Category Archives: Uncategorized

At least $258 million more in budget cuts expected in Kansas

Thursday8:16 p.m.

TOPEKA — The state will have to cut at least $258.8 million to balance the current budget by the end of the fiscal year, revenue estimators said Thursday.

The state is expected to bring in about 4.2 percent less in 2010 than forecast in April — or $235.2 million less, the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group said.

The projected minimum budget cut doesn’t include an estimated $155 million public schools are likely to need to cover increased student populations, special education and a jump in students qualifying for free and reduced lunch. That number swells the cuts needed to balance the 2010 budget, which ends June 30, to $459 million.

Not including the additional money for schools is the equivalent to cutting about $150 from per pupil state aid, said Alan Conroy, director of the Kansas Legislative Research Department.

No matter which number is used, “it’s a tremendous hole,” said Sen. Jay Emler, R-Lindsborg, chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, which handles the budget.

Either number is likely to result in more cuts to public schools.

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By Jeannine Koranda | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (6)

Kansas revenue estimates put current budget in the red

Thursday6:05 p.m.

TOPEKA – Revenue projects released Thursday evening put Kansas’ current budget in the red by the end of the fiscal year if nothing is done.

Revenue estimators decreased the amount the state was expected to bring in 2010 by $235.2 million, or 4.2 percent below prior estimate.

The initial estimated for fiscal year 2011, which begins July 1, is $122.2 million or 2.3 percent below the current year’s revised estimated of $5.3 billion.

“The recession in Kansas in not over in the current fiscal year but there are signs of recovery and we are anticipating those signs will increase as we get to 2011,” said Alan Conroy, director of the state Legislative Research Department.

The current budget, which ends June 30, has already gone through four rounds of cuts. The last round was ordered by Gov. Mark Parkinson, a Democrat, who ordered cuts to the budget in early July shortly after the budget began.

The governor has promised that lawmakers will return to Topeka in January to a balanced budget, which means he is likely to order more cuts.

By Jeannine Koranda | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Ashcroft backs Tiahrt in Senate race

Thursday3:44 p.m.

Former Missouri Sen. John Ashcroft, once one of the country’s leading conservatives, has endorsed Rep. Todd Tiahrt in his race for the Senate in Kansas.

“Conservatives across this country are yearning for principled conservatives in Washington,” Ashcroft, attorney general under former President George W. Bush, said in a statement. “I feel strongly that Todd Tiahrt can help provide that common sense conservative leadership in the Senate.”

Tiahrt is seeking the Republican nomination to the seat being vacated next year by Sen. Sam Brownback, who is running for governor. Kansas Republican Rep. Jerry Moran is also seeking the seat.

Ashcroft, a former Missouri governor, served one term in the Senate. He also explored a run for president prior to the 2000 campaign.

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The IRS may be trying to find you — to return money

Thursday2:04 p.m.

The taxman is looking for 708 Kansans, but to return money –- more than half a million dollars overall.

On Thursday, the Internal Revenue Service released its list of taxpayers whose refund checks have been returned to the department. The average amount owed to Kansans is $837, a department release said.

Most often, the checks are returned because the person filing has moved for some reason, such as a college student or couples who got married or divorced, said Michael Devine, IRS spokesman for Kansas and Missouri.

In Sedgwick County, the IRS has been unable to deliver refund checks to 118 people, totaling $80,488, for an average refund of $682. That is down from 2008 when the department could not return checks to 125 people who were owed $774 on average.

In Butler County there were 10 returned checks, Harvey County had five and Sumner County had six. The IRS does not calculate an average refund in counties where fewer than 10 people are owed money.

The list only contains of people who received their refund check by mail, Devine said. Anyone questioning if they are owed money by the federal government can check the status of their refund at irs.gov. To check the status of a refund, people will need their Social Security Number, filing status and the amount of their refund.

People can also change their address online.

“It’s their money,” he said. “We are trying to get them their money and if they ask quickly, they can get it before Christmas.”

For more, read Friday’s Wichita Eagle.

By Jeannine Koranda | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (1)

Commissioner keeping mum about reported FBI investigation

Wednesday7:45 p.m.

Parks

Parks

Sedgwick County commissioner Kelly Parks isn’t saying a word to explain comments he made Tuesday that he had turned over some “stuff” to the FBI.

Parks made the mysterious remarks, reported first in The Eagle, during a discussion about ethics policies.

On Wednesday, he declined to talk futher about what he had turned over to the FBI. The FBI has not commented on the matter.

Parks’ colleagues on the board as well as county leaders such as manager William Buchanan say they have no idea what Parks was talking about.

Parks told The Eagle on Wednesday that he met with an FBI agent after he made his comments Tuesday and that he had been instructed not to say anything else.

By Deb Gruver | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (13)

Mike Huckabee is coming to Wichita Monday

Wednesday3:53 p.m.

HuckabeeThe man Kansans wanted to send to face President Barack Obama in the general election last year will be in Wichita Monday morning to sign his new book, “A Simple Christmas” and the new paperback release of “Do the Right Thing.”

Mike Huckabee’s book signing is at 10:30 a.m. at Watermark Books & Cafe at the southwest corner of Douglas and Oliver. It’s the only Kansas stop on his 60-city tour. (See an interview with TIME magazine about his book tour.)

Huckabee is the former governor of Arkansas who has also been a pastor and is now a talk show host on Fox News Channel and ABC Radio Network.

Kansas was one of the eight states he captured in the 2008 presidential primaries. He took about 60 percent of the vote. He gave a roaring stump speech and played with his band in a hangar at Col. James Jabara Airport in February 2008 where he called himself a “Wal-Mart Republican” and signed hundreds of autographs after leaving the stage.

his newly released “A Simple Christmas” and new-to-paperback release “Do the Right Thing”
By Brent Wistrom | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (11)

Kansas GOP weighs in on Tuesday’s national election results

Wednesday2:51 p.m.

GOP elephantThe Kansas Republican Party says last night’s big wins for the GOP show Americans are unconvinced by Democratic health care proposals and the economic stimulus package.

But, in a statement this morning from state GOP Chairwoman Amanda Adkins, the party says more work is necessary before Republicans can count on big gains next year.

“President Obama won New Jersey, Virginia and New York’s 23rd District by at least 5% in 2008. The Democrats’ defeat in Virginia and New Jersey in Tuesday’s elections is an indicator that Americans want more than empty promises of hope,” Adkins wrote.

“Voters believed in Obama’s message but the change they wanted did not include a government takeover of healthcare and a so-called stimulus package that has done nothing to put Americans back to work.

“The close race in New York indicates that we still have work to do. We must educate voters on the pro-growth, pro-business platform that will achieve sweeping victory for Republicans in 2010.”

By David Klepper | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (16)

Wagle endorses Pompeo in Fourth District congressional race

Tuesday3:30 p.m.

State Sen. Susan Wagle, who early on expressed interest in running for the Fourth District congressional seat, announced today she would instead endorse candidate Mike Pompeo.

“I value my position as a senior state senator in a small group of 40,” she said in a statement. “Kansas is facing a budget crisis unlike any crisis we have faced in recent history, and it would not be right as a leader of the conservative movement to walk away from an economic downturn, or for that matter, even divert my attention away from the needs of Kansans, when the headlines in our newspapers are about our governor considering a tax increase.”

Wagle said her endorsement of Pompeo, a Republican national committeeman, was not intended to be disrespectful of or derogatory toward two fellow senators who are seeking the seat, Dick Kelsey and Jean Schodorf.

Wagle said she respected both senators.

“However, for the daunting task that lies ahead in Washington, we need someone who stands out above the crowd. Someone who will be recognized instantly as a leader. Someone who has the ability to guide and influence others on our behalf, who has inner strength, and strong convictions,” she said in endorsing Pompeo.

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By Marcia Werts | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (11)

Susan Wagle to make announcement about congressional race today

Tuesday10:24 a.m.

Wagle

Wagle

State Sen. Susan Wagle, R-Wichita, plans to announce whether she’ll enter the expanding race for the 4th District Congressional seat today.

The announcement is at 2 p.m. at the Wichita Area Builders Association.

(Update: Wagle endorsed Mike Pompeo.)

By Brent Wistrom | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (14)

Tiahrt, 6 others under scrutiny by ethics investigators

Oct. 30, 20099:58 a.m.

tiahrt_toddKansas Congressman Todd Tiahrt of Goddard is one of seven members of a powerful House subcommittee under investigation for ties to an influential lobbying firm.

Ethics investigators are said to be looking at the ties between campaign contributions and earmarks that benefit clients of the lobbying firm, the PMA Group.

The subcommittee in question controls spending by the Pentagon.

The probe includes a review of the actions of the chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee on defense, John P. Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat long criticized for his devotion to earmarks and pork-barrel spending.

Tiahrt faces a tough 2010 U.S. Senate primary fight against fellow Republican Congressman Jerry Moran.

No word yet from Tiahrt’s office.

Here’s more from the Washington Post.

By Steve Kraske | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (25)