SALES TAX ON REBATES
We see commercials every day advertising incentives to entice us to buy a new vehicle. Among these is the cash back incentive offering a "factory rebate" of several thousand dollars when you purchase a new vehicle that is normally deducted from the purchase price. Currently, if you were to buy a $20,000 car and be offered a $3000 rebate, even though you only pay $17,000 for the car, you are charged sales tax on the full $20,000. In essence, you are paying sales tax on $3,000 you never spent. House Bill (HB) 2640 eliminates this tax. It was passed Monday by a wide margin and will now be sent to the Senate. I supported this bill.

WORKMANS COMPENSATION
Debate surrounded the workmans compensation bill, Senate Bill (SB) 461, when it reached the House floor. Supporters of the bill argued that it helps to protect employers from paying for injuries sustained by workers prior to their employment with their current company or for an injury that didn’t occur at the workplace. Major portions of the bill remained unchanged and the existing statute still protects workers injured on the job. However, the old high school football injury or the weekend water skiing accident shouldn’t be the responsibility of the employer, proponents argued. After the vote was taken, a Call of the House was issued. Several members changed their votes during the Call, but when the final tally was read the bill passed 67-56. I supported the bill. CONCEALED CARRY
By a vote of 90-33, the House passed SB 418 to allow licensed Kansans to carry concealed firearms. The Senate followed the House lead by voting 30-10 to adopt the bill with changes suggested by the House. The changes included additions to the list of places where you are prohibited from carrying a concealed weapon. The bill requires a training course and licensure from the Attorney General’s office. With 90 votes for passage in the House, and 30 votes in the Senate, this bill will be sent to the Governor with a veto-proof majority in both chambers. I was a co-sponsor of this bill.

In a related matter, the House also passed HB 2577, which removes from statute a citizens "duty to retreat" by establishing a justified use of force provision. The proposed law allows for you to defend yourself if you have a "reasonable fear of imminent death or great bodily harm to such person’s self or another". I supported this bill.

FRANCHISE TAX
The House voted Thursday 92-30 to phase out the franchise tax in Kansas. HB 2548 would reduce the rate of the corporation franchise tax from the current 0.125 percent of shareholder equity or net worth to 0.083 percent for tax year 2007; and to 0.41 percent for tax year 2008. The tax would be repealed altogether, effective for tax year 2009. The intent of the removal of this tax is to encourage existing businesses to remain in Kansas and other businesses to establish franchises in the State.

TELE-COMPETITION
We have been busy this week working on a bill that would allow for more cable competition. The will effects competition of cable companies, A T & T, and satellite companies as well as local cable networks. The purpose of the committee has been to try to set a level playing field regarding franchise fees and regulation so that the competition can be fair. I hope to get the bill to the floor soon.

www.schoolmatters.com
For all of my constituents who are wondering who to believe on education funding and performance, the Standard and Poor’s study has set up a good website with lots of information. I invite you to check it out. “To have grown wise and kind is real success “ -- Author Unknown