By Dave Ranney, KHI News Service, March 11, 2010
TOPEKA — The Senate Ways and Means Committee on Thursday upheld proposed cuts in the budgets of the Kansas Health Policy Authority and the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.
Though the recommendations were adopted unanimously, none of the committee members were smiling.
"This is the worst budget I’ve ever worked," said the committee’s chairman, Sen. Jay Emler, R-Lindsborg.
"These are not easy decisions by any means," said Sen. Carolyn McGinn, R-Sedgwick.
Combined, state spending at the two agencies was reduced by $46.5 million; $73.8 million, counting federal funds.
Programs supported by the Children’s Initiative Fund – Early Head Start, Smart Start, and Early Childhood Block grants - were cut $12 million.
Another $5 million was cut from early childhood programs at other state agencies.
Earlier, the committee cut $8.6 million for the Department on Aging budget, $17.9 million, all funds.
For several weeks, Emler has been telling committee members that balancing the budget would require $100 million in state spending cuts and $300 million in additional revenues.
Social services account for two-thirds of the $100 million that the committee agreed to cut.
"That’s a lot," Emler said. "But the governor has said there will be no more cuts to education, so that’s off the table. Then, you have to fund caseloads – that’s required – so they’re off the table. I took public safety off the table because if we cut it anymore, we will be closing prisons and putting criminals on the street."
"So, really, when you get down to it," he said, "social services are just about all that’s left."
The recommended cuts, Emler said, were sure to hurt "real people."
"They’re bad – I’m not going to tell you they’re not," he said. "But can you imagine what it would be like trying to cut $400 million?"
Emler said he was aware that some want public education to share in the cuts.
"I admit I’m not the best counter in the world, but I can count to 27 and 83," Emler said, referring to the numbers of votes needed to override a governor’s veto in the Senate and House, respectively.
"Right now, those votes aren’t there," he said. "That being the case, I don’t see much point in talking about cutting education."
In keeping with the governor’s budget recommendations, the committee’s budget call for restoring the recent 10 percent cut in state Medicaid reimbursements for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
The committee plans to work on the "mega budget" bill Friday. Deliberations begin at 10:30 a.m.
"If there are no amendments, we’ll be out of here by 11," Emler said. "It there are a bunch of amendments, we’ll be out by 3 p.m. It’s entirely the will of the committee."
Historically, budget committees are expected to propose budgets that balance spending with available revenues.
That won’t be the case this year, Emler said, noting he plans on letting the full Senate propose either further cuts or ways to increase revenue.
Meanwhile, budget officials also are keeping a close eye on Congress.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate passed a bill that would extend for six months a temporary increase in the federal match for Medicaid programs that was approved as part of the federal stimulus package adopted in February 2009.
The measure now goes to the U.S. House, but is expected to gain approval and be signed into law.
According to state budget officials, that would mean an additional $120 million in federal Medicaid dollars for Kansas.
Ways and Means Committee members resisted including the $120 million in their deliberations, saying there was no way to know when – or if – it would be available.