Kansas has a new Speaker of the House, and he’s coming into the job with a hard row to hoe.
As The Kansas City Star reports, Ron Ryckman is inheriting not one but two budget shortfalls. There’s the current budget gap of roughly $348 million, with seven months left in the fiscal year. And then, once the new fiscal year begins, the shortfall is expected to balloon to $582 million.
And Governor Sam Brownback has decided to wait until January to propose a solution to the state’s budget crisis, which isn’t helping matters for Ryckman.
The Olathe Republican was selected this week to be the next Speaker, beating out fellow Republican Russ Jennings. Though Ryckman was the more conservative of the two choices, he says he’s open to any and all ideas.
Ryckman was one of the key movers in successfully passing a school finance plan during June’s special session.
