SRS Secretary Rob Siedlecki being interviewed by reporters
following his confirmation hearing. (Photo by KHI News Service)
TOPEKA — Gov. Sam Brownback today voiced strong support for state welfare agency chief Rob Siedlecki, saying his choice to run the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services was "enormously qualified," for the job.
Also on Monday, the Senate Ways and Means Committee recommended Siedlecki be confirmed. His confirmation now goes to the full Senate for consideration perhaps as soon as Wednesday or maybe next month after lawmakers return from break.
"I think it’s best to have the secretary confirmed so that he and his staff can get to work on the problems facing us as a state," said Sen. Jean Schodorf, R-Wichita.
"Delighted to have him"
Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat, last week said he and some other senators would oppose Siedlecki's appointment after an email and letter that raised questions about statements the agency head made to the board of directors of the Assocation of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas.
SRS Secretary Rob Siedlecki appearing before the Ways and
Means Committee. (Photo by Dave Ranny, KHI News Service)
The 40-member Senate has only eight Democrats, so Siedlecki's appointment is all but assured, despite the expected opposition.
Siedlecki appeared alongside the governor at a press conference called for the ceremonial signing of House Bill 2258, which transferred some surplus SRS property to an economic-development group in Ellsworth County.
Brownback used the occasion to praise Siedlecki and counter questions or assertions from Hensley and others.
"I'm delighted to have him," he said. "You may question some of the ideas put forth, but not his qualifications. This gentleman is highly qualified."
Brownback said of the criticisms raised by Hensley, "I just don't think they are backed up by the facts at all."
Brainstorming KNI
In response to other questions, Siedlecki said he is considering the possibility of some voucher programs at the agency. He also said he has been in discussions exploring the possibility of privatizing Kansas Neurological Institute, a state hospital for the severely developmentally disabled that the governor has recommended be closed.
Siedlecki characterized his privatization talks with Stormont Vail and others as "brainstorming," and part of his process of exploring all potential options for the facility.
Lawmakers from Topeka are strongly opposed to closing the hospital, which is a major employer in the city. And several family members of hospital residents have spoken against closure in testimony before legislative committees.
Winfield State Hospital was closed more than a dozen years ago and the governor said that decision was later viewed by family members as a success.
Childhood poverty
During the confirmation hearing, Sen. John Vratil, R-Leawood, asked Siedlecki to explain, "in some detail," how SRS intended to reduce childhood poverty.
Siedlecki said the department was developing a "fatherhood initiative," aimed at getting divorced fathers more involved in their children's lives.
"The more that dads are involved in their kids’ lives, the more likely they are to pay their child support."
Children in single-parent families that receive child support, he said, are less likely to be poor.
Siedlecki said he was "still looking" to see what kinds of fatherhood programs were currently available in the state.
"I don’t want to reinvent the wheel," he said. "I want to do what works right here in Kansas."
Siedlecki said he likely would be conferring with the National Center for Fathering as the program is put together.
He said SRS also is planning a conference on healthy marriage for "sometime in April." National and state experts will speak.
Siedlecki said the agency would seek input from from both secular and faith-based programs.
Vratil said he expected a, "full report," on the department’s progress next year.