A 527 group is a type of American tax-exempt organization named after a section of the United States tax code, 26 U.S.C. § 527.  A 527 group is created primarily to influence the nomination, election, appointment or defeat of candidates for public office by advocating through a specific issue.  Because 527 organizations do not make expenditures to directly advocate the election or defeat of a specific candidate for elective office, they avoid regulation by the Federal Election Commission or by a state elections commission, and are not subject to the same contribution limits as PACs. The line between issue advocacy and candidate advocacy is the source of heated debate and litigation. Examples of 527 groups are Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, Texans for Truth, and ACT.

Contact Chairman Steve Huebert, Republican Valley Center, at steve.huebert@house.ks.gov or 1-800-432-3924 (hotline) or 785-296-1754 (office).

 

 

Proposed Funding of K-12 Education for FY 2010 and 2011

The House Appropriations Committee is recommending use of the federal stimulus money to maintain K-12 school funding at the current level of $4400 base state aid per pupil.  In addition, special education funding would remain at $427.7M.  Without the stimulus funds, schools would undoubtedly have faced deep cuts.  As a part of the “maintenance of effort” requirement, that same funding would continue for 2010 and 2011.   Although districts will face rising costs, this level funding for three years avoids the cuts many feared would be necessary. 

 

Rainy Day Fund approved by House

In an attempt to establish a savings fund for the state, HB 2320, the Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund, was passed last week by the House with a vote of 89 to 33. The legislature bases its budget on estimates of revenue (funds expected to be brought in).  These estimates, made by the Consensus Estimate Revenue Group, usually vary around 1% from actual receipts; estimates are sometimes over, sometimes under.  On years when revenues exceed the budgeted amount (when we end up with more money than expected), the excess will first go towards providing the required 7.5% ending balance, then the remainder will be swept into a budget stabilization reserve fund.  This fund can be spent upon the vote of 63 members of the House but it is recommended that not more than 50% of the fund be spent in one year.  The cap on the total is set at 20% of total amount expended in the state general fund the year before. No stimulus funds will be included in this fund.  This bill does not go into effect until 2011.  I voted yes.  Forty-seven states have some form of rainy day fund.  The bill now moves to the Senate.

 

Annexation Bills

Sub HB 2029

addresses annexation issues facing Overland Park as it seeks to annex 15 square miles south of the city from the county.  Not acted on last year, this bill:

• requires a mail ballot vote of those to be annexed and approval by a majority of those voting (applies to Johnson, Sedgwick, and Shawnee counties only);

• prohibits the annexation of unplatted agricultural land of 21 acres or more unless a landowner consents; and 

• requires that services promised by the city must be provided within 3 years instead of 5 and de-annexation proceedings can take place in a shortened time frame.   

Proponents included landowners, Kansas Farm Bureau, and the Kansas Livestock Association.  Opponents included the League of Kansas Municipalities, Overland Park Chamber of Commerce, City of Topeka, City of Olathe, City of Overland Park, City of Gardner, and others.  The bill passed 75 to 47; I voted no.

Sub HB 2084 involves strip annexation

issues facing Mulvane.  Desiring to link the city of Mulvane with a proposed casino site, the city annexed narrow strips of land in a circuitous route between the two.  This bill prohibits the unilateral or consent annexation of a narrow corridor of land to gain access to noncontiguous tracts of land.  It would require the corridor of land to have a tangible value and purpose other than for enhancing future annexations by the city.  It is retroactive to January 1, 2008.  The House will vote on this bill on Monday.  I support this bill.

 

 

Bleeding Kansas Bio

Benjamin Franklin Mudge   August 11, 1817 - November 21, 1879

Born in Maine in 1817, Benjamin Franklin Mudge grew up in Massachusetts, attending academies there and graduating from Wesleyan University in Connecticut in 1840. Mudge studied natural science and history, but also completed the classical course and studied law. He was admitted to the bar and embarked on a political and legal career, but Mudge always maintained his interest in geology and natural history.

During the summer of 1861, in order to demonstrate his antislavery convictions, Mudge moved his family to Quindaro, Wyandotte County, Kansas, a bustling river town with a reputation as an important point on the Underground Railroad and a stronghold of the free-state movement during the preceding years.

Mudge was a geologist and educator who, in 1864, was invited to deliver a series of lectures before the legislature. When the body passed legislation to organize a state geological survey, he was made state geologist, an honor which he said, was "entirely unsought, yet thoroughly enjoyed."  Mudge was elected professor of geology and associated sciences at the Kansas State Agricultural College. He published the first "Geology of Kansas," a 65-page report issued in 1866, and the first geological map of the state in 1875.  Mudge gathered the nucleus of the college's mineral collection.

After leaving the agricultural college in 1873, Mudge collected specimens for Yale University and was named geologist under the State Board of Agriculture. He also was a founding member of the Kansas Natural History Society, which became the Kansas Academy of Science.

Remembered as a one of the foremost pioneer scientists of Kansas, Mudge was "outstanding not only as a great explorer and collector of geological and paleontological specimens," but he "also was recognized as an enthusiastic and inspiring teacher and was highly esteemed by the people of the State."

 

Resolutions

Eleven Hundred Torches, Jana’s Call for Action

Inspired by the life of Jana Mackey, a law student at the University of Kansas, Eleven Hundred Torches is a national campaign to inspire others to make a difference. Active in the areas of women’s rights, victims of violence, and those unheard and underrepresented, Jana was herself the victim of an unjust crime.  Her family and friends asked that the 1100 people in attendance at her celebration of life service take up the torch of service and make a difference in the world.  To learn more about joining this call for action, go to: www.1100torches.org.  Jana’s family received a framed House Resolution.

Retiring University Presidents

Presidents of three of our Regent’s Institutions will be retiring at the end of this school year.  Dr. Robert Hemmingway will retire from the University of Kansas; Dr. Jon Wefald leaves Kansas State University, and Dr. Tom Bryant retires from Pittsburg State University. They were presented with framed House Resolutions honoring their service and accomplishments at the Higher Education Caucus last Wednesday.

 

Jill’s Activities

• Kansas Optometric Association Lunch for legislators

• Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Luncheon featuring BBQ buffalo

• Capitol Graduate Research Summit where students from the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Wichita State University, and the University of Kansas Medical Center presented their biomedical research.  They were fascinating and so scholarly!

 

 

Jill Quigley

jill@jillquigley.com

Topeka:  785-296-7682

Home:  913-541-9645

Hotline: 1-800-432-3924