Governor-elect is missing opportunity to show leadership

It is unfortunate Kansas Gov.-elect Kathleen Sebelius has not viewed the current state financial problems as an opportunity to show leadership and a desire to work in the best interests of the state.

Based on recent news reports, it appears not much has changed in Topeka, with far too many people trying to play the blame game.

Kansas faces a shortfall of about $310 million, and the governor is expected to make sufficient cuts to balance the state budget. This is for the immediate situation, and there is the likelihood of an even greater shortfall for fiscal year 2004.

Sebelius has said she doesn’t intend to get involved in the immediate budget crisis, that it is the responsibility of retiring Gov. Bill Graves. During her campaign, she pledged not to cut state funding for education even though K-12 and higher education account for about 68 percent of state expenditures. It has been clear for some time there is little chance of balancing the budget without some major reductions in state expenditures or sizable tax increases.

Sebelius wants to place the blame for any soon-to-be-made cuts in education funding on the shoulders of Graves, thereby distancing herself from the ugly reality of painful cuts.

Consider how great it would be if Sebelius said something like, “I want to do what I can at this time, even before I move into the Governor’s Office, to address the current fiscal crisis and work with Gov. Graves to do what is in the best interests of the state. I am not interested in playing politics or engaging in what some would consider partisan political games. This is not the time to try to win votes but rather to try to help the state.

“I want to work closely with the governor and how we, not the Republican Party or the Democratic Party but we, both of us, try to get through this difficult and painful period. We must look to the future and the well-being of the state and its people, not what action might put us in a more favorable position with voters.”

So far, there isn’t much evidence Sebelius wants to work with Graves on trimming state expenditures. It looks as if she is perfectly willing, in fact happy, to have Graves saddled with the responsibility of making major painful cuts in a wide range of state programs, including education. This way, she can delay any cuts she may have to make until some time in 2003 and claim the most damaging cuts were made by her predecessor.

This isn’t the best way to start off a four-year term as governor. She and her top aides must realize they are going to have to work with a Republican-controlled House and Senate if there is to be any chance of a constructive, positive and forward-moving program to get Kansas through its current financial crisis. Moving into office in January with these kinds of partisan, blame-game politics in November and December is not the best way to get Republicans in a mood to work with her.

If she persists with this kind of approach, it is sure to result in a long, ugly, unproductive four years, and Kansas and its people will suffer.

As this writer has stated before, more than 40 states are facing very serious financial challenges. However, five or 10 years from now, there will be stories about how some of these states emerged from this difficult period in a sound, forward-looking position, ready to take advantage of the many opportunities that presented themselves to a given state and its citizens.

Kansas could be one of the leaders, a state looked to as an example for other states, but it isn’t going to happen without cooperation among political leaders, a true desire to do what is necessary at this time to keep the state strong, positive and enthusiastic about the future and its possibilities.

Some states are going to be looked upon as winners and achievers five or 10 years from now while those living in other states will be wondering what happened and why their state is merely treading water or slipping behind.

If Kansas and its residents want to be in the winner’s circle, work and planning to achieve this goal must start now. There’s no justification for delay. It’s not going to be helped by Sebelius and her top aides trying to skirt involvement in any cuts in state expenditures that Graves apparently thinks are important to make now rather than postponing as Sebelius inherits the difficult, almost no-win, task. She should be pleased and appreciative of the opportunity to be involved with Graves’ actions.

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Speaking of politics, how long is it going to be before the Kansas Republican Party gets its act together? The current situation is an embarrassment. Because of the deep split between moderates and conservatives, the people of Kansas are not getting the good government and leadership they deserve.

Those living in the contentious 3rd Congressional District, the majority of whom are Republicans, are not being represented by an officeholder who reflects the thinking of the majority of his constituents. He has been elected to three terms in office primarily because the GOP is split. The Douglas County situation is not good, and it looks as if the division among Douglas County Republicans will become even more pronounced, to the detriment of the county.

Again, how long is this going to last, and where are GOP leaders who have the ability to come up with a remedy to put the party back together for the good of the state?