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Research triangle clears first hurdle; two to come
BY: Jack “Miles” Ventimiglia, Editor
Lawmakers in Topeka cleared a hurdle to upgrade Johnson County's standing as a health and safety research center last week.
“For Johnson County, that was a huge victory,” Sen. Barbara Allen, R-Overland Park, said.
Before the cancer and animal research triangle can occur, the county commission would have to agree to present the plan to voters, who then would have to approve a tax to fund the plan.
Lawmakers agreed April 3 to let the county commission decide whether to ask voters about approving a tax to generate up to $18 million annually to establish the proposed Johnson County Education and Research Triangle.
The tax would fund research facilities and staff at the Kansas State University Innovations Campus in Olathe, with a focus on food security and animal health research; the Kansas University Edwards Campus in Overland Park, with the focus on science, math and engineering; and the KU Medical Center, which would open a cancer research center in Westwood.
“What this will do is create a bioscience area,” Rep. Cindy Neighbor, D-Shawnee, said.
Some lawmakers opposed letting voters decide whether to tax themselves, Rep. Kevin Yoder, R-Overland Park, said. Proponents argued county residents should be allowed to make the decision.
“Research dollars would come into the community, developing a bioscience corridor right through John-son County where we bring in businesses that need the same type of skills that we're producing on these campuses,” Yoder said. “There's real coordination to be had with private industry and bringing in federal research dollars.”
Rep. Gene Rardin, D-Overland Park, said the debate ended on the last day of the session on a 75-44 bipartisan vote for the bill.
“If the voters choose not to do it, or the county commissioners choose not to pursue it further, then that's what will happen,” Rardin said. “From what I have seen of the research triangle project, it is very promising in terms of the educational impact and the health impact and the science impact.”
The measure passed the Senate 32-6. Sen. Nick Jordan, R-Shawnee, said mixed signals from county leaders delayed SB 115's passage until the session's last day. Early in the session, Jordan said, lawmakers heard the measure meant little to commissioners.
“We struggled trying to find out what the county's priorities were. … They were neutral on the public safety bill and the research triangle bill,” Jordan said.
County leaders instead preferred an unrelated Kansas Association of Counties bill to allow a blanket tax increase to cover ongoing needs, including infrastructure. When that bill stalled, priorities changed and the commission appeared to support the public safety and the triangle bills, Jordan said.
“We ended up passing both of them so the county commission can decide what their priorities are,” he said.
County Chairwoman Annabeth Surbaugh, in her State of the County address March 27, called public safety a county priority. But on Saturday she also said she is concerned about any sales tax, including the public safety proposal, that would not support ongoing operational costs.
Surbaugh called the proposed triangle “fabulous,” but she needs to learn more.
“It has a lot of details to be worked out yet and they have plenty of time to do that,” Surbaugh said.
Allen said she believes that after commissioners hear the reasons they will let the tax go to voters.
“When they … see what the opportunities are in this county, yeah, I think they're going to put it on the ballot,” Allen said.
Jordan said commissioners face a tough decision regarding what to do with two tax issues. Voters may consider two too many, he said.
“Both probably are not going to pass on the ballot in the same year. Generally you wouldn't think you would put two issues – public safety and the research triangle – on at the same time,” he said.
Rardin and Allen said dealing personally with cancer made them want to give voters a chance to decide the triangle tax issue.
“My wife was diagnosed with lung cancer in November so I have been learning more about it than I ever wanted to learn,” Rardin said.
If KU Medical Center opens a cancer center in northeast Johnson County, across from the old Sprint Center, then research could occur there. Allen said the Phase I research would allow human tests that could benefit county residents.
“I'm a breast cancer survivor and I have a very strong interest in seeing us get this (National Cancer Institute) designation for the cancer center,” Allen said.
Allen said she participated in an out-of-state clinical trial because Kansas lacked what she needed.
“Just speaking from personal experience, Kansans deserve to have this access to cutting-edge clinical trials right here,” Allen said. “It's difficult to travel when you're being treated for cancer. It's expensive and you just don't feel good; you feel sick and it's not easy to get on an airplane. You need your family and your friends there to help you.
“The whole idea of us having a world-class cancer center in the heartland region is a very good thing for the people of Kansas.”
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“For Johnson County, that was a huge victory,” Sen. Barbara Allen, R-Overland Park, said.
Before the cancer and animal research triangle can occur, the county commission would have to agree to present the plan to voters, who then would have to approve a tax to fund the plan.
Lawmakers agreed April 3 to let the county commission decide whether to ask voters about approving a tax to generate up to $18 million annually to establish the proposed Johnson County Education and Research Triangle.
The tax would fund research facilities and staff at the Kansas State University Innovations Campus in Olathe, with a focus on food security and animal health research; the Kansas University Edwards Campus in Overland Park, with the focus on science, math and engineering; and the KU Medical Center, which would open a cancer research center in Westwood.
“What this will do is create a bioscience area,” Rep. Cindy Neighbor, D-Shawnee, said.
Some lawmakers opposed letting voters decide whether to tax themselves, Rep. Kevin Yoder, R-Overland Park, said. Proponents argued county residents should be allowed to make the decision.
“Research dollars would come into the community, developing a bioscience corridor right through John-son County where we bring in businesses that need the same type of skills that we're producing on these campuses,” Yoder said. “There's real coordination to be had with private industry and bringing in federal research dollars.”
Rep. Gene Rardin, D-Overland Park, said the debate ended on the last day of the session on a 75-44 bipartisan vote for the bill.
“If the voters choose not to do it, or the county commissioners choose not to pursue it further, then that's what will happen,” Rardin said. “From what I have seen of the research triangle project, it is very promising in terms of the educational impact and the health impact and the science impact.”
The measure passed the Senate 32-6. Sen. Nick Jordan, R-Shawnee, said mixed signals from county leaders delayed SB 115's passage until the session's last day. Early in the session, Jordan said, lawmakers heard the measure meant little to commissioners.
“We struggled trying to find out what the county's priorities were. … They were neutral on the public safety bill and the research triangle bill,” Jordan said.
County leaders instead preferred an unrelated Kansas Association of Counties bill to allow a blanket tax increase to cover ongoing needs, including infrastructure. When that bill stalled, priorities changed and the commission appeared to support the public safety and the triangle bills, Jordan said.
“We ended up passing both of them so the county commission can decide what their priorities are,” he said.
County Chairwoman Annabeth Surbaugh, in her State of the County address March 27, called public safety a county priority. But on Saturday she also said she is concerned about any sales tax, including the public safety proposal, that would not support ongoing operational costs.
Surbaugh called the proposed triangle “fabulous,” but she needs to learn more.
“It has a lot of details to be worked out yet and they have plenty of time to do that,” Surbaugh said.
Allen said she believes that after commissioners hear the reasons they will let the tax go to voters.
“When they … see what the opportunities are in this county, yeah, I think they're going to put it on the ballot,” Allen said.
Jordan said commissioners face a tough decision regarding what to do with two tax issues. Voters may consider two too many, he said.
“Both probably are not going to pass on the ballot in the same year. Generally you wouldn't think you would put two issues – public safety and the research triangle – on at the same time,” he said.
Rardin and Allen said dealing personally with cancer made them want to give voters a chance to decide the triangle tax issue.
“My wife was diagnosed with lung cancer in November so I have been learning more about it than I ever wanted to learn,” Rardin said.
If KU Medical Center opens a cancer center in northeast Johnson County, across from the old Sprint Center, then research could occur there. Allen said the Phase I research would allow human tests that could benefit county residents.
“I'm a breast cancer survivor and I have a very strong interest in seeing us get this (National Cancer Institute) designation for the cancer center,” Allen said.
Allen said she participated in an out-of-state clinical trial because Kansas lacked what she needed.
“Just speaking from personal experience, Kansans deserve to have this access to cutting-edge clinical trials right here,” Allen said. “It's difficult to travel when you're being treated for cancer. It's expensive and you just don't feel good; you feel sick and it's not easy to get on an airplane. You need your family and your friends there to help you.
“The whole idea of us having a world-class cancer center in the heartland region is a very good thing for the people of Kansas.”