Governor participates in online chat

Welcome to our online chat with Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

The chat took place at 2:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, and is now closed, but you can read the full transcript on this page.

Moderator: The live chat with Gov. Sebelius should begin shortly. Thank you for all of your questions.

Rick, Lawrence: We seem to have reached the ‘fork’ in the road statewide with regards to school finance. If you’re unsuccessful in marshalling the state Legislature to develop a sound formula to equitably fund schools across the state, then would you support local option sales tax and local option property tax increases beyond state statute limits to be voted upon by local district patrons as a ‘self-funded’ mandate to support their schools? While this creates a ‘Have vs. Have-Nots’ funding imbalance, at least those communities that value education can put their money where their mouths are. Good luck on a challenging session.

Gov. Sebelius: I think that the extent to which local communities will be allowed to enhance state support of education will be determined in large part by the Kansas Supreme Court and its decision on the school finance case. Currently, the law expects the state to provide the major share of the funding for education and there is some question about the current optional amount with the local option budget. I am all for local control and have certainly encouraged and participated in additional funding at the local level as a parent and through our son’s school district, but I am concerned sales tax and/or property tax will be seen as a way to disequalize school funding and may be viewed as unconstitutional by the Kansas Supreme Court. I am hoping the Kansas State Legislature steps up and adequately funds schools.

Dee, Lawrence: I would like to know if you are reconsidering your decision to discontinue the commuter van pool in light of new information that has come out recently. If not, why not?

Gov. Sebelius: I have been talking to the administrators at the Department of Administration about the cost and expenses of the Vanpool, and still feel that it is not appropriate for the state to subsidize a group of employees and non-employees who want to travel together to Topeka. If the Legislature decides this is a good way to spend state dollars, then I won’t stand in the way of legislation. But when we were looking for ways to trim the state budget, not purchasing vans beyond the ones currently in use seemed one of the more productive strategies.

Howard, Wichita: Kathleen, how is the first dude adjusting to his new role?

Gov. Sebelius: I think that Gary likes both his new job as a federal magistrate judge, and his role as first dude of Kansas. He seems to have made it through the first year unscathed.

Dan, Lawrence: Have you endorsed any of the 2004 Democratic presidential candidates, and if not, do you plan to do so?

Gov. Sebelius: I have not made an endorsement at this time, and I am eagerly watching the process unfold. Our older son, Ned, is working for John Kerry, so I get regular updates on that campaign. It is possible, before the Kansas caucuses in mid-March, I will make an endorsement. But right now I’m just listening to all the candidates, figuring out the most viable person to run as the Democratic nominee.

John, Olathe: I would like to invite the governor to the City of Olathe for an old-fashioned town hall meeting. If yes, please have your secretary contact my secretary.

Gov. Sebelius: I do lots of meetings all over the state, and I have travel commitments in various parts of Kansas. If John wants to make an invitation with some sort of a date and a time, we’d be more than happy to take a look at it.

Jack: Kansas universities, particularly Kansas and Kansas State, have fallen behind peer schools (Missouri, Iowa State) in state funding. What is the long-term plan for state funding of KU? Does it rely more on tuition increases or a larger commitment from the state?

Gov. Sebelius: Well, as part of the 2005 budget, I recommended that the Legislature stick to the committment it began several years ago and put additional dollars into the universities and community colleges, particularly in professor salaries. I’m hopeful the Legislature passes this budget. In addition, I did not, in one of the toughest budget years that Kansas has ever had, cut university budgets last year. While Missouri may, at one point, have provided good support for the universities, Kansas is now well ahead of many of the neighboring states in terms of its commitment to higher education.

Kim, Lawrence: What do you think of the Massachusetts ruling regarding gay marriage?

Gov. Sebelius: I frankly have not read the court case at this point, and don’t know the basis of the ruling, but I assume the justices looked at the law that had been passed and decided it was appropriate for gays in Massachusetts to have the right to legally marry.

Bob: How much revenue has already been generated by the lottery, and has it been spent as was promised when the lottery was passed? Can we expect new “sin taxes” to follow this example? Aren’t these taxes ultimately regressive?

Gov. Sebelius: The lottery has generated about $800 million in revenue since it was created in 1986, and the expenditures follow state law, which has changed several times since that point. Sin taxes are not gaming taxes. There are already proposals in this year’s Legislature to raise taxes on alcohol products and there may well be a proposal to raise tobacco taxes. I’m not sure if the Legislature will pass any of those proposals. I have not proposed that we increase sin taxes in Kansas.

Moderator: That was our last question. We would like to sincerely thank Gov. Sebelius for her time. We will continue to do these live chats throughout the 2004 legislative session with the leadership of the state of Kansas. Thank you to all who participated and watched this chat.