Capitol beats: The many, many e-mails of Uber

Check this spot on Sundays for a few quick hits about what’s driving the debate in the Legislature.

Say what?

"Today the Kansas legislature passed bills that would reduce unemployment compensation and would restrict and place humiliating conditions on assistance for struggling families, then adjourned to go home and celebrate a holiday honoring the man who said, ‘As you do to the least of my brothers, so you do unto me.’ ”

-Rep. Boog Highberger, D-Lawrence, criticizing the passage of policy changes to unemployment and welfare on Thursday, the last day of the Legislature’s regular session.

"That’s what’s taken Detroit down, that’s what Chicago is struggling with, that’s what you’ve seen several California towns go down with, is that they can’t afford their pension obligation."

-Gov. Sam Brownback discussing the impact that public employee pensions have on the state’s overall budget shortly before the Senate met to approve $1 billion in pension bonds. The move is meant to give an influx of cash into the pension system, and the administration plans to invest the bond proceeds in hopes that its returns in the stock market outpace interest on the bonds.

$25

That will be the dollar limit that welfare beneficiaries can withdraw from an ATM using their Vision Cards in a day under a bill that was passed by the Kansas House and Senate this week. Supporters say the restriction is meant to ensure responsible use of the money, but critics called the move mean-spirited and warned it would make it more difficult for beneficiaries to pay their expenses.

Trending

The rideshare company Uber engaged in an aggressive lobbying campaign, which caused the state’s e-mail server to crash this week. Lawmakers were inundated with e-mails calling for them to vote against new insurance regulations, which the company claims will force it out of business in Kansas. Uber’s strategy to bombard lawmakers with e-mails from customers may have backfired, as many members of both parties complained about receiving thousands of e-mails. The Senate and House overwhelmingly approved the legislation. A terse reply sent by Rep. John Bradford, R-Lansing, to a constituent was circulated widely on social media. He was hardly the only lawmaker annoyed. Several said they were getting e-mails from Uber customers in Asia, and Sen. Vicki Schmidt, R-Topeka, said that as an Uber customer she had also been inundated with e-mails asking her to contact herself.

Lawmakers contend that the legislation, which requires Uber to certify that drivers have comprehensive and collision insurance, is not nearly as burdensome as the company has presented it to customers. They say the legislation is meant to ensure that drivers are covered when they make themselves available to customers. Right now the company’s insurance only covers driver while a customer is riding in the car, meaning there is a potential gap while drivers are on their way to pick up a fare. Sen. Jeff Longbine, R-Emporia, noted that the company does not have to pay for the insurance the bill requires – just verify that it exists for each driver – and that similar regulations exist in other states. California adopted a similar law after an Uber driver was accused of hitting and killing a 6-year-old girl in San Francisco.

News ahead

It will be quiet in the halls of the Capitol for the next few weeks until lawmakers return April 29 for their wrap-up session. Some major work lies ahead, including the passage of a budget and a tax plan to balance it. One thing to watch before lawmakers return will be the release of updated revenue estimates April 20. If the state’s fiscal outlook improves, then lawmakers might get some relief on taxes. But if the outlook gets worse as some analysts are predicting, then lawmakers might have to pass even more than the $211 million in tax increases the governor is proposing or look for major cuts in the budget.

Bryan Lowry

For more legislative news, go to www.kansas.com/politics and follow @BryanLowry3 on Twitter.