State legislators, Sen. Steve Abrams (R-Arkansas City) and Rep. Vince Wetta (D-Wellington) made a stop at the Wellington Senior Center Saturday. The pair updated the community on what Topeka may have in store for the future of the state of Kansas.
    The annual API Legislative meeting brought the two to Wellington, along with other city government officials including Wellington Mayor Roger Stallbaumer, Belle Plaine Mayor Marla Morley and County Commissioner Eldon Gracy.
    Talk of cuts across the board, programs being slashed and education given a backseat were addressed — and the pictured didn’t look too good.
    The message the two brought to Wellington sounded like something out of an economic horror story — but both said this is what they are forced to work with, given the economy.
    “I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Abrams said. “I’m standing up here giving you all this bad news but that’s where we are at now. We have an economy that’s not very good, we need it to turn around.”
    The more than $125 million in cuts made last year will look like a drop in the bucket this year, Abrams said. Revenue is down in the millions for months on end and though the losses have lessened as time rolls on, it’s still a major problem and priority.
    “Good it’s only down $14 million. Well, that’s good it’s only $14 million, but the fact is it’s down $14 million,” Abrams said.
    To make up those losses, Abrams said the state will be forced to pick and choose what stays, what goes and what will be the priority.
    “I don’t think anyone thinks it will be easy. There just isn’t enough money to go around,” Abrams said.
    Wetta echoed his comments, though he focused on what Kansas needs to be doing to get itself out of the economic hole it’s in.   
    Wetta believes a combination of across the board cuts, program slashing and tax increases is possible during the next legislative session. Choices for legislators won’t be easy, he said.
    “We were elected to do this job and we’re going to do it and that’s the good thing. The vast majority of the people that you send to Topeka, Sen. Abrams and myself, are good people and they care about their constituents and they are going to do what’s right,” Wetta said. “I’m not going to go up there and decimate programs unless there is a way out. We are going to do everything we can.”
    The meeting ended with the legislators answering questions ranging from government regulations to tax increases. One audience member asked what the public could do to help the situation on Topeka.
    “You’re here and that’s the first step,” Wetta said. He encouraged audience members to take a more active more in government by e-mailing their thoughts, wants and opinions, by attending meetings and letting their voice be heard.