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March 20, 2008

House Ed hears funding; talks dyslexia & alternative certification

The House Education Committee met for another short one hour meeting today.

First on their agenda was a hearing on SB 531, the fourth year school funding bill that would put an additional $59 on base state aid per pupil in the 2010 school year.

KNEA testified on the bill telling the committee that while we appreciated getting a fourth year for planning purposes and the fact that all the money was put on BSAPP, the fact that the raise would amount to only 1.3% - a sub-inflationary amount – we believe the bill would begin a reversal in the progress made on teacher salaries in the past few years.

No action was taken on the bill.

House conservatives block attempt to raise minimum wage

In floor action today, friends of working Kansans managed to amend an increase in the Kansas state minimum wage to the federal level. At $2.65 Kansas currently has the lowest minimum wage among all states and territories.

Conservatives panicked and Rep. Mike O’Neal (R-Hutchinson) quickly moved to re-refer the bill back to committee. This action would allow the conservatives to bottle up the bill and let it die thus killing the minimum wage increase. There was a long debate during which legislators made a powerful case for an increase in the minimum wage including the fact that massive tax cuts that have been given to Kansas businesses over the last few years should convince businesses that they could actually give on an issue as basic as the minimum wage.

In the end, conservative Republicans won. The motion to re-refer the bill passed on a vote of 63 – 58. Twelve Republicans joined all Democrats in supporting working Kansans. Be sure an send your thanks to the Democrats and 12 pro-working family Republicans who took a stand today to help the 19,000 Kansans who struggle to make ends meet on $2.65 per hour jobs. The 12 Republicans were Mike Burgess (Topeka ), Pat Colloton (Leawood), Rocky Fund (Hoyt), Don Hill (Emporia ), Deena Horst (Salina ), Bill Otto (Leroy), Tim Owens (Overland Park ), Jo Ann Pottorff (Wichita ), Ted Powers (Mulvane), Clark Shultz (Lindsborg), Tom Sloan (Lawrence ), and Dale Swenson (Wichita ).  

Virtual schools subcommittee has first meeting

The virtual schools subcommittee chaired by Rep. Clay Aurand (R-Courtland) met on adjournment of the House today. Members of the subcommittee are: Marc Rhoades (R-Newton), Sheryl Spalding (R-Overland Park ), Ann Mah (D-Topeka), and Valdenia Winn (D-Kansas City ).

Working from Senate Bill 669, Aurand suggested making three amendments.

1. Change the funding from 114% of BSAPP to 103.5% of BSAPP saving $1 milllion,
2. Provide for at-risk funding for virtual school students in approved at-risk programs, and
3. Use the $1 million savings from the first change to pay for the participation of gifted students from districts that are unable to offer AP classes in virtual AP classes.

The members of the subcommittee were asked to consider these three changes and be prepared to discuss them at the next meeting which will take place at 8:00 am on Monday.

Basketball takes center stage

Things pretty much wrapped up today by the time KU took to the boards in the NCAA tournament. Even legislators have priorities!

Pro-forma Friday – no meetings or action tomorrow. Our next Under the Dome will come to you on Monday.

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