House Minority Leader Paul Davis, D-Lawrence, talks about the Kansas Jobs First proposal at the Statehouse Tuesday.
TOPEKA — Kansas Democrats said this morning that a casino in southeast Kansas and slot machines at three racetracks could help pay for programs that increase the state’s odds of adding jobs.
The “Kansas Jobs First” proposal includes 14 bills lawmakers plan to introduce during the 2012 legislative session, which begins Jan. 9. The plan aims to ensure state spending goes to companies that employ Kansans; improve training programs; fix aging infrastructure and protect workers.
House Minority Leader Paul Davis, D-Lawrence, acknowledged that his party’s plans face an uphill battle in the Republican-dominated legislature, but he and others said they believe their proposals will get bipartisan support.
Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, said there has been a lot of attention focused on school finance, Medicaid reform, tax policy and others. ”But there’s no more important issue, we believe, for the legislature to spend its time on than the issue of creating jobs for the people of Kansas,” he said.
Hensley said the economy has begun to recover from the recession, but more than 50,000 Kansas workers are still unemployed.
“Families are still struggling to keep a roof over their head, to pay for their child’s doctor bills, to keep their gas tank full,” Hensley said during a news conference in the Statehouse. “Workers are stuck in low-wage jobs because they lack the money or time to obtain the skills that will help them find work at a higher wage.”
The proposal calls for state gambling laws to lower the $200 million investment threshold required to open a casino to $100 million. Democratic leaders say that $200 million minimum has prevented Southeast Kansas from getting a destination casino. The plan would also modify thresholds for slot machines at racetracks to help re-open racetracks in Crawford, Sedgwick and Wyandotte counties.
One proposal would use some gaming revenues for repairs at state universities and to fund city and county infrastructure projects, such as repairing crumbling sidewalks and aging sewer systems. Under the proposal, 50 percent of the state’s Expanded Lottery Act Revenues Fund money would pay for deferred maintenance projects at Regents facilities and 20 percent of the cash would go toward city and county infrastructure.
Democrats say industry estimates show opening three existing racetracks would generate $33 million per year for the state and that opening a new casino in Southeast Kansas would add $11 million per year. But Gov. Sam Brownback has said he doesn’t want the legislature to tackle the issue because it distracts too much from other pressing issues, including his proposals for tax policy, school financing, Medicaid reform and an overhaul of the state’s pension system — all of which Brownback is pressing for in an election year where lawmakers are grappling with redistricting.
Another bill would accelerate projects in the T-Works program, which Democrats say is slated to spend $440 million next year and $237 million in 2013 on road projects across the state. Their bill would push forward at least $50 million of that work by putting out for bid in February any projects that already have engineering complete.
Hensley said the T-Works acceleration proposal should have a lot of support. He said it is projected to create 175,000 jobs over 10 years. “That is a big deal for the state of Kansas,” he said. “And if we can accelerate that program, we’re going to create jobs much sooner than would have been otherwise. And I think that’s something that should definitely have bipartisan support during this legislative session.”
Hensley said Democrats researched and prepared their proposals with input from the business and labor communities.
Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka
The Democrats’ full set of proposals would cost $11.1 million from the state’s general fund in fiscal year 2013. But it is projected to generate $5.4 million in 2014 and $15.4 million in 2015. The revenue hinges entirely on gambling income.
Davis said Democrats were very conservative in their estimates, especially with gaming revenue.
Here’s a fiscal breakdown Democrats provided. Read More »
