The Emporia Gazette

May 28, 2012

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With Gov. Kathleen Sebelius heading to Washington to take up her spot as health and human services secretary and Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson stepping up to assume her office, Emporia-area legislators wonder what effect the transition will have on state business.

For the most part, though, they expect the changes to be minimal.

“I think Mark Parkinson will probably provide a pretty seamless transition as far as his assuming the office of governor,” Rep. Don Hill said. “It will certainly be a change, but I also think he’s very capable as far as stepping up into that role.”

Sen. Jim Barnett had a similar feeling.

“It will make a difference having a different governor,” Barnett said. “The past policies of Gov. Sebelius and her impact on the Legislature will now be different with Gov. Parkinson, and just how that will play out is unknown.”

The big question is how the change will affect the creation of the state’s budget for 2010. Sebelius released her budget amendments for 2010 on Friday, but legislators say that with federal stimulus money coming in, the budget is subject to change day by day.

“Our budget is changing dramatically almost by the day if not by the hour,” Barnett said, “so we’re going to have to work diligently over the next several weeks to adapt our budget to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.”

Hill also said the transition’s impact likely will not have much of an impact on the budget.

“The budget will rely considerably on federal stimulus money,” Hill said, “and in terms of how it might change, I think it’s very minimal.”

Lawmakers say that despite the governor’s suggestions, the direction of the budget is largely determined by the Legislature in any case, and the change in the governor’s office will not change that.

“Many of the governor’s budget proposals for 2010 are very problematic,” Barnett said, “such as taking away transfers back to local units of government and sweeping funds from local units such as the liquor tax, that would take away funds for treatment for alcohol and other drug-related problems. Those types of policies are not good, in my opinion, and the Legislature will change those, so I’m comfortable that we will come through this time in a positive manner.”

Parkinson comes into the office with an interesting political history, having jumped from the Republican to the Democratic party in 2006. Before the switch, he was chairman of the state Republican Party, and played a part in recruiting both Barnett and Hill to run for the Legislature.

“There are parts of the Democratic Party that probably don’t have anywhere near the level of comfort with Gov. Parkinson that they had with Sebelius,” Hill said. “Whether or not that translates into a hindrance on his ability to govern is doubtful, but not implausible.”

But in spite of party differences, area lawmakers lauded Sebelius’ experience and her service to Kansas, and are wishing her luck in her new position.

“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for Gov. Sebelius,” Barnett said. “I think she brings many skills and a great amount of background in health-care policy to the office.”

“She’s had a very productive 20 years of service here, and she’s qualified to do the job based upon that,” Hill said. “I think she’s a good choice for the Obama administration, and probably leaves Kansas in relatively good shape, given the national economy.

“I certainly wish her all the best, and her challenges and opportunities are many,” Hill said.