Priceless TTHURSDAYHURSDAY Take One VOLUME 17, NUMBER 44 THURSDAY, APRIL 2 2009 WINNER OF THE KANSAS GAS SERVICE 2006 KANSAS PROFESSIONAL 2006 KANSAS PROFESSIONAL WINNER OF THE KANSAS PRESS EXCELLENCE IN EDITORIAL WRITING COMMUNICATORS PHOTO ESSAY AWARD COMMUNICATORS EDITORIAL AWARD ASSOCIATION ADVERTISING AWARD Governor Sebelius Pays Back Taxes And Interest WASHINGTON (AP) — Health Senate Democratic leader Tom Committee before the tax issue their home in 2006 and then took a and Human Services nominee Daschle. He withdrew from consid- became public, getting a friendly mistaken deduction for mortgage Kathleen Sebelius has corrected eration while apologizing for failing reception. interest. three years of tax returns and paid to pay $140,000 in taxes and interest. In her letter to Baucus and the top —Insufficient documentation was more than $7,000 in back taxes after Finance Committee Chairman Finance Committee Republican, Sen. found for some business expense finding “unintentional errors” — the Max Baucus, D-Mont., quickly Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Sebelius deductions. latest tax troubles for an Obama issued a statement supporting wrote that the errors were discovered An administration official said administration nominee. Sebelius’ nomination. after she and her husband, Gary, a Sebelius filed the amended returns The Kansas governor explained “Congress is going to need a federal magistrate judge in Kansas, before her nomination papers were the changes to senators in a letter strong partner at the Department of hired an accountant to review her sent to the Senate Finance dated today that was obtained by The Health and Human Services to returns in preparation for her confir- Committee. Sebelius advised the Associated Press. She said they achieve comprehensive health mation hearing. committee of the mistakes, and sena- involved charitable contributions, reform this year, and we have that tors requested an explanation, said the sale of a home and business partner in Gov. Sebelius,” Baucus The accountant discovered these the official, speaking on condition of expenses. said. “There is absolutely no doubt in errors: anonymity because of the sensitivity She and her husband paid a total my mind that Gov. Sebelius has the —Charitable contributions over of the issue. of $7,040 in back taxes and $878 in political experience, determination, $250 are supposed to include an interest to amend returns from 2005- and bipartisan work ethic to get the acknowledgment letter from the In a letter to Sebelius, Baucus and 2007. job done with Congress this year. charity in order for a deduction to be Grassley wrote that they’d reviewed Several Obama administration She’s the right person for the job.” Governor Sebelius and KSU President Jon Wefald at a K-State game. taken. Out of 49 charitable contribu- the three years of amended returns nominees have been derailed by tax tions made, three letters couldn’t be and “no additional items were identi- issues, notably the president’s first Sebelius is to appear Thursday will vote on sending her nomination Tuesday before the Senate’s Health, found. fied that needed to be addressed.” nominee for HHS secretary, former before Baucus’ committee, which to the full Senate. Sebelius testified Education, Labor and Pensions —Sebelius and her husband sold Company Expands To Manhattan Wefald: Budget Comments Kansas City, Mo. – One of the er this year. mission gets underway before then. nation’s leading independent research MRI has a strong heritage that began This new MRI-K-State venture will Kansas State University ets (7 percent State General Fund institutes is expanding in Kansas as the 65-years ago when civic leaders estab- focus on jump-starting NBAF President Jon Wefald today com- for most, 10 percent State General region’s scientific assets align to sup- lished MRI in Kansas City, Mo., as a research, development, testing, and mented on the Legislature’s budg- Fund for several central units). port the critical mission of protecting scientific research institute to support evaluation at K-State’s Biosecurity et passed yesterday: “These reductions are already the American food supply and to industry and create jobs for the Research Institute and on providing “While we are pleased the FY very negatively impacting K-State. develop urgently needed bioenergy region. From its beginning, MRI has biocontainment management and oper- 2010 budget conference commit- We now have more than 200 solutions. supported the region, including both ations services under an agreement tee did not recommend double- vacant positions, we have reduced Officials at Midwest Research sides of the Kansas and Missouri state with the Kansas Bioscience Authority digit budget cuts, K-State is still our student employee labor force; Institute (MRI) announced today that line, with innovations and technology (KBA). receiving a 7 percent State General and we have cut non-salary expen- they are expanding MRI’s existing development that have made the Advanced Energy R&D - With Fund reduction of almost $13 mil- ditures. Another important source operations by establishing a wholly Institute one of the nation’s leading its extensive background in renewable lion. of funds would come from a owned subsidiary of the Institute that independent research institutes in the energy research, MRI will align the “This is the biggest budget cut tuition rate increase – if we are will be named Midwest Research areas of national security and defense, new Midwest Research Institute- for K-State in my 23 years as pres- allowed by the Board of Regents Institute-Kansas, LLC, and headquar- energy and environment, agriculture Kansas, LLC, with K-State’s energy ident because, in addition to the to increase tuition. tered in Manhattan, Kan., at the and food safety and the life sciences. research and those of its commercial- $13 million budget cut, K-State “We know that any tuition Manhattan/K-State Innovation Center. MRI also has labs in Florida and ization arm, the National Institute for faces increased costs for items increase at K-State must be mod- The new subsidiary will support eco- Maryland and has managed and oper- Strategic Technology Acquisition and such as fringe benefits, classified est. Our tuition is no longer low nomic development opportunities in ated the National Renewable Energy Commercialization (NISTAC), to col- pay-plan adjustments, promotions and we don’t have room for a sig- the animal health, biosecurity, and Laboratory, in Golden, CO., for the laborate on advanced energy research and utilities. For the past few nificant rate hike. As a result, we advanced energy business sectors, U.S. Department of Energy since its and accelerate technology commercial- months, we have estimated these have been discussing a modest 4 areas of common interest that MRI inception in 1977. ization. MRI, K-State and Burns and costs for FY 2010 to be about $6.5 percent tuition increase with stu- officials have collaborated on with “MRI has forged strong working McDonnell recently signed a million. The FY 2010 mega bill dent leaders. If allowed, this would leaders from Kansas State University relationships with leaders at K-State “Biotroleum Alliance” to develop and adds another $3.1 million to this Kansas State University generate $5.5 million in resources. (K-State) and the state of Kansas for and the state of Kansas, both the state deploy alternative energy technologies total because it includes an President Jon Wefald If a tuition increase is allowed, we several years. and federal level, that have resulted in geared toward carbon mitigation and unfunded 1 percent salary increase reductions to the FY 2009 allocation will still need to identify $3 mil- “This is an important day in MRI promising economic development energy efficiency. and requires each agency to self- plus $9.6 million to permanently lion to start FY 2010. If a tuition history,” said James L. Spigarelli, MRI opportunities in three of Mir’s largest “The synergies between K-State and fund the classified longevity bonus fund other cost increases) to start FY increase is not allowed, then we President and CEO. “Establishing a growth sectors - animal health, biose- MRI are powerful,” said Ron Trewyn, program. Thus, as it stands right 2010. Again, K-State has not seen will need to identify about $8.5 physical presence in Kansas in addi- curity, and energy,” Helmstetter said. K-State’s Vice President for Research. now, K-State faces an increase of budget cuts like this in memory. million to start FY 2010. However, tion to the Institute’s strong and his- “We commend the support and leader- “By collaborating and working togeth- about $9.6 million in other “One source of funds will come more will become known at the toric presence in Missouri will enable ship of our Kansas constituents who er, we will have the capability to seam- General Use costs. from cutting our budget. Campus April Board of Regents meeting MRI to significantly strengthen its sup- are making these opportunities a reali- lessly move new discoveries, whether “This means K-State would units have been working for months and upon completion of final leg- port of vital scientific research in our ty.” they are in animal health, biosecurity, have to find a total of $22.5 mil- to identify $13.5 million in savings islative action at the end of April.” bi-state region. We look forward to According to Helmstetter, Midwest or energy, from basic research through lion ($12.9 million in permanent by reducing their General Use budg- many new opportunities ahead.” Research Institute-Kansas, LLC, will development to the commercialization “Research and development in ani- begin with a focus in three key areas: and deployment of new technologies mal health, biosecurity and advanced * Animal Health Research – and products that will protect and ben- energy are important areas that will Midwest Research Institute-Kansas, efit society.