Topeka — A proposal by anti-tax groups to limit state spending to the inflation rate is not realistic because of commitments already made to education and health care, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said Friday.
Sebelius also said there are more confrontations on the way with President Bush over health insurance for low-income children.
Concerning the state budget, Sebelius criticized a proposal to limit growth in spending in the next state budget to the inflation rate plus population growth.
The proposal has been touted in an advertising campaign by Americans for Prosperity, the Kansas Taxpayer Network and National Federation of Independent Business.
"Out-of-control state spending is leading to a fiscal crisis in the state of Kansas, and we want to help inform the public of the consequences of overspending tax dollars," said AFP-Kansas State Director Alan Cobb.
But Sebelius said the majority of increases in state spending have been because of court-ordered increases in school finance and escalating health care costs associated with Medicaid.
She said that backing off the commitment to public schools was "highly unlikely" and that neither she nor the Legislature would reduce services to needy Kansans.
On the federal front, Sebelius said that after meeting with congressional Democratic leaders this week, it appears there will be a continued standoff with Bush over funding of the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
SCHIP provides low-cost health coverage to the children of families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to purchase private insurance. The program covers 6.6 million children nationally, including 35,000 in Kansas.
Congress has approved a $35 billion increase in SCHIP over five years, which Bush vetoed.
Sebelius said congressional Democrats will continue to fight Bush over the issue but expect their best shot of overriding a veto is next fall.
"At that point, I am hopeful that Congress will step up and override because absent that, we will have to cut kids off of health insurance all across this country," Sebelius said.
Comments
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jmadison (anonymous) says…
The money you earn is not yours, its the government's.
Sebelius would be happy to spend every dime you make.
Agnostick (anonymous) says…
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?...
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?...
AFP seems to be the nation's largest network of corporate apologists. Their goal is the elimination of the middle class... and an even greater concentration of wealth in an even smaller number of pockets.
As a 'charitable organization, they leave much to be desired:
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index...
Agnostick
agnostick@excite.com
http://www.uscentrist.org
http://www.americanplan.org
ASBESTOS (anonymous) says…
"But Sebelius said the majority of increases in state spending have been because of court-ordered increases in school finance and escalating health care costs associated with Medicaid."
And those increases are fueled by the influx of illegal aliens.
Kathy needs to wake up.
63BC (anonymous) says…
I encourage people to read the AFP budget.
All it says is that government shouldn't grow faster than the incomes and population that support it.
That's sensible and sustainable, unlike the current trajectory of government spending.
yourworstnightmare (anonymous) says…
Maybe the AFP should consult with the Bush Administration and its run-away, reckless war spending.
janeyb (anonymous) says…
Wouldn't it be great if the government grew slower than the incomes and population that support it?
"SCHIP provides low-cost health coverage to the children of families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to purchase private insurance. "
Next we will need a program for the children of families who can afford private insurance, but can't afford the co-pay. The final blow will be we need a program for children of families who can afford private insurance and the co-pays, but can't afford their insurance and the taxes to provide everyone else's children with health care.
I'm a Democrat, but Kathleen, between federal taxes, state taxes and local taxes the burden has gotten too much.
deskboy04 (anonymous) says…
I think that my taxes are fair. I get a tremendous deal...my taxes provide education for all, police protection, fire protection, streets, etc. If anything I am getting a bargain...these folks are probably not paid enough.
Kropotkin (anonymous) says…
When Alan Cobb and Brenda Landwehr took their bus on its secret schedule this year, Cobb refused to admit that his funding was coming from Charles and David Koch. Why would anyone suppose that was the case?
What they're trying to push for is TABOR under some other name. TABOR created such a problem in Colorado, that the voters who had been conned into passing it then passed a measure to put a moratorium on it for five years. Before they did that, they exempted K-12 from its constraints.
We don't need to make those mistakes here in Kansas.