It's been many years since Boston Public, David E Kelley's drama about life in an inner city high school, aired on network television. But on May 27, Senator Pyle (Hiawatha) invoked memories of the Kelley show by holding up a trashcan and telling the surrounding senators "SMELL THIS TRASHCAN", noting that the smell from stinkbait, placed their by him, was a good comparison to the current bill in record.
Within the confines of Kelley's world, an unhappy parent - Mrs. Parks - would bust into the principle's office frequently yelling "SMELL THIS SHOE!" "SMELL THIS SOCK!" with a long winded rant of how the smell of whatever she was offering could be compared to the failure of the teaching staff or principle at hand.
You can listen to the "SMELL THIS TRASHCAN" Debate moment here:
http://kansaspublicradio.org/...
Senator Pyle's key argument was simple: he was not prepared to tolerate tax increases - despite Kansas current revenue issues.
http://www.fairfieldcitizenonline.com/...
Conservative Republicans tried unsuccessfully to shorten the debate by killing the bill at the start, and most Democrats supported them. GOP Sen. Dennis Pyle, of Hiawatha, held up a bag containing a closed jar of garlic-flavored catfish food and dropped it into a trash can normally kept under his desk.
"It's called stink bait. If you want to come and smell it, you're welcome to open it," Pyle said. "That's where that tax increase is right now. It's right beside that stink bait."
The senate, who found themselves debating a tax bill managed no effective support with only one vote "AYE" and the remainder of the body "NAY" nor "Present".
Republicans, who hold a super majority in both bodies in Kansas do not need a single Democratic vote to pass legislation, and Democrats seem content to let Republicans go it alone in fixing problems they've created - more than aware that in the past, Democrats have been used as a shield to take the blame for policy with Republicans pointing fingers.
This has left Republicans in a chinese finger puzzle they seemingly can't solve, with both sides pulling hard away, and the constriction is forcing Kansas Governor Sam Brownback to make plans for potential furloughs of state employees.
http://cjonline.com/...
“We are talking with the secretary of state, legislative staff, Department of Administration, budget office and others to determine the last possible date a budget can be passed before furlough notices would have to be issued,” said Eileen Hawley, spokeswoman for Brownback.
Several legislators indicated a budget may need to be approved by the Legislature, signed into law by Brownback and published in accordance with state law by June 6 to avert stepping into furloughs of state workers.
Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, said the Brownback administration and the GOP-led House and Senate may intend for negative public reaction about furloughs to compel legislators toward a budget-and-tax deal.
It is unclear whether the Senate can muster the minimum 21 votes or if the House can find the minimum 63 votes to move bills raising income, sales and excise taxes. Republicans hold a 98-27 majority in the House, while the GOP has a 32-8 edge in the Senate.
“Yes, we have 98 Republicans,” Rep. Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, said of the House. “You’d think it would be easy to get 63 votes, but it’s not.”
Republicans, remained convinced that Democrats and Moderates can be forced back to the table to accept a deal to prevent furloughs - whether it is a good deal or a bad deal.
"Moderates will not be able to go back to their districts if we furlough employees. Eventually, they will take a deal and fix this." A Republican consultant informed me, asking not to be named.
Furloughs, which will send many employees who live paycheck to paycheck home and at risk will clearly be used as pressure to provide cover for Republicans who are unwilling to bend on taxes and who are seeking an across the board 4-6% budget cut before they will consider any other options.
Senator Pyle's demand that the legislature "Smell this Trashcan" didn't cause senators to stand up and rush to take a sniff, but constituents across the state could clearly smell the failure that filled the senate chamber.