Show of force

Expect an announcement this week by Atty. Gen. Phill Kline to toughen prison sentences for those convicted of crimes against people and property. Kline has long complained the sentencing guidelines are lax in some areas, and had a task force conduct hearings on ways to keep offenders in prison longer. Kline will have dozens of law-enforcement officials by his side when he unveils his proposal. But increasing prison time carries a price tag, because the state prison system is at capacity. Most recent changes in state sentencing guidelines have been to reduce penalties, such as on drug offenses, to free up space to hold more dangerous criminals.

Van pool fight continues

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ plan to abolish the van pool — large commuter vans that ferry about 270 state employees back and forth to Topeka each week day — continues to meet resistance.

Employees who use the vans say their monthly fees more than pay for the program and the cost of replacement vehicles. And they are fighting Sebelius’ proposal on the environmental front. A recent study showed the van pool eliminated 64,000 vehicle trips per year, saving 4.5 million miles or the equivalent of 190 trips around the world.

Zebra mussels invasion

This non-native aquatic species is causing havoc in waters across the nation, and has been located in Kansas at El Dorado Lake. The mussels are a problem because they have been known to clog water intake pipes and damage boat engines. But the infestation in Kansas is worse than state officials originally thought. Recently, El Dorado Lake was lowered to kill zebra mussels along the dewatered shoreline, according to the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Department. The exercise showed that the mussels had grown substantially in size and number since first being spotted in August. In fact, their size — about 10 to 15 millimeters long — indicate they have probably been in the lake since 2001, officials said.

Lanes of communication

Former President Reagan used to get a laugh with his line about federal officials descending on an unsuspecting local group saying, “Hello, I’m from the government and I’m here to help,” and then messing everything up. In Finney County, that line is getting new use. Local officials there want to widen a five-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 50 to four lanes, at a cost of $24 million. But the Kansas Department of Transportation says that isn’t good enough. KDOT, citing safety concerns, wants to widen the road to expressway standards with special access points at a cost of $54 million. Usually locals are the ones asking for the bigger project, and the state demurs, but in this case state government wants to help.

Minority groups seeking departmental move

The leaders of the Kansas African-American Affairs Commission and Kansas Advisory Committee on Hispanic Affairs are pushing for passage of a bill that would transfer those groups from the Kansas Department of Human Resources to the governor’s office. Danielle Dempsey-Swopes, executive director of the African-American Commission, said the change made sense because Human Resources focuses on employment issues, while the African-American Commission addresses issues of health, housing, public education, social services and culture, as well as employment and economic development. Elias Garcia, executive director of the Committee on Hispanic Affairs, cited pretty much the same reasons to move that group. The legislation is HB 2435 and is in the House Commerce and Labor Committee.

Light reading

If you enjoy playing around with statistics, a report called “The Governor’s Economic and Demographic Report, 2003-2004” is right up your alley. For example, the report shows that while Kansas has a much greater proportion of people over 85 than the United States as a whole, Kansas’ median age is the 15th youngest in the nation. This probably means something, possibly that Hallmark should start a line of birthday cards in Kansas for great-grandparents and great-grandchildren. The report can be accessed at the Kansas Division of Budget’s Web site at http://da.state.ks.us/budget. The report is released with the governor’s budget proposal but seldom gets much publicity.

Schedule

What to watch this week:

• Joint meeting of House and Senate economic development committees and agriculture committees, 8:30 a.m. Monday, Room 313. U.S. Sens. Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts, both Republicans from Kansas, will speak on life-science issues and rural development.
• State Finance Council, 3 p.m. Monday, Room 123. Consideration of $500 million in pension obligation bonds.
• Joint meeting of Senate Tax and Education committees, 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Room 313. Overview of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ school-finance proposal.
• Senate Tax Committee, 10:30 a.m. Thursday and Friday, Room 519. Hearings on Sebelius’ tax and school plans.
• House Commerce and Labor, 9 a.m. Wednesday, Room 241. Hearing on a proposal to increase the state minimum wage.
• House Education, 9 a.m. Thursday, Room 313. Hearing on proposed constitutional amendment to abolish State Board of Education and establish appointed position of secretary of education.

Quotable

“I appreciate this meeting, particularly squeezing us in before concealed carry passes.”

— School-finance attorney Alan Rupe, to the Senate Education Committee. Rupe won a lawsuit that says Kansas lawmakers may have to increase school funding by $1 billion.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius
Toll free phone: (877) 579-6757
Local phone: (785) 296-3232
For the hearing impaired:
(800) 766-3777
governor@state.ks.us

Sen. Mark Buhler
(785) 296-7364
buhler@senate.state.ks.us

Sen. Anthony Hensley
(785) 296-3245
hensley@senate.state.ks.us

Sen. Bob Lyon
(785) 296-7372
lyon@senate.state.ks.us

Sen. Robert Tyson
(785) 296-7380
tyson@senate.state.ks.us

Rep. Barbara Ballard
(785) 296-7650
ballard@house.state.ks.us

Rep. Rob Boyer
(785) 296-7692
boyer@house.state.ks.us

Rep. Paul Davis
(785) 296-7665
davis@house.state.ks.us

Rep. Tom Holland
(785) 296-7665
holland@house.state.ks.us

Rep. Joe Humerickhouse
(785) 296-7641
humerickhouse@house.state.ks.us

Rep. Tom Sloan
(785) 296-7677
sloan@house.state.ks.us

Rep. Lee Tafanelli
(785) 296-7641
tafanelli@house.state.ks.us

Rep. Roger Toelkes
(785) 296-7665
toelkes@house.state.ks.us

Rep. Kenny Wilk
(785) 296-7660
wilk@house.state.ks.us

Online

Track the status of individual bills and listen to House and Senate proceedings live at the Kansas Legislature Web site, www.kslegislature.org.

Find information about Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and her proposals at www.ksgovernor.org.