The 2004 Kansas legislative session will convene Monday in Topeka, and although there is no way to accurately predict how the session will be viewed, there is one almost certain prediction about the gathering.

Money — the availability or lack of it — is sure to be the central issue in what is accomplished for the state and its residents.

The other key issue is legislators’ state of mind. Will they be coming to Topeka intent on doing what they think is best for the state and its residents, or will their actions and votes be based on selfish interests?

Granted, voters expect those they send to Topeka to represent the residents of their district. And yet these lawmakers are supposed to do what is best for the entire state. At times, this presents a delicate tightrope for legislators to walk.

Kansas, like most other states in the union, is facing severe financial challenges. There are limited dollars available, and tax receipts are down. Most state agencies are requesting increased funding, and many state-aided programs are being asked to operate with less. And there is divided thinking on the necessity of raising taxes.

How to resolve these critical issues is the $64,000 question. Will legislators vote the party line? How will the severe split within the Republican Party affect the 2004 legislative session? Is there any possibility — even a long shot — that Kansas lawmakers could set an example for the rest of the nation by putting aside political handcuffs and basing their votes solely on what is best for the state?

Under the heading of money will be questions about funding for education, K-12 as well as higher education; highways such as the South Lawrence Trafficway; protecting the environment; health care and various programs under the human resources umbrella; and how to fund new programs that would be good for the state but take sizable funding to implement.

Rep. Kenny Wilk from nearby Lansing has been working long and hard to put together a plan to create a funding mechanism to help finance greater life sciences research. It is known that officials of the Stowers Institute have been giving serious thought to a second facility.

The Stowers Institute in Kansas City, Mo., is a true world-class research institute, housing top researchers from around the world. It is a tremendous asset for the area, and Wilk and others want to do what they can to make Stowers officials look favorably on building the second research facility in the Kansas City area, ideally in Kansas.

Doctors and researchers at Kansas University — here in Lawrence as well as at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. — have played a role in developing the Stowers Institute. It would be great if those calling the shots at Stowers would see that Kansas officials are eager to move ahead on supporting a second facility.

Stowers officials are not looking for a handout. The new institute could be located on the East Coast, in California, the Southeast or somewhere else, and the decision can’t be “bought.” However, those selecting the site want to see evidence that a state like Kansas is genuinely interested in further study and research in the life sciences field. They want evidence a state and its residents are willing to demonstrate their commitment to excellence and the study of life sciences.

The plan to be presented to Kansas lawmakers would include the efforts and facilities at both KU and Kansas State University. Reports indicate the initial plan to develop and fund this program in Kansas has been viewed by out-of-state observers as innovative and visionary.

The Stowers effort is just one challenge — better yet, opportunity — coming before state legislators as they convene in Topeka. The big question in addition to specific issues such as funding for education, highways, etc., is how to jump-start the state’s economy, how to deal with the current economy, create jobs and take a visionary approach to developing a healthier state.

Encouraging a second Stowers Institute to locate in Kansas would be a huge step in this effort, but it will take the courage, vision and bipartisan effort of all state lawmakers to be successful.

All 165 legislators will be up for re-election this year. What will be the deciding factor in whether the 2004 legislative session is successful? It seems to this writer the key is whether lawmakers decide to work on behalf of the entire state, putting aside politics and regional jealousies. Without this effort, this could be another contentious, divided session marked by a lack of cooperation.

Legislators in this session have a rare opportunity to show leadership and vision that could pay enormous dividends for Kansas. Time will tell whether they take advantage of this situation or allow selfish interests and politics to rule the day.