KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010 / NEWS
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STATE POLITICS
Legislators must fill budget's $400 million hole
No more higher education budget cuts, governor says
Gov. Mark Parkinson greets legislators after delivering his State of the State address Monday at the Kansas Statehouse in Tonka
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BY ANNA ARCHIBALD aarchibald@kansan.com
Gov. Mark Parkinson reaffirmed his commitment to higher education in his State of the State address Monday evening.
The governor pledged to make no cuts to higher education in the upcoming legislative session. He reiterated his intention to continue honoring the state's 150-year commitment to maintaining the system of higher education in Kansas.
"Make no mistake, our commitment to higher education is not just the right thing to do. It is great economic development." Parkinson said.
Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little said she was pleased with the speech.
"I think that he was especially perceptive about the importance of a system that takes years, if not decades, to recover from," she said. "I think the governor is looking at a long-term for higher education."
She said the state's budget for higher education for the coming
year would be mostly the same with some possible enhancements.
The current budget, Gray-Little said, remains at the same funding level as in 2006 after similar cuts were made.
"The plan is to not reduce it below that," the chancellor said.
Though the Governor plans to maintain the budget of higher education in the state, there are still concerns as to the shortage of money in the system.
According to the Kansas Board of Regents, $106 million was cut over the past year from the state's six regent schools. That's a 13 percent reduction in funding.
The governor said the budget is currently "5400 million short of what we need to keep most of these budgets at their already drastically cut levels."
Parkinson proposed two options to battle the state's growing deficit. The first was to raise cigarette and tobacco tax from 79 cents to $1.34 and to propose a public smoking ban. The second was a temporary one cent rise in sales tax. The current sales tax is 5.3 percent.
"In addition, every university will need all possible forms of saving and revenue to be sure we can maintain quality programs," Gray-Little said. "The governor's commitment to maintain the funding at the current level is very important to the schools and universities to be able to attain their vision."
Kansas Board of Regents' Chair Jill Docking said the board is urging the Legislature to approve the proposed "enhancement package."
"Because higher education is an engine for economic growth, the
Edited by Ashley Montgomery
state should invest in its higher education system in order to lay the foundation for its future economic recovery," she said.
Possibility lies in higher sales tax
ASSOCIATED PRESS
TOPEKA Gov. Mark Parkinson on Monday proposed raising taxes on groceries, clothing, cigarettes and other consumer goods to eliminate a projected budget shortfall.
In his State of the State address, Parkinson asked legislators to increase the state's sales tax to 6.3 percent from 5.3 percent, but only for three years. The governor also asked the Legislature to boost tobacco taxes.
Those changes would raise $378 million during the fiscal year beginning July 1, almost enough to cover a projected budget shortfall approaching $400 million.
LAWRENCE
"What I am not open to are further crippling cuts to our critical state programs." Parkinson said.
Parkinson's proposals are likely to face strong opposition. Many Republican legislators, particularly in the House of Representatives, argue any tax increases will hurt struggling families and businesses and slow the state's economic recovery.
Precaution recommended despite a year without serial rapist attack
BY ERIN BROWN
ebrown@kansan.com
no rapes from Lawrence's suspected serial rapist were reported over winter break.
The suspected serial rapist in Lawrence and Manhattan has not struck in more than a year, according to the Kansas Attorney General Steve Six's office.
nected with this suspect occurred in Lawrence in December 2008.
Ashley Anstaett, communications director for the attorney general, said the last reported rape con-
The attacks date back to 2000 in Manhattan and 2004 in Lawrence, continuing through 2008. Police determined the connections between eight rapes in Manhattan and five in Lawrence by comparing similarities among suspect descriptions, victims, location and time of attacks, Anstaet said.
The attorney general's office described the suspect as a male, about 6 feet tall and between 25
and 40 years old. Victims were college-age females and the attacks occurred off-campus during academic breaks. The suspect typically covers his face, is armed with a weapon and usually conducts surveillance before an attack.
"Personally, I am pleased that no more rapes have been reported," said Laura Kozak, co-president of the Commission on the Status of Women.
"Just because the serial rapist hasn't been active doesn't mean there still isn't a harm in general" said Kozak, a junior from Kansas City, Mo. "Maybe no more rapes have been reported with this specific case, but women still need to be aware."
However, Kozak said women should still be cautious.
Gracie Pack, a senior from Dallas, said she was worried that no suspect had been identified by
police.
"The police are not really on top of it and they could be a lot more," she said. "It has been so long. I feel like they should have caught him by now."
Students should continue to take precautions to remain safe, Kozak said.
"In the case of the serial rapist, I would say be aware of your surroundings," she said. "Maybe start carrying a small can of mace."
The attorney general's office recommends keeping doors locked, closing blinds, being aware of neighbors or strangers and reporting suspicious activity to police.
The case is still under investigation.
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