PITTSBURG — At some point Kansas legislators will need to reconcile the state budget.
The state is on track to end the fiscal year with $250 million, down from $500 million forlas year.
For 2016, the ending balance is projected to be zero.
Five years from now, $490 million in cuts will be necessary to end the year with a zero balance.
For State Rep. Paul Davis, D-Lawrence, and presumptive gubernatorial candidate, the answer to saving a sinking budget is to stop the massive tax breaks and take advantage of existing federal programs, such as expanding Medicaid.
Davis, 41, was in Pittsburg Tuesday to address its Rotary club and then meet with Randy Casen, chief executive officer of Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center.
Between meetings he met with this Register reporter.
UNLESS the Kansas economy “takes off,” the state budget is on a trajectory to tank, Davis said.
“The income tax comprises 42 percent of the state general fund,” he said.
In addition to cutting programs and services, the state has diverted $1 billion from the state’s transportation fund.
In 2010, Davis was instrumental in passing the $8.28 billion 10-year transportation bill.
“That alone was projected to create 175,000 new jobs,” he said. “Now, the program is getting deeper in debt and projects are being stalled.”
Davis said Gov. Sam Brownback’s “roadmap” for Kansas projected job creation for 33,000.
By refusing to expand the Medicaid guidelines, Kansas is denying an estimated 155,000 residents health insurance, Davis said.
This not only hurts Kansas citizens, but also health care professionals.
Davis is a proponent of Kansas joining the 26 other states, including those with Republican leadership, who have expanded their Medicaid guidelines to provide health insurance to U.S. citizens making up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level.
