[Higher_ed_members] URGENT ITEM

[Janell Holt]

Dear Kan-ed Members,
 
Last night the Senate proposed that Kan-ed be fully funded at $8
million Kansas Universal Service Fund (KUSF) and $2 million state
general fund (SGF).  The Senate position requires *no* additional SGF
funding, yet Kan-ed will be fully funded.
 
Because this important funding decision will be made later this
afternoon, I would urge you to contact your legislators in their
Statehouse office as soon as possible today to tell them "to support the
Senate's Kan-ed funding position in the omnibus appropriations bill." 
This formula is the same as Kan-ed has been funded for the last two
years, and requires NO additional funding to fully fund us again for
FY09.  Your legislators' Statehouse phone numbers and e-mail addresses
can be found at the links below: 
 ( http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-legisportal/redistricting.do ) 
House Roster:
http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-house/searchHouse.do 
 
Senate Roster:
http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-senate/searchSenate.do 
 
Find Your Legislator:
http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-legisportal/redistricting.do 
 
Again, a conference committee will make this funding decision this
afternoon, so time is off the essence.  As always, thank you for your
continued support.  Below is some sample language we are using.  Feel
free to customize it to your institutional perspective and use what you
want.
 
Sample Support Language:
 

On behalf of (insert your organization's name here) and the almost 900
schools, hospitals, and libraries across the state who utilize the
Kan-ed network, I urge you to support the Senate’s Kan-ed funding
position contained in the FY 2009 omnibus appropriations bill.
 
As you may know, SB 534, the mega appropriations bill which has already
been signed into law, only provides $7.5 million in funding ($2 million
SGF & $5.5 million KUSF) for Kan-ed.  This represents a 25% decrease in
funding that would result in significant program cuts if not enhanced
during omnibus.  While the House did not address Kan-ed in its omnibus
appropriations bill, the Senate’s omnibus bill, which contains an
additional $2.5 million from the Kansas Universal Service Fund (KUSF),
would provide the full $10 million ($2 million SGF & $8 million KUSF) in
funding that is necessary for the continuation of Kan-ed’s programs. 
In light of today’s constrained budget outlook, it is important to
note that the Senate position adds no new funding over FY 2008 and adds
no additional SGF dollars from what was contained in the FY 2009 mega
appropriations bill. 
 

Thank you for your continued consideration of this important program.
 
Brad