A small bipartisan group attempting to develop an enhanced funding plan for education gave up its efforts late Wednesday, clearing the way for possible adjournment of the Legislature this weekend. Cutbacks generate grumblings Most legislators are taking their own telephone calls, answering their own mail and even making coffee for themselves these days. A few are downright grumpy about it. Legislative leaders decided that Tuesday would be the last day of work for about 120 secretaries hired for the 2001 session. Legislature has chance to maintain Regents' trust Trust in the Legislature among state agencies, employees and retirees has always been tenuous at best.
Lawmakers sometimes forget commitments, especially when budget crunches hit.
That is why a shudder went through the university community when the House Appropriations Committee recommended that funding for the second year of the Kansas Higher Education Coordination Act of 1999 be slashed by 20 percent. Later this week, the 165 Kansas legislators will reconvene in their wrap-up session to, well, wrap things up. I have always kind of liked these few days, and governors, including the current one, have generally loved them. After all, they are in the cat bird's seat in terms of building the coalitions that will pass the final, difficult pieces of legislation. In fact, the final few days can get downright boring for the average lawmaker.