David P. Rundle: Groups unite to protect the vulnerable

Advocacy groups for the disabled have avoided broader coalitions to bring about policy changes in government, and certainly haven’t spearheaded the formation of such an alliance. Yet, because of the tax and fiscal actions of Gov. Sam Brownback and the Republican-dominated Legislature, such a big tent movement will go public at a rally at the Mid-America All-Indian Center from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Last fall Advocates in Communities Teams (ACT), a group of service providers for intellectually and developmentally disabled Kansans, community members and family members of those on the ID/DD waiver began to discuss how to better fight Topeka’s current disastrous course. They began to reach out to public education, those concerned with treating the mentally ill and others. The result was Restore Kansas.

Restore Kansas issued a statement of unity making four broad points. These are:

▪  “Our state’s revenue and expenditure decisions threaten the short- and long-term well-being of vulnerable Kansans and all children.”

Many businesses no longer pay taxes, while sales tax has increased and the medical deduction for state income taxes is gone.

Brownback argues that eliminating business taxes helps creates jobs, but what really spurs job growth is increased consumer demand, creating the need for more employees. Even business owners have said that before a legislative committee.

Meanwhile, the state highway fund, a surefire job-creator, is being raided, as is the pension fund for state employees.

▪  “Our state has reduced funding and returned federal dollars for education and human services, harming thousands of Kansans while they wait for solutions.”

The state’s rejecting of Medicaid expansion means those without insurance wait for health care, causing potential harm to them and putting financial strain on hospitals, big and small, rural and urban, across the state.

Also waiting are thousands of Kansans with disabilities who can’t get on waivers because of funding by the state. This violates federal law, and a federal lawsuit looms.

But even if the feds file one and the state loses it, the Legislature might not comply. It hasn’t with previous Kansas Supreme Court orders to adequately fund public schools. If it doesn’t equitably fund public schools by June 30, the court may close the schools.

▪  “Health and human services have eroded during a period of inadequate state administration.”

Restore Kansas argues that state mental institutions have deteriorated. Indeed, the federal government decertified the Osawatomie State Hospital last year because of many inadequacies. This leaves fewer options for those needing help. Some on the right want to privatize the hospitals. Would that work?

KanCare, the state’s privatized Medicaid program, is badly run, poorly overseen and costly. Like everything else that proves his policies and ideology wrong, Brownback denies these facts, consequences be damned.

Based on these results, privatizing state hospitals would make things worse.

▪  “Education and other community programs are operating at maximum efficiency, despite state political rhetoric to the contrary.”

“Waste and inefficiency” are the cause of the state’s problems, say the ideologues. No, the tax cuts are.

Restore Kansas is a bold innovation. By uniting, the groups comprising it refuse to fight one another. Brownback now faces a united rational force.

I almost pity him. Almost.

This story was originally published March 19, 2016 at 7:04 PM with the headline "David P. Rundle: Groups unite to protect the vulnerable."