Thursday, April 21, 2016

Legislative Update: lawmakers preview Governor's budget recommendations

Gloom and criticism overcome the fading voices of false optimism; Medicaid provider rate cuts are on the table.

Tim Wood and Barb Conant of InterHab, attended this morning's Administration briefing of the joint legislative budget committees. The briefing was not warmly received by legislators.  Democrats were highly critical of the poor budget cutting choices being demanded by another round of lowered revenue expectations. Legislative GOP leaders were grim and seldom was heard an encouraging word (and yes, Governor, the skies are NOT sunny today).

In addition to picking on his recurring targets (universities, highways and pension funds) the Governor's people admitted today that yes, it is likely that Medicaid provider rates would be the only area to cut in the KanCare program.

The budget committees are meeting separately this afternoon and into tomorrow. More will be reported when more is known about how they intend to approach this mess.

All in all, things are getting darker in the Statehouse. One question remains as to whether the tiny candle of common sense will survive which has continued to shed a little glimmer of light on the glaring need for tax adjustments. But maybe even the bigger question is this:

Have Kansans in all walks of life finally had enough of the wrecking ball of State budget cuts?

For sure, these items can be reported to your community supporters:

Medicaid cuts will hurt providers, and will damage critically needed services for Kansans with disabilities. State legislators MUST do something to bring fiscal stability back to the State to assure that budget instability will be resolved and to protect Kansas citizens from program failures.

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