UNDER THE DOME

Van-pool FAQ

“Q. Will the state Vanpool Program continue to operate?

“A. Yes, the Vanpool Program will continue to operate. The van-pool program is not affected by these changes.”

That information was on the Kansas Department of Administration Web site late Friday despite notification earlier in the month that Gov. Kathleen Sebelius had ordered the phase-out of the van pool. The issue has generated a lot of political heat in Lawrence, where dozens of state employees ride the vans to Topeka each weekday to get to their jobs. Their payment into the program pays for the upkeep and replacement costs of the vans.

State employees said the Sebelius administration made the decision without thinking it through and officials now were digging in their heels so as not to look bad if they reversed themselves. The Web address is http://da.state.ks.us/fm/cmp/ information/transition/ vanpool/default.htm. If the statement that the van pool would not be affected by Sebelius’ decision to sell hundreds of state vehicles is not on the site anymore, it’s due to an early riser in the Sebelius administration.

Constitutional marriage

Within the next week or two, a proposed constitutional amendment will be before Kansas lawmakers that essentially says marriage must be between a man and a woman. State law already bans same-sex marriages, but proponents of a constitutional ban say it will ensure that court judgments from other states, such as the one in Massachusetts that ruled in favor of gay marriage, cannot force a change in Kansas law. To win passage, an amendment to the Kansas Constitution requires two-thirds approval in the House and Senate and approval by voters statewide. If the Legislature gives it the two-thirds OK, the question will be put to voters in November.

Health insurance

Rep. Dale Swenson, R-Wichita, has filed a bill aimed at identifying companies that fail to offer health insurance for their employees, thus costing state taxpayers the amount to cover those employees under Medicaid or Health Wave. Asked whether the bill was aimed at Wal-Mart, which has been criticized for providing inadequate health coverage for its workers, Swenson said Wal-Mart was not mentioned in the bill, but that one could probably find in the bill a W, an A, an L, etc.

Department of Earl

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius wants to change the name of the Kansas Department of Human Resources to the Department of Labor, but maybe it should be called the Kansas Department of Earl. Human Resources Secretary Jim Garner recently told a legislative committee the agency’s desperate need for better computers was apparent when the system was breaking down last year as the department was trying to send out extended unemployment checks to people laid off by the aviation industry. Garner, who was new in the job, called in his computer staff to find out how the agency fixed previous computer problems. “Earl does it,” was the answer. A guy named Earl who had retired nine years ago was periodically brought out of retirement on a contract basis to handle computer emergencies. Garner said Earl did good work, but the situation meant the agency needed to modernize its computer system.

SCHEDULE

Capitol doings

Sen. Nick Jordan, R-Shawnee, and Rep. Kenny Wilk, R-Lansing, will unveil a plan to encourage development of bioscience research at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Dillon House, across the street from the Capitol.

Possibly Wednesday or Thursday, the House will debate a bill that would add a 50-cent monthly tax on wireless phones to improve 911 service.

Sometime this week, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ gambling bill will be introduced.

House committees:

• House Environment, 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in Room 231; review reports of mountain lions in Kansas.
• House Judiciary, 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in Room 313; hearing on bill eliminating requirement of one judge per county.
• House Local Government, 3:30 p.m. Thursday in Room 519; hearings on open records and open meetings bills.
• House Commerce and Labor, 9 a.m. Friday in Room 241; hearing on bill fining employers for hiring undocumented workers.

Senate committees:

• Senate Education Committee, 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in Room 123; testimony from Alan Rupe, lead attorney for plaintiffs in school-finance lawsuit.
• Senate Tax and Assessment Committee, 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Room 519; hearing on bill that would allow vote to increase sales tax in Douglas County by one-half cent with increase going to public schools.