The gavel dropped for the first time in Topeka last week, marking the opening of the 2010 legislative session. It’s always an exciting time. Regardless of the challenges facing the state, the new session always begins with fresh perspectives—and in many cases, new ideas from friends and neighbors back home.
This year, the break provided a chance to get a closer look at how the recession is affecting life in our communities. During my visits across the district, I was able to see the challenges we face—but more importantly the solutions we’re finding as well. While there are some difficult realities we’re being forced to endure, this is also a time for innovation and creative solutions.
In Topeka, work will revolve around the budget. As the governor explained in his annual State of the State address, our answer to the budget crisis will take months of consideration, debate, and ultimately, compromise. My hope is that we’re able to find enough common ground during the process to avoid more pain for citizens. While it’s too early to predict how we might fill the budget holes, increased tax rates or reduced spending are really our only options.
We are all aware that unemployment is higher in Kansas than it has been for many years. This means that the Department of Labor is paying out unemployment benefits at a record pace. It also means that employers are being required to pay into the unemployment insurance fund at a significantly higher rate than a year ago, which was at zero percent a year ago and is now up to 5.4 percent of the first $8,000. This is an automatic rate adjustment that is putting a severe stress on businesses that typically have less sales but higher costs.
On Jan. 21, the House Taxation Committee began hearings on the Governor’s proposed 1 percent sales tax increase. As I write this, we have not completed hearings and will continue next week. Another tax issue we will look at this year will include tax exemptions that have been granted in recent years.
Two other issues that seem to be getting attention are the “Kansas Indoor Clean Air Act” which is a bill to restrict indoor smoking, and the proposal to eliminate capital punishment in Kansas. The clean air act is in a conference committee and seems to be locked up over House and Senate differences and the capital punishment bill was sent back to a Senate committee last year, but may come back out again for debate.
I’m always interested to know how you feel about our work, but this year it’s even more critical to one to be in synch with constituents. As our conversations progress, I’ll be asking for your help in determining how to address the budget. With so much work to do, it’s truly a session in which all considerations will be “on the table” in working to craft a reasonable solution.
I hope you’ll contact me with your thoughts at (785) 296.7689 or don.schroeder@house.ks.gov and encourage you to come visit us in Topeka. My office is now on the first floor of the West wing of the Capitol building at 173W. I invite you to come to Topeka for a visit, but if you are making a trip here please let me know so I can plan to spend time with you.
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The gavel dropped for the first time in Topeka last week, marking the opening of the 2010 legislative session. It’s always an exciting time. Regardless of the challenges facing the state, the new session always begins with fresh perspectives—and in many cases, new ideas from friends and neighbors back home.
This year, the break provided a chance to get a closer look at how the recession is affecting life in our communities. During my visits across the district, I was able to see the challenges we face—but more importantly the solutions we’re finding as well. While there are some difficult realities we’re being forced to endure, this is also a time for innovation and creative solutions.
In Topeka, work will revolve around the budget. As the governor explained in his annual State of the State address, our answer to the budget crisis will take months of consideration, debate, and ultimately, compromise. My hope is that we’re able to find enough common ground during the process to avoid more pain for citizens. While it’s too early to predict how we might fill the budget holes, increased tax rates or reduced spending are really our only options.
We are all aware that unemployment is higher in Kansas than it has been for many years. This means that the Department of Labor is paying out unemployment benefits at a record pace. It also means that employers are being required to pay into the unemployment insurance fund at a significantly higher rate than a year ago, which was at zero percent a year ago and is now up to 5.4 percent of the first $8,000. This is an automatic rate adjustment that is putting a severe stress on businesses that typically have less sales but higher costs.
On Jan. 21, the House Taxation Committee began hearings on the Governor’s proposed 1 percent sales tax increase. As I write this, we have not completed hearings and will continue next week. Another tax issue we will look at this year will include tax exemptions that have been granted in recent years.
Two other issues that seem to be getting attention are the “Kansas Indoor Clean Air Act” which is a bill to restrict indoor smoking, and the proposal to eliminate capital punishment in Kansas. The clean air act is in a conference committee and seems to be locked up over House and Senate differences and the capital punishment bill was sent back to a Senate committee last year, but may come back out again for debate.
I’m always interested to know how you feel about our work, but this year it’s even more critical to one to be in synch with constituents. As our conversations progress, I’ll be asking for your help in determining how to address the budget. With so much work to do, it’s truly a session in which all considerations will be “on the table” in working to craft a reasonable solution.
I hope you’ll contact me with your thoughts at (785) 296.7689 or don.schroeder@house.ks.gov and encourage you to come visit us in Topeka. My office is now on the first floor of the West wing of the Capitol building at 173W. I invite you to come to Topeka for a visit, but if you are making a trip here please let me know so I can plan to spend time with you.
