Kansas House proposal would create tax on lottery tickets

Mar 3, 2010, 10:03 am (18 comments)

Kansas Lottery

If passed, would exclude state from Powerball, Mega Millions games

TOPEKA, Ks. — A proposal to raise taxes on utility bills, lottery tickets and churches is heading toward a vote in the Kansas House.

The legislation is the latest attempt to tackle the state's growing budget deficit without more cuts to schools and other state programs.

The proposal, which was forwarded to the House on Tuesday, would impose the 5.3 percent state sales tax on all electric, gas and water bills. The bill would repeal an exemption that allows churches to avoid the sales tax on their purchases.

It also requires a sales tax on lottery tickets — a move that would actually cost the state money. To participate in multi-state drawings, the Kansas Lottery agrees to price tickets at a certain level. Adding the tax to the ticket price would exclude Kansas from multistate drawings and the revenue they bring in.

Even supporters objected to parts of the legislation, and it's likely they'll try to alter it during House debates, possibly next week.

"It's got a long way to go," said state Secretary of Revenue Joan Wagnon, one of the first to suggest that lawmakers re-evaluate the more than $4 billion in sales tax exemptions they've awarded over the years.

The bill, HB 2549, would raise $169 million annually, not nearly enough to eliminate a budget deficit now approaching $500 million.

Advocates for schools and social services supported the legislation, but churches, nonprofits and utility companies spoke in opposition.

Other approaches, such as increasing tobacco and liquor taxes and a general sales tax increase, have been suggested but so far have failed to pass the Legislature. Many lawmakers contend the state should cut spending before raising taxes.

Also on Tuesday, a House committee endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment designed to block a federal health insurance mandate. The legislation, HCR 5032, would exempt Kansas from any congressional act requiring Americans to purchase health care. Legislative approval would put the proposed amendment on this fall's ballot for voter approval.

Kansas City Star

Comments

joshuacloak's avatarjoshuacloak

this bill is a oxymoron if ever seen it

The legislation is the latest attempt to tackle the state's growing budget deficit without more cuts to schools and other state programs.

to raise money they will force their lotto to stop selling their 2 best games in sales

IDIOTS

 

this is about as stupid as shutting down the state lottery,  when your state has no yearly  budget passed on time deadline

Many lawmakers contend the state should cut spending before raising taxes.

their sure some comman sense among them? who knew

for people of Kansas sake,

i hope comman sense overcomes your state law makers

 

and funny part is  Kansas has a: 5% State Tax on large lotto wins

if they happen to pass this bill

kiss any future taxes they could of had on large  a mm or pb  jackpot winners in their state good bye forever

 

hell with them taxing lotto winnings already

, i say they be doing a double tax on lotto players if they pass the bill!

 

sense when you lose in the lotto games

, all you really did is give free money to the states,

now the ungrateful beeps want to kick the losers even harder by taking even more of their money

 maybe they should  think about charge sales tax's on state lobbyists for buying state votes!

GASMETERGUY

Whatever amount of money any government can wring out of their constitutents, there still would never be enough.  If each state were to confiscate 100% of every citizens income, there would still be a "looming" deificit.  When will our "elected" leaders realized the amount of money a state gathers unto itself is not the problem?  The problem is with spending.

Raven62's avatarRaven62

Cut Spending: Not Raise Taxes!

konane's avatarkonane

Quote: Originally posted by Raven62 on Mar 3, 2010

Cut Spending: Not Raise Taxes!

I Agree!    Too simple for them to comprehend.

MADDOG10's avatarMADDOG10

This  legislature has been smelling to much cattle gas.

They haven't got enough common sense to realize they're cutting their own throats....!

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

Who told those brain dead politicians that the only thing they can do when elected is to raise taxes???

I cant wait to see a governor who will drive around in a camry, live in an apartment and send his kids

to public schools and do his job as if his life depended on it.

When you look at top republicans and top democrats, those people are one and the same. They live lavish

and claim to speak for us, I'm disgusted!

LadyMylena's avatarLadyMylena

You have GOT to be kidding me. Bash

I think the world is coming to an end, and that is no joke. There is just no END to the taxes, inflation, joblessness and misery. Now they want to TAX us some more. Our state was hit HARD, too. Our whole livelihood, the aircraft industry, is in dire straights. My husband lost his job at Cessna a YEAR ago, along with thousands of his co-workers, and currently there's no hope of it EVER coming back. There was an article in our paper last week, that said Wichita is headed on a path to be the next DETROIT. Thank GOD they are going to help us out, by taxing us some more. Bang Head

Take the only fun (and hope) in my life away.....the multi-state lottery. Sad  Of course they can always leave us with the P3, the hardest to win of ANY state!!!!!!!!!!! They are out to screw us no matter what. Mad  You watch, they will probably do it. Tax our utilities some more, too....GREAT!!!! May as well try and make those of us that are still surviving, homeless.

Coin Toss's avatarCoin Toss

From the OP:

The legislation is the latest attempt to tackle the state's growingbudget deficit without more cuts to schools and other state programs.

The proposal, which was forwarded to the House on Tuesday, wouldimpose the 5.3 percent state sales tax on all electric, gas and waterbills. The bill would repeal an exemption that allows churches to avoidthe sales tax on their purchases.

It also requires a sales tax on lottery tickets — a move that wouldactually cost the state money. To participate in multi-state drawings,the Kansas Lottery agrees to price tickets at a certain level. Addingthe tax to the ticket price would exclude Kansas from multistatedrawings and the revenue they bring in.

___________________________________________________________

For crying out loud, if they're going to tax the tickets do like one of our LP members from OZ told us about the Australian lottery, the tickets costs $1.03 AUS and the $.03 pays the tax so the winner gets the jackpot tax free.

whitmansm2's avatarwhitmansm2

Rant

 

I'm so tired of Kansas officials miss managing MY money! Someone mentioned Aircraft earlier...didn't something like 5,000 people or so have been laid off from just Cessna alone? With all these people laid off...lets make it worse for them by raising their bills! Don't look to the Churches to help either! Even though they have always helped, now they have to pay taxes too!

 

I want a single mother of three to be in office!  I bet she can teach them a thing or two about budgeting!

 

Show me you can manage money properly, then I might agree with a TEMPORARY increase to get us back to where we need to be!!

 

And you can't blame the voters for allowing these idgits in office...they don't give us many options. Its either Dumb or Dumber.

Rant

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Quote: Originally posted by LadyMylena on Mar 3, 2010

You have GOT to be kidding me. Bash

I think the world is coming to an end, and that is no joke. There is just no END to the taxes, inflation, joblessness and misery. Now they want to TAX us some more. Our state was hit HARD, too. Our whole livelihood, the aircraft industry, is in dire straights. My husband lost his job at Cessna a YEAR ago, along with thousands of his co-workers, and currently there's no hope of it EVER coming back. There was an article in our paper last week, that said Wichita is headed on a path to be the next DETROIT. Thank GOD they are going to help us out, by taxing us some more. Bang Head

Take the only fun (and hope) in my life away.....the multi-state lottery. Sad  Of course they can always leave us with the P3, the hardest to win of ANY state!!!!!!!!!!! They are out to screw us no matter what. Mad  You watch, they will probably do it. Tax our utilities some more, too....GREAT!!!! May as well try and make those of us that are still surviving, homeless.

Let them SOB's hear from ya Lady and remember their names on election day.

This <snip>'s done got outta hand.

Guru101's avatarGuru101

Taxing lottery tickets.Roll Eyes

LadyMylena's avatarLadyMylena

Quote: Originally posted by Coin Toss on Mar 3, 2010

From the OP:

The legislation is the latest attempt to tackle the state's growingbudget deficit without more cuts to schools and other state programs.

The proposal, which was forwarded to the House on Tuesday, wouldimpose the 5.3 percent state sales tax on all electric, gas and waterbills. The bill would repeal an exemption that allows churches to avoidthe sales tax on their purchases.

It also requires a sales tax on lottery tickets — a move that wouldactually cost the state money. To participate in multi-state drawings,the Kansas Lottery agrees to price tickets at a certain level. Addingthe tax to the ticket price would exclude Kansas from multistatedrawings and the revenue they bring in.

___________________________________________________________

For crying out loud, if they're going to tax the tickets do like one of our LP members from OZ told us about the Australian lottery, the tickets costs $1.03 AUS and the $.03 pays the tax so the winner gets the jackpot tax free.

That sounds great, Coin. I would be happy to pay that, to win a prize with no taxes. Yes Nod  Although, I don't think their real agenda is to help us.

Do first, and think later, seems to be the going thing around here.  They already taxed us to death for years, to build a stupid ARENA, and now they're celebrating it's grand opening. It cost $196 million, so they can have bigger concerts and events come to town, that all the unemployed people (and everyone else) can't afford to buy tickets for. Many people have now dubbed it, the "taxpayer arena". Their priorities are so wrong, but I guess the govt. is that way everywhere, anymore. There is nothing I can think of here, that you can buy, that's not taxed, other than lottery tickets. Sales tax, personal property tax, income tax...

Friends in other states have told me that where they live, they have things like "tax free buying" of clothes and other items, when it's time for the kids to go back to school. It's a little extra break for the parents. Not here. Some states have no personal income tax. Some states have no sales tax on food. Not here. Grrrrr!  The only good thing, is the cost of living is a bit lower (but that doesn't help when you have no job).

LadyMylena's avatarLadyMylena

Quote: Originally posted by whitmansm2 on Mar 3, 2010

Rant

 

I'm so tired of Kansas officials miss managing MY money! Someone mentioned Aircraft earlier...didn't something like 5,000 people or so have been laid off from just Cessna alone? With all these people laid off...lets make it worse for them by raising their bills! Don't look to the Churches to help either! Even though they have always helped, now they have to pay taxes too!

 

I want a single mother of three to be in office!  I bet she can teach them a thing or two about budgeting!

 

Show me you can manage money properly, then I might agree with a TEMPORARY increase to get us back to where we need to be!!

 

And you can't blame the voters for allowing these idgits in office...they don't give us many options. Its either Dumb or Dumber.

Rant

Yes, Cessna laid off around 5, 000. Hawker Beechcraft and others have laid off, too. Now, it seems all of them are going to outsource work to Mexico. Obama was invited to tour Cessna at the height of the problems, but obviously had no interest in it. After some comments he made about corporate jets, the companies really tanked. Frown

The churches are struggling, also. They do a lot of charity work for people that can't pay their bills, and have food banks, and if they're taxed, everyone will suffer. Our local church has a food bank, which I donate food to, and there's been many times this past year, that their shelves have been nearly bare. It will hurt them terribly, as they take their cash donations, and go to the store to buy food, and being a church, they don't have to pay tax on it. If they change that, it will severely cut into what they are able to buy, and even more people will do without. 

They sure do need someone in office that knows how to budget, and a single mom would be a good candidate. Gosh, even a hobo off of the street would be a better candidate, than the ones we get.

truecritic's avatartruecritic

Cut spending?...yeah right!

How many government employees will continue to receive their full salary, bonuses, pensions?  How many Judges will continue to make well over $100,000?  How many associated with the lottery commision will make over $100,000?  I picked that figure arbitrarily, because that is a HUGE amount of money to a person drawing unemployment or just plain not employed.  How many will continue to live comfortably and barely feel anything different because of the taxes?   The gap between the haves and the have nots is way too high.  We don't need a minimum wage, we need a maximum wage.

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