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Last week I enjoyed an annual event with the Pratt Leadership 2010 class. Each year, this class takes a field trip to Topeka. We have an evening meal together, then the class visits the Capitol on the following day. It is always a pleasure to see folks from "back home", and this event brings a nice-sized group.
The House Federal and State Affairs committee had three days of hearings on the process of removing children from their homes in cases of neglect and/or abuse. We heard from several judges, lawyers, parents and grandparents, and from the Secretary of the Dept of Social Rehabilitative Services (SRS). There have been numerous complaints of poor judgement, as well as bureaucratic lethargy, against SRS. We will be continuing with these hearings this week.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) testified in front of the House Judiciary Committee Hearing on SB 368, which weakens current DUI statute. MADD is in favor of striking the language weakening the ignition interlock law and urged the committee to amend the bill to include a requirement of interlocks for first time offenders.
Kansas was one of a very few states to see an increase in drunk driving deaths from 2007 to 2008. In 2008, 131 people lost their lives in alcohol related crashes on Kansas roadways. We need to strengthen the statute not only for those convicted of a DUI, but also for those who refuse the administration of a breathalyzer, as a crucial step in preventing the increase of DUI offenses. States with the interlock requirement show marked decreases in repeat offenders.
HB 2549, as passed out of the House Tax Committee, would repeal the sales tax exemptions on certain property and services purchased by religious organizations. Additionally, it would remove the sales tax exemption on your utilities (gas, water, electricity, wood for residential use) which would impose the 5.3% sales tax on those purchases. Another exemption that would be removed by this bill is coin operated laundry facilities.
It will also remove the sales tax exemption on lottery tickets, a move that could potentially cost the state money. In order for Kansas to be eligible to participate in multistate drawings such as the Power Ball, the Kansas Lottery agrees to defined ticket prices. By adding the tax, we would be effectively withdrawing Kansas from the multistate drawings and foregoing the additional $36 million dollars in revenue that it brings in every year.
This bill was forwarded without recommendation from the Tax committee, so it will be debated before the full Chamber (Committee of the Whole). Apparently no members of the Tax committee, Republican or Democrat, is ready to endorse this tax bill. A lot of amendments are expected when it comes up for debate in the full House. Or there could possibly be one very large amendment that would gut the original bill.
Mitch Holmes is the Kansas State Representative for the Kansas House District 114. His contact info is campaign@mitchholmes.com or mitch.holmes@house.ks or 785-296-7667
Last week I enjoyed an annual event with the Pratt Leadership 2010 class. Each year, this class takes a field trip to Topeka. We have an evening meal together, then the class visits the Capitol on the following day. It is always a pleasure to see folks from "back home", and this event brings a nice-sized group.
The House Federal and State Affairs committee had three days of hearings on the process of removing children from their homes in cases of neglect and/or abuse. We heard from several judges, lawyers, parents and grandparents, and from the Secretary of the Dept of Social Rehabilitative Services (SRS). There have been numerous complaints of poor judgement, as well as bureaucratic lethargy, against SRS. We will be continuing with these hearings this week.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) testified in front of the House Judiciary Committee Hearing on SB 368, which weakens current DUI statute. MADD is in favor of striking the language weakening the ignition interlock law and urged the committee to amend the bill to include a requirement of interlocks for first time offenders.
Kansas was one of a very few states to see an increase in drunk driving deaths from 2007 to 2008. In 2008, 131 people lost their lives in alcohol related crashes on Kansas roadways. We need to strengthen the statute not only for those convicted of a DUI, but also for those who refuse the administration of a breathalyzer, as a crucial step in preventing the increase of DUI offenses. States with the interlock requirement show marked decreases in repeat offenders.
HB 2549, as passed out of the House Tax Committee, would repeal the sales tax exemptions on certain property and services purchased by religious organizations. Additionally, it would remove the sales tax exemption on your utilities (gas, water, electricity, wood for residential use) which would impose the 5.3% sales tax on those purchases. Another exemption that would be removed by this bill is coin operated laundry facilities.
It will also remove the sales tax exemption on lottery tickets, a move that could potentially cost the state money. In order for Kansas to be eligible to participate in multistate drawings such as the Power Ball, the Kansas Lottery agrees to defined ticket prices. By adding the tax, we would be effectively withdrawing Kansas from the multistate drawings and foregoing the additional $36 million dollars in revenue that it brings in every year.
This bill was forwarded without recommendation from the Tax committee, so it will be debated before the full Chamber (Committee of the Whole). Apparently no members of the Tax committee, Republican or Democrat, is ready to endorse this tax bill. A lot of amendments are expected when it comes up for debate in the full House. Or there could possibly be one very large amendment that would gut the original bill.
Mitch Holmes is the Kansas State Representative for the Kansas House District 114. His contact info is campaign@mitchholmes.com or mitch.holmes@house.ks or 785-296-7667
