REPUBLICAN LEADERS in the Kansas Senate, convinced that worse times are ahead, have announced their intention to cut $300 million from this year’s budget. With fewer than six months left in the fiscal year, a cut of that size in state spending could derail many programs and cut services to the bone.
In her budget message several weeks ago, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius offered a plan to deal with a $186 million shortfall predicted by the Legislature’s own researchers. The governor said her plan would preserve services for the most vulnerable Kansans and avoid reducing the state’s commitment to its public schools.
If the lawmakers almost double the cuts to the budget, it is likely that neither of those aims could be met.
Remember that the proposed cuts are not to next year’s budget, but to the remainder of the budget for this year. Cuts in state aid to schools could require local school boards to rewrite this year’s budget on the fly, cancel programs in the middle of their run and try to back out of contracts already negotiated and signed.
Cuts could also cripple the state’s social services at a time when they are so badly needed by so many people.
It is worth reflecting, too, that a sudden steep reduction in state spending cannot help but affect the health of companies that depend upon the state’s business, further reducing state revenues.
It is possible that the Senate leaders are right and that state revenues are due to take an even bigger hit than they have already, that the ship of state is riding low in the water and is dangerously close to a reef.
But before the Legislature throws the children and the poor overboard to lighten the load, the lawmakers owe it to the people of Kansas to provide some proof that the leaders’ fears are well founded and not just a panicky reaction to a faltering economy.
Sometimes, hard choices are necessary. Sometimes, they are just another way of playing politics.
Let’s see the figures.
wirewatt (Ken Bazil) says...
I guess that Mr. Kelley hasn't changed the way he lives, or made adjustments to his life style. Everyone I know are doing less, trying to save money to live and get to work. I don't know why the school districts shouldn't have to evaluate what they are doing and adjust as the rest of us are doing. I get tired of a 48 passenger bus going by my home with one or two students on board, we live in the middle of the route. I see school employee's driving suburbans with one person in it, and four wheel drive vehicles. I question whether all of this is really needed. I feel we should pay our teachers and other employee's a live able wage. I think we need to go back to one county supt, and with principals running the schools in their towns. The bus service to be provided by contractors whom set their bus routes, and kids whom ride only part time would pay for the service. Everyone would pay for meals based on a sliding scale, not free for them to throw in the trash, for show. I know I will be blasted, for being harsh but things aren't going well and everyone needs to take a good look at what is going on and make adjustments. We need to get back to teaching the basic's and pass laws letting the teachers do their jobs and send the ones who want to cause trouble and rebel down the road. If you don't want to learn hit the road, as we also need the personnel to do the menial tasks supposedly being done by illegal aliens.
The judges who gave them a windfall should have to fund it out of their salaries.
January 24, 2009 at 12:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
wirewatt
I agree with you but now that Bush is gone the media is going to have to start bashing lower level Republicans until they're gone too.
"To lodge all power in one party and keep it there is to insure bad government."
Mark Twain
January 24, 2009 at 12:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
The problem with their cut is that it is based on speculation, not fact, things could get much worse, they could stay the same, or they could get better. I do not think cutting state programs in hard times is a good idea whatsoever. It's true everyone has to adjust, but I can tell you this, my spouse is a teacher and over the years of listening to her and seeing what goes on let me tell you, the school system is not leading any kind of luxury lifestyle like depicted above.
January 26, 2009 at 1:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
Ack my kingdom for an edit button,
I do stand %100 behind the quote:
"Lets see the figures"
Very interesting that we don't see them, this is not a national security matter, why not?
January 26, 2009 at 1:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )