Pipeline taxes

TransCanada does not plan a second pipeline through Kansas as part of itsKeystone XL project that is all over the news lately. But they are still
trying to get a Kansas property tax exemption on the first one, put into operation last year.

The story of this exemption is a case study in legislation that is not fully vetted, nor understood by lawmakers.

One thing I didn't put in the story is that according to Ed Trimmer, D-Winfield, he said they were told on the House floor that the exemption applied only to natural gas, and that there was no mention of oil and TransCanada. It sailed through a few years ago.

Also, Cowley County Commissioner Gary Wilson said some landowners had problems with TransCanada building the pipeline underneath waterways -- grassy areas that help with drainage, and not rebuilding the waterway back to good condition.

Target shooting

If this was a case of target shooting gone awry, it would be a good time to remind people of safety rules/guidelines for targeting shooting.

Here's what the NRA states its website. Know your target and what is beyond.
Be absolutely sure you have identified your target beyond any doubt. Equally important, be aware of the area beyond your target. This means observing your prospective area of fire before you shoot. Never fire in a direction in which there are people or any other potential for mishap. Think first. Shoot second.

99 percent

The Occupy Wall Street,or 99 percent movement, or whatever you call it doesn't feel like something that will affect electoral politics in the upcoming cycle, like the tea party did. But it does capture a mood, or feeling that has been festering for years and likely will seep into the direction of public policy. This story in the Eagle provides the raw facts behind some of the alienation and anger about society-government today. The richer are getting richer, in some cases much richer, and the rest just plodding along.

I think its pretty well documented that incomes gaps have grown over the last 30 years. Middle income earners are squeezed more by prices/health insurance and other costs and have not been able to afford the things they used to.

The big time

This incredible promotional opportunity kind of fell into our laps here in Ark City. But it was no accident. Arkansas City has made great strides in recent years and has always been a strong small town with good quality of life.
Getting a five-minute segment on national television, even cable, to boast about the quality of life in Ark City and be able to use the piece as an ongoing marketing tool sounds almost too good to be true.
The $20,000 cost is well worth it - I'll bet the chamber has no problem raising the funds privately. This could be a great business recruitment tool and general image builder for Ark City to south-central Kansas and beyond.
We all know that Ark City has had a reputation for being a blue-collar town with blight problems and contentious politics, but that is slowly changing. Some of the recent success toward community building - hospital, schools, downtown streetscape, burford rennovation - are changing the image toward a place that works together and build a vibrant, strong town.
Could this be a turning point?

The uninsured, continued ...

David- get your facts right. He chose not to be covered by Health Insurance because he felt it was too expensive. He gambled and lost.

I normally don't respond to comments because it can be like sticking your hand in badger hole. But this point above about the man from Joplin is an opportunity to further discuss why universal health care is needed.

This is exactly the problem — the unaffordability of health insurance. The man made just above minimum wage, according to news articles. Depending on how much his employer paid, buying health insurance could mean the difference between owning a car, paying rent, supporting children, etc....

With universal coverage, safety nets are put in place to help this man not have to face such perverse decision.

In 2014, if health reform survives, this man would 1. either be picked up by his employer, who might be eligible for tax credits, or 2. get a direct gov. subsidy to afford premiums on his own. At his level of pay, he might be able to go directly onto Medicaid, depending on his total household income.

To say he gambled and lost might be true, but what a cruel game of craps people are forced to play with their lives.

Museum politics

The museum has taken some heat from Chris Mayer, the archeologist at Cowley College, who is very critical of how the museum board is changing the museum. As an archeologist, he has some standing on issues of preservation and local history. However, I haven't seen anything that supports his claims that the museum is tossing stuff out on a haphazard basis. In a reorganization, some things would have to be moved around, or even discarded, if they were not of any historical value, one would think.

I did not attend the new exhibit opening but plan to see them. I think promoting and honoring the history of Gov. Docking and the Docking family is a great idea, long overdue.

I was a little shocked at how the Indian fort was destroyed. Perhaps disposing of it was a good idea, but it did have a feel of disregard to past efforts at recognizing Native American history. It wasn't subtle.

The uninsured

If there ever was a reason for universal health care coverage, this is it. A hero from the Joplin tornado has more than $2 million in medical bills, but has no health insurance. The story was about him being denied workers comp. But that wouldn't be such a big deal if he had health insurance.

ESI

It's interesting that a lot of the top city officials and much of the city commission are gone from when this case first started. I think some folks are wondering whether this will make the city more inclined to just settling instead of racking up more attorney fees.

Robinson's case sounds pretty strong, but the city is going to present its case in detail soon, so we'll have a better idea of its defense.

Occupy Wall Street

Good column here in the Wall Street Journal about the underlying feelings and risk of targeting our frustrations on big business and financial institutions.

Obama's proposed millionaire tax has probably spurred this movement a bit, but it indeed taps into growing frustration over wealth disparaties and the perception that corporations are sitting on fat profits and financial institutions that caused the recession got bailed out while the average Joe has been hosed.

Doubt this movement will have the influence the Tea Party movement has had. They do share a common disgust at government bailouts of big businesses, although the end goal is surely much different.