By DAVID CLOUSTON
Salina Journal
The way that the debate over two coal-fired power plants for southwest Kansas has dominated the Legislature, Kansans could be remiss for overlooking other issues brewing as the wrap-up session begins Wednesday in Topeka.
Housing incentives and grants
An expansion of the Rural Housing Incentive Act was introduced in the Senate by Pete Brungardt, R-Salina, and was moved forward in the House this session with the aid of Salina area representatives Charlie Roth, Deena Horst and Josh Svaty.
The House Committee on Economic Development and Tourism moved the bill to a conference committee. If passed, it would enable cities with a population of less than 60,000 to issue special obligation bonds to encourage the development and renovation of housing within communities.
Roth and Dennis Lauver, chief executive officer and president of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce, testified before the House committee on the bill's behalf. The chamber supports the measure as incentive to create more mid-level affordable housing to grow Salina's workforce.
The bonds would enable support for costs such as utility and street extensions.
"The concept is by doing the shared stuff with bonds, it would keep the per (building) lot cost down," Brungardt said Sunday.
The bonds would be made payable through a funding mix specified in law that includes property tax revenue. The mixture includes, as well, financial sureties provided by the developer, sales and use tax revenues, franchise fees, private sources and state and local government assistance. The law gives eligible cities and counties discretion in deciding which methods to use.
The bill, if passed, would join another housing measure already signed by Gov. Sebelius this session. SB 417 sets aside $4 million annually for housing grants, targeting cities such as Greensburg that suffered disasters. In 2010 it expands eligibility to include other rural cities and counties.
"We intend to make every effort to bring some of those resources here (to Salina) to help. That bill was good, but we're looking for something that will improve our abilities further," Lauver said.
Health care, immigration
Both health care legislation and an immigration bill have good chances of passing, Brungardt said. Agreement has been reached to expand the state children's health insurance program from 200 percent to 250 percent of the federal poverty limit, but to accomplish the expansion through the use of purchasing private health insurance, as is being done in 12 states.
Agreement has been reached to expand Medicaid coverage for pregnant women from 150 to 200 percent of the federal poverty limit. Medicaid now funds 33 percent of the 38,000 births in Kansas, and with the change, that percentage could increase to almost 50 percent of births.
The immigration bill -- Brungardt chaired the negotiating committee -- makes hiring illegal immigrants a civil offense for businesses. Courts could order businesses to stop hiring illegal workers and employer could be fined or jailed for contempt of court for not complying.
Budget troubles
Both Brungardt and Horst said Sunday the omnibus general fund spending bill will be a challenge as it deals with unresolved issues such as funding for area agencies on aging, for home services.
State officials recently lowered state revenue estimates by $130 million. Part of the loss is attributable to $44 million in lost interest earnings because of lower interest rates. Also, legislation enacted in 2005-07, means estate tax receipts dropped from $55 million in 2007 to a projected $32 million in 2009. The estate tax phases out entirely in 2011.
Meanwhile, a 2.5 percent pay raise for state workers would add $86 million to the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, bringing the budget to about $13.6 billion.
Water conservation
Another legisltive conference committee is expected to try and reach a compromise on the use of Intensive Groundwater Use Control Areas curtailing irrigation.
Svaty, D-Ellsworth, said the legislation attempts to redefine how the chief engineer for the Kansas Division of Water Resources implements an IGUCA, and the review process to assure an IGUCA is necessary.
"Water law and policy is so important now, it's taken the full interim session and legislative process to iron it out," Svaty said.
The proposed legislation doesn't restrict the chief engineer's authority.
"It just has more of a public process put in place. It will probably look like something like a local petition" enabling a challenge to an IGUCA, Svaty said.
He expects there to be a resolution if an agreement can be reached between the Department of Water Resources, the Kansas Livestock Association and local groundwater management districts.
Svaty, a member of the House Energy and Utilities Committee, said he's not predicting the outcome of a House attempt to override Sebelius's veto of a bill authorizing the southwest Kansas coal plants.
"I don't mind having a serious conversation about energy policy. But I'm looking forward to returning next year without the overhanging issues that drove this year's conversation," he said.
n Reporter David Clouston can be reached at 822-1403 or by e-mail at dclouston@salina.com.
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