Well, with 2 new ligislators representing my district (Pilcher-Cook in the Senate and Talia in the House) I could not resist asking them the question about cigarette taxes. As the number of packs sold keeps declining where do they go from here? What will be taxed to replace the goose that is laying the golden egg, or what services will be cut? I also included Sen Steineger in the email.
Anyway, here is the email sent on 2/21/09. I did include the info from the KDOR regarding the tax revenue.
Good morning,
I am sending this to Ms Pilcher-Cook and Mr Talia since your predecessors side stepped the issue and to Mr Steineger because of a conversation a few months ago
While serving on the Shawnee Smoking Task Force I prepared the attached document which became part of the final report. The information is taken directly from the Kansas DOR annual reports.
What it shows is that income from cigarette taxes is declining based on reduced purchases. There was a spike, and that was created by the previous tax increase, and then it declines again. All one has to do is to divide the tax income by the amount of the per pack tax and you will see a substantial reduction in items purchased.
So, my question that your predecessors sidestepped is: What will replace the cigarette tax once the goose that layed the golden egg is gone? In a way Mr Wysong has also sidestepped the issue
If beer was taxed at the same rate the cost of a 6-pack would be astronomical. Anybody ever give any thought to taxing a universal item? Like toilet paper?
Anyway, a few months ago Mr Steineger attended a small breakfast with a little group of ours that gets together bi-weekly. These are not direct quotes but basically he said when it came to raising taxes it was always easier to hit the "sin" taxes (alcohol and tobacco). And that tobacco was the easiest because the number of protesters would not be as great. I really do not see alcohol getting anywhere near the same hit as tobacco.
For the record I was a smoker but quit in January 2006.
Also, so that nobody feels blindsided, a copy of this letter will probably be posted at http://www.shawneeray.blogspot.com . If it is posted there, then any replies I receive will also be posted
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
When Goode is Bad
This past Monday's council meeting (2/23/09) was, to say the least, confirmation that council member Goode has really lost it.
One tries to remember that he is a senior citizen. One has to remember that he has served the city for over 3 decades.
It will be very clear when one reads the minutes, or even better, listens to the the CD of the meeting.
Mr Straub had his favorite complaint up on the agenda regarding council travel. He wants the council as a whole to vote on any member to take more than one trip a year. Other council members made comments about how that poltiicize the process, and also that they should have enough common sense to be able to make certain decisions.
What I was offering was a suggestion that each council member be given a travel allowance/budget and go from there. That amount could be adjusted by the council as a whole at each year's budget session.
Anyway, it was obvious that Mr Goode did not understand what I was saying. He accused me of trying to tell the council what to do (as a citizen I am permitted to make suggestions), plus he has this penchant for interrupting others, myself included.
He even got into a heavy discussion about who seconded a separate motion about travel announcements. A discussion which was ridiculous to say the least.
Anyway, read the minutes when they come out, or ask for a copy of the CD. This man has, unfortunately lost it. It's time for him to gracefully step down, even before the next election.
One tries to remember that he is a senior citizen. One has to remember that he has served the city for over 3 decades.
It will be very clear when one reads the minutes, or even better, listens to the the CD of the meeting.
Mr Straub had his favorite complaint up on the agenda regarding council travel. He wants the council as a whole to vote on any member to take more than one trip a year. Other council members made comments about how that poltiicize the process, and also that they should have enough common sense to be able to make certain decisions.
What I was offering was a suggestion that each council member be given a travel allowance/budget and go from there. That amount could be adjusted by the council as a whole at each year's budget session.
Anyway, it was obvious that Mr Goode did not understand what I was saying. He accused me of trying to tell the council what to do (as a citizen I am permitted to make suggestions), plus he has this penchant for interrupting others, myself included.
He even got into a heavy discussion about who seconded a separate motion about travel announcements. A discussion which was ridiculous to say the least.
Anyway, read the minutes when they come out, or ask for a copy of the CD. This man has, unfortunately lost it. It's time for him to gracefully step down, even before the next election.
Monday, February 16, 2009
A "Leap" of Faith
Dan Leap, the Merriam City Council member who likes to tell it like it is is running for mayor.
I sincerely hope that the citizens of Merriam elect him. He's got guts, speaks his mind and really is for the people.
I sincerely hope that the citizens of Merriam elect him. He's got guts, speaks his mind and really is for the people.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Last Council Meeting, Mon 2/9/09
Another evening in city hall. Fun, fun, fun.
When the mayor asked if anyone had any business from the floor yours truly approached the podium.
The annual National League of Cities conference in Washington DC is coming up. So, I was curious as to how many folks were going this year. This conference is an important one to attend but what I wanted to know is were we sending a busload of folks or just a car load. With many things being cut because of budget constraints maybe there could be a savings factor here.
The information given at the meeting was that it had not been determined how many were going and who they would be.
Sooooooo, I had some suggestions. Suggestion number one was for three folks to go: the mayor, city manager, and president of the council. The second suggestion was for six folks to go: the mayor, city manager and the senior rep from each ward..
At this point Mr Goode seemed to take exception to a member of the public making these suggestions. I had to inform him that the public is allowed to suggest how things are done.
Anyway, moving along, I also had some other ideas. One was that the participants should double up in the rooms, just like many businesses are now doing. If the three go, only two rooms would be needed, and if the six go only three rooms would be needed. Substantial cost savings.
Another suggestion I made was in reference to entertainment charges. It is thought that any meals bought for congressional members and/or their staff should be limited to $32 (the same amount that city employees are allowed for themselves). Last year 8 people went to dinner, including Cong Moore for a cost of approximately $200. That works out to $25 per person. Reasonable. Then we had the infamous $392 dinner that 2 members of the council went to with 2 senate staffers. That works out to almost $100 per person (including the booze charges). As a reminder, that was the dinner where for 4-5 months the 2 city council reps couldn't remember who they entertained, and the only way we got the right names was because of yours truly.
A side note: After making the above suggestions, Kevin Straub in all his wisdom decided to make a motion to restrict council members' travels. He had to be reminded, by me, that he can't do that. Off the cuff motions are not permitted. He has to have the item placed on the agenda. But of course he doesn't understand council procedures.
Anyway it will be interesting to see how many and which individuals go to this conference.
When the mayor asked if anyone had any business from the floor yours truly approached the podium.
The annual National League of Cities conference in Washington DC is coming up. So, I was curious as to how many folks were going this year. This conference is an important one to attend but what I wanted to know is were we sending a busload of folks or just a car load. With many things being cut because of budget constraints maybe there could be a savings factor here.
The information given at the meeting was that it had not been determined how many were going and who they would be.
Sooooooo, I had some suggestions. Suggestion number one was for three folks to go: the mayor, city manager, and president of the council. The second suggestion was for six folks to go: the mayor, city manager and the senior rep from each ward..
At this point Mr Goode seemed to take exception to a member of the public making these suggestions. I had to inform him that the public is allowed to suggest how things are done.
Anyway, moving along, I also had some other ideas. One was that the participants should double up in the rooms, just like many businesses are now doing. If the three go, only two rooms would be needed, and if the six go only three rooms would be needed. Substantial cost savings.
Another suggestion I made was in reference to entertainment charges. It is thought that any meals bought for congressional members and/or their staff should be limited to $32 (the same amount that city employees are allowed for themselves). Last year 8 people went to dinner, including Cong Moore for a cost of approximately $200. That works out to $25 per person. Reasonable. Then we had the infamous $392 dinner that 2 members of the council went to with 2 senate staffers. That works out to almost $100 per person (including the booze charges). As a reminder, that was the dinner where for 4-5 months the 2 city council reps couldn't remember who they entertained, and the only way we got the right names was because of yours truly.
A side note: After making the above suggestions, Kevin Straub in all his wisdom decided to make a motion to restrict council members' travels. He had to be reminded, by me, that he can't do that. Off the cuff motions are not permitted. He has to have the item placed on the agenda. But of course he doesn't understand council procedures.
Anyway it will be interesting to see how many and which individuals go to this conference.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Looking for Replacements
In less than one year folks will be filing to run for office in Shawnee's 2010 elections. It's not that far away folks.
It is my opinion that three currently sitting city councilpersons need to be replaced.
Ward II: Frank Goode has been a member of the council since 1978. He has served the city and the people of Ward II for over 30 years. It is time that he retired and passed the torch. Eventhough he has a city email address, does he ever check it? This is the 21st century.
Ward I: What can one say about Dan Pfumm? Well, it takes more than a locally recognized family name to be a true representative of the people. Does he want to represent folks, or is it his ego? Ironically, when he ran for mayor in 2008 he was soundly defeated by Jeff Meyers, to include the voters of Ward I. He lost his own ward!!!! Methinks he needs to lose it again, in 2010. Maybe those same voters that did not support him for mayor will also deny him reelection to the council.
Ward III: Ahhhhhhhhhh, Kevin Straub. I won't rag on him today. He brings enough of that on himself. Just curious though...........is he a graduate of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey's Clown College?
It is my opinion that three currently sitting city councilpersons need to be replaced.
Ward II: Frank Goode has been a member of the council since 1978. He has served the city and the people of Ward II for over 30 years. It is time that he retired and passed the torch. Eventhough he has a city email address, does he ever check it? This is the 21st century.
Ward I: What can one say about Dan Pfumm? Well, it takes more than a locally recognized family name to be a true representative of the people. Does he want to represent folks, or is it his ego? Ironically, when he ran for mayor in 2008 he was soundly defeated by Jeff Meyers, to include the voters of Ward I. He lost his own ward!!!! Methinks he needs to lose it again, in 2010. Maybe those same voters that did not support him for mayor will also deny him reelection to the council.
Ward III: Ahhhhhhhhhh, Kevin Straub. I won't rag on him today. He brings enough of that on himself. Just curious though...........is he a graduate of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey's Clown College?
Friday, February 06, 2009
He's Doing it Again
Oh boy, Kevin Straub has filed to run for the De Soto USD232 school board, again!!!!!
Let's hope that the voters in the district are smart enough to do what they did the last time he ran. And that is, not elect him.
It's bad enough that this clown sits on one governing body (and hopefully will not be reelected next year to that position).
Let's hope that the voters in the district are smart enough to do what they did the last time he ran. And that is, not elect him.
It's bad enough that this clown sits on one governing body (and hopefully will not be reelected next year to that position).
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