Legislators hear from voters at town hall meeting

(WICHITA, Kan) — The state's money trouble is at the center of a public forum held today at Wichita State University. It was the first of this legislative session, and people there say they're looking for harder answers from the people representing them in Topeka.

"I'm worried about Kansas, and I'm very worried about America," said James McNulty, who attended the meeting. McNulty says he wanted to learn about how budget cuts might affect his special needs child.

"It's very hard to raise a special child," he said. This funding will keep him in an organization where he can flourish."

But it is education that could be hardest hit in the next round of budget cuts. State Representative Jim Ward says he's fighting to keep that from happening.

"If Governor Sam Brownback is successful in getting the cuts, the per pupil amount will go down to what it was in 1995," said Rep. Ward. "Think about that. What can you buy for the same price as you did in 1995?"

Ward and other legislators took questions and gave answers, but folks like McNulty wanted more.

"It was all, yes we are looking at that, and yes this is a concern, yes thank you," McNulty explained. "But as far the answers I was hoping for, I got none."

Still this is the first of four public forums, and legislators say they want to learn how what they do affects people's life.

"When you start to hear what's happening to real people, it helps you be a better legislator," said Ward.