Editor’s note: Sen. Mark Buhler, R-Lawrence, was appointed to fill out the remaining two years of the term of former Sen. Sandy Praeger, R-Lawrence. Buhler’s journal-style column will be published online throughout the 2003 session of the Legislature.

Monday, March 17, 2003

Committees are starting to move the bills through that the House passed. It looks like this week and next will be designed to finish those bills. I’ve heard that both bodies combined dealt with over 600 bills this session. Many bills are very narrow in scope and some are very broad. Good people trying to do good things. Still no big picture on the budget available, but it is going to happen in the last few days. I know that’s what they told me the first day, but its not very comforting.

Tuesday, March 18, 2003

I thought I was on the city commission for a while on Tuesday in the Senate Elections and Local Government Committee. The city of Topeka is in the process of annexing parts of the rural parts of Shawnee County. The county commission and many in the area are violently opposed to annexation. They say they have no representation in the matter. Does this remind you of Western Hills? We have seen a flurry of bills in the legislature that are specific to Shawnee County and Topeka. We are being asked to help decide their local issue. A few years ago, the Lake Sherwood community was successful in getting the legislature to prevent the city of Topeka from annexing their property. This is apparently the legislation they are relying on. This makes me appreciate home all the more. We have many challenges but this isn’t one of them!

Wednesday, March 19, 2003

Senate Bill 260 was debated on the floor today. The bill allows KPERS to borrow money through the issuance of bonds (the state will service the debt through appropriations, not general obligation of the state) and invest it in the market. This authority is needed because, like many things over here, KPERS is underfunded. We are meeting our current retirement obligations but we need to grow KPERS some $1.5 billion to meet future obligations. This bill authorizes up to $750 million in borrowing to accomplish this goal. The alternative to this legislation is to put money in KPERS without borrowing it. That means raising revenue which is a tax and not very appealing to anyone right now. The debate was classic with those that don’t think borrowing is the thing to do because of the risk making an impassioned plea. The others simply stated that this is an alternative solution to our problem that does not require a tax increase. Those that think putting money in the market is not the thing to do may have forgotten KPERS is in the market everyday, to the tune of $8 billion. (that’s the size of KPERS now) This bill is a strong committment to all the members of KPERS. It goes to the House now for their consideration.

Thursday, March 20, 2003

More committee meetings today. Bills are moving to the Senate. There are 43 bills to be debated and acted on for nex week. A classic show down on Senate Bill 181, workers compensation is coming up. We have basically operated under a 1993 workers compensation act. Employers want some relief, employees see it as a take away. The bill has been debated in committe, in subcommittee and now to the Senate floor. It is a complicate bill in its present form, allegations made on both sides will make this an interest Monday in the Capitol.

Friday, March 21, a2003

Early session today. Lobbyist out and about on SB 181. I’m heading to Lawrence to talk to Channel 6 on S.B. 254, the the reaction bill to the fire in Rhode Island that killed many people