School finance countdown

79 days: The state Supreme Court has given lawmakers until April 12 to produce a constitutional school finance plan.

Sloan pushing for cancer drug repository

Rep. Tom Sloan, R-Lawrence, is sponsoring a bill to establish a repository for donated cancer medications, which can then be dispensed to patients at low cost.

“Too many cancer-fighting drugs are ‘thrown away’ each year in Kansas when a patient dies or their prescription changes,” Sloan said. “This bill will provide a means to get those drugs to people in need.”

The proposal allows persons, drug manufacturers or health facilities to donate unused drugs at a physician’s office, pharmacy, hospital or nonprofit clinic that elects to participate in the program.

Select Ed Committee gets down to work

Three weeks into the legislative session, the House Select Education Finance Committee will conduct meetings this week to tackle issues brought up in the Kansas Supreme Court opinion that gave lawmakers until April 12 to fix the school funding system.

The committee will meet all week, devoting one day to various factors that determine per pupil spending, such as English proficiency, at-risk students and transportation costs.

The meetings will be work sessions with no public testimony, but Chairwoman Kathe Decker, R-Clay Center, says anyone who wants to contact her on the issues should call her at 785-296-7637 or e-mail her at decker@house.state.ks.us.

Conservatives bypassed

Sen. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, said he was concerned that Senate leaders, who are considered moderate Republicans, were bypassing committees chaired by senators who are considered social conservatives.

Huelskamp is chairman of the Senate Elections and Local Government Committee, which normally works on legislation pertaining to campaign finance.

But a proposal to require that groups that run so-called “issue ads” report their contributions and expenses was sent to a committee chaired by a moderate Republican.

Today’s schedule

9:30 a.m.: Senate Judiciary Committee’s final action on restricting the sale of drug products containing ephedrine and hearing on death penalty bill aimed at changing jury matters in capital murder cases.

1:30 p.m.: House Federal and State Affairs Committee staff briefing on proposed constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage. Hearings will be held Tuesday through Thursday, if necessary.

Quote of the day

“I have said for a year, I don’t believe we need a constitutional amendment. I’d like the Legislature to get to work on the constitutional crisis which we have, which has a very firm deadline of April 12.”

— Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, speaking against a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, and urging lawmakers to focus on the Kansas Supreme Court deadline of April 12 to fix school finance.