“If you tell people where to go, but not how to get there, you will be amazed at the results”. General George S. Patton
This week the House started debating on the house floor some of the lesser-contested bills. In the committees on the other hand, we continue hearings on the smoking ban, income tax, tax exemptions, realtor rules and regulations, contractor payment, and of course the budget.
Among the written correspondence I received this week were two letters that address the same issue in a very open and logical way. Even though the logic was there, the opinions were diametrically opposed to each other. The issue? Medical Marijuana.
The arguments in a nutshell, Pro:“ The use of marijuana as medicine is a public health issue; it should not be part of the war on drugs. To deny an effective medication to the sick and dying in order to “send a strong message to kids” against drug abuse is needlessly cruel, and improperly interferes with the relationship between a patient and his or her physician.”
Con: “HB 2610 allows for “compassion centers”, also known as pot shops, to be established to sell, administer, and dispense marijuana. Please look at the current problems in California. Law enforcement officials are struggling to keep the increased crime associated with the influx of pot dispensaries. In Los Angeles, pot dispensaries outnumber McDonalds and Starbucks coffee shops.”
Both letters were well written and by two people that I know personally, I welcome their input and when or if this issues comes out of committee and is introduced for debate on the house floor, I am sure I will be calling on them for their updated opinion.
St Francis Via Christie hosted Dr. Wooley, the Chief Operating Officer for the Center of Innovation for Biomaterials in Orthopaedic Research (CIBOR) to discuss the advances on composite materials being used in the medical field. www.ncibor.org.
I reported last year of the coordinated effort in Wichita to integrate the aviation technology of composite material into the medical field and this update makes the possibilities even more exciting. The research demonstrates how the material used in manufacturing has a much higher strength to weight ratio, is more flexible in its use and application.
The fact that many Americans are nearing the obese stage has required the medical field; from the EMT to the surgery room to acquire equipment that will support heavier patients and at the same time provide safety for the technicians and operating room staff. Stretchers and Operating tables that can easily support 400# plus patients are required today.
The revenue shortfall has opened the door for consideration of creative funding sources. One such example includes the elimination of all sales tax exemptions.
I want to give you a short excerpt from a letter I received. “Sales tax exemptions can help not-for-profits when the exemption applies to purchases made by them, any savings goes to their bottom line. However, some sales tax exemptions not only don’t assist the not-for-profits but they in fact harm private business.”
“Such is the case when sales tax exemptions are granted to entities that sell goods and services on a regular basis, in direct competition with private businesses. The privately owned health clubs collect sales tax; in addition they pay property taxes, income taxes and sales taxes on purchases”
The letter continues; “ For YMCA’s, the exemption from having to collect sales tax on their membership dues does not directly help them, (pass through) yet it puts them at a competitive advantage over private enterprises that do collect sales taxes. It is estimated the State of Kansas is losing annually over $2 million simply because the Y’s are not being asked to collect this sales tax on memberships”.
My commerce and labor committee is working on measures to refill the unemployment insurance fund. Today we discussed increases UI assessments for employers to gain a positive balance in the fund. There is a possibility of a surcharge to help pay off the interest on the loan we received from the Federal government.
Certainly the easy budget fixes have all been suggested and now it will become more difficult. I believe we will get out of this situation and the trend is starting to develop where we can see some progress. It will never be business as usual again. I think we have had prosperity and deep recession and no one likes the recession.
I consider it an honor and privilege to be your Representative in Topeka and I want to know what you think.
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