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Thursdav, May 3. 1990 / University Daily Kansan
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Some lawmakers fear change Rural congressmen may defeat proposals that could help them
By John P. Milburn Kansan staff writer
TOPEKA = Fearful of big business and change, some rural lawmakers defent legislation that could preserve the rural way of life, some observers
"Do you know what a Luddite is?" asked State Park ranger Raker B-Derby.
During the Industrial Revolution, people known as Luddites deliberately destroyed machines and technology to keep from changing
"We have a lot of legislative Luddites out there," she said.
As population has declined in rural Kansas, so has the number of seats in the Legislature for rural areas. At the same time, many rural legislators become ambivalent about the plight of rural areas. Though some pieces of legislation could bolster rural development, some legislators say that some of their colleagues balk at the opportunity, either delaying their vote or rejecting the ideas altogether.
When the House of Representatives convenes for the 1991 session, rural areas will be without six seats. Johnson County adds four for a total of 18 seats and 34 for the Kansas City area. Sedgwick County will add two for a total of 20 seats and 27 for the Wichita area.
As recently as 1950, each of the 105 Kansas counties had at least one representative in the 125-member House. As the population shifted, seats were taken away, and the urban delegation grew. In 1950, only 12 seats represented Kansas City, Topeka and Wichita. Today there are 69 seats, and in 1991 there will be 75 representing three cities.
"Obviously there will be a shift toward urban representation," said State Seen. Dave Kerr, R.Hutchinson. "Year in and year out it will be felt, but there is no disregard for rural problems."
Though Luddite is a strong label, many legislators say the attitude exists in the minds of rural legislators. It is a denial that the traditional ways of Kansas no longer are relevant.
The topic of multi-bank holding companies is one example. A bill was proposed this session that raised from 9 percent to 12 percent the
amount of total Kansas assets any single company could hold. The prime beneficiary would have been the Fourth Financial Corporation in Wichita, which has more than a dozen banks in five Kansas cities.
By allowing a stronger bank to hold more assets, the bank would have the power to buy failed banks and to provide money that could be used to fuel economic development in rural Kansas, proponents argued.
Arguing in favor of the bill was State Rep. Delbert Gross, D-Hays. He said that in the past year a larger bank came into Hays and bought a failed bank, providing a much needed service to the community.
"If you don't vote for this, savings and loans will go belly-up," he said. "And if no one takes them over, there will be real problems."
However, not everyone thought that way about allowing one company to hold that much of the state's assets. State Rep. Clyde Graeber, LeRavemount, feined the bill would create a new Corporate to create a monopoly.
Baker argued that if the state did not give Kansas institutions a chance to acquire failed banks, then banks from other states, such as Citicorp or Chase Manhattan, would come in and change the picture of Kansas busi-
The bill was approved by 65 votes and the limit was raised.
Baker said she had seen many issues divide rural and urban forces in the Legislature on more than one occasion this session.
Earlier, the issue of interstate bank raised a stir. Baker said some House members feared that smaller banks would be gobbled up by large, out-of-state banks preying on insolvent banks and thrifts.
State Rep. Bob Mead, R-Pawnee Rock, said interstate banking would occur, but he said he did not vote for it this session.
"A year ago, a poll showed bankers were split almost 50-50 on the issue." Mead said. "This year about another 10 percent have said it is all right and have accepted it. Its time is not here, but it will be within three years."
Mead said he was watching other states try interstate banking before voting for the measure. He like other legislators, is reluctant to jump into new ideas which may damage the state, particularly rural areas.
corporate agriculture is that they fear the loss of the rural way of life, Mead said, although most, like himself, realize that it is dying.
The reason legislators vote against
Mead said he was watching other states try interstate banking before voting for the measure. He like other legislators, is reluctant to jump into new ideas which may damage the state, particularly rural areas.
The reason legislators vote against corporate agriculture is that they fear the loss of the rural way of life, and they want to make himself, realize that it is dying.
One issue, corporate hog farms, was killed by the Legislature. The bill would have provided for development of corporate hog farming, much like that of the planned poultry production of southeast Kansas.
Opponents of the legislation feared that the small farmer would have been forced out of the market by large-scale operations. However, had it passed, the industry could have provided an economic boost to rural areas in the form of farms and packing plants. Mead said.
"We don't want to harm small businesses and communities," Meade said. "We all would like to preserve the rural way of life, but we have to understand that progress is happening around us. We can either be a part of it or watch from the outside."
However, aid has become available to help rural communities create comprehensive plans for development.
The Legislature this session passed a bill that established the rural assistance program, a program that makes grants of up to $20,000 to city/county development organizations for development of countywide economic strategies. Each recipient is required to provide additional funds equaling 25 percent of the amount of the grant.
"It is an outstanding program." Mead said. "It is a grassroots program. It only makes sense to start a program at that level."
Baker said that the House intended Butler, Harvey and Miami counties to be excluded from the program but that the senators from these counties were able to amend the bill to include their counties. The counties originally were excluded because they are close to the economic centers of Wichita Butler and Harvey counties) and Kansas City (Miami
County), and they are likely to feel the benefits of growth and sprawl as those metropolitan areas continue to grow.
Kerr worked on the bill in the Legislative Joint Committee for Economic Development, which developed a program during the 1980 interim session.
"It's not going to save the rural areas," Kerr said. "It will provide a mechanism for those who have the local leadership to develop a reasonable and concise plan for continuing to exist and start growing again."
These plans will help communities map out the future and become aware of ways to attract businesses and jobs, either on their own or with the aid of state or federal grants, Kerr said.
"In many cases, the leadership to do that is not there," he said. "The rural assistance bill will help those areas develop that potential."
"The rural assistance program is a "positive measure." Hayden said. "There are going to be some success from this, but only because of local support.
Gov. Mike Hayden, who comes from the small western town of Atwood, said that the state could provide ways to encourage rural development but that it could not do the developing.
"Economic development is only a small percentage of what state government does. It takes the initiative to make themselves to make a difference."
An example of this, Baker said, has been the Kansas Lottery, which since 1987 has provided a constant source of revenue for economic development. A prime aspect of the lottery is that it provides a large fund, designed to aid communities in creating a plan for growth and attracting new industries.
Proceeds from the lottery were designed to be spent on economic development with the revenue placed in the EDIF and other grant programs. This has the potential of being a vehicle for rural development. However, most of the funds would have been provided by the state. The rural assistance bill specifically prohibits funds for these communities
In the case of the EDIF and development as a whole, Baker said it had
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