Fixing budget not only job for legislators

Even after last week’s lowering of revenue projections pushed the budget shortfall to $300 million, the Legislature’s GOP leaders still reportedly want to move swiftly to finish business for the year and clear the way for campaigning. But haste risks leaving some important work undone.

Among the items to finalize as the wrap-up session opens Wednesday is Senate Bill 361, which passed the Senate 39-0 in February. It closes the loophole that allows public officials doing public business to skirt transparency by using private e-mail accounts. As Attorney General Derek Schmidt has said: “I don’t think, as a matter of public policy, that it’s appropriate to be able to avoid the requirements of (the Kansas Open Records Act) merely by using a different means of communication.”

Then there is House Bill 2573, which would provide live audio streaming of legislative committee hearings and won 118-0 approval in the House in March. Passage of that bill and a proposal to allow postelection audits would promote public trust in government.

As lawmakers sift through the Brownback administration’s depressing proposals to balance the budget, they will need to follow through on committee approval last week of $17 million more to counter staffing shortages and lost federal funding at the troubled state hospitals in Osawatomie and Larned.

If they want to look for more revenue – which they should – a good place to start is with Senate Bill 508, which would roll back the income tax exemption for 330,000 business owners.

And whatever happened to the February promise by Senate President Susan Wagle, R-Wichita, to take up Medicaid expansion “for a vote in the next few weeks”? Kansans are overdue for full debates and votes in both chambers on Medicaid expansion, which would help save not only lives but also rural hospitals.

Meanwhile, lawmakers shouldn’t dictate which restrooms are used by transgender students, nor further pursue the Senate-passed bill that could be misused to impeach state Supreme Court justices for unpopular decisions or “discourteous conduct.”

When the legislative work is finished for the year will depend in part on the justices and their pending ruling about whether the recent school funding fix restores equity statewide. A special session might be needed to ensure schools open in August.

But lawmakers have some control. And if they balance the budget irresponsibly, further defer repairs to the state’s tax policy and neglect other important bills, they will only invite hostility on voters’ doorsteps and defeat on Election Day.

This story was originally published April 26, 2016 at 7:08 PM with the headline "Fixing budget not only job for legislators."