Amid coronavirus concerns, Kansas lawmakers move to expedite state budget

Kansas lawmakers moved quickly Friday to advance a bare-bones state budget that would allow them to flee Topeka if necessary as it became clear the coronavirus could significantly upend daily life in the coming days and weeks, but their plans were upended when senators left before any negotiations could take place.

The House Appropriations Committee sent a stripped-down budget to the full House with the expectation lawmakers could vote on it early next week.

Representatives said they were taking the precautionary step to ensure state government continues to function if the session must end suddenly. As of Friday, six COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Kansas, and one of those cases had led to a death.

“Every day this seems to get a little more heightened,” said Speaker of the House Ron Ryckman, a Republican from Olathe.

“We don’t know what part of this may waver in, but while we’re here, we want to take care of the core function of passing a budget that will provide certainty to fund our core functions of government,” he said.

House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, a Wichita Democrat, said “the sooner we get out of here, the better.”

“We know there’s been community spread in Kansas,” Sawyer said. “I think it’s important we close down the place.”

Rep. Troy Waymaster, a Bunker Hill Republican who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, pushed for lawmakers to band together to pass a budget in a quick fashion when he addressed his committee Friday morning.

“When this whole thing started, I was probably just a little skeptical about what it all could mean,” Waymaster said. “But definitely this week has kind of in a way changed my opinion on what we’re facing as a nation and as a state.”

Lawmakers from across party lines agreed on the urgency to pass a budget Friday.

“It seems like it would be a good precautionary step to finish what we would legally required to do,” said Rep. David Benson, an Overland Park Democrat.

Sen. Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican and the chair of the Truth Caucus, had pushed for legislators to do budget negotiations throughout the weekend so a budget could be acted upon by Monday.

“We are in unprecedented times in our nation, and it is crucial we unify and focus on what is important - the health and safety of our citizens,” Masterson said in a statement.

But even that became unlikely after the House adjourned till Monday, with no work expected to occur over the weekend as originally planned.

“Hopefully we can state budget pass before it gets too bad, but if it does, we might have to adjourn without a budget,” Sawyer said. “If it’s a long term period, it could put the state funding in danger.”

The House on Friday approved resolution to extend the state of emergency declaration Gov. Laura Kelly declared on Thursday. The Senate must also approve the extension.

“The challenge facing our people and our state is not one that can be resolved in 15 days,” said Speaker Pro-Tem Blaine Finch, an Ottawa Republican, said.

House members voted to extend the emergency declaration up to nearly a year to allow health officials sufficient time to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. It will end Jan. 25, 2021 — when the next session starts — unless the Legislature or Kelly cuts it off sooner.

By declaring a state of emergency, Kelly has the ability to move different resources around from various government agencies.

Representatives voted in favor of extending the emergency declaration to give Kelly more time to move potential resources into the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Then, KDHE would have more support to possibly increase testing and share more information with the general public.

Kelly also announced Thursday her administration would start restricting visitors allowed in the Kansas Statehouse. Large events previously scheduled were canceled, following the governor’s announcement.

Kansas Legislature will be continuing its business as normal at this time, said Senate President Susan Wagle. But tours are large groups cannot visit the Kansas Statehouse anymore -- only members of the Legislature, its employees or individuals conducting business can enter indefinitely.

Other agencies started placing more preventative measures in place throughout Friday.

By Friday evening, the Kansas Department of Corrections announced it wouldn’t be allowing any visitors into any KDOC facilities to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The new measure will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, but in the mean time, families were encouraged to stay in contact through email, phone and video.

This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 2:29 PM.