Well folks, the third week of legislative session has passed; several things remain unchanged, although some work is being done.
A Passenger Rail bill was introduced this week; SB 409 will enable the Secretary to establish a passenger rail program. The bill will have a hearing on Wednesday next week in Senate Transportation Committee.
The budget rescission bill passed the Senate this week and has been sent to the House. The House has not worked the rescission bill in Appropriations Committee yet, but it may end up on their agenda next week. Some are speculating that they are waiting to adjust the ending balance of the bill to reflect lower-than-expected revenues. January revenues came in $18.4 million lower than estimates. That brings the fiscal year total to $33.8 million in the red, after the Senate rescission bill is enacted.
The Governor’s $.01 sales tax increase proposal failed in the House Taxation Committee, and the bill is dead for the session in the House.
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on SB 351 on Thursday. The bill has much stricter penalties than HB 2439 that was previously reported on. The Committee plans to work the bill and send it to the full Senate for debate. The bill had no opponents.
The birthday of Kansas statehood is this weekend and will be celebrated all over Topeka, with bi-partisan celebration as well as separate Republican and Democrat parties.
How fitting to celebrate Kansas’ birthday with an intense game of basketball between KS rivals!
For all KDOT legislative testimony, follow this link: http://www.ksdot.org/IDMWS/kdot/11/legislative/testimony.asp?Year=2010