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Unity in priorities benefits Wichita region

BY JEANNINE KORANDA

Eagle Topeka bureau

Of Wichita area interest

CESSNA BOND

Cessna will receive up to $33 million in bonds to build its new business jet in Wichita. The package is part of a $150 million incentive pool for aviation research, development, engineering, services or manufacturing.

AVIATION TRAINING AND RESEARCH

Aviation training and research centers in Wichita received $5 million apiece in the main budget. The training money will support a center at the Jabara Campus. The research money will help the National Institute for Aviation Research at Wichita State University.

DOCTOR TRAINING

Lawmakers included $1 million in the main budget for the Wichita Center for Graduate Medical Education, which helps train doctors. An additional $1.5 million was inserted into the health care reform bill. The program still must seek an additional $7.1 million from the Kansas Bioscience Authority.

STALKING

"Jodi's Law," which awaits the governor's signature, makes it easier for law enforcement officers to pursue stalking charges. It would allow charges after two or more instances that a "reasonable" person would find threatening. It is named after 19-year-old Jodi Sanderholm of Arkansas City, who was abducted, raped and murdered in January 2007.

DOCTOR SCRUTINY

A bill sent to the governor allows the Kansas Board of Healing Arts to discipline errant doctors after one case of negligence and bars physicians from sexual contact with patients. It creates a searchable database on the board's Web site that would include the history of all doctors registered in the state. And it requires the physicians and nurses applying for licenses to undergo fingerprinting and background checks.

JUDGES

Lawmakers added money for an additional two district court judges in Sedgwick County, to deal with expanding caseloads and reduce waiting times for litigants.

SUMNER COUNTY CASINO

An annexation bill included a provision that would block Mulvane's annexation of potential casino sites stalled in the House.

TOPEKA - Despite a tight budget year, south-central lawmakers secured millions of dollars for local projects -- including a package to encourage future aviation development.

"We were very fortunate that our projects were funded this year, especially in light of how the session is ending," said Sen. Jean Schodorf, R-Wichita, the day before the Legislature adjourned.

All of the priorities identified by Visioneering Wichita for the region in November had been achieved before the wrap-up session ground to a halt because of disagreements over a final spending bill.

Throughout the session, area lawmakers in the House and Senate touted the statewide benefits of sending money to Wichita -- and it paid off.

"We're unified in our overall goals for the area, we are bipartisan and it gives us tremendous clout in the Legislature," said Sen. Susan Wagle, R-Wichita.

The work toward common goals -- especially on money for aviation training and research -- helped when lawmakers unexpectedly needed money to lure Cessna to build its new business jet in Wichita.

Both chambers quickly passed a package that gave the company $33 million in bonds and created a $150 million pool that future aviation projects could tap into.

Beyond that, the main state budget included money for all the projects on the area's wish list, including $5 million for aviation research at the National Institute for Aviation Research at Wichita State University, $5 million for aviation training at a new center at Jabara Airport and $1 million for Wichita's Equus Beds Aquifer recharge project.

The Wichita Center for Graduate Medical Education, which helps train doctors, received $2.5 million of the $9.6 million it sought to expand research and keep its accreditation. Supporters hope to get the rest from the Kansas Bioscience Authority.

Kansas University's School of Pharmacy will benefit from money that will help the school expand in Wichita and in Lawrence.

The region's success

Many people credit the list developed by Visioneering Wichita as contributing to the region's legislative success. The group, started in 2004, brings together members from the city, county and other groups to establish priorities.

"It wasn't always this way. I think it is an attitude," said Bernie Koch, who lobbies for the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce.

In previous years, the city and county sometimes pursued different issues that were at odds with each other, he said.

"There was a perception that we were fragmented in our approach to some legislative needs that we had here," agreed Suzie Ahlstrand, who works with Visioneering Wichita and is vice president of community advancement for the chamber.

"Compared to the last 20 years, we have done an outstanding job of setting our personal issues aside to work for the betterment of the region," said Sen. Phil Journey, R-Haysville.

The list of priorities -- and having everyone focused on the same goals in the past few years -- helped the region, he said.

"We think of ourselves as a region, we realize we are the economic engine for the state," Rep. Raj Goyle, D-Wichita, agreed.

The area's success showed what bipartisan work could do, he said.

The projects' appeal

The projects also helped the lawmakers sell them, others noted. They were investments in the state's economy, not just earmarks that helped a particular district, said Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita.

"That support hasn't always been there. We're very happy that others have joined and seen the benefits of those programs," said Rep. Terry McLachlan, D-Wichita, referring to programs like aviation training and research and the doctor training program.

"Without the aviation industry, Kansas is in trouble. Without doctors, Kansas is in trouble," said Rep. Joe McLeland, R-Wichita. "I think we really came out well, but it benefits the whole state of Kansas."

Reach Jeannine Koranda at 785-296-3006 or jkoranda@wichitaeagle.com.