I was very disappointed when my amendment to stop closure failed on a vote of 45-69. I personally believe that we should not close either Topeka State or Winfield State Hospitals. The problem is that the priorities of this budget leave a lot to be desired. Many bureaucratic programs like corporate welfare and administrative overhead expenses received large increases, while programs targeted at children and seniors were severely cut. In these tight financial times I believe that there is a need for the state to be disciplined and fiscally responsible.
Tight budgets call for the right priorities.
I voted for this amendment to cut property taxes. I believe that the state should be fiscally responsible, however, I believe it is very irresponsible to increase funding to corporate welfare and administrative overhead while cutting these needed services. Myself and others offered amendments to the budget that would have restored the cuts to service for children and seniors by shifting money from business subsidies and cuts in the bureaucracy. For every dollar we restored to needed programs, we cut a dollar out of the bureaucracy. I recently received the honor of being placed on the House Appropriations Subcommittee in charge of drafting a package of bills to help assist the employees of institutions targeted for closure, namely Topeka State and Winfield State Hospitals.