January 25, 2010 Newsletter
Furloughs for State Legislators
The headlines this past week have been about a possible furlough without pay for Kansas Legislators. Leaders of the House and Senate are working to devise a plan to save the state some money and “spread the pain”. But many folks around the state have been shocked to discover that legislators are sometimes paid for days that they are not at work. I also was amazed to learn this when I first came to Topeka. It certainly is not “an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay.” My personal response has been to keep on working. Last year when the House took several “pro forma Fridays” (technically in session but no roll is taken and everyone gets paid) I typically stayed in Topeka and spent the day catching up on correspondence or doing issues research. If I wasn’t in Topeka I was in the district, meeting with constituents. This year I traveled to Topeka a week early, and spent that week researching and preparing for the session. Last Monday I was also at my desk doing the same thing. I know it was a holiday and I mean no disrespect. There simply are too many things I need to be working on to even think about taking the day off. And besides, working on a holiday is nothing new to those of us involved in farming and ranching. But I think someone’s logic has taken a holiday if they think it’s a good idea to shorten the number of days the legislature is in session this year. This will be a very difficult session, and the problems to be solved will take time. So my message to leadership is this: “Do what you must to cut the legislative budget. Cut our pay, cut our mailing allowance, whatever is needed to be fair. But do not shorten the legislative session. Instead get everyone back to town and let’s get to work”.
My Take on the Massachusetts Senate Election
Fourteen months ago, November 2008, America voted for change. We were promised that there would be a bipartisan effort with greater transparency to enact this change. We believed the promise and the political pendulum swung from the right (Bush/Chaney/DeLay) to the left (Obama/Pelosi/Reed). But we didn't get change. What we got was the same partisan, heavy-handed politics we have seen from Washington before, only this time it was from the Democrats instead of the Republicans. We got Cornhusker Kickbacks, cash for cloture, the Louisiana Purchase, earmarks too numerous to choke down, a new mountain of debt that we will leave our grandchildren, a health care bill voted on straight party lines, government ownership of our largest domestic auto maker, and an activist EPA ready to enact climate change policy without legislation.
The political pendulum swung too far to the left and the voters of the very blue state of Massachusetts said "STOP, ENOUGH!" And now the pendulum is starting to swing back to the right. This is where Americans need to be cautious. We need to be cautious that the pendulum doesn't swing all the way back to the extreme right as an over-reaction to the left. America has always been a center right political nation. Most people claim to be fiscal conservatives in their personal life. Most people care about the well being of their neighbors and the most vulnerable amongst us. Most people want to reduce the high cost of health care and expand benefits to those not covered by health insurance. Most people want to minimize the effects of climate change. Most people want these things but our choices for solutions seem to come from the extremes of the political spectrum and not from middle ground forged by consensus and compromise.
Our current two party system tends to purge those that want to reach out and work with the other side for compromise. Arlen Specter and Joe Lieberman come to mind on the national level. Voters vote for ideologues who claim to be confident in their solutions to the problems we face. That tendency is most evident in the primary season when candidates appeal to the base of their party. Conservatives become more conservative and liberals become more liberal. Woe be the candidate who says, "When elected I want to work with all members to find solutions to our problems." And when we elect ideological candidates the pendulum swings to the extreme right, or left, poised to swing the other direction the next election cycle.
The message from the Massachusetts election is not that the voters want more Republicans in office. The message is that voters want solutions and less partisan politics. The message is that we want less noise from the edges and more solutions from the middle, even if those results are slow and incremental. And yes even if they mean we have to experience a bit of sacrifice. The nation and state deserve more elected officials willing to work with, and form coalitions with, members of the other party to find balanced solutions to our common problems. Are you willing to vote for them?
Email Issues
The following is a message that I have sent to the eight county newspapers in the 118th District. My wife Betsy says this is the kind of mistake that happens when I get going too fast…
Making News?
When I came to Topeka a year ago to serve my neighbors in the eight counties of the 118th District, I hoped to make good news for Western Kansas. I did not expect to see my name in the headline.
Here’s the story: Last week I sent out my first email newsletter of the session, just as I have done in the past. The newsletter is intended primarily for residents of the 118th District but it also goes out to other friends and to industry representatives and corporations, many of whom have asked to receive my free newsletter.
But here’s the problem: Last week’s newsletter, unlike previous editions, contained a request for support, including contributions for upcoming campaigns and constituent mailings. That is not a problem when directed towards individuals, but requests for contributions from industry groups and corporations is restricted from January 1 until the legislature’s final adjournment in May.
I was aware of the law and my request for support was intended for individuals. I simply sent out the newsletter before I realized that the request would also reach those it was not intended for. Rather than look the other way and hope no one noticed, I did what Betsy and I have taught our own children… tell the truth and accept the consequences. I reported the incident to the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission as soon as I realized my error. Resolution of this matter will be decided at a hearing on February 17th. At that time I will say ‘I made a mistake. I promise to be more careful in the future.’ And then I will pay whatever fine they levy from my personal checking account. It was my mistake, and I will use personal funds to settle the matter. Please contact me with any questions about this matter or the more important issues before the 2010 Legislature.
Governmental Efficiency Carries a Cost for Rural Kansas
No one knows when Kansas will emerge from the recession, but a rapid recovery is not expected by anyone. The effects on state and local government have been dramatic. We are now in the third year of declining state revenues, and projections point to at least one more year of decline. This is unprecedented! Never before in Kansas’ 149-year history has that happened.
State government has responded by cutting expenditures. In the past year there have been five rounds of cuts to the State General Fund, dropping it from $6.16 billion to $5.3 billion, a reduction of 14%. Belt tightening is required in tough times, and the process often uncovers unnecessary expenditures and inefficiencies. That is a very positive aspect of an economic downturn. It has been said that bad habits are formed in good times and good habits are formed in bad times. I believe we are doing just that in Kansas government… building good habits that will serve us well as the Kansas economy recovers from the fiscal crisis.
We found fat that could be cut from government budgets, but when we reduce funding that dramatically impacts the most vulnerable Kansas citizens – the disabled and elderly, we have moved beyond cutting the fat. When we close prisons and eliminate parole supervision programs, we have moved beyond cutting the fat. Cuts like these have been imposed throughout Kansas state government, and everyone will have an opportunity to feel the effects.
And yet we are still facing a $400 million shortfall in the State General Fund for fiscal year 2011. Many are doubtful that the budget gap can be closed with spending cuts alone, but we must continue to search for additional savings. But remember that the easy savings have already been accomplished. Further savings will take time to uncover and the effects on the budget will be slow in coming. Recognize also that as we search for efficiencies, the effects often fall disproportionally on rural areas. As SRS downsizes, an office in Dighton is targeted rather than one in Wichita. When a prison must be closed, Stockton shuts down instead of a facility in Topeka. A National Guard armory is mothballed in Goodland instead of Johnson County.
Many times these steps are recognition of the inefficiencies of serving rural areas. Kansas has more people employed in state and local government per 10,000 residents than any of our neighboring states. We also have more units of local government than our neighbors. That system represents an inefficiency that has many folks looking for solutions. Many of those governmental units are in Western Kansas, and I urge all of you who serve on local boards and commissions to take a fresh look at how you operate. Look again and again for efficiencies and for ways to reduce costs. We all must search for ways to effectively deliver governmental services at less cost. I can assure you that others would like to solve that dilemma for us, and those of us who live west of Topeka would not like their solutions.
Interesting Websites
Kansas Lake Maps Is your fishing fever starting to rise? I know the season is a few months off for most of us, but it never hurts to be prepared. This site operated by the Kansas Biological Survey contains aerial photos and fishing maps of many Kansas lakes and reservoirs.
KanDrive Many of us could have used this site during the nasty weather of late December. It features road conditions and work zones throughout Kansas, with links to surrounding states.
U.S. Unemployment This interactive map shows the growth in unemployment in the U.S. in the past two years. Click the “Play” button and watch unemployment grow and spread inward.
Underworked American Children This the thought piece for the week… an article from The Economist. Don’t be put off by the demand that you register. You can use the site free for fourteen days.
Cowboy Logic: "An old timer is a man who’s had a lot of interesting experiences – some of
them true.”
Quote of the Week: “The young man knows the rules, but the old man knows the exceptions.”
– Oliver Wendell Holmes
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