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James Gang
The Bomber

Kansas House Republicans acknowledge they’re split over canceling a planned decline in the state sales tax.

Several Republicans said Thursday they’re willing to consider the idea if it allows the state to pursue more cuts in personal income taxes. But House Taxation Committee Chairman Richard Carlson says the proposal is unlikely to pass.

The 6.3 percent sales tax is set to drop to 5.7 percent in July.

The proposal to cancel it is part of Gov. Sam Brownback’s plan for following up on massive personal income tax cuts enacted last year. He wants to stabilize the budget while phasing in additional income tax rate reductions over the next four years.

House Speaker Ray Merrick also doubts Brownback’s proposal will pass but says he’s counting votes.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation received information that late yesterday
afternoon, March 13, 2013, Robert Helms targeted a grocery store in Walsh,
Colorado (SE Colorado, 18 miles from the Kansas border).

Helms portrayed himself as a deputy from a fictitious Adams County, Kansas
Sheriff’s Office. He produced a fake law enforcement officer badge which said
“Adams County/Deputy Sheriff” on it.

Based on his previous pattern, he may possibly try to pass some more bad checks
in the SW Kansas/SE Colorado area in the next few days.

No additional information available at this time.

(AP) – The Kansas House has approved three proposals to alter the state’s gun regulations, including expanding the locations where concealed weapons could be carried.

The bills passed with broad support Thursday and head to the Senate for consideration.

One measure would let school districts and state colleges designate employees who could carry concealed firearms inside their buildings, even if such weapons were banned for others.

The bill also would expand the number of public buildings where people with a state permit could bring concealed weapons, including the Statehouse.

Another measure declares that the federal government cannot regulate firearms manufactured, sold and kept in Kansas.

The proposals are a reaction to discussions about new federal gun-control measures after December’s school shooting in Newtown, Conn.

U.S. Senator Pat Roberts made the following remarks today regarding the first Democrat Budget proposal in four years following the White House’s failure to submit one to the Congress as mandated by law:

“Ordinarily, the President proposes a budget and the Congress then uses it as a starting point for debate on the nation’s fiscal priorities. Unfortunately, due to lack of leadership in the White House, the Administration has not given the American people a plan forward on the most critical issue of the day, the nearly $17 trillion debt.

“This could explain why this budget proposal from Senate Democrat Leadership raises taxes by a whopping $1 trillion and actually increases spending in the next year alone by $162 billion. In fact, this budget taxes more and cuts less spending than what the President is reported to have proposed in negotiations on reducing the debt. Perhaps they should get on the same page.

“If this budget were to be approved, our debt would rise from $16.7 trillion to $24.3 trillion in 2023. That number would make up 94 percent of our economy. This is not a serious proposal. The American people deserve better.”