Barone identifies issues facing Kansas Legislature

Just weeks before the 2007 session of the Kansas Legislature gets under way, one Southeast Kansas-area senator talked about major issues facing Kansas residents in the near future.

Sen. Jim Barone, D-Frontenac, spoke with The Fort Scott Tribune this week to comment on pertinent state and local issues that lawmakers will undoubtedly discuss during their upcoming 90-day session, which begins Jan. 8 and concludes in May. Some of those issues include education, business and the economy, and the idea of expanded gaming as a way of increasing revenue across the state.

Barone also talked about the outcome of the recent historic November general election, in which many of his fellow Democrats won several key Kansas races and also gained a majority in both chambers of the U.S. Congress.

"I think the voters spoke for the center and moderation, as opposed to the conservatives, and the Democrats prevailed," Barone said of the election.

In that election, Democrat Nancy Boyda defeated incumbent Rep. Jim Ryun; Gov. Kathleen Sebelius defeated her opponent, Republican Jim Barnett by a large margin; Democrat Paul Morrison ousted incumbent Attorney General Phill Kline; incumbent Bob Grant kept his spot in the House of Representatives by a wide margin; and Democrat Shirley Palmer narrowly beat incumbent Republican Lynne Oharah for a spot in the House.

Republicans did hold their own in a few of the key races. Incumbent Sandy Praeger kept her seat as state commissioner of insurance; Republican Lynn Jenkins defeated Democrat Larry Wilson to hold her spot as state treasurer; and Republican Jana Shaver narrowly outlasted Democratic challenger Charles Kent Runyan for a seat on the state board of education.

Barone, who was not up for re-election this year, said voters sent a loud and clear message in Kansas and across the country, as well.

"The same thing holds nationally," he said. "The voters have refuted (president) Bush's policies. They have said they want the war (in Iraq) to be over. They (voters) no longer approve of the 'stay the course' message."

Barone said some important Kansas issues that need to be addressed this season include education, the state budget, and more prison bed space for the rising number of incarcerated criminals in overcrowded prisons across the state.

"Education is at the forefront, then the budget and the fiscal affairs of the state," he said. "We have more money than we thought, but many of those dollars are spoken for -- it's going to be a tight money session again."

Funding for higher education is also key for 2007, Barone said, following on the heels of the nearly $800 million the Kansas Legislature -- in response to Kansas Supreme Court rulings -- has allocated for K-12 education over the past few years. There are more than 35 universities, colleges and technical schools governed by the Kansas Board of Regents that have requested additional funding for next year.

Also on lawmakers' agenda is a proposed deferred maintenance program that would help those institutions renovate and repair aging buildings, structures and athletic fields on campuses statewide. KBOR has issued a $720 million request for upcoming deferred maintenance projects in its accredited institutions, Barone said. That proposal needs to be re-evaluated before the state allocates money to such a program, he said.

"I think they (KBOR) need to fine-tune that request to more realistic assessments and appraisals," he said.

Kansas is playing catch-up with other states in terms of education, business and the economy, Barone said.

"I think we're improving, but still lagging the nation," he said. "People go where the jobs are."

During the 1990s, the U.S. economy grew 13 percent, while the Kansas economy grew only 8 percent, even less than other states surrounding Kansas, and the reason for that is clear, Barone said.

"We don't have the jobs. Economic development will help us get more jobs. It took us years and years to get here, and it will take years and years to get us out."

Barone said he is not in favor of raising state taxes as a way of increasing state revenues, but is rather an advocate for expanding gaming as a method of bringing in extra money to improve a sluggish economy recently. Possible voluntary tax increases decided by voters, such as adding more casinos throughout the state, would be the best way to increase state revenue, Barone said.

"I am not a proponent of any tax increases," he said. "I think this is the year that (expanded gaming) will happen."

In order to control the tax issue in Kansas, Barone said, lawmakers need to "control state spending, grow the economy and take advantage of expanded gaming." The future for Southeast Kansas and the state looks "bright," because "we have great people with a great work ethic, great skills and a great education system," Barone said.

Gov. Sebelius is scheduled to present her state budget message on Jan. 10, he said.