When the Kansas Legislature reconvenes later this month, legislators will have to deal with the same major issue they faced when the 2004 session began in January: public education funding.

What the lawmakers finally decide may be a key issue when voters go to the polls in the fall, Douglas County legislators said during a forum Saturday morning at Kansas University’s Dole Institute of Politics.

“It’s the issue most people are concerned about,” said Rep. Barbara Ballard, D-Lawrence. “It also could be any issue at any given time.”

About 90 people gathered for breakfast and to hear the legislators in the final installment of this year’s Capitol Connections series organized by the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by the Lawrence Journal-World and SBC.

In addition to Ballard, other legislators attending were Rep. Paul Davis, D-Lawrence; Rep. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin, and Sen. Mark Buhler, R-Lawrence.

Buhler shook his head at the Senate’s action this year concerning education. The upper chamber has rejected seven school-funding bills.

“I think a lot of people have a reality problem over there,” Buhler said, adding that he remained hopeful something would be worked out.

Holland said he wondered if a final bill — whenever it comes — would meet the requirements of Shawnee County Judge Terry Bullock’s order for the state to fix an underfunded public education system by July 1.

“The Legislature runs a big risk of voter outrage if something isn’t done,” Davis said.

Expanding parks offerings

Funding for parks has become more of an issue this year and one that will probably continue into next year, the legislators said. Drawing attention to the issue has been opposition to purchasing land along the Kansas River once owned by the former Menninger Clinic. State Wildlife and Parks Secretary Mike Hayden, a former governor, wants to turn the land into a state park. He also wants to make the Circle K ranch in southwestern Kansas into a state park.

“We do have to fund the parks, but there’s not enough money to go around (to do everything)” Ballard said.

The parks issues may have to wait until next year, Buhler said.

Rolling the dice

Expanded casino gaming, legislators said, also will be back next year if the issue isn’t decided during the wrap-up session, which begins April 28.

“There’s not that much visibility,” Holland said of gambling bills, although legislation proposing expansion of casino gambling has been introduced in each of the past 10 years.

All four legislators touted the biosciences bill Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will sign Monday. The Kansas Economic Growth Act will distribute $500 million in the next 15 years to try to make Kansas a national player in biosciences. The funding is designed to fuel research by establishing a bioscience authority that will work with state universities, recruit top scholars and build facilities.

“We can attract some pretty talented people here,” Buhler said. “This is very significant for us.”

The legislators said they weren’t concerned about Sebelius’ veto last week of the concealed-carry weapons bill. They said there was little support in their districts for it.