<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584711243565.png" alt="A limited number of people were allowed in the Statehouse this week to slow the spread of the coronavirus, but staffers, lobbyists and lawmakers still found time to chat at the rail. Daniel Caudill / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>A limited number of people were allowed in the Statehouse this week to slow the spread of the coronavirus, but staffers, lobbyists and lawmakers still found time to chat at the rail. Daniel Caudill / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-gets-budget-and-lawmakers-leave-early-session-changed-coronavirus#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA — The week started with a Kansas 
House Democrat making an unusual request to not just his fellow 
lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, but to the Lord: “Please nudge our
 counterparts in the Senate. Please help them to work with a little more
 urgency.”With the threat of the new coronavirus growing by the 
day — businesses were shutting down, universities moving fully online — 
legislators knew time was running out to pass the state’s budget for the
 next fiscal year. The action was pretty much restricted to the 
Statehouse’s document room and the chambers. No visitors or school 
groups in the halls of the Capitol, the hearing rooms empty, the whole 
place a reminder of how quickly things changed.A week before, 
Kansas House leaders had sent the $19.9 billion budget straight from the
 Appropriations Committee to a joint committee of senators and 
representatives. The Senate’s version landed there Tuesday, the same day
 Gov. Laura Kelly shut down all K-12 schools until essentially August.&nbsp;On
 Thursday, both chambers passed the final version, which included $65 
million for COVID-19 response, but not without pushback from some 
Republican senators who thought it unwise to add spending amid a 
tumbling stock market.“We don’t have fluff in this,” said 
Republican Sen. Carolyn McGinn, the chamber’s top budget writer. “More 
than anything, we took care of the social services that are going to be 
very much needed back in your home communities.”The budget is headed to Kelly’s desk, <a href="https://budget.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/FY2021_GBR_Vol2.pdf-1-16-2020.pdf" target="_blank">her proposals largely intact</a>,
 and the Kansas Statehouse will head out for an extended spring break. 
Statehouse leaders said they hope to return on April 27 for a veto 
session, during which they’d finish their work and try to settle two 
issues that consumed much of their attention until recently: Medicaid 
expansion and a proposed constitutional amendment on abortion.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584711357257.png" alt=" Kansas Reps. Jene Vickrey (left) and Renee Erickson chat before the House convened Tuesday. Credit Daniel Caudill / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Kansas Reps. Jene Vickrey (left) and Renee Erickson chat before the House convened Tuesday. Credit Daniel Caudill / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>Also before leaving Topeka, a majority of the House voted to kill two
 of Kelly’s efforts to change the makeup of some state agencies. One 
would have effectively reconstituted the Department of Social and 
Rehabilitation Services (as the&nbsp; Department of Human Services, which 
was split apart in 2012.&nbsp;The other would have established an 
independent office to draft a state energy plan. Currently, the state 
Energy Office is located at the Kansas Corporation Commission, the state
 agency that regulates utilities. It has only one part-time employee.&nbsp;But the fear of COVID-19 spreading quickly through the state and the 
U.S. — and the concurrent feelings that state leaders were overreacting —
 pushed the session to an unusual moment in history. Lawmakers <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/sb27/" target="_blank">extended unemployment benefits</a> to 26 weeks in response to business closures and extended judicial branch deadlines.House
 Speaker Ron Ryckman said that the $65 million for coronavirus-related 
efforts ($15 million for the Division of Emergency Management and $50 
million into a fund controlled by a panel of lawmakers) was key.&nbsp;“We prioritized the things that we wanted to make sure that we could do,” he said, “and then give us flexibility going forward.”But Kelly’s decision to close K-12 schools and limit gatherings to 50 people or fewer drew ire from some lawmakers.&nbsp;“I
 think we’re closing our state down,” Republican Sen. Rob Olson said. 
“We’re creating more panic and more fear. We’re cheating these kids.”But
 Democratic Sen. Mary Ware told senators that she had met with someone 
who, turned out, had been exposed to a now-confirmed coronavirus case, 
was showing symptoms and being tested.&nbsp;“This is not something to take as theoretical, certainly not as a hoax,” she said. “This is real.”Kelly’s actions under the state of emergency declaration, good 
through March 27, were met with particular scorn on the Senate floor. 
Some senators didn’t want her to be able to seize private property, ban 
the sales of guns and ammunition or force people or livestock to be 
relocated, which are all powers provided in state law.“We’ve got
 to accept responsibility ourselves,” said Republican Sen. Caryn Tyson. 
“We can’t rely on the government to tell us every little move to 
make.”&nbsp;&nbsp;The House wanted to extend her order until January 2021.
 The Senate wanted to strip some of the powers and only have the 
declaration last through May 1.Their compromise: Kelly will keep
 the powers, but legislative leaders will review her actions and choose 
whether to extend or revoke the declaration every 30 days after May 1.&nbsp;And
 there was a moment of silence Tuesday for Senate President Susan 
Wagle’s daughter, who died at the age of 38 from cancer. Wagle was not 
in the Statehouse after that.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584711440760.png" alt=" Staffers in the Statehouse's document room were hard at works the Kansas Legislature hurried to break early due to the coronavirus. Credit Daniel Caudill / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Staffers in the Statehouse's document room were hard at works the Kansas Legislature hurried to break early due to the coronavirus. Credit Daniel Caudill / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Where the money goes</h2>Democratic Rep. Jim Ward
 said fast-tracking the budget meant most lawmakers had little input on 
the budget. He urged the chamber to leave enough time to really dig into
 spending issues at the end of the session.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We’ve got over 50 
items and almost three-quarters of a billion dollars to talk about,” 
Ward said, “and I think the world is going to look a lot different in a 
month.”But there were some notable additions of money for agencies.&nbsp;For
 education-related matters, lawmakers added $2.5 million more for 
college scholarships and $5 million for grants to improve K-12 school 
building security, as well as $5 million for the Cancer Center Research 
Fund that’s part of the KU Medical Center.On the health care 
front, the budget adds $2 million more for community mental health 
centers and $3 million for senior care services that help older Kansans 
stay in their homes. With coronavirus spreading in long-term care 
facilities in Washington and Florida, the money could help seniors 
potentially avoid getting a virus that is deadly for older people.&nbsp;But
 some issues were pushed off for later, as Ward mentioned, like 2.5% 
raises for state employees as well as bigger raises for judicial branch 
employees.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584711515506.png" alt=" The visitor center at the Statehouse is usually bustling with students and other visitors. On Wednesday morning, it was rare to see more than two people at a time. Credit Daniel Caudill / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> The visitor center at the Statehouse is usually bustling with students and other visitors. On Wednesday morning, it was rare to see more than two people at a time. Credit Daniel Caudill / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>A new plan for the state’s roads&nbsp;</h2>Before 
tackling the budget Thursday, the House and Senate approved a $10 
billion, 10-year plan for the state’s transportation system. It’s based 
on what Kelly proposed, and unlike previous transportation plans, it 
mainly focuses on maintenance instead of new projects.&nbsp;About 
half of its funding would go to repairing highways and bridges. Each of 
Kansas’ 105 counties will see $8 million over the next 10 years. The 
plans also allocates millions for broadband expansion and fixing 
railways.&nbsp;Democratic Representative Kathy Wolfe Moore said it came together with compromise.&nbsp;“I
 think it’s very important to the future of Kansas, and it’s nice that 
we have a little bit of good news today in the face of everything else 
we’re facing,” Wolfe Moore said.&nbsp;If signed by the governor, the measure goes into effect on July 1.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584711579737.png" alt=" Kansas Reps. Susan Concannon (left) and Suzi Carlson chat before the House convened Tuesday. Credit Daniel Caudill / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Kansas Reps. Susan Concannon (left) and Suzi Carlson chat before the House convened Tuesday. Credit Daniel Caudill / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>New agencies off the table</h2>Kelly had <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-hopes-one-agency-can-better-help-kids-and-families-buffet-departments#stream/0" target="_blank">wanted to combine</a>
 the troubled Department for Children and Families (foster care, federal
 food aid and other welfare programs) with the Department for Aging and 
Disability Services (mental health and programs for elderly and 
disabled). Her proposal also would have wrapped in juvenile justice 
services that are currently overseen by the Department of Corrections.But
 once the idea reached the House floor on Wednesday, Democrats accused 
Republicans of rejecting the changes for strictly political reasons.&nbsp;Reacting
 to arguments against the creation of an independent energy office, 
Democratic Rep. John Carmichael of Wichita said, “This is pure, blatant 
partisanship.”“It’s the party of “no” sitting over here,” Carmichael added, gesturing to the side of the chamber occupied by Republicans.&nbsp;But Republicans insisted their opposition stemmed from the lack of detail in the governor’s proposals, not politics.&nbsp;“It’s about control and moving money around,” Republican Rep. Leo Delperdang said.Republican Rep. Will Carpenter called the proposed Department of Human Services “just a bad idea.”While
 “disappointed,” Kelly said Wednesday that the increased demand for 
government services triggered by the coronavirus outbreak would have 
made it difficult to set up a new state agency.&nbsp;“It may be in some ways a blessing,” Kelly said.&nbsp;Even
 so, Kelly maintains that consolidating social service programs under 
one roof would streamline the delivery of services and “make it easier 
for Kansans” to navigate the bureaucracy.&nbsp;“It is something I want to happen but we’re willing to bring that back to the Legislature next year,” she said.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584711640613.png" alt=" Rep. Troy Waymaster takes a phone call before the House convened on Tuesday. Credit Daniel Caudill / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Rep. Troy Waymaster takes a phone call before the House convened on Tuesday. Credit Daniel Caudill / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>What comes next?</h2>Just a few weeks ago, lawmakers had hit <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/heres-what-kansas-lawmakers-have-and-havent-done-halfway-through-session">the midpoint</a>
 of the session, sending the other chamber bills they thought should 
reach Kelly’s pen, things like sports gambling, a public voice in 
property taxes and making it easier to get a suspended driver’s license 
back.&nbsp;What they were absolutely deadlocked on, and what may 
return to the forefront if the session is able to resume, were two 
things: <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-medicaid-expansion-blocked-supporters-frustrated-and-lawmakers-considering-nuclear" target="_blank">Expanding KanCare</a> to an estimated 130,000 low-income Kansans, and <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-medicaid-expansion-blocked-supporters-frustrated-and-lawmakers-considering-nuclear" target="_blank">a proposed amendment</a> to strip what the Supreme Court said was the right to an abortion out of the state constitution.&nbsp;Despite
 a Republican Senate leader joining with Kelly in calling for a Medicaid
 compromise, some Republican leaders oppose it. And when the House 
narrowly rejected a decision to put the proposed abortion amendment on 
the August primary ballot, both efforts ground to a halt.Republican
 Speaker Pro Tem Blaine Finch thanked his fellow House members Thursday 
for working to put aside differences to craft solutions in the face of 
the coronavirus, and urged them to keep the spirit of bipartisan 
compromise alive.“Our fellow Kansans are facing hardships, and 
from everything we’re told, those hardships will increase in the coming 
weeks,” Finch said. “We’re going to get through this as we have time and
 time and time again in this state — together.”<h2>Budget breakdown</h2>Kelly
 will have to approve the newly passed budget, which would start July 1.
 She got pretty much what she wanted, with some exceptions. But this 
isn’t the final word on the budgeting, because state lawmakers will make
 final adjustments after getting updated tax collections numbers.&nbsp;Here’s a breakdown of the major agencies’ funding. The first number is <a href="http://www.kslegresearch.org/KLRD-web/Publications/FiscalFacts/2019_fiscal_facts.pdf">this fiscal year</a>’s expenditures. The second number is the amount for fiscal year 2021 (all FY21 figures are approximations based on the <a href="https://budget.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/FY2021_GBR_Vol1-UPDATED_2-24-2020.pdf">Governor’s Budget Report</a> and <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/documents/ccrb_sb66_01_0000.pdf">adjustments</a> made by the legislature).&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584711716571.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Stephen Koranda is the Statehouse reporter for Kansas Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/kprkoranda" target="_blank">@kprkoranda</a>. Jim McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/jmcleanks" target="_blank">@jmcleanks</a> or email jim@kcur.org. Daniel Caudill covers the Statehouse. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/byDanielCaudill" target="_blank">@byDanielCaudill</a>.

Kansas gets a budget after session changed by virus worries