Greetings,

Legislative Update #1, January 23, 2009

Two weeks are in the books for the 2009 Kansas State Legislature.  As you might expect, one thing is clear and that is that approaches to the dire state budget are vastly different between democrats and republicans.  Though no plan has been released, republicans are promoting across the board cuts to state agencies as a platform.  Democrats on the other hand offered a strategic approach and laid out the premises yesterday.

In a press conference democrats laid out priorities with Kansas' workers in mind.  House and Senate leadership spoke of the 2.6 million American jobs lost in the past year, the economic recession and ways to protect hardworking Kansas families.  They announced that bills will be forthcoming to protect our investment in Kansas schools.  Democrat legislative leaders explained quality education is critical to the future and improving our state's workforce, how better access to apprenticships will ensure our economic future.  Further, that fair wages (prevailing wage and the states minimum wage), the dignity and safety of Kansas workers must be addressed for a true economic recovery.  The state prevailing wage law was abolished in 1987 and the state minimum wage is the lowest in the nation.  Democrats said the state can lead by supporting the purchasing of products right here in Kansas, like the automobiles from the Fairfax GM plant in Kansas City.  The plan includes keeping our commitment to state employees by supporting the Governor's recommendation for a 1% COLA and maintaining a 5 year course for market adjustment that just began last year.  They also said a plan is doable that would allow a Cost of Living Adjustment for KPERS Retiree benefits that hadn't be adjusted since 1998.

It is still early, but the budget is and will continue to dominate the 2009 legislative session.  Striving for a balanced budget will put the state legislature to the challenge as they attempt to solve a $184 million budget deficit for the upcoming fiscal year and a potential $1 billion deficit the next fiscal year.  A number of state agencies are on the chopping block.  The thing to remember is that the budget is a working document and nothing will be for certain for quite some time.

For more on minimum wage and the economy, watch for our next bulletins.