Budget crisis worsensLegislative leaders said Friday that January’s tax receipts were about $27 million below earlier projections, meaning that the budget shortfall previously thought to be $186 million for the current fiscal year, is getting worse.State Sen. John Vratil, R-Leawood, said that because the recession is deepening that tax receipts will continue to fall below expectations for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends June 30. That is why lawmakers need to make at least $300 million in adjustments now, he said.Neufeld awaiting confirmationIn December, incumbent House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, was defeated by state Rep. Mike O’Neal, R-Hutchinson, in the race for speaker.But before leaving his speaker position, Neufeld appointed himself to the Kansas Bioscience Authority board of directors, which disperses millions of tax dollars for bioscience development. Neufeld has sometimes been critical of the KBA board, and some legislators have been critical of Neufeld for appointing himself to the panel. Neufeld’s appointment must be confirmed by the state Senate.Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, R-Independence, said Neufeld will come up for a confirmation vote soon. Asked if Neufeld should have appointed himself, Schmidt said, “Obviously, there are people concerned about that issue. I think that’s an issue that 40 senators are going to have to decide for themselves.”What’s in a name?When U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins, R-Topeka, voted against President Obama’s $819 billion economic stimulus package, she issued a news release that made no mention of Obama.Instead, Jenkins criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif, and called the stimulus legislation “Pelosi’s borrow and spend plan.”According to a Survey USA poll, Obama enjoys a 62 percent job approval rating in Kansas. Study looks at Lawrence smoking banA recent study by the Kansas Health Institute on the impact of Lawrence’s smoke-free ordinance says that sales at restaurants and bars continued to increase after the ordinance was implemented in July 2004.Total sales at restaurants and bars increased 2.2 percent in the first year after the ordinance, and 6.4 percent the second year, the study said. In the 2 years prior to the ordinance, total sales increased 3.7 percent and 0.5 percent.The study concluded: “There are clearly winners and losers in the rough-and-tumble marketplace of the restaurant and bar industry. However, there are no studies in scientific peer-reviewed journals that document a consistent, negative, community-wide impact on restaurants and bars following the implementation of a smoke-free ordinance.”Next week in Topeka• The first meeting of a new group designed to prepare for the possibility of a federal stimulus package is Monday. The panel is chaired by Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson.
•House leaders say they will have a full House vote on budget cuts for the current fiscal year either Wednesday or Thursday.
•There may be a vote Tuesday in the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee on Senate Bill 25, which would establish a statewide ban on smoking in indoor public places.
• House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday has a public hearing scheduled for House Bill 2082, which is being called the “Truth in Musical Performance Advertising Act.” It would make it illegal for groups to pose as famous bands unless at least one member of the group was a member of the actual recording group.