Davis may pull ethics trigger

House Democratic Leader Paul Davis of Lawrence said if House Speaker Mike O’Neal, R-Hutchinson, doesn’t remove himself from a lawsuit against the state, he or someone else in the House may file an ethics complaint against the speaker. But Davis said he is not setting any kind of deadline.

O’Neal has been under fire from Democrats for representing organizations trying to recover funds that were swept by the Legislature in 2009 to balance the budget. O’Neal and the organizations say the Legislature’s sweep of funds was unconstitutional.

Democrats say it’s unethical for O’Neal to represent clients who are suing the state and who frequently lobby the Legislature. O’Neal’s office said he has no plans to remove himself as counsel in the case.

A healthy tax dispute

When it comes to a discussion about sales tax exemptions, owners of fitness and health clubs get pretty exercised that they are taxed while not-for-profit organizations, such as the YMCA, have a sales tax exemption for the sale of memberships.

George McCrary, president of the Kansas Health and Fitness Association, and owner of the Baldwin City Athletic Club, has told the House Tax Committee it’s not fair. “The state of Kansas is losing over $2 million a year which would be collected to the state general fund if we merely ask the YMCAs to collect and remit sales taxes to the state of Kansas,” he said.

Quote of the week

“Legislators have problems around watering holes, too.”

— State Rep. Larry Powell, R-Garden City, after a legislator related a story about how cattle had been spooked away from a watering hole by a mountain lion.

What’s next

• Presentations by Kansas University and Kansas State University to House Education budget subcommittee, 3:30 p.m. today in Room 159-South, Capitol.

• Hearing on House Concurrent Resolution 5030, concerning high school football championship games at KU, KSU and Wichita State University, before House Education Committee, 9 a.m. Tuesday in Room 711, Docking Building.

• Audit reports on tax credits and tax exemptions presented to Legislative Post Audit, noon Wednesday, Room 142-South, Capitol.