Opinion

Veto session, redistricting and KanCare

Friday, May 4, 2012

The legislature returned to Topeka for veto session. Veto session was intended to address bills vetoed by the governor and for finishing the state budget. Over the years it has become a wrap-up session for completing legislation that did not pass in regular session. This year is no exception. Many items remain, including redistricting and the budget. Both are required by law to be completed. With many competing interests and diverse constituencies it makes for an interesting process.

In order to pass legislation that could not stand on its own, conference committees will bundle a bill or multiple bills that passed overwhelmingly in order to get the bill passed. The process requires patience and focus by all involved in order to produce a final bill that will garner 63 votes in the House, 21 votes in the Senate and be not vetoed by the governor.

Taxes collected are up for the year. This has several groups clamoring to have the money allocated to them, however, it appears the money may go for tax relief for Kansans. There are two ways this may occur. The tax conference committee is working on a bill that would have to pass both chambers or the House could pass a bill that passed the Senate chamber earlier this year.

The House would have to pass the bill as-is, without any changes. It is one of the most aggressive bills lowering the personal income-tax brackets. If the Senate bill is passed, Bourbon and Linn County will not be added to the Rural Opportunity Zone (ROZ) program, which is in the House and the conference committee tax bills.

The legislature is required by law to pass a budget each year, and every 10 years is required to redraw district lines based on the U.S. census for the U.S. House, State Senate, State House, and the State Board of Education seats.

These items must be completed before the official end of session, sine die. The House and Senate district maps must be reviewed by the Supreme Court before implementation. The House passed a House map, containing 125 districts -- receiving 109 and 14 bipartisan votes, and one Congressional map with four districts.

The governor's administration is implementing a managed health care initiative known as KanCare.

It is an integrated care system for Medicaid participants that is intended to improve the quality of care and outcomes. Medicaid costs are a major portion of state expenditures and there are many issues with the current system, including fraud and abuse.

KanCare was established to help address these issues. However, the changes are of concern.

Most of the concern is about the uncertainty of such a drastic change and how individuals and providers will be impacted. The administration has said in response that KanCare will focus on maintaining current providers and minimizing transition difficulties, in addition the governor has announced the intent to delay the developmentally disabled portion of KanCare for one year.

Because the legislature was not involved in establishing KanCare, both chambers have taken different approaches to have input to the KanCare program. The House introduced a bill to create a legislative oversight committee. The bill was not complete when it reached the House floor, so a majority of us voted to refer the bill back to committee. Any overhaul to Medicaid must be taken seriously and fully vetted and the end result must be one that balances the need to be cost effective while minimizing the impact to those who rely on the program.

The Obama administration had proposed a rule that would drastically limit and in some cases prohibit children from working on farms. While it is a federal issue, a resolution had been introduced in the Kansas House denouncing the rule.

The rule would impact many Kansans and was cause for concern since the ability for Kansas families to continue passing down long-standing traditions from generation to generation is a part of our state's culture. Under great pressure, thankfully from some of our U.S. delegation, the Obama administration withdrew the proposed rule.

Editor's Note: Rep. Caryn Tyson, R-Parker, can be reached at (785) 296-6838 (office), (913) 898-2366 or email, Caryn.Tyson@house.ks.gov.