By Jim McLean
KHI News Service

TOPEKA — The newly re-elected speaker of the Kansas House reiterated on Monday that he would rather deal with the state’s budget problems by cutting spending than by revisiting the tax cuts that are shrinking state revenues.
Ray Merrick, a Stilwell Republican, was overwhelmingly elected to a second term as speaker, defeating Rep. Virgil Peck of Tyro, 80-16.

Republicans now hold a 97- to 28-seat majority in the House.

Merrick, a conservative, said he believes the state should rely primarily on spending cuts to avert projected budget deficits of $279 million this year and $715 million next year.

“That’s where I am right now. As things progress, we’ll see what happens,” Merrick said. “But I still think we spend too much.”

When asked what he would cut, Merrick said: “I really haven’t looked at it yet. That’s what one of my priorities will be after today.”

Some Republicans in the Senate have said they might be willing to delay additional scheduled cuts in income tax rates and require some business owners to resume paying taxes.

Republicans passed the tax cuts at the urging of Gov. Sam Brownback hoping to stimulate the economy through job growth. But last week the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that Kansas’ rate of private-sector job growth continues to lag behind the national rate. The 13,900 private sector jobs created in Kansas in October was 1.24 percent higher than the number of jobs created in the same period last year. But nationally, private-sector job growth grew by 2.24 percent.
Rep. Tom Burroughs of Kansas City, the newly elected leader of the 28-member Democratic minority in the House, said the state’s budget problems will be “the challenge” of the upcoming session.

“We stand ready to hear what the governor proposes,” Burroughs said.

Burroughs defeated Rep. Jim Ward of Wichita for the minority leader’s post by promising to stand up for “the policies that we feel are important” while also seeking common ground with Republicans when possible.

Ward, in brief remarks prior to the leadership vote, proposed to take a harder line against Republicans who he said had turned their backs on poor Kansans by refusing to accept federal funding to expand Medicaid.

“I will work daily to hold them accountable for their policies,” Ward said. “We must be bold. We cannot cower in fear.”

Rep. John Wilson, a Lawrence Democrat, supported Burroughs, who defeated Ward 17-11.

“We need to make sure at the end of the day that our leadership can build bridges where we can and stand firm where we can’t,” Wilson said.

Both Wilson, who was elected policy chair of the caucus, and Burroughs said Medicaid expansion would be among the top priorities of House Democrats.

“Medicaid expansion is something that will have to be discussed this session,” Burroughs said.

Burroughs succeeds Paul Davis as the Democratic leader. Davis, from Lawrence, vacated his seat to run unsuccessfully for governor.

Rep. Louis Ruiz, also from Kansas City, was elected assistant minority leader. He defeated Rep. Valdenia Winn 15-13 on the second ballot.

House Majority Leader Jene Vickrey, a Louisburg Republican, retained his position by a unanimous vote and Rep. Peggy Mast, R-Emporia, was elected to a second term as speaker pro-tem by a vote of 59-36.

Jim McLean is a reporter for Heartland Health Monitor, a news collaboration focusing on health issues and their impact in Missouri and Kansas.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Drug testing of welfare applicants in Kansas is off to a slow start.

After four months, only 20 applicants have been tested, with four testing positive and five refusing the tests. State officials concede early numbers are low. But they predict testing will increase as staffers grow more comfortable in referring welfare applicants for drug testing.

A spokeswoman for the state’s children and families department, which administers the drug-testing program, says it’s important to note that this is the first year.

Missouri has been testing applicants since last March. It has conducted 655 tests so far. Almost 70 tested positive, but about 700 refused the test and were disqualified for benefits.

The Kansas City Star reports Missouri conducted almost 70 tests in the program’s first four months.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The Columbia City Council unanimously approved an ordinance that will prohibit employers from asking on applications whether a job seeker has a criminal record.

The ordinance, known as “ban the box” also prohibits businesses from conducting background checks until a conditional job offer is made.

Some business leaders objected to the ordinance, especially the delay in background checks. Supporters said the ban gives ex-offenders a better chance at a job, which reduces recidivism.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reports the city’s new ordinance is the most far-reaching of similar laws in Missouri cities because it applies to public and private employers. Similar ordinances in Kansas City and St. Louis apply only to public employees.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Wheat Alliance says a southeast Kansas farmer has paid a $10,000 settlement for allegedly selling a wheat seed variety without authorization.

The alliance said Monday it accepted the settlement payment from Paul Simpson of Weir, whose alleged selling of the Everest wheat variety violates a federal law that protects property rights of the breeding work done by private or public groups.

The Hutchinson News reports such settlements are part of an effort to stop the unauthorized selling or buying of seed stock, a practice known as “brown bagging.”

The alliance says buying certified seed supports the seed industry by supporting public and private research that lead to improved wheat varieties.

DETROIT (AP) — Under pressure from U.S. safety regulators, automakers are expanding recalls or adding them to fix potentially faulty passenger air bags in high-humidity states.

Documents posted Tuesday by the government say Subaru is expanding a previous recall of five models. Mitsubishi is recalling one model, the 2004 and 2005 Lancer small car.

Both companies have cars equipped with air bags made by Takata Corp. They can inflate with too much force and spew metal shrapnel into the passenger compartment.

Previous recalls were limited to Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and several other territories. The new Subaru and Mitsubishi recalls now cover those areas as well as Southern Georgia and coastal areas of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and South Carolina.

The government is pushing for a national recall of Takata driver’s air bags.

CHANUTE, Kan. (AP) — A small southeast Kansas town is facing another obstacle in its efforts to extend ultra-high-speed fiber broadband to its residents and businesses.

A 1947 state law on utilities will require the city of Chanute to get permission from the Kansas Corporation Commission to sell bonds to fund the city’s broadband project.

The Wichita Eagle reports Chanute’s project would extend some of the fastest Internet service in the country to a community of 9,200 residents. It would offer a download speed of 1 gigabit at an estimated cost of $40 a month for residents. That’s 14 times faster and 60 percent cheaper than the fastest Internet service now available to Chanute residents.

AT&T, one of two lower-speed broadband providers serving Chanute, has filed to intervene in the case.