10A the university daily kansan
thursday, february 12, 2004
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State to control Sunday liquor sales
The Associated Press
TOPEKA — Senators tentatively approved a bill yesterday that made the state's Liquor Control Act uniform, but removed provisions that allowed local decisions on Sunday sales and that increased alcohol taxes.
The stripped-down bill, endorsed on a voice vote, expressly forbids local governments from exempting themselves from parts of Kansas' liquor laws and adopted their own alcohol statutes. Approval on final action, expected today, would send the measure to the House.
Supporters of Sunday sales expressed disappointment about the vote, which came as a surprise to senators on both sides of the issue.
"If this bill passes the House and is signed by the governor, it will have the effect of rescinding city and county ordinances allowing Sunday sales," said Sen. John Vratal, (R-Leawood). "I think a big number of my constituents want Sunday sales. I'm surprised the majority voted against it."
Fourteen cities and one county have approved ordinances opting out of the state's traditional ban on Sunday sales, most relying on a Wyandotte County judge's 2003 rule that provisions of Kansas' Liquor Control Act did not apply uniformly to all communities.
The legislation in the Senate is intended to clarify that the act's provisions are to be applied uniformly.
Some senators who said they favor Sunday sales voted against it last year because the 2003 legislation did not raise taxes. But others who support Sunday sales said yesterday they cannot vote for a bill if a tax increase is included.
Sen. David Haley, (D-Kansas City), argued that the tax increase
was disproportionately unfair to people in his district, which he said has the lowest per-capita income of any Senate district.
"I consider it a regressive tax that's unfair to those who can least afford it." Haley said.
Sen. Christine Downey, (D-Newton), said she would be willing to stand up for the poor people in her district — but not about alcohol taxes.
"I'm going to fight for their rights," she said. "I'm going to fight for adequate food and safe neighborhoods. But the last thing I'm going to do is fight for the right of poor people to have cheap beer."
The Sunday sales and tax increase provisions were removed from the bill on separate votes of 23-17.
Sen. Stan Clark (R-Oakley), said he and Sen. Nick Jordan, (R-Shawnee), knew 11 senators were against Sunday sales no matter what was tied to it, and
nine were for it.
The rest were "on the fence," said Clark, an opponent of Sundav sales.
"We've never seen anything quite that wild in our time in the Legislature," Clark said. He has been a lawnmaker for 10 years.
Lana Oleen, (R-Manhattan), said selling alcohol on Sundays is a moral issue for some, but for others it's simply a matter of not wanting to change a long-standing Kansas tradition. Some senators want a change, she said, because they worry that Kansas businesses cannot compete with businesses in Missouri, where Sunday sales are legal.
"There is some sensitivity to legislators who live on the border," said Oleen. "I don't think it's a total moral issue."
Both she and Clark are certain they'll be called upon to vote on the Sunday sales issue again before the session ends.
Kerry is confident, aides create strategy
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The nomination within reach, John Kerry's advisers are discussing strategies for sharpening his message, spending his money, airing television ads and collecting a winner's share of the 538 electoral votes in November's general election.
While the candidate focused on defeating John Edwards and Howard Dean to sew up the Democratic race, parts of his political team have put President Bush firmly in their sights.
"Going toe-to-toe with President Bush is also the best way to secure the Democratic nomination," said Democratic strategist Michael Feldman. His former boss, Al Gore, polished off the 2000 Democratic nominating struggle while at the same time eying Bush.
With each of his 12 primary season victories, Kerry has stepped up his criticism of Bush.
"George Bush and the Republican smear machine has begun trotting out the same old tired lines of
attack," Kerry said recently, adding that he has news for Republicans: "I am not going to back down."
Thus, he's already begun to build up his general election campaign.
Kerry plans to tap $15 million in the Democratic National Committee coffers to respond to a multimillion dollar television ad campaign Bush is poised to unleash once Democrats select a nominee.
Kerry won't match Bush's $200 million pace, but aides said he and his allies can close the gap enough to compete. Just as Gore ran ads in Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach while Bush saturated all of Florida, Kerry's spending will have to be selective and smart, aides said.
If he wins the nomination, one of Kerry's biggest decisions will be the choice of a running mate. Advisers say there have been no official talks, but conversations always seem to come back to Edwards of North Carolina and Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt, who dropped out of the race after a poor showing in Iowa last month.
Auditors want state to report West Nile
The Associated Press
TOPEKA — State auditors are recommending that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment begin reporting all probable cases of West Nile virus to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But the report, conducted by the Legislative Post Audit Division and released yesterday, also said that 20 cases classified as "probable" by KDHE — and not reported to the CDC — represented "fairly insignificant" underreporting.
KDHE spokeswoman Sharon Watson said there were 90 confirmed cases of West Nile virus in 2003 and 731 presumptive positives reported. There were five deaths and two presumptive deaths related to the disease.
Auditors noted that because of the relatively recent arrival of the disease, health officials have latitude in reporting standards. West Nile first appeared in Kansas in
2002, with 22 cases and no deaths reported.
"Until the CDC issues more uniform guidelines on how to collect and report cases of West Nile fever, there will be and continue to be significant variations in what states report, and the number of cases will not be comparable," auditors wrote.
West Nile fever is less severe than the disease, characterized by a rash, headache and fever. With West Nile virus, victims develop encephalitis, a swelling of the brain, or meningitis, a swelling of the lining around the brain and spinal cord.
The audit noted that there still could be West Nile cases of which KDHE is unaware, because commercial labs are not required to report positive results, and many don't. In addition, people may develop symptoms and never seek help.
Watson said the health agency planned to implement the recommendations.
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