By Gene Meyer
January 11, 2010

(KansasReporter) TOPEKA, Kan. - GOP leaders of the Kansas Legislature on Monday ordered furlough days and other cost-cutting moves for lawmakers to do something extra to help solve the state’s continuing fiscal shortfalls.

The decision came at the end of brief opening day ceremonies in both houses, which adjourned to wait for Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson’s state of the state message Monday evening, after swearing in two new members.

The new members, both Republicans, are new state Senator and former House member Terrie Huntington, of Fairway, who succeeds former state Sen. David Wysong of Mission Hills after his resignation from the Senate, and state Rep. Barbara Bollier, of Mission Hills, who was chosen to succeed Huntington in the House.

Under the cost cutting plan announced by Senate President Stephen Morris, of Hugoton, and other leaders, lawmakers in both houses will be furloughed without pay during the first three Fridays of the session. The legislature will formally adjourn on Thursdays and resume on Mondays, though some legislators may work in committee meetings during the adjournments, Morris said.

In addition, the GOP leaders are proposing a 5 percent pay cut for legislators and rolling back a recently passed $116 daily food and lodging allowance to the previous $109 a day level.

Leaders in both houses endorsed the plan.

“Despite the three month short duration of the legislative session, we know it’s important to control costs,” said House Majority Leader Mike O’Neal, of Hutchinson.

“Although difficult, this is an important step to ensure that we do not raise taxes that, unfortunately, are rarely repealed after a budget crisis,” said House Majority Leader Ray Merrick, of Stilwell.

Kansas lawmakers in the coming session must agree on a plan to plug what is variously estimated to be a $350 million to $390 million fiscal hole to balance the state budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.  Gov. Parkinson is expected to propose a budget that holds education and Medicaid funding at 2010 levels and use a combination of cuts to other agencies, potential tax increases and the elimination of previous tax breaks to make up the difference.

Many lawmakers, including the Senate and House leaders, oppose any tax increases and are looking for ways to consolidate government functions or otherwise cut costs.

“It’s going to take a long time to mull this over,” state Rep. Don Hineman, a Dighton Republican said.

Is the state government operating as efficiently as possible? “Of course not,” said state Sen. Chris Steineger, a Kansas City, Kan. Democrat. He said the state could consolidate counties and school districts, savings millions of dollars. “We need to add business principals to government,” he said.

Brian R. Hook contributed to this article