Kansas Senate panel rejects governor's plan for free parks

The Senate Ways and Means Committee has rejected Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' plan to allow Kansans to use state parks for free. via Arkansas City Traveler

[Should be free]

The plan was to allow free entrance. You still would pay to camp and other fees. This would just of eliminated the $4.20 per day per vehicle to enter. There should never of been a fee to enter in the first place. This restricts folks that just driving into the park on a Sunday drive which most would return to camp but no one wants to pay just to drive in. The State of Kansas needs to provide more funding. They currently only provide 8 million out of the general fund. But Kansas sportsmen spend about 607 million dollars a year in Kansas for outdoor activities (items) alone, witch equals about 61 million in State on Local taxes per yr. There should be no problem to allow more funding from the general fund, since for the most part it would be returning what sportsmen are putting into the state GF. Check out http://www.nssf.org/07report/ For statistics on what KS hunters and fishers do to the economy for the state of Kansas. YOU WILL BE SURPRISED
Also the state should provide funding to aleast provide more Natural Resource Officers (NROs)(game wardens) to protect our resources. Kansas has only 1 NRO per 2 counties, while surrounding states have 2-3 NROs per 1 county. This is another issue that needs to be addressed, so the state can adequately protect the resources and this huge economy stimulus that outdoorsman are to the state of KS and they and the money should not be taken for granted.

[Amy]

Should be free wrote:

The plan was to allow free entrance. You still would pay to camp and other fees. This would just of eliminated the $4.20 per day per vehicle to enter. There should never of been a fee to enter in the first place. This restricts folks that just driving into the park on a Sunday drive which most would return to camp but no one wants to pay just to drive in. The State of Kansas needs to provide more funding. They currently only provide 8 million out of the general fund. But Kansas sportsmen spend about 607 million dollars a year in Kansas for outdoor activities (items) alone, witch equals about 61 million in State on Local taxes per yr. There should be no problem to allow more funding from the general fund, since for the most part it would be returning what sportsmen are putting into the state GF. Check out http://www.nssf.org/07report/ For statistics on what KS hunters and fishers do to the economy for the state of Kansas. YOU WILL BE SURPRISED
Also the state should provide funding to aleast provide more Natural Resource Officers (NROs)(game wardens) to protect our resources. Kansas has only 1 NRO per 2 counties, while surrounding states have 2-3 NROs per 1 county. This is another issue that needs to be addressed, so the state can adequately protect the resources and this huge economy stimulus that outdoorsman are to the state of KS and they and the money should not be taken for granted.

wow! I agree with you...where does all of that money go?!

[ksu_nutzer]

Amy wrote:

<quoted text>
wow! I agree with you...where does all of that money go?!

Hair Gel.... They buy Hair Gel

[Amy]

ksu_nutzer wrote:

<quoted text>
Hair Gel.... They buy Hair Gel

Ha, Ha! LOL

[jony]

the senate rejects governors request for no charges at state parks, because they labeled them as freebies, they in the senate are trying to make it look like the governor is out giving freebies.

lets look at the real freebies, your local cops and your local courts work for the over 2 billion a year private auto insurance corporations for free, yeah .. what does a cop ask you when you get pulled over .. can I see proof of insurance.

the cops shouldnt be called cops but insurance agent enforcers ... and the sad thing is they all fall for it .. they just dont get it .. they the cops think they are working for the state but they are not, they should not ask us that question when we get pulled over. there is your freebies, have the insurance companies stop using our tax paid services.

[Amy]

jony wrote:

the senate rejects governors request for no charges at state parks, because they labeled them as freebies, they in the senate are trying to make it look like the governor is out giving freebies.
lets look at the real freebies, your local cops and your local courts work for the over 2 billion a year private auto insurance corporations for free, yeah .. what does a cop ask you when you get pulled over .. can I see proof of insurance.
the cops shouldnt be called cops but insurance agent enforcers ... and the sad thing is they all fall for it .. they just dont get it .. they the cops think they are working for the state but they are not, they should not ask us that question when we get pulled over. there is your freebies, have the insurance companies stop using our tax paid services.

You do have a valid reason for disliking insurnace companies, and I understand your frustration.In truth they are like all businesses; they are in it for the money. The flaw in your argument, though, is that the government bent to accomodate insurance companies and they are "using our tax paid services."

Laws are made to protect people. Laws were created requiring drivers to carry at least liablility insurance to guarantee their ability to pay for losses, damages, or injuries to others when they are at fault. The people who pay taxes elected people into the government to establish these laws, and it is the duty of police officers to enforce these laws (its their job). The insurance companies are simply supplying a demand the public has to acquire insurance (although I agree, they may take advantage of the law requirements to increase their profits). The police aren't making sure the insurance companies are profiting, they are making sure people are obeying the law so that people will be safer. If anything could or should be changed about the situation, I would say rather than have police stop asking whether drivers carry insurance, have the government regulate in some way how insurance companies are allowed to charge for coverage, and possibly create some kind of assistance for people (at least responsible drivers) who can't always afford coverage but need to drive to make a living.

Whether we like it or not, however, insurance is a necessary evil, so to speak...

[Doug]

Republican KS legislators should poll their constituents that are registered Republicans. They just may find out that many of them agree with the governor's idea.

[jony]

Doug wrote:

Republican KS legislators should poll their constituents that are registered Republicans. They just may find out that many of them agree with the governor's idea.

yes, I understand that completely but there are too many variables in the issue that are overamplified and under amplified in terms of political jargon.

the insurance commissiner invited all the insurance executives to topeka but not one citizen and I have been a heavy handed opposition to a lot of those variables and I stand my ground for those reasons.

We the tax payers should not be subsidizing a private business for profit. never the less your comments are a fresh welcome. thank you.

[cosmo6]

they are our parks . I can see paying for camping spots ,they should be free to enter.