Editor’s note: Sen. Mark Buhler, R-Lawrence, was appointed to fill out the remaining two years of the term of former Sen. Sandy Praeger, R-Lawrence. Buhler’s journal-style column will be published online throughout the 2003 session of the Legislature.

Monday February 17, 2003

Credit Scoring hearings continued. Another more restrictive bill was introduced.

For those of you that have not been to committee hearings in the House or Senate you would be surprised how much information is disseminated in a short time. You do not have much time for questions and the depth of interaction is very limited. We all should appreciate the open forums we have at the local level.

Streamlined Sales Tax, more hearings on this bill. This will eventually come out of committee but may take several years to implement. Lots of details, but actually has fairly broad support among the business and retail communities.

Tuesday February 18, 2003

Senate Bill #1 by Senator O’Connor was defeated this week in committee. It is a bill that affects the Bi-State Tax in Johnson County and Jackson County in Missouri.

Science City was financed with a 1/8 percent sales tax that is the no longer in effect. Some Kansans don’t think the arrangement is fair because the improvements are being made in Missouri, they don’t like the tax or they don’t like the projects being completed. Senate Bill #1 changed the percentage of the investment in Kansas. This would have gone a long way in making the arrangement with Missouri an untenable one and “killing” the Bi-State Tax.

Sometimes we are asked to referee fights in other parts of the state. I’d rather not referee their situation. I voted against killing Bi-State Tax.

Wednesday, February 19, 2003

Four committee meetings today and session at 2:30. The highlight today would be moving some bills to the Senate. Some hall talk of the budget, remember that item, the budget.

It looks like the Republicans and the Democrats won’t lead with a solution.
The Governor was elected with a no education cut, and no tax increase platform. The ball is in her court, I guess, hope she “hits” it back soon.

This can be an interesting place sometimes. There is a bill that allows candidates to spend money on their personal clothing. What will we think of next? I don’t think its going anywhere.

I’m preparing a Senate Resolution to honor the life of Bob Billings. That’s the least I can do for a person who have meant so much to Lawrence.

Thursday, February 20, 2003

Controlled Business hearings were concluded today. It is difficult to read the committee and the chairman.

Realtors pitted against Title Insurance Companies. Hope all the closings go well while this is being debated. (Just kidding)

Tax committee discussed bill introduced by Senator Taddiken. Valuation of school districts in the school funding formula when (TIF) Tax Increment Financing is involved. The TIF is included in the valuation but till the financing is paid off communities don’t have the revenue receipts. If we adjust the valuation to include TIFs till after they are paid for it will help schools in the funding formula. It does cost $1.75 million that we don’t have yet. It is a fair bill, if we can finance it.

SB #77 was tabled in committee today. This one allows cities, counties and school districts to put public notices on the Internet to save printing costs with the newspapers. The newspaper people throughout Kansas have a pretty effective way of lobbying (isn’t that a surprise). There were some problems with this bill but its time may be coming for some change in the way we handle the cost of our public notices. Tabling the bill means it is probably dead for this session. I voted against tabling the bill but that doesn’t help cities, counties and school districts.

Friday, February 21, 2003

Monday and Tuesday are stacking up to be very busy. Bills need to be out of committee by Wednesday 26th. That means some of the 500 odd ideas (bills) will either get voted to their respective bodies or they’ll die.
“Attitudes” will start to change next week!