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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oh What A Tangled Web We Weave
Kansas Republican House Votes For Largest Property Tax Increase In
Kansas History.
April 17th, 2005
Oh what a tangled web we weave.... As I sat in the Gallery of the House
Chambers listening to the debate on HB2247 (pgs. 39-46 of House Journal
03/30/05), the so-called "School Finance Bill" I was astounded to see that 2 of
our local Representatives, Frank Miller (R) Independence and Virgil Peck Jr. (R)
Tyro, seemed to be oblivious to what was being presented on the floor. To quote
Representative V. Winn (D) Kansas City, "Maybe I can pull some of you away from
your laptops and wake you up long enough to listen." And listen we should!
HB2247 would create the largest Property Tax increase in State history not to
mention the unconstitutionality of the bill; Constitution of the State of
Kansas, Article 6, SS 6 and Article 11, SS 1.
I seriously have to ask myself exactly who are Frank Miller and Virgil Peck
Representing? Do they represent Districts 11 & 12 or other more prosperous
Districts? I find it absolutely amazing that the House Republicans in an effort
to hide the fact that they are creating the potential for a massive tax increase
would do so at the expense of the majority of the citizens of Kansas, especially
those in counties like Montgomery, Chautauqua and Elk, while giving tax breaks
to some of the richest counties in the State like Johnson & Douglas. To put this
into it's most basic and monetary terms; HB2247, the School Finance Bill, would
cost the taxpayers of Kansas $455,000,000 in increased Property taxes while
creating a $180,000,000 deficit to the State Budget over the next 3 years. Also,
HB2247 still does not meet the requirements set forth by the State Supreme court
for School Finance nor does it meet Federal Guidelines for "No Child Left
Behind" so we face the potential for losing our Federal funding in August of
2006.
I spoke with Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt (R) Independence and mentioned
that HB2247 seemed like a quick fix to the school finance problem and not a
solution. His response was, "We weren't given much time to work on it."
Thankfully our Governor, Kathleen Sebelius, did not see it this way and
hopefully our State Supreme Court will throw HB2247 back to the House to be
reworked. Maybe then they will find the time they need to create a solution to
properly fund our public schools without further burden on the taxpayers and
citizens of this State.
-James "The GYPSY" George-
For More Information Contact:
PLURIBUSUNUM.NET THE FORUM OF DEMOCRACY
P.O. Box 653 - Independence, Kansas67301
Tel: (620) 331-5938
FAX:
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