Parkinson thanks
Bob Stephan for his work on crime victims’ rights
July 1, 2009
Former Attorney General Robert T. Stephan was honored today for his work on behalf of
crime victims. The Governor recognized General Stephan with a proclamation and applauded
his continued efforts in addressing victim issues in the state.
Parkinson comments
on Sec. Polansky’s appointment to USDA
June 30, 2009
Governor Mark Parkinson issues statement on the announcement by the Obama Administration
that Adrian Polansky will serve as Kansas State Executive Director for the Farm Service
Agency at the USDA:
Greenlee confirmed
as Assistant U.S. Secretary for Aging
June 26, 2009
Kansas Secretary of Aging Kathy Greenlee was confirmed yesterday evening by the U.S. Senate
as Assistant U.S. Secretary for Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Following
her confirmation, Greenlee announced her resignation in a letter to Governor Mark Parkinson
effective June 26, 2009.
No doubt you’ve heard about our tough State budget situation. I’m writing
an entry that is focused on the budget to explain the challenging budget choices we face. Every
state is in a similar situation, some are in worse shapes, but our choices are tough.
Unlike the federal government, we are required to balance our budget. When state
tax revenues are at or above their expected level, this is pretty easy. For most
years this is the case. For example, in Kansas our receipts were greater than our
expenditures from 2002 all the way until 2007. This allowed us to create a surplus.
Unfortunately, starting in fiscal year (fy) 2008, our revenues dropped sharply
below our expenses. In fy 2008 our revenues were around $5.6 billion and
we spent around $6.1 billion. In fy 2009, again, our revenues were about
$500 million less than our spending. So, in just those two fiscal years
we spent about $1 billion more than we took in. We spent the surplus we
had built up over the five previous good years.
As First Lady, I am very new to Topeka, but I am a Native Kansan who understands that Kansas, in many ways, was founded by volunteers — a group of people, united by a common issue, fighting against slavery, moving to Kansas to make it a better place to live, work and raise a family.
Volunteerism has continued to play an important role in Kansas, and I especially applaud the role that Let’s Help, Inc. has played for the past 40 years in Topeka. Back in 1969, when Patty Coughlin began distributing food and clothing from the trunk of her car, she could not have imagined how her grass roots efforts would grow to provide emergency assistance, food programs, education and employment counseling to all of Shawnee County and the surrounding area. By any measure, it is impressive that Let’s Help has produced volunteers who annually donate more than 31,000 hours to emergency services, prepare 400 meals daily, nearly 100,000 lunches a year, and assist almost 1000 adults and youth with employment and job training. This organization is truly raising the quality of life for the entire Topeka community.
