Topeka ? Rep. Tom Sloan said Tuesday that the president of the Kansas Board of Regents, which governs higher education, should participate in the governor’s Cabinet meetings.

Sloan, a Republican from Lawrence, has filed a resolution that would encourage Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to invite the chief executive of the regents to the weekly Cabinet meetings.

“When budgetary decisions and priorities are being made, a representative of the higher education community should be present and participating,” said Sloan, who is chairman of the House Higher Education Committee.

Because of higher education’s importance to the state economy and because it makes up a significant portion of the state budget – about 15 percent – “it’s important that someone from the board of regents sit at the Cabinet meetings as equals with the secretary of transportation and others,” he said.

Sloan’s resolution would require a majority in the House and Senate to pass, but would not be binding on the governor.

Currently, the governor appoints regents members, who appoint a president. Reggie Robinson is president and CEO of the regents.

Kansas governors appoint their Cabinet secretaries, who are in charge of state agencies or specific functions.

Sloan’s proposal met a lukewarm reception.

Kip Peterson, a spokesman for the regents, said the board hadn’t considered Sloan’s proposal.

“We didn’t request it,” Peterson said. “We already work pretty closely with the governor’s office, and she appoints our members.”

Nicole Corcoran, a spokeswoman for Sebelius, said the governor hadn’t seen the resolution.

“But I can tell you that Gov. Sebelius meets regularly with the university presidents and board of regents President Reggie Robinson. As a matter of fact, they just met last week.

“Our office works very closely with the board of regents and will continue to do so – resolution or not,” she said.