Web posted
Friday, January 11, 2008
Kelley keeps eye on state money
By JAMES JORDAN
Traveler Editor
State Rep. Kasha Kelley, R-Arkansas City, said the coming state legislative session could be an interesting one, but that is tempered slightly with this being an election year.
She believes the budget and other monetary issues will be the major concern on the session. Finances are always a concern of hers as well. Even so, people holding office are often hesitant to make many waves when they are up for re-election.
She hopes to get her transparency bill passed this year, which creates a Web site that will have state financial records from all departments. It passed last year as a proviso on the budget bill, but she hopes to get it through as its own bill this year.
Her stalking bill should also come up early in the session. It is designed to help law enforcement officials better enforce stalking laws.
Immigration is one hot-button issue that will likely come up during the session. Neighboring states have developed policies concerning illegal immigrants, and she believes Kansas should as well.
"There are several bills being looked at, based on what other states have done. Several states have adopted policies which results in the moving of populations to states that have no policy," she said.
She said policies would likely be aimed at people who employ illegal workers. Kelley hopes the state will come up with something that will give Kansas the same level of policy that other states have.
"The issue keeps getting kicked back to the states because the federal government will not deal with it. States are stepping up and forming policies," she said.
But monetary issues may cause the most consternation at the state capitol, and is an issue that Kelley has been active in pursuing.
"We need to look at how we do the budget. It needs reformed and there seem to be some people in Topeka jumping on the idea," she said.
She called the current way the budget is done "a farce."
"We spend and then try to find the money. We should look at the money first," she said.
She hopes to look at various state programs and see if they are working or if there is duplication. That could directly impact the budget if some areas could be streamlined.
"We need to look at costs when we pass laws. We will be asking agencies to prove their money does something. There are too many free rides in government," she said.
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