a boost in our advocacy efforts.) Consider also that, owing to advocacy last year, we have a good number of legislators who are reasonably well informed about our official position that our long term services and supports programs be carved out of KanCare .. .considering that the shake-down cruise has begun, and the good ship USS KanCare is already leaking in many places, legislators and the administration may be hesitant to pile any more responsibilities on board.
In other words, things are difficult ahead, but our strengths are still strong and we will play the strong hand as the session unfolds. You need to be ready to do the same.
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