“They say we are better educated than our parent’s generation. What they mean is that we go to school longer. They are not the same thing.” Douglas Yates.
Kansas’s tax-only revenues for July were $378.8 million, only $424,000 under the estimates for the first month of fiscal year 2011.
Most notable, sales tax receipts at $145.7 million were $2.2 million or 1.5% below estimates. This includes the 1-cent increase in sales tax which went into effect July 1.Last year’s July sales tax receipts were $146.2 million, so we received about $525,000 less this month despite the increase in sales tax.
The bright spot in the revenue report from the Department of Revenue was the individual income tax withholding, at $181 million, which was $1 million above the estimates. What is really noteworthy is that the State of Kansas received $30.9 million or 20.6% more than this time last year. This indicates that more income is subject to tax, which of course means that more people are working and having withholding taken from their paychecks.
The federal Help America Vote Act passed in 2002; called for all states to require identification from first-time voters who register to vote by mail. More than a dozen states have enacted major legislation since then and now 26 have a more comprehensive voter identification requirements than mandated by the federal law.
Eight states currently request or require voters to show a photo ID. Eighteen states accept other forms of identification that do not necessarily include a photo, No state, however turns away from the polls a voter who cannot produce identification. All states have some sort of recourse for voters without identification to cast a vote.
In Georgia and Indiana, for example, voters without ID cast a provisional ballot, and must return to election officials within a few days and show a photo ID in order for their ballots to be counted. Several of the laws requiring an ID have been challenged in court. Arizona’s Proposition 200 passed by referendum in 2004 requires voters to present proof of citizenship and identification.
In 2006, a coalition of plaintiffs challenged the law on constitutional grounds. The federal court denied their claim for a preliminary injunction, but the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed and granted the injunction. On Oct. 20th 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated the Ninth Circuit decision, clearing the way for the voter identification requirement. This type of stuff keeps our Lawyers and Judges busy.
Also in 2006, several nonprofit organizations successfully challenged Georgia’s photo identification law in federal court. After the legislature amended the law to authorize the distribution of free photo ID cards, the same court reinstated the ID requirement.
In the Midwest, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, and Iowa along with 17 other states, have no requirement for presenting identification of any kind prior to voting. This strikes some as very odd, since you have to present a photo ID and remove your shoes prior to boarding an airplane. Why not something similar for voting? (Keep the shoes on) What do you think?
The state received $11,184,630 from the federal government as a reward for passing a primary seat belt law last spring. Kansas becomes one of 31 states with this type of law that requires drivers to have a seat belt on any time the car is moving.
The law allows law enforcement to pull you over and issue a citation for failure to use your seatbelt (primary offense). In the past the enforcement officer had to have another reason to initiate a traffic stop, if the driver did not have his seat belt on then that was an added violation. Current fine is $5 first offense, $10.00 for subsequent offenses.
Some would think we were held hostage and forced to pass the law in order to get our own tax money back. The supporters believe our compliance rate will climb to 82% and this will save 25 lives, prevent 262 serious injuries and save over $70 million dollars in medical expenses. Our local law enforcement all supported the law.
School will be beginning soon; be watchful of the school zones and look out for the little ones. Football season will be here before you know it. The persistent heat has put a strain on everyone and everything. Mother Nature has a way of protecting her own by dropping leaves or letting the grass go dormant, it all will come back, be patient, Autumn begins in 6 weeks, September 23d.
I consider it an honor and privilege to be your Representative in Topeka, if I can be of service, just give me a call.
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