EDITORIAL

Mar 13, 2010 — The Kansas City Star

Mar. 13, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Getting his house in order?

A month ago, Kansas legislators lopped 5 percent off their wages through June, as well as the wages of their staffs, judges, Cabinet secretaries and others. It was a move to save $1.5 million in a year when state revenues are off by more than $100 million.

This week, House Speaker Mike O'Neal, a Hutchinson Republican, asked to postpone the staff cuts. The law was pretty straightforward, however, so that didn't happen.

Concern for one's employees is admirable, but suspicious Democrats are questioning O'Neal's motives, and for good reason. Seems the pay cuts hit twice at the speaker's house -- his wife works for a fellow Republican lawmaker.

Lost and found

It looks as though the $300 million in federal budget stabilization aid that went missing from Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon's 2011 budget may come through after all.

Only a week ago, administration officials said hopes were dim for getting help from Washington, even though the governor had factored it into his budget for the fiscal year that begins in July. But the U.S. Senate approved the funding for states this week, and final approval from the U.S. House is expected.

This time, though, Nixon is taking no chances.

He says if the $300 million comes through he'll stockpile it for the 2012 budget, when revenues are still expected to be in sick bay and the prospects of federal aid are dimmer.

Meanwhile, taking a cue from Kansas City School Superintendent John Covington, Nixon is unveiling a "rightsizing" plan to make money for state government. (We'll be hearing that term a lot in the next couple of years.)

The governor's best ideas: Finally reviewing Missouri's wild use of tax credits and capping some of them, plus limiting the state's biodiesel subsidy.

Liquor is quicker

What should have been a chat this week about raising $22 million in new revenue to help people with mental illnesses and physical disabilities turned into yet another Kansas government giveaway.

True, the members of the Kansas House taxation committee said they were addressing an inequity by restoring some tax credits that they said had been improperly cut a year ago. But with the state facing a shortfall of up to $600 million for next year's budget, and looking at draconian cuts in all state services, you'd think there would be at least a bit of urgency among legislators not to give more money away.

As for new revenue, which would have come from increasing liquor taxes, legislators thought that would harm sales along state borders. But bad roads, teacher-scarce schools and emptying the state's jails also tend to have a negative economic impact. And while the concern for liquor merchants is touching, when are the most vulnerable citizens going to become a priority for Kansas lawmakers?

Two roads diverged

Fresh off Gov. Mark Parkinson's plans to cut state highway money, the Kansas Legislature this week tentatively approved a new passenger rail plan. This one allows the Department of Transportation to "enter into agreements with Amtrak, other rail operators, local jurisdictions and other states" to create intercity and commuter train lines.

Surprisingly, it doesn't appear to be budget neutral, allowing the department to "make loans or grants to passenger rail service providers." Still, given the soon-to-be deplorable state of Kansas highways, there should be some way to get around.

Pound foolish

Missouri pays less to help low-income parents afford child care than nearly any other state. Now the House is proposing to cut the paltry allocation still further, by about $7 million a year.

That might sound defensible, in light of the budget crisis, until you realize that the cut would force Missouri to repay the federal government $38 million that was granted under the expectation that the state would maintain a reasonable level of funding. So the $7 million cut could morph into a $38 million loss in subsidies that low-income parents rely on to be able to go to work.

Even a preschooler can see the folly in that. Wiser minds in the Senate should restore the money.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0102-42852046