THE FINANCIAL CRISIS: 'Huge amounts of money could be saved.' Cutting overlap of city and county services also should be explored, O'Neal says

Speaker urges Legislature to start examining consolidation of school district administrators

Kansas House Speaker Mike O’Neal, a Hutchinson Republican, said with Kansas facing gaping budget holes in the next two years, it’s time for the Legislature to get creative in looking for ways to cut costs.

“The bad news is we’re facing a budget crisis,” O’Neal told Kansas Liberty Friday. “The good news is we have a two-year window of opportunity to look at doing things fundamentally differently. If we don’t have the will to do it now with the budget situation the state is in, then we will have missed a golden opportunity.”

O’Neal said he would like to see lawmakers, when they convene later this month, at least begin discussing two possible initiatives – one that would study the feasibility of consolidating school district administrators and another that would make it easier for cities, counties and other units of government to consolidate services. [ Read more...]

Director of the Kansas Legislative Research Department: The financial crisis is even worse than earlier reported.

State's budget deficit may be $44 million more than predicted

The Johnson County legislative delegation hosted a county-issues forum Thursday night at Johnson County Community College to discuss the substantial deficit the Kansas government is facing.

The forum also gave the opportunity for representatives of various state-related agencies to urge legislators to maintain their current state funding, and in some cases to raise it.

However, money may be harder than ever to come by, according to Alan Conroy, the director of the Kansas Legislative Research Department. According to Conroy, the financial crisis is even worse than earlier reported. [ Read more...]

Agency says it's swamped in information but 'these systems just won't handle it.'

DMV hikes fees to pay for $40 million modernization

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is driving state bureaus to cut their budgets, but not every state agency is in a cutting mood. Taking advantage of legislation passed earlier this year, the Department of Motor Vehicles is in the process of generating $40 million in revenue by imposing what amounts to a tax hike to finance the modernization of the department’s databases.

The additional funding is being collected by levying an additional $4 fee on vehicle registration fees for the next four years.

Once the $40 million is raised, the DMV will start updating the department’s equipment, including the information processing system, which is used to maintain vehicle title and registration transactions, the Kansas drivers’ license system, and the Kansas vehicle inventory system which supplies counties with plates and 30-day permits. [ Read more...]

A new tobacco tax is proposed almost on the same day.

Sebelius no-new-tax pledge may go up in smoke

Just one week away from announcing the budget plans, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said she is not supporting any tax raises to offset the budget shortfall, with one exception: a cigarette tax promoted by the Kansas Health Policy Authority.

“Gov. Sebelius is on the record saying she is not proposing raising taxes in her budget which will be rolled out on Jan. 13,” Sebelius spokesperson, Nicole Corcoran told Kansas Liberty.

But Corcoran said Sebelius would be supportive of a cigarette tax, since it is proven that cost is a deterrent to smokers, especially younger smokers. [ Read more...]

POLITICS: New justice is the law partner of the state Democratic party's chairman.

Sebelius names Dan Biles to the state Supreme Court

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius appointed Overland Park attorney Dan Biles to serve as the state’s newest Supreme Court Justice.

“For nearly 30 years, Dan has been an incredible advocate for those he represents, including the Kansas State Board of Education, the Kansas Turnpike Authority and the State of Kansas,” said Sebelius in statement. “His constitutional knowledge of issues and extensive experience in the legal field is well-respected. He has argued in front of the Supreme Court on multiple occasions and will now bring his unique perspective to the other side of the bench.”

Biles will replace Chief Justice Kay McFarland who is retiring Monday after serving 31 years as a Supreme Court Justice and five years as chief justice. Supreme Court Justice Robert E. Davis will take over McFarland’s position. [ Read more...]

A former law partner of Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson is now a Johnson County judge.

Governor appoints another political ally to bench

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, continuing her custom of appointing political allies to judgeships, on Thursday appointed a former law partner of Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson as a Johnson County judge.

Neil Foth will replace Judge John Anderson, III, the son of a former Republican governor of Kansas, who is retiring. [ Read more...]

Congressman says he hopes a Republican primary can be avoided in quest to succeed Sen. Brownback

Economy will be primary focus of 111th Congress, Moran says

Freshly emerged from his final ceremonial swearing-in ceremony as a member of the U.S. House, Congressman Jerry Moran discussed pocketbook issues, immigration reform, the prospects of a massive economic stimulus package and his own political destiny, during a conference call with reporters Wednesday.

Moran, whose vast House district includes 69 Kansas counties, told Kansas Liberty he was committed to seeking the U.S. Senate seat that Sen. Sam Brownback will vacate in 2010.

Brownback has said he will honor a term-limits pledge he made when first elected to the Senate. He filed preliminary paperwork Monday in support of a campaign for the governor's office when Kathleen Sebelius steps down in 2010. [ Read more...]

Paperwork filed to allow fundraising to begin

Brownback moves one step closer to run for governor in 2010

U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback moved a step closer Monday to becoming a candidate for Kansas governor when he filed paperwork with the secretary of state’s office that allows him to start raising funds.

"Today I have taken the first step that will allow me to run for governor," Brownback said in a statement. "I will continue to work hard during the coming year in the Senate to find solutions to the serious issues facing our state and the nation and focus on efforts to create jobs at home and grow our Kansas economy."

Brownback, a Republican, has announced he will not seek re-election to the Senate, thus honoring a term-limits pledge he made when first appointed to the Senate in 1996. [ Read more...]

ENERGY: Governor says it's 'the next step toward a clean energy future.' No price tag yet, but lots of wind.

Sebelius announces a 'comprehensive energy plan' for Kansas

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius revealed her outline of a four-component comprehensive energy plan Friday, saying it will increase clean energy in Kansas.

“It’s time we take the next step toward a clean energy future," Sebelius said in a statement. "That’s why we have developed a vision for a comprehensive energy plan, which will include key legislative efforts. Those efforts are based on three principles: create jobs and attract businesses; promote the generation of clean, renewable energy; and lead the way in energy efficiency efforts in state buildings. This plan will help us bridge the gap until the day when clean coal technology is a reality.”

Sebelius did not cite a projected cost for the plan. [ Read more...]

GAMBLING: But the Senate leadership may try looking for votes to give casinos a better deal

Olathe lawmaker says he will not seek to re-open gaming debate in House

Rep. Arlen Siegfried said Monday he would not attempt to re-open the law that allowed state-owned casinos in Kansas.

Earlier this year, Siegfried, an Olathe Republican, said he was contemplating such a move to clarify regulatory language in the bill.

But, with only one casino now on the drawing board, instead of the four the law would have allowed, he said he saw little reason to re-open legislative debate over the Expanded Lottery Act. [ Read more...]

THE GROWING BUREAUCRACY: Superintendents' salaries flourish as a result of increased budgets for 'education'

Administrators, not teachers, reap rewards of increased school spending

The school funding escalation launched by the state Supreme Court in 2005 was fueled by arguments concerning teachers' salaries and the need to remain competitive. The fact that it was school district superintendents agitating for more money went largely overlooked.

The hike in education funding is widely cited as a growing problem as Kansas seeks to weather an unprecedented financial crisis.

The percentage increases awarded to superintendents and teachers are about the same. But in real dollars, Kansas Liberty has discovered that over the last 15 years Kansas teachers have fared much worse than administrators in getting pay raises and other benefits. [ Read more...]

TILLER'S TRIAL: Former Attorney General Paul Morrison expected to testify, possibly on Wednesday

Kline takes stand in criminal proceeding against late-term abortionist

Lawyers for a late-term abortionist facing criminal charges in Sedgwick County continued their quest Tuesday to have charges dropped or evidence suppressed in a case that was launched by Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline in 2003 when he served as Kansas attorney general.

The abortionist, Dr. George Tiller, faces 19 misdemeanor counts for allegedly failing to get a second opinion from an independent physician prior to performing late-term abortions on patients as young as 10, as required by Kansas law.

Kline spent much of the day on the witness stand being grilled by Tiller’s legal team. His successor as attorney general, Paul Morrison, who filed the 19 criminal charges, also is expected to take the stand this week, possibly on Wednesday. [ Read more...]

Assistant attorney general says abortion clinic operator is trying to avoid warranted prosecution

Witness denies lover pressured Morrison to file charges against Tiller

An unwilling witness Wednesday blew a hole in the argument by attorneys for late-term abortionist Dr. George Tiller that former Attorney General Paul Morrison only filed criminal charges against Tiller because he was pressured to do so by his ex-mistress.

In a Sedgwick County District Court hearing, Tiller's lawyers claimed the woman had pushed for the charges at the behest of Phill Kline, who launched the investigation in 2003 while serving as attorney general.

Linda Carter, whose intimate relationship with Morrison led to the demise of his political career, insisted under oath Wednesday during a preliminary hearing in Sedgwick County that she wasn’t acting on Kline’s behalf when she encouraged Morrison to do the “right thing” in the Tiller case. [ Read more...]

Departing JoCo DA spent much of this week on witness stands in Sedgwick and Johnson Counties

Kline says he won't take abortion records when he leaves office Monday

Outgoing Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline, after spending part of this week on the witness stand in a criminal proceeding against a Wichita late-term abortionist, returned to the witness stand during a court proceeding Thursday, this time in Johnson County.

At issue Thursday was whether Kline, who leaves office Monday, would take records related to abortions that he collected during an investigation of a Planned Parenthood Clinic in Overland Park, when he moves on from the district attorney’s office.

Kline said under oath he had no plans to take records, which could be useful to his successor, Steve Howe, if Howe decided to continue the prosecution. The prosecution was launched with the approval of a district court. [ Read more...]

AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO: Firearm background checks up 24 percent in December

Gun sales continue to grow in anticipation of new Obama policies

According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, gun sales have continued to increase the last two months, with a 24 percent rise in firearm purchase background checks for December.

The increase was lower than the November record – setting a 42 percent rise in background checks, the highest amount of checks in NIC history. Background checks for 2008 were 14 percent higher than 2007 checks.

Patricia Stoneking, president of the Kansas State Rifle Association, said a significant portion of the increase could be attributed to the incoming Obama administration. [ Read more...]

COMMENT: If only the nation's financial geniuses had the good sense of Dr Seuss, the nation wouldn't be eating debts as if they were green eggs. Bill Wyckoff explains America's pains.

Green Backs from TARP

My apologies to Dr. Seuss and to all that love his children’s books. Like many parents, I almost know Green Eggs and Ham from memory.

And like many Americans, I just can’t stand what is going on in Washington, where those we have elected seem to have been eating green eggs - something that just doesn't make sense, except maybe to a child. Otherwise, why would they forget all that made this country great? [ Read more...]

SNIDE COMMENTS: The joke's on JoCo voters | Tony does some Star-trashing | The Kansas City Kansan stops slaughtering trees

The Week on the Web

Getting what they deserve in Johnson County. In the last election, JoCoians (you read it here first - and probably last) had to choose how their judges would be selected. Backers of the status quo claimed that letting a closet full of insiders pick judges is the best way to keep politics out of the process. The other option was to vote for judges after first discovering their qualifications and views. Citizens said no to voting, thanks. We'll let the insiders choose.

The instant consequence? Another political crony gets a lifetime perch on the bench. [Read more...]

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