Key Presentations

capitol

President's Office
207 Russ Hall
Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg, KS 66762
Phone: 620-235-4100
Fax: 620-235-4080

Last updated- February 7, 2008 5:29 pm

KEY PRESENTATIONS / MAJOR ITEMS

Highlights of Governor's Budget

Full budget released - see 2009 Governor's Budget in left menu bar

$27 million for all-day kindergarten.
$23 million for a block grant program for early-childhood education.
About $35 million for the entire Kansas Health Policy Authority program.
$3 million in new scholarships for higher education, presumed to finance about 2,000 new college students.
$1 million for new math/science scholarships for teachers.
$2.1 million for three new rural Offices of Rural Opportunities

GOP response to Governor's Budget:

House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, delivered the Republican response to Sebelius’ State of the State address. Major points listed below:

Need to limit state government spending; 5% above existing expenditures.
Provide tax incentives for self-employed Kansans who buy their own health insurance,
Propose new immigration legislation
Need to cut taxes, including the back-to-school sales tax holiday
Need to restructure business taxes.

House Democrats platform

Highlights:

Health: Take a look at the Kansas Health Policy Authority’s 21-point plan for better health, aid small businesses in providing health insurance to employees, and allow more groups to participate in the state employee health insurance plan.
Education: A 4th year of school finance funding; higher teacher salaries and other teacher retention efforts; provide alternative, but still strict, licensure provisions for teachers.
Energy: Endorse the governor’s renewable energy plan, net metering, tax credits for landlords who make rental properties more energy efficient.
Housing: Establish community grant programs for construction of affordable housing; use vocational schools, prisoners, and union apprentice programs to build and rehabilitate homes.
Work: Raise minimum wage, preserve work comp.
Taxes: Target tax relief to seniors, working families, small businesses; property tax deferrals for the elderly; close corporate income tax loopholes that benefit out-of-state businesses.