Manhattan lawmakers look ahead to 2019 legislative session

MANHATTAN — Kansas lawmakers will head to Topeka in less than three weeks and a major focus will again be on education.

Following this year’s Kansas Supreme Court ruling that current funding laws passed by the state require adjustment for inflation, there is optimism that the funding issue gets resolved in 2019. 66th District Representative Sydney Carlin (D-Manhattan) says lawmakers will find the money to do what the court requires, noting that changes to the 2012 income tax law have been largely, but not totally reversed.

The additional funding needed to satisfy the court is roughly $90 million over the next four years. 67th District Representative Tom Phillips (R-Manhattan) says while the state has many other priorities that need funding, such as the broken foster care system, the funding issue has to get resolved.

Phillips, a more moderate Republican says he expects some more conservative lawmakers to introduce a Constitutional amendment that would more clearly define how funding is appropriated to public education. Phillips says the more conservative members of the legislature will likely introduce the amendment to keep courts out of the funding equation in the future.

A constitutional amendment would require a super majority (83 votes). The issue of adding more money to K-12 education has left some wondering where the revenue will be generated. Rep. Carlin says she believes it will come from the anticipated extra dollars from the reversed Brownback tax cuts.

Rep. Phillips says he’s also looking forward to his committee assignments, in particular his appointment to the Higher Education Budget Committee, of which he’ll serve as the vice chair.

Phillips will continue on the taxation committee but has been relieved of his vice chair duties there. He will also serve on the veterans committee. Carlin is a member of the appropriations committee as well as both the agricultural and natural resources budget and agriculture committees. (To see all committee makeups click here) Carlin says she’s optimistic that the state can address Medicaid expansion in the upcoming session.

KanCare currently receives 90 percent funding from the federal government. Carlin says 33 states have already passed some form of expanded Medicaid for its most vulnerable citizens. Phillips says he also wants to see the legislature prioritize reforming the state’s foster care system.

Both Manhattan lawmakers expressed optimism toward working alongside Democratic Gov-Elect Laura Kelly, who will work with a Republican majority in both the House and Senate. The 2019 session begins Jan. 14.

To hear the full In Focus interviews with Rep. Phillips and Rep. Carlin click here: In Focus – Dec. 26