Q&A with Senator Chris Steineger
SENATOR CHRIS STEINEGER SAYS WISE SPENDING IS KEY TO RECOVERY by Wayne Hodges
TOPEKA, KS – A deep financial collapse, caused by a massive global recession, has obviously created a dark cloud of trepidation and uncertainty above the American people. An imperfect stimulus package, combined with steady job cuts and corporate bankruptcies, has also played a huge role in what has become a worldwide free-fall in consumer confidence.
As a byproduct, many people remain reluctant to spend and invest. And rising budget deficits for federal and state governments has placed public officials into the precarious situation of having to eliminate several key programs; which, unfortunately, include education and social services. On June 11th, I was afforded the opportunity to interview Kansas Senator Chris Steineger (D) about the aforementioned conditions of our national economy. The Q&A dialogue went exactly as follows:
HODGES: Mr. Steineger, it has been reported that the Shawnee Mission School District plans to eliminate roughly 144 jobs for the 2009-2010 school year in an effort to help trim the state budget by $10 million. The cuts will include teachers, counselors, paraprofessionals, campus police officers and school admininstators. Other school districts throughout Kansas are expected to conduct something similar. Could you lend further insight into this matter?
STEINEGER: The state economy is slowing down which, sadly, means less revenue to go around. The state government supplies approximately 75% of the public school budget in Kansas. The trickle down effect, unfortunately, equates to less money to be allocated to the schools. This is all part of an Tri-Partisan agreement between the Democrats, Moderate and Conservative Republicans.
HODGES: Recently, I spoke with a graduate adviser at the University of Kansas. She stated dozens of education graduates, due to a shaky economy, have been largely unsuccessful at landing teaching jobs. What type of message will the proposed budget cuts send to college students with hopes of securing a teacher’s license and/or education degree?
STEINEGER: In addition to education, the national economy has had a negative impact on several industries throughout the United States. And I really don’t see a quick reversal in sight. The overall problem, or economic downturn, is bad for all college graduates right now. However, for those individuals interested in becoming teachers, there remains a strong global demand for educators in the fields for both math and science.
HODGES: According to CBS News, since the recession began at the end of 2007, jobs in the U.S. have been vanishing at an alarming rate of 11,000 per day. What advice could you give to those workers who may be fearful of losing their jobs?
STEINEGER: For those individuals who do have jobs, now is certainly the time to be really supportive of your company and/or employer. This may include working extra hours, without pay if need be, to help the organization survive. If the business prospers, the prospect of the employer eliminating jobs becomes that much more unlikely.
HODGES: And finally, as a nation, what can we do to weather this recession?
STEINEGER: I have to be candid. As a nation, we have been living beyond our means for the past 10-15 years. Borrowing has become excessive, and we’re paying too much for disposable consumer goods that are ultimately thrown away. As consumers, we must spend less on these types of items, and invest more in the areas of education, training and human capital.
Wayne Hodges, an MBA from St. Mary University, is the editor of “Mass Appeal News.” He is also an adjunct professor, MPA at Kansas University, and legislative intern with the Kansas Senate. Wayne welcomes your comments at whodges@massappealnews.com
To see effective ways to survive during a recession, click the play arrow on the video box.
June 14th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Thanks Hodges for informing me about this interview. However, after reading the aritcle I’m concerned about the future of education. Since no reversal appears to be visibly imminent, how can we expect our children to pursue a degree in education when they stand a good chance of not getting a job when they get out? I wish you would’ve asked the Senator about educational alternatives such as the future of home-schooling and the potential for credit hour reductions in college degree programs. All that being said, outstanding interview. I hope you conduct many more.
June 14th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Great interview…and it’s awesome to see the Senator spend time to discuss these issues. I agree, workers must make more of an effort to secure the primary interests of their firm to stabilize employment. However, asking employees to work extra hours without pay will be a tough sell. Once again, nice interview. You asked some really good questions.
June 14th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
The forecast doesn’t sound too promising…we have yet to hit rock bottom.
June 14th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
I understand keeping the business profitable is priority number one with any employee. But for those people without jobs, who have expired their unemployment benefits, what alternatives do they have? This, in my opinion, is true problem with our national economy. We need a better system in place for those struggling to gain employment.
June 14th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Great article!
June 15th, 2009 at 5:53 am
Great interview…I’m still not in favor of trimming the budget by letting teachers go. There has to be other areas, besides education, to shave spending. Teachers are already stressed out in these public schools. I’m certain most are not excited at the prospect of teaching increased classroom sizes. The future of U.S. education is shaky at best.
June 15th, 2009 at 6:06 am
Is this a joke??? As a consumer, we must live within our means??? What about politicians and corporate execs who continue to travel in expensive private jets. What about government spending??? It seems everytime I look up, somebody in Congress is approving a stimulus package of some sort. Our children and grandchildren will be up to their necks in debt. I’m very disappointed with this interview…
June 15th, 2009 at 6:24 am
I do believe government spending has gotten way out of control…and many consumers would probably agree that we are not seeing the fruit of the stimulus. We continue to lose jobs at a ridiculous rate and now the education budget is taking a beating. If the stimulus is working, who is it working for? I do agree with the Senator that as consumers we must do our part and cut back on the consumption of disposable goods. As Americans we have gotten a little spoiled and our priorities have become displaced as a result.
June 15th, 2009 at 6:43 am
Great interview Wayne!!!
June 15th, 2009 at 11:28 am
A friend just recommended this site and I love the dialogue. Lots of great conversation here. You all have done a remarkable job. I will continue to read your posts.
June 15th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Somebody, SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!
June 15th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
I guess if people want to become teachers they better seek math and science degrees. It’s sad to see education take a back seat to a bad economy. When it rains it definitely pours
June 15th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
I am passing it around, so people know what is going on!
June 15th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Neat blog…bookmarked…
June 16th, 2009 at 7:07 am
Great interview Wayne! Thanks for telling me about this.
June 16th, 2009 at 7:49 am
I agree with Old School, when will the rich boys start cuttin back on their expenses? Average Joe’s like us dont have a choice but to slow down on spendin.
June 16th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Wayne, this is a very impressive interview. I want to commend you for writing these articles. Your views are so fresh and new. As readers, we truly appreciate it. Keep up the good work. You certainly have a voice.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
You guys appeared to have a pretty neat discussion; especially the part about college education and the future of educators. I had no idea the teaching profession was in this type of trouble.
June 18th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
“Working extra hours, without pay if need be, to help the organization survive.” I don’t think so. This ain’t charity. If I’m not gettin paid, I’m not workin.
June 19th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
If things get too thick in the USA, there’s plenty of room in my hometown of Mexico. Better run for the border homie
June 20th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
I saw this interview on the Kansas City Star website…great job Wayne!!! Keep up the good work.
June 20th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
The problem is not consumer spending habits. The problem is corporate greed. Does AIG ring a bell??? Like Old School said, the government keeps approving these stimulus packages and bailouts but the average consumer doesnt appear to be benefiting. Hell the job market is actually gettin worse. All this government spending and I still dont see anything changing.
July 7th, 2009 at 7:39 am
I only have one phrase to say: “SHARE THE WEALTH!!!
July 11th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
The GREEDY corporate sharks are responsible for this economic mess. And how does the federal government respond? By giving these pimps millions of dollars in BAILOUT money. Don’t talk to me about consumers needing to cut back. Politicians need to practice what they preach.
July 22nd, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Like the questions keep up the good work
July 28th, 2009 at 8:01 am
Hodges, why don’t you ask the Senator if he has a better stimulus package. The Feds plan sure as hell didnt work.
August 11th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Jackson county just laid off a 100 teachers. And every county is the KC metro area is laying off teachers. Who’s gonna teach our kids???