Not germane

State Rep. Tom Holland, a Democrat from Baldwin, said he was “sandbagged” by big business interests on his bill that would have increased penalties on companies that knowingly hired illegal immigrants. The measure had the support of many small business owners who said it was difficult to compete with companies that purposely hired undocumented workers and exploited them by paying low wages and providing few, if any, benefits. House Business, Commerce and Labor Chairman Donald Dahl, R-Hillsboro, didn’t work on Holland’s bill in committee, so Holland tried to attach his proposal to another bill during House action last week. But that move was shot down after House leaders declared his bill was “not germane” to the subject of the underlying bill, which dealt with enhancing punishments for people convicted of exploiting elderly residents.

Deputy Dogs

Some lawmakers couldn’t contain their dislike of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks during a recent discussion. The topic was a bill that would allow Wildlife and Parks to enter into compacts with other states to handle people who violate wildlife laws. But House Speaker Pro-Tem John Ballou, R-Gardner, said he was tired of Wildlife and Parks agents acting like “Deputy Dogs.” And House Majority Leader Clay Aurand of Courtland criticized the agency, saying, “If Wildlife and Parks spent more time managing the deer herd instead of worrying about compacts … ” Aurand has a bill that would allow for extended deer hunting seasons in counties where more than 25 percent of the motor vehicle accidents are caused by deer.

Republican minorities

Some Republicans have expressed angst about a bill that would allow state Hispanic and African-American affairs offices to move from the Kansas Department of Human Resources and into the office of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat. The fear among some members of the GOP is that the move would give Democrats an edge in swaying minority voters. But state Rep. Mario Goico, R-Wichita and a native of Cuba, said that although most Hispanics were Democrats, Hispanic newcomers to the United States were trending toward Republican positions.

Wage issues

House Speaker Doug Mays, R-Topeka, said he thought state employees would get a pay raise in the 3 percent range, but that efforts to increase the state minimum wage were once again dead. The current state minimum wage is $2.65 an hour, the lowest in the nation. It applies to about 24,000 employees who are not under the guidelines of the federal minimum wage, which is $5.15 per hour. Mays said increasing the state minimum was “not going to happen.” He added: “As every year goes by, the state minimum becomes more and more irrelevant. Who in the world can you hire for $2 an hour, who can you hire at the federal minimum wage, and as the economy heats up, the labor pool will grow smaller and smaller and all the minimum wages become less relevant.”

Deadline passed

Friday was “turnaround,” meaning it was the last day most bills could be approved in their house of origin in order to receive further consideration this session. Since the Jan. 12 start of the session, the Senate approved 91 bills and the House, 149 bills.

Schedule

Things to watch:

• Today: House and Senate will not be meeting.
• Tuesday: Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will address education rally at 4 p.m. at Johnson County Community College’s Carlsen Center in Overland Park.
• Wednesday, Thursday: House will debate a bill allowing concealed carry of firearms Wednesday and debate a proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage Thursday.
• Friday is Hispanic Day on the Hill at the Capitol.

Quotable

I’m eager for dialogue. I’ve been eager for months. I’m happy to work with any legislator who wants to talk about ideas.”

— Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, on building a coalition of legislators willing to provide more money for public schools.