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Governor Parkinson acts on Facilities Closure report |
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Tuesday, 26 January 2010 |
The following is a letter from Governor Mark Parkinson to Rochelle Chronister, Chair of the Facilities Closure and Realignment Commission, regarding the commission’s final report:
Rochelle Chronister, Chair
Facilities Closure and Realignment Commission
Dear Rochelle:
I want to thank you for your tireless work on behalf of the State of Kansas in leading the Facilities Closure and Realignment Commission. Former-Governor Sebelius charged you with evaluating state-owned and operated facilities to ensure Kansans receive quality services in an efficient manner and without undue cost to the taxpayer. Your leadership was instrumental in the commission’s work and I am truly grateful to you for your service.
I am accepting the commission’s recommendations regarding the Kansas School for the Blind and the Kansas School for the Deaf, the Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Visually Disabled and Rainbow Mental Health Center.
However, I am not accepting the commission’s recommendations for Kansas Neurological Institute (KNI) and Parsons State Hospital (Parsons). I agree that serving individuals in the community can lead to a better quality of life. In spite of that, I also have concluded that it is currently not feasible to close KNI and consolidate all residents at Parsons.
While we can successfully transition some of the residents at KNI and Parsons into the community, we cannot transition them all. It will take time to reduce the populations at both facilities to a level that makes consolidation possible.
Therefore, I am issuing an executive order to begin a phased reduction of the populations at KNI and Parsons that if effective, could lead to the closure of one institution in approximately three or four years.
I have directed the Secretary of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) to develop profiles of residents we can successfully transition to community services. I have also directed him to develop more restricted admission standards, in conjunction with the community organizations, for both KNI and Parsons State Hospital. The actual closure of either facility will be contingent upon: (1) successful implementation of restricted admissions standards to decrease the number of new people admitted to the facilities; (2) transitioning individuals to community services; and (3) successfully keeping individuals in the community services. When these conditions are met, the Secretary will recommend the Governor issue an Executive Reorganization Order to proceed with the consolidation.
During this process, SRS will modify future budget submissions to reflect the ‘money follows the person’ transfer of dollars from the institutions to the community as individuals leave KNI and Parsons and move to the community. SRS will also report the savings that accumulate from downsizing the facilities to the Division of Budget on a quarterly basis, so these resources can be reallocated to the Home and Community Based Services for the Developmentally Disabled Waiver to help reduce the number of people waiting for community services. There are currently more than 3,000 people waiting for services and I want to ensure these funds are available to those individuals.
Thank you again for your thorough work, thoughtful recommendations and continued dedication to the people of Kansas.
Sincerely,
Governor Mark Parkinson
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Press Release January 12, 2010 |
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Tuesday, 12 January 2010 |
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State Employees Respond to the State of the State: KOSE Applauds Governor Parkinson’s Courage
Last night Governor Mark Parkinson addressed the harsh realities of this past year’s budget cuts that he declared as “brutal.” He also made it clear that it is not responsible governing to cut “beyond the point of waste.” This is heartening news since Kansas state employees and KOSE members know all too well how brutal these cuts truly have been. The Governor has also shown great courage by calling for modest tax increases to preserve vital state services and avoid outright catastrophe for education, public safety, and aid to our most needy.
It is well known that Governor Mark Parkinson has faced the worst crisis Kansas has ever seen since the Great Depression and cut more waste from the state budget than any of his predecessors. That is why his remarks are a sincere reminder that we cannot afford anymore devastating cuts.
Governor Parkinson must be applauded for his perseverance and courage as we try to salvage our economy and learn from this crisis.
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'Furlough' plan for Kansas legislators questioned |
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Tuesday, 12 January 2010 |
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By Scott Rothschild Lawrence Journal World and News January 12, 2010,
Topeka — Kansas legislators get paid for days during the legislative session when they are not in the Statehouse.
Now with the state budget crisis in its second year, Republican leaders, who control the Legislature, want to cut legislators’ pay on some of those days and are calling it a sacrifice.
“These calendar changes and cuts in legislative compensation are part of our overall approach to reduce costs at this time of severe stress on the state budget. Legislators want to do their part,” said Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton.
“Despite the short three-month duration of the legislative session, we know it’s important to control legislative costs along with other reductions in government spending. Today’s pay-reduction proposal for the Legislature is a significant step in that process,” said House Speaker Mike O’Neal, R-Hutchinson.
But some say the effort is misleading.
Under the deal, legislators will take 10 days of unpaid furloughs during the 2010 session. It would reduce the pay of each legislator by $2,047.
But these proposed furlough days — Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays — are early in the session when most legislators aren’t in Topeka anyway, especially Saturdays and Sundays. And until late in the session, Fridays are “pro forma” days where no official action is taken but legislators get paid anyway even though most of them have gone home for the weekend.
Generally, legislators are paid each calendar day for a 90-day session. They receive $88.66 per day in pay and subsistence of $116 per day during the session.
Jane Carter, executive director of the Kansas Organization of State Employees, said the proposal can’t be considered a furlough like most people think of an unpaid furlough, when a person is forced to take off, for no pay, a day they would have normally worked.
“The Legislature is paid for Saturdays and Sundays, which they do not work. They shouldn’t be paid these days. Furloughing for 10 days only cuts the days they shouldn't have been paid in the first place,” Carter said.
Some Democrats say they fear Republican legislators are going to use the plan to pave the way for forcing state employees to take unpaid furloughs.
When announcing the plan, Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, R-Independence, said the decision to furlough the Legislature “is about leading by example. Before we ask others to sacrifice, we should be prepared to do the same ourselves.”
In addition to the legislative furlough plan, the Republican leaders said they want to cut legislative pay by 5 percent, and reduce food and lodging from $116 per day to $109 per day. |
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Legislators meet at NCSL conference in Chicago |
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Monday, 11 January 2010 |
By Mary Botkin, Political Director, Oregon AFSCME Council 75
CHICAGO — Despite intensive lobbying efforts by the "prison privateers," most of the comments about private prisons are negative here at the annual National Council of State Legislators (NCSL).
About 15 of Oregon's 90 state senators and representatives — plus dozens of legislative staffers — are in attendance here. There are almost 10,000 people in attendance when you add in all of the staff, vendors and lobbyists like myself. The NCSL runs through July 21.
One of the most highly attended symposiums was July 17 on the issue of private prisons. As you would expect, representatives of the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) and Wackenhut, the two leading prison privateers, spoke in favor of private prisons. Several lawmakers from across the country spoke against them.
We can all be very proud of Oregon state Rep. Ben Westlund, a Republican from Bend. Your AFSCME lobbying team — myself, Ralph Groener and Don Loving — have worked with Westlund on this issue for the past four years. He gets it, and Westlund got up and articulately spoke against private prisons before the whole group.
"I have studied private prisons intensely in Oregon," said Westlund. "I have concerns about oversight, about accountability, about everything.
"We're not interested in private prisons in Oregon. I don't see anything in it for us."
Cal Hobson is a Democrat state senator from Oklahoma. Oklahoma has many private prisons, and Hobson is not impressed.
"If you don't have them, you don't want them," he told the crowd. "We have them in Oklahoma, and they've brought a lot of problems. People have succumbed to the simple need for jobs, but the benefits aren't there, they have a big turnover problem and we are having a lot of accountability issues. I certainly would not recommend them to anyone."
A Republican state senator from Utah, Michael Waddoups, appeared a little more on the fence on the issue. He did say he saw "a lot of moral issues to be decided, especially in the area of human rights." Interestingly, he said
Utah is considering its first private prison, but they want to put it in the same county where they have a nuclear waste dumping site! He also said if it comes into being, the Utah private prison would have one full wing for mentally ill inmates.
I was personally put off the most by the presentation from Mike Quinlan, representing CCA. You need to understand my personal history with Quinlan. He formerly worked for the federal Bureau of Prisons. In that role, he and I had many conversations about private prisons, and he was always very much opposed to them.
However, Quinlan retired from the federal government relatively recently, and lo and behold, he was hired by CCA! He says that "now" private prisons "can be OK." I know better, and I know he has simply sold out to CCA. He did NOT think private prisons were OK at all when he worked for the federal government.
The best presentation came from Stephen Chand, the Administrator of the Corrections & Criminal Justice Coalition (CCJC). Chand issued a 100-page report and study on private prisons that was full of excellent information. He walked us through the dozens of pitfalls with contracting prisons, contract issues, how there is no real savings for states, etc.
For example, after all the fanfare about one particular private prison in Tennessee, a recent study concluded that the privateers are saving the state of Tennessee 23 cents per day — that's 23 CENTS — and the state is receiving a whole lot of headaches for that 23 cents.
"Survey after survey taken across the country tell us that citizens expect the government, not a private enterprise, to handle corrections issues from arrest through incarceration," Chand said. "There is no ground swell of support from the public for private prisons."
I will be bringing back much information from Chicago and will be happy to share it with anyone who is interested. |
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Friday, 04 December 2009 |
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The Topeka Capitol Journal
Kansas Department of Corrections officers and staff provide an unseen, but nevertheless vital, role in the safety and security of the citizens of Kansas. With our decline, the lives of average Kansans will become less secure.
In the midst of a declining economy, rest assured the first priority of legislators is to feather their own nest first.
If you think I'm joking, look at their health insurance, retirement and other benefits compared to state and private sector employees. Wouldn't it be nice if we all controlled our own paycheck?
When was the last time you gave your staff $25,000 bonuses in the middle of economic hard times? Ask House Speaker Mike O'Neal.
GREGORY H. BONTRAGER,
Hutchinson Corrections Officer and KOSE member. |
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Tuesday, 24 November 2009 |
KOSE Executive Director Jane Carter Speaks out Against Privatization
“With the recent proposals to cut the state budget, there have been calls for privatization of state services to save money. Privatization is not the answer; again and again it has been proven to be disastrous to taxpayers and critical government services. For example, in New Mexico privatization for correction officers has resulted in staffing shortages, overcrowding of inmates and poor hiring standards for personnel. In Florida another correctional facility was privatized and the contracted private company did not pay its property taxes. Lastly, plans to privatize state jobs at three Indiana hospitals last month were dropped after state officials learned it would cost taxpayers more money and threatened the jobs of 300 workers at one hospital alone.
Unfortunately, these stories are the norm when it comes to privatization. Communities bare the brunt of poor services under privatization due to the lower quality standards of services and the lack of accountability and governmental oversight. Privatization actually costs jobs because a profit motive is injected into a services’ function, making it easy for a private contractor to raise profits by cutting jobs. With high unemployment in Kansas from the national recession, now is not the time to put anymore jobs at risk.
I hope any conversation involving possible privatization of state services would involve state workers; their voices, their ideas, and concerns. Since state workers administer these services first hand, they would know how any privatization proposal would affect the delivery and overall effectiveness of these services. I ask for every state worker to join the conversation and make their voices heard; to tell their stories, to call their legislators, and to educate all Kansans of the negative affects of privatization.”
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Monday, 23 November 2009 |
KOSE Executive Director Jane Carter Responds to Proposed Allotments: Devastating Cuts Expected
“In light of Governor Mark Parkinson’s proposal to cut nearly $260 million from the state budget, it is important to remember that members of the Kansas Organization of State Employees (KOSE) have consistently shouldered the burden in good times and bad. Kansas state workers have some of the lowest salaries and benefits in the country and have continually been forced to do more with less.
Cuts of this magnitude will have a ripple effect across the Kansas economy; affecting not only state workers and their families but will impact vital services that all Kansans depend on. KDOT workers clear the roads during the winter time; Corrections Officers maintain that convicted criminals remain behind bars and KOSE members ensure that down on their luck Kansans have a place to turn to.
We understand this is a shared responsibility for all state government, however, agencies must understand the importance of the employees and the services that they provide. The average state worker gets a modest $22,000 per year. These low salaries and dismal benefits are not the cause of the current budget crisis.
I urge all state employees and their families to start the fight and call their legislator today. Tell them how our social workers’ case load has been dramatically increased by 80%, how our crews have been drastically cut and how our posts have collapsed. In the event of furloughs or layoffs, KOSE will be active in the process but we must not forget that a 12 day furlough will equal a 5% pay cut, putting Kansas state workers at the bottom of the pay scale.
In these difficult times all Kansans must remember that the contributions of state workers are invaluable and if any future cuts are made solely on the backs of state workers it would be morally reprehensible.”
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Legislators wary of KNI closure |
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Monday, 16 November 2009 |
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The Topeka Capital Journal
By Tim Carpenter
November 12, 2009 at 2:42pm
Three House Republicans raised questions Thursday about the potential of saving tax dollars by closing Kansas Neurological Institute in Topeka and transferring developmentally disabled residents to community housing or a state hospital in Parsons.
Reps. Lana Gordon and Joe Patton, both of Topeka, and Rep. Rocky Fund, R-Hoyt, met with staff members and residents in response to a recommendation by the Kansas Facilities Closure and Realignment Commission to shut down the Topeka complex and transfer the 150 residents to smaller living units or Parsons State Hospital. A coalition of Topeka Democrats previously condemned the proposed closure of KNI.
The goal is to save money and conform with a philosophy of placing disabled Kansans in the "least restrictive" environment. Gov. Mark Parkinson, who could accept or reject the recommendation, hasn't spoken publicly about his view on KNI other than to express deference to the work of state commissions. The 2010 Legislature could vote to block the closure.
Patton said he wasn't persuaded the state would reduce overall expenditures by an estimated $5.7 million a year by locking the doors at KNI. He said the investment required to create community-based housing and services could wipe out any projected efficiencies.
"I'm not convinced it will save the state money either immediately or in the long run," Patton said.
Gordon said she didn't believe the commission relied upon solid information when developing cost estimates of altering the care of KNI residents. State officials say 90 percent of KNI residents have profound intellectual disabilities. Two-thirds can't walk, while four of five are unable to speak. Nearly all have lived at the Topeka facility for more than a decade.
"When you start looking at transferring them to other facilities, whether it is to a community-based home or the Parsons State Hospital, you've got to consider the costs of the medical equipment they require, the layout of the buildings, the highly trained staff and access to medical care," Gordon said. "In many cases, they will be starting from scratch. I'm concerned this is an instance of penny-wise but pound foolish."
Fund said he was skeptical the reform would sustain a quality of life to which people living at KNI have grown accustomed.
"I need more evidence that this move will be good for all those involved," he said.
Patton said the governor and Legislature must be able to clearly demonstrate the downstream cost of the change won't be higher.
"We are all strong advocates of spending each and every tax dollar wisely," he said.
The Facilities Closure and Realignment Commission voted 7-3 to submit a report to Parkinson containing a provision for gradual closing of KNI. In addition to mothballing KNI, the commission proposed the transfer of a portion of the 200 residents at the Parsons hospital into community living arrangements. |
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Wednesday, 28 October 2009 |
Statement from KOSE Executive Director Jane Carter on the Facilities Closure and Realignment Commission’s recommendation to close KNI and downsize Parsons State Hospital.
"It is unfortunate that the Facilities Closure and Realignment Commission recommended the closing of the Kansas Neurological Institute and the downsizing of Parsons State Hospital on Monday. The news gives no comfort to employees, residents, and families affected by the Commission’s recommendation — especially now that we are nearing the holiday season.
There are roughly 500 employees at each institution with approximately 158 residents at KNI and 191 at Parsons that will all be negatively affected. Much of the staff at KNI and Parsons will likely contend with possible unemployment should these two facilities be closed or downsized. As for 102 residents that are set to be relocated to group homes or other facilities, they can look forward to the disruption of their treatment as well as a dislocation from their homes.
These institutions are not only vital to the special needs and mental health communities of Kansas, but they generate vital economic development dollars for the local communities where they are located. According to a September study of this year commissioned by the Topeka Chamber of Commerce, the total economic impact of KNI in FY 2010 will be $66 million. The study also suggests that KNI’s revenue output and the spending of its workers support more than 1300 jobs in the area. Parsons is much the same and according to the latest Kansas University Center for Economic Development and Business Research report on hospital closures, Parsons employs 84% of residents in Labette County.
As we move to the next phase in the process, KOSE will continue to argue in favor of these vital institutions and on the behalf of the employees, residents and communities that depend on these hospitals for their livelihoods, wellbeing, and economic stability."
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CLOSURE COMMITTEE VOTES TO RECOMMEND CLOSURE OF KANSAS NEUROLOGICAL INSTITUTE |
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Tuesday, 27 October 2009 |
On Monday, the Facilities Closure and Realignment Commission, voted to recommend the eventual closure of KNI and to downsize Parsons. The recommendation will now go to Gov. Mark Parkinson for an Executive Order. However, the recommendation could be overturned by the Legislature during the upcoming session.
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