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 column will be published online throughout the 2003 session of the Legislature.

Tuesday January 21, 2003

Committees still getting organized. Local Government discussed the lawsuit regarding $48 million cut to local governments (Graves Nov. 2002). Issue–Governor can’t cut what Legislature put in place. Maybe a fight over the $48 million but the future funding for Local Government looks really grim.
Forget the argument that we’re putting direct pressure on local governments to raise property taxes. Forget that money to the cities and counties is a return of money we generated in Douglas County with sales tax.
This could be a watershed year regarding state government’s interest in local governments. If it’s raise taxes or cuts local government today–it’s cut LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Wednesday January 22, 2003

Streamlined Sales Tax. What should be simple of course is NOT. Hearings began–this will take awhile—on Streamlined Sales Tax (code word for Internet sales tax collection among others). Kansas Statutes now provide for you and me to report and pay sales tax on items purchased outside the State of Kansas. Obviously without an effective vehicle to collect and remit these monies, compliance is non-existent. This is also an issue of fairness for local merchants that do, in fact, collect and remit sales tax.
There are many details that will be heard and discussed. It will be a long haul, so stay tuned.

Thursday January 23, 2003

Senate Bill 44 was debated and passed today and sent to the House. It will probably pass and be signed by the Governor.
It seems that not-for-profit Hospitals, when sold to for-profit groups, have their remaining assets organized in a Foundation.
We are basically fighting with the State of Missouri over what percentage of the assets are held in Kansas and how the board will be selected. Much more will come of this; we had to do this very quickly and many were uncomfortable with making a decision this quickly. For the time being, the Legislature, the governor and the attorney general were all on the same side. A nice start.

Friday January 24, 2003

Short session adjourn at 10:00am