Topeka ? When officials from Kansas University seek funding from the Legislature this session, they’ll be facing a former KU student body president who is now chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

Kevin Yoder, a Republican from Overland Park, recently was appointed by House Speaker-elect Mike O’Neal, R-Hutchinson, to lead the committee that will produce a state budget plan.

Yoder was KU student body president from April 1998 to April 1999, then went through KU law school and almost immediately into the Legislature, getting elected in 2002.

“My KU experience was a defining moment in my life,” said Yoder, who originally is from Hutchinson. “It is sort of a basis of my perspective.”

And according to David Ambler, former vice chancellor of student affairs, Yoder knows how to get things done.

When Yoder was student body president at KU, he championed and helped get approval of construction of the student recreation and fitness center. That rec center now has a basketball court named in Yoder’s honor.

Yoder’s recent committee appointment “is really testimony to a young man of incredible talent and great determination and high ethics,” Ambler said.

And although only 32, Yoder is extremely familiar with the inner workings of the Appropriations Committee.

He has served on the committee the past three years, the last two of which he chaired a subcommittee. And while in law school, Yoder interned for former state Rep. David Adkins when Adkins, also a former KU student body president, was chairman of Appropriations.

“Working with David was sort of a catalyst to growing my interest in politics and the creation of law,” Yoder said.

While Yoder said he looked forward to the opportunity to serve as chairman of the Appropriations Committee, he acknowledges the session that starts Jan. 12 will be one of the toughest budget-wise in recent memory.

The state faces an approximately $140 million revenue shortfall in the present fiscal year and possibly a $1 billion deficit in the next year.

Sebelius has already ordered agencies to reduce their budgets, but most expect even bigger cuts down the road.

“It’s pretty bleak,” Yoder said of the budget condition, but added, “It does give us an opportunity to make government work better and more efficient.”

He said there will be some pain in the budget process. “Our role will be to try to sort out which choice causes the least amount of pain. To the extent that we can protect KU and education in general, I am in favor. Unfortunately, my job is to make sure that debits equal credits,” he said.

Kathy Damron, a lobbyist for KU, said school officials are proud of Yoder’s success in the Legislature, but they don’t expect any special treatment from him.

“Everyone can be assured that Kevin will treat people fairly and even-handedly,” Damron said. “We feel confident that having someone as chair of House Appropriations, regardless of their alma mater, but someone who understands the importance of education, is very important.”