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Q: The state budget crisis is obviously going to dominate the session. What general approaches do you support to deal with the revenue shortfall?

A: I favor cuts to current programs. I would also support state worker furloughs in place of reductions in staff and long term layoffs. I believe we at that the Legislature can reduce our pay by 5 percent or more and ask all state workers earning in excess of $50,000 to do the same. I will not support tax increases during this economic climate. I do not think that folks want us to raise their taxes because the Legislature has not had the courage to pass fiscally responsible budget over the last four years.

Q: Are more cuts coming to K-12 education? Should it share equally in further budget adjustments?

A: I do think cuts are coming to K-12 and higher education. I do think that these programs should share in the budget cuts.

There are essential functions that state government should provide and among the most important are care for the aging and elderly as well as those Kansans with developmental and physical disabilities. In that same level of importance is funding education and public safety. I think many Kansans want to make sure these programs are functioning well. But we are facing a nearly $500 million shortfall in state revenue. K-12 and higher education funding account for near 65 percent of all state general fund money, and Medicaid another 18 percent. If the Legislature does what the governor has asked and keep education and Medicaid whole then the $500 million shortfall has to be cut from the remaining 17 percent of the budget. Those cuts would be catastrophic and there would be some good programs go away entirely.

Q: Do you see any value in the rainy day fund Sens. John Vratil and Laura Kelly are proposing?

A: Perhaps, I am in favor of establishing a "rainy day fund" that we can draw from in very tough economic times like these. I am concerned about the limitations this ties the Legislature to in the future regarding tax policy and developing new or perhaps better practices of providing services in the future. I am sure this will be debated throughout the session and will changed dramatically. I am in favor of establishing some measures to lessen the impact of dramatic revenue reductions and I think that this amendment will be part of those measures.

Q: Are there any initiatives you will carry this session?

A: I am looking at diminishing the abuses of eminent domain by municipalities and utility companies. Also, I will be drafting a bill that goes after parents who are delinquent in child support. I have been participating in discussions over the last year or so with advocates for children with autism, hopefully there is some headway we can make in that area.

Q: Will you have any public forums scheduled during the session?

A: Yes, I do not have those dates yet, but they will be posted on my Web site.