By Dave Ranney
KHI News Service
TOPEKA, Dec. 22
Rep. Bob Bethell, R-Alden, will lead the House subcommittee charged with crafting the state”s social services budget.
“I was pleased when the Speaker (Rep. Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls) called me,” Bethell said. “I”ve been on the subcommittee for eight years now, so this is a good opportunity for me.”
His approach, he said, will mix compassion and fiscal conservatism.
“I think we need to continue our service to those in need,” he said, “and to make sure the state”s resources are used wisely so we get the best return on our investments.”
Bethell, 64, is a licensed nursing home administrator and an ordained minister, serving the Baptist churches in Alden (pop. 175) and Raymond (pop. 83), both in Rice County.
“About 40 attend each service,” he said, noting he tries not to let the legislative session interfere with his preaching schedule.
He”s also a regional vice president for senior services for Via Christi Health System, overseeing nursing homes and assisted living units in Hays and Victoria.
As subcommittee chairman, Bethell promised to be open minded.
He
said he was hesitant to support for re-opening 30 beds at Osawatomie State Hospital to meet the demand for in-patient psychiatric care.
“I”m not sure that”s the best usage of the state”s dollars and resources,” he said.
But he stopped short of nixing the proposal, which has been endorsed by mental health advocates and the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.
“I haven”t seen the reports and the demographics that I need to see to make a good decision,” Bethell said.
He said he”s anxious to hear details about the Kansas Health Policy Authority”s $3.9 million request for 20 additional staff in Fiscal 2007, and 22 more in Fiscal 2008.
“I need to know more,” he said. “But I”m reminded of what happened 10 years ago when we privatized foster care. We took all these child welfare services out of SRS (Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services)
and we ended up bankrupting two organizations because, really, we didn”t understand what all SRS did. We thought the private organization could function at the same level and they couldn”t.
“I don”t want to see that happen at the health policy authority,” he said.
United Methodist Youthville, one of the state”s foster care contractors, filed bankruptcy in 2001. Financial shortfalls forced Lutheran Social Services out of business in 2002.
But Bethell said he”s reluctant to see government grow.
“One of concerns we”ve heard from individuals outside of government is that government has grown faster than private sectors in employee growth,” he said. “We need to see where we need growth and then see if that growth is justified.”
Other subcommittee members:
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Rep. Peggy Mast, R-Emporia; Rep. David Crum, R-Augusta;
Rep. Pat George, R-Dodge City;
Rep. Dick Kelsey, R-Goddard; Rep. Marc Rhoades, R-Newton;
Rep. Barbara Ballard, D-Lawrence;
Rep. Jerry Henry, D-Atchison;
Rep. Tom Hawk, D-Manhattan.
Other health-related House committee assignments:
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Health and Human Services: Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita, chairwoman; Rep. Peggy Mast, R-Emporia, vice chairwoman; Rep. Geraldine Flaharty, D-Wichita, ranking minority member; Rep. Jeff Colyer, R-Overland Park; Rep. David Crum, R-Augusta; Rep. Pat George, R-Dodge City; Rep. Don Hill, R-Emporia; Rep. Mike Kiegerl, R-0lathe; Rep. Jim Morrison, R-Colby; Rep. Bill Otto, R-LeRoy; Rep. Joe Patton, R-Topeka; Rep. Marc Rhoades, R-Newton; Rep. Don Schroeder, R-Inman; Rep. Clark Shultz, R-Lindsborg; Rep. Delia Garcia, D-Wichita; Rep. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City; Rep. Cindy Neighbor, D-Shawnee; Rep. Sue Storm, D-Overland Park; Rep. Annie Tietze, D-Topeka; Rep. Ed Trimmer, D-Winfield; Rep. Jim Ward, D-Wichita.
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Insurance and Financial Institutions: Rep. Clark Shultz, R-Lindsborg, chairman; Rep. Anthony Brown, R-Eudora, vice chairman; Rep. Nile Dillmore, D-Wichita, ranking minority member;
Rep. Richard Carlson, R-St, Marys; Rep.Jeff Colyer, R-Overland Park; Rep.Mario Goico, R-Wichita; Rep.Mitch Holmes, R-St. Johns; Rep. Joe Humerickhouse, R-Osage City; Rep. Mike Kiegerl, R-Olathe; Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita; Rep. Ty Masterson, R-Andover; Rep. Virgil Peck, R-Tyro; Rep. Tom Burroughs, D-Kansas City; Rep. Oletha Faust-Goudeau, D-Wichita; Rep. Bob Grant, D-Cherokee; Rep. Cindy Neighbor, D-Shawnee; Rep.Vince Wetta, D-Wellington.
Dave Ranney is a staff writer for KHI News Service, which specializes in coverage of health issues facing Kansans. He can be reached at
dranney@khi.org
or at 785-233-5443, ext. 128.