Opinion

Tinkering with taxes

GUEST COLUMN, Greg Doering, Kansas Farm Bureau

My local public library has perhaps the best marketing of a tax-provided service ever. Patrons who check out items there receive a receipt that details the savings achieved by using the library. In 2024, my wife and I “saved” close to $5,000, according to this accounting.

There are some generous assumptions made to achieve that figure. The biggest, of course, is that we would have paid the retail price for every book we checked out. Then there’s the matter of the property tax we paid directly to the library, which would knock about $200 off the alleged savings.

Messiah: born under the Law

MY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron

Continuing a study of the historical Messiah, Galatians 4:4 has been a theme: “when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law.” Today we’ll try to examine what it means that Jesus was “born under the Law.”

There were two events in Jesus’ childhood, one shortly after His birth, and the other about 12 years later, that fulfilled the Mosaic law. (Later in adulthood He would sometimes forego cumbersome regulations, but they were some that had been added by religious leaders.) In the first instance, an elderly man Simeon entered the temple in Jerusalem the same day that Mary and Joseph came to present the child and fulfill two legal requirements - the redemption offering for a firstborn son, and the purification of His mother. After the rituals, and Simeon and Anna’s astonishing pronouncements (Luke 2:27-38), scripture tells us, “And when they [Joseph and Mary] had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth” (Luke 2:39).

Capping local increases not as simple as it sounds

GUEST COLUMN, Ron Ryckman, 38th District Senator

Even though Week 2 of the 2025 Legislature turned out to be one of “information overload,” no one could complain when it started out with a terrific pancake breakfast, courtesy of our kind folks from Liberal.

We did take a vote approving the Senate Rules — as well as 11 appointments by both the Governor and Attorney General, but there were no substantive debates on bills under what is called “General Orders.” Instead, we were inundated (can we use that term when talking about water?) with briefings and updates on everything from, yes, water, to public service to unemployment systems to rural attorney shortages, all in preparation for legislative decision-making ahead. This is fairly typical of the beginning of a Session, where we study and learn in preparation for the “heavy lifting” to follow. Come to think of it, it is not unlike being back in school taking everything in before later being “tested” on the exam-equivalent of votes.

I’m an opinion columnist, not a spineless political prostitute

GUEST COLUMN, J. Basil Dannebohm

I’m an opinion columnist. As such, my commentaries should never be mistaken as sources of unbiased news. At some point, you may have read a disclaimer accompanying my words: “The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of this publication or its affiliates.”

Funding for county roads a challenge

GUEST COLUMN, Shannon Francis, 125th District Representative

We had a good group from home in Topeka last week for Pancakes at the Capitol. This is always one of the most anticipated events of the session for legislators and their staff. Legislators from across the state come by to eat pancakes and talk about Liberal and Pancake Day.

In Topeka for Pancakes at the Capitol, Seward County Administrator and Commission Chair testified on HB 2004. This bill lets Seward County voters decide on a 0.5 percent sales tax for road and bridge projects. If voters approve, the tax will expire 10 years after implementation. Below, I will discuss Seward County’s and the state’s road funding issues.