McGINN: State budget cuts involve ‘flesh and bone’

Last week, the Senate Ways and Means Committee proposed significant cuts to many programs that touch people’s lives and will have a significant impact to our communities back home.

These cuts — totaling close to $100 million — will be debated on the floor this week.

Another $300 million plus will be needed to balance the 2011 budget.

Some people still seem to believe we can cut our way out of this revenue shortfall.

Having cut about $1 billion from a budget of about $6 billion, it is nearly impossible to implement cuts without cutting needed social services or education or without devastating other government operations, programs and services.

A few examples of the cuts include: $8.5 million from the Department on Aging, which could possibly result in cutbacks in Meals on Wheels and increases in developmental disability waiting lists. These programs help save the state money by helping seniors remain in their own homes rather than being forced into nursing homes.

We also could see cuts for nursing homes inspections and reimbursements.

Social and Rehabilitation Services took a $42 million hit. These cuts will affect children’s block grants, reduce SRS staff who process claims for families needing assistance, for home- and community-based services, and undermine programs that fund mental health services, and programs for adults and children with physical and developmental disabilities, to name but a few.

Some programs may have to be eliminated.

Additionally, $10 million will be cut from the Kansas Health Policy Authority.

This is in addition to the cuts they already received in 2009 and 2010.

I share this information not because I enjoy being the bearer of bad tidings, but to try to prepare you for what these cuts could mean to all of you back home.

Some seem to believe there is still a layer of government waste that can be line-item cut.

But I am here on the front lines of the process to tell you that kind of line-item no longer exists. There is no “fat” left.

Any cuts we implement now involve flesh and bone. These are real cuts being made to vital programs serving those Kansans who are most vulnerable and most in need.

In most legislative sessions, the Senate crafts a budget plan and the House puts together its own budget plan. A conference committee of members from both chambers meets to work out the differences.

I look forward to working with the House to realistically discuss these proposed cuts, and to find possible solutions for balancing the budget.

In the Senate Natural Resources Committee, we are hearing an interesting bill concerning the capture of natural gas.

This has created great interest among large natural gas companies as well as surface owners who contract with smaller companies to store gas.

The key question is: How far can a company go to capture gas it believes to be within its territory?

This particular legislation proposes to set the distance at six miles. Some believe utilities’ imminent domain powers should not extend that far.

The bill raises other questions concerning imminent domain and property rights, as well.

In addition, we continue to discuss information received on proposed Environmental Protection Agency regulations and the smoke management plan for the Flint Hills.

Although this session has not been pretty, I appreciate the input I receive from my constituents.

Please know I do read the e-mail I receive from you. However, due to the quantity of e-mail I receive, I cannot always get back to you right away.

I continue to update my Web site at www.workingforKansas.com, and I try to provide useful information from the Capitol, such as committee hearings videos.

We still are making adjustments to the site, and I hope it will be useful to you.

Sen. Carolyn McGinn represents the 31st District in the Kansas Senate. She can be contacted at (785) 296-7377 or mcginn@senate.state.ks.us.