Capitol Watch: One bad idea but three good ones, too
Let’s not make a deal
Here’s the Missouri Senate’s idea of a compromise: Kill projects that create jobs, and penalize people who will lose jobs in the future, all in order to accept federal money to help the long-term unemployed.
“I won. I won,” crowed Republican Sen. Jim Lembke, of St. Louis County, after the Senate gave preliminary approval to the flawed deal that its leaders cut to end the filibuster Lembke had taken part in with Will Kraus of Lee’s Summit, Rob Schaaf of St. Joseph and Brian Neives of Washington.
Actually, the winners would be other states, which would receive the $250 million that Lembke and company want to return to Washington. In Missouri, it would be earmarked for projects such as energy-efficiency upgrades for homes, worker training, wastewater system improvements, electronic health care records, fuel production, clean water and more resources for rural law enforcement.
The Senate also voted to cut state unemployment benefits from 26 weeks to 20. The House should reject this dreadful deal. If not, Gov. Jay Nixon should veto it.
Keep KC, give ’em that countryside
For all the talk about how involved government is in people’s lives these days, a longstanding crisis has never really attracted the attention or thought it deserves: the depopulation of rural America.
For the next week, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback will be on a tour unveiling his big idea (tweaked by the legislature): Rural Opportunity Zones.
The plan is hardly a cure-all, and may not even be much of a help. It’s offering out-of-state residents a five-year pass on paying state income tax if they move into one of 50 dwindling Kansas counties. It’s also offering college grads up to $15,000 in loan repayment if they move (even move back) to those same counties.
It’s encouraging that Brownback’s small government mantra could be paused long enough to creatively address an issue that has far more to do with the future of his state than abortion and illegal immigrant voting. The need for this is based on a simple fact: Many Kansas counties peaked in population in 1930 and have been emptying out at a fast pace since. Here’s hoping it does lead to rural growth. Rural Kansas needs help.
Just say ‘I do’
Brownback’s other big idea of the week, to come up with ways for Kansas to promote marriage, is a “healthy families initiative.” It is an admirable goal. More intact Kansas families should be a benefit to society.
But sometimes such items get too caught up in the definition of what a family should be. For instance, will this effort help the governor see the potential benefits of gay marriage?
For this effort, Brownback has surrounded himself with experts from around the country. While it hardly seems to be a Kansas-specific crisis, this initiative should be aimed at helping all those who need such help, not become just one more ideological statement.
Stop the presses
It can happen: some good news out of Jefferson City.
A bipartisan group of representatives from the Kansas City region has formed the “Kansas City Caucus.” This week the fledging coalition beat back a proposal to pluck 80 jobs with the Missouri Housing Development Commission out of Kansas City.
Irked by some moves that the commission has made recently, GOP leaders had wanted to move the entire workforce closer to Jefferson City.
A compromise endorsed by Kansas City lawmakers keeps the 80 jobs here, but requires the executive director and top aides to live within 40 miles of the capital. That’s good work by the local delegation, which is fortunate to have talented lawmakers from both parties. Long live the Kansas City Caucus.
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