MD PoliBlog

Budget estimate shortfall declines

Budget estimate shortfall declines: "Kansas' projected budget shortfall shrank Monday, and officials said they hoped it was a sign state finances are stabilizing after months of disappointing tax collections.

read more

"

(Via Topeka Capital-Journal - Legislature.)

Legislative session length varies

Legislative session length varies: "Here is a comparison of how long the Kansas Legislature's annual sessions have lasted over the past two decades.

read more

"

(Via Topeka Capital-Journal - Legislature.)

O'Neal: Two years and out?

O'Neal: Two years and out?: "

Republican House Speaker Mike O'Neal survived an unprecedented legislative investigation but may yet experience fallout from questions about his political judgment.

read more

"

(Via Topeka Capital-Journal - Legislature.)

Moran widens lead in poll

Moran widens lead in poll: "

Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Hays, increased his lead over Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, in the latest SurveyUSA poll, co-sponsored by KWCH, Channel 12 in Wichita. According to a survey of likely GOP primary voters, Moran leads Tiahrt in the race for the U.S. Senate by 42 to 32 percent — though 21 percent of those surveyed were undecided. Moran leads among conservatives by 42 to 34 percent, and he leads in the vote-rich battleground of northeast Kansas by 43 to 24 percent. The only region or demographic where Tiahrt is leading is southeast Kansas, where he is up 52 to 28 percent.

"

(Via WE Blog.)

Kansas legislature delays hard choices on state budget

Kansas legislature delays hard choices on state budget: "

TOPEKA — Lawmakers left town this week without doing the one thing they must in the 90-day session: Pass a balanced budget.

They put off wrenching decisions about increasing taxes or cutting spending until the final 15 days.

The delay is unprecedented. But many say it makes sense to wait until lawmakers come back for the brief wrap-up session April 28.

"

(Via Kansas.com: State Government.)

Ethics complaint against C Street lawmakers

Ethics complaint against C Street lawmakers: "

 BREAKING, 5:30 p.m.:  CREW says it has added Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Ks., to its ethics complaint.  As the post reports, Moran has said he lives in the C Street facility.

  The letter is attached below.

- - - 

   WASHINGTON (AP) — A government watchdog group says it has filed ethics complaints against lawmakers who have rented rooms in a controversial Capitol Hill townhouse.

read more

"

(Via KansasCity.com Prime Buzz - Today's political intelligence and insight.)

Pompeo lands endorsement from Koch’s political arm

Pompeo lands endorsement from Koch’s political arm: "

Mike Pompeo

Republican congressional candidate Mike Pompeo landed an endorsement from Koch Industries’  heavy-hitting political action committee today, the campaign announced.

KochPAC’s endorsement carries some meaning given that Koch is one of the biggest employers in the area and its political arm has already spent more than $1 million on campaigns the 2010 election cycle, according to a breakdown by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Meanwhile, one of Pompeo’s opponents, Jim Anderson, snared an endorsement from the Republican Liberty Caucus, which advocates limited government.

In the primary, Pompeo will face off with Anderson, a retired airline pilot and small-business owner, Wink Hartman, the owner of the Wichita Wild football team and Hartman Arena; and state Sen. Jean Schodorf, R-Wichita.

The winner of Republican primary will face either Rep. Raj Goyle, D-Wichita, or Robert Tillman, a retired court services officer, in the general election.

Whoever wins will replace Congressman Todd Tiahrt, who is leaving his seat to run for the senate against District 1 Congressman Jerry Moran.

"

(Via Wichitopekington.)

Legislature delays budget decisions until wrap-up session

Legislature delays budget decisions until wrap-up session: "

The clock ticks away on the 2010 legislative session, and Kansas lawmakers have yet to figure out an exit strategy that eliminates a massive budget deficit.

As a result, for the first time in anyone’s memory, lawmakers will leave town this week for a three-week spring break without passing an appropriations bill for the next fiscal year. Instead, they’ll leave the heavy lifting to a wrap-up session that begins April 28.

Because this wrap-up session will be so freighted with big decisions, it’s likely lawmakers will leave a little early this week, perhaps as early as Tuesday. That will save two days that can be used during wrap-up.

Typically wrap-up sessions last three to five days as lawmakers put the finishing touches on legislation. But this year could be a lot longer — two weeks, many lawmakers predict. Senate Vice President John Vratil, a Leawood Republican, even said this weekend that a special session could be in the cards.

Why so painful this year? The gulf between lawmakers who would cut spending and lawmakers who would raise taxes remains nearly as wide as it was in January. A Senate budget plan would require some tax hikes to eliminate the $467 million deficit. The House plan opts for cuts instead.

Neither chamber has de-bated its budget bill, however. The House hoped to do so last week, but it was clear the leg-islation lacked sufficient support. Now there’s word the entire bill may be scrapped — or at least tuned up — before it hits the floor during wrap-up.

"

(Via Wichitopekington.)

No year for a costly special session

No year for a costly special session: "

Kansans have to hope that state Senate Vice President John Vratil, R-Leawood, was being unduly pessimistic in saying Sunday during ‘Ask Your Legislator’ on KPTS, Channel 8, that the state budget crisis may necessitate a summer special session for the Legislature. That not only would be a regrettable expense (the 12-day special session in 2005 cost $574,000). It would be a hardship on school districts and other constituents of state services with hiring and planning to do. Whether it happens in May or July, Vratil predicted: ‘We will, ultimately, see a tax increase before we’re done.’

"

(Via WE Blog.)

State Legislature unpopular

State Legislature unpopular: "

Maybe lawmaking in general is out of favor. A new SurveyUSA poll, sponsored by KWCH, Channel 12, found that only 23 percent of Kansans approve of the job performance of the Kansas Legislature, while 44 percent approve of Gov. Mark Parkinson’s performance (down from 47 percent last month and a high of 53 percent last September). Meanwhile, 57 and 50 percent of those surveyed approve of the job performance of Sens. Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback, respectively. Kansas lawmakers shouldn’t feel singled out, though: Other recent SurveyUSA polls found the job approval ratings of the Legislatures in Washington state, Oregon and California at 20, 18 and 9 percent, respectively.

"

(Via WE Blog.)