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2017 1867
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THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
www.iolaregister.com
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Lawmakers override governor’s veto By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN Kansas News Service
Conservative Republicans, some of whom voted for sweeping tax cuts in 2012 or defended them in the years since, parted ways with Gov. Sam Brownback on tax policy Tuesday — at least long enough to side with moderates and Democrats in overriding his veto of a $1.2 billion tax increase. The law to increase taxes over the next two years comes as legislators seek to close a projected $900 million budget gap for that same period and bolster funding for K-12 schools under a Kansas Supreme Court order. “It’s a huge vote,” said Rep. Steven Johnson, an Assaria Republican and chairman of the House tax panel, adding that legislative leadership had explored many routes to find a tax solution that would gain sufficient support in both chambers. “It’s a huge vote for looking for an option for Kansas among limited options.” Passage of Senate Bill 30 with two-thirds majorities in the House and Senate brings to an end signature tax policies of the Brownback administration. Most of those policies were part of a 2012 law that exempted owners of more than 300,000 small busi-
money. Then we can work our way out of the hole that we’re in,” she said. “It’s almost like you can breathe.”
Mopping it up
Kansas legislators voted Tuesday night to override a veto by Gov. Sam Brownback of a $1.2 billion tax increase. Sen. Gene Suellentrop, R-Wichita, urged colleagues to pass on their votes until Senate President Susan Wagle cast hers. “I want to know where our Senate president, our leader, what her position is, before I vote,” Suellentrop said, though when it came time, other lawmakers followed alphabetical order. KANSAS NEWS SERVICE/CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN nesses and became a political flashpoint in recent elections. At 109 days on Tuesday and counting, this year’s legislative session is now just five days from the longest, in 2015. With a tax plan complete and new school finance formula sent to the governor, the Legislature still must agree on the state budget. Floor debates on taxes ran late into Tuesday evening, but in the end, 27 senators and 88
representatives rendered Brownback’s veto — which had been handed down just hours earlier — irrelevant. It was the second time this session the governor sought to block legislation that would unravel 2012 tax reforms and raise revenue through a three-bracket income tax structure. The first time, in February, lawmakers fell three votes short in the Senate of pushing past his
Bowlus hearing: setback for locals By RICK DANLEY The Iola Register
In February, the USD 257 Board of Education filed a petition asking the court to examine the details of its obligations to the Bowlus Fine Arts Center as they were originally described 55 years ago in the will and charitable trust of Thomas H. Bowlus. In March, Judge Robert Fairchild, of Lawrence, heard objections to the petition from two Iola residents, Fred Works and Jim Gilpin, who endeavored — both men with long volunteer histories with the Bowlus — to gain standing to participate in the court's consideration of the petition submitted by the school board in their ascribed role as Bowlus trustees. Among the questions for which trustees are seeking legal direction are these: Does the will require classes to be held at the Bowlus? If so, how many classes? How much discretion does the board have in defining what constitutes a “fine arts” class? Does the USD 257 budget make it impractical to continue to pay to use the Bowlus for classroom space if less expensive venues are available? Is there a situation in which the Bowlus could be forfeited to the Kansas University Endowment Association, as the language in the original will seems to suggest? ON TUESDAY, appearing before a crowd of about 20 area residents, Judge Fairchild refused Works and Gilpin the necessary standing to become party to the proceedings. But
he did not seek to mute their voices on the matter entirely, inviting each to submit an amicus brief to be considered by the court in its assessment of the legal petition. The court has given Works, along with Gilpin’s attorney Blake Hudson, until July 10 to respond. Chanute-based attorney Melissa Dugan — who, as guardian ad litem, was appointed to represent the “community as a whole”— also has until July 10 to respond. At which point the petitioners, represented by Johnson Schowengerdt, P.A, have until Aug. 14 to file their reply. “I UNDERSTAND how important this facility is to your community,” said Judge Fairchild, who was appointed to evaluate the petition when Allen County District Judge Daniel Creitz recused himself citing a potential conflict of interest. “And so I want to give everyone the opportunity to address [the topic].” While the amicable 40-minute hearing limited itself to specific questions of standing, it was in this spirit of wanting the discussion to benefit from a wide range of input that appeared to motivate Works and Gilpin’s involvement. “In filing my response,” explained Works, “I did not do
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so in an adversarial manner. On the contrary, [I assumed] that, because of the nature of the often hypothetical questions that were being posed to the court, that this would be more of an open and inclusive discussion about what are the possible parameters within which the Bowlus can move in, say, the next 50 years. I thought I might be able to contribute to that discussion. I responded to the notice in the [The Iola Register, generated by the trustees]” — which invited the “citizens of Iola” to file any pleadings or defenses to the petition by March 7 — “because I thought that my involvement with the Bowlus over the last 30 years could bring some important historical and institutional knowledge and content to those discussions that, quite frankly, I don’t think the current [school board] make-up has.... It was also a way to give a little voice to patrons, to user groups, supporters, other affiliated groups with the Bowlus, who had expressed a certain feeling of being on the outside looking in, not knowing how to participate in this proceeding. ... I think that if the board wants to keep this an open and inclusive process, it could consent both to Mr. Gilpin’s and my participation for that purpose. ...I personally think [that this question of standing] is answered on a commonsense basis. That’s how the notice was given to the public, it’s how the public was invited to participate. We complied with that notice. If
opposition. The veto nearly survived this time, too: Though the House exceeded the override threshold by four votes, the Senate results came in at exactly the minimum needed. Rep. Barbara Ballard, a Lawrence Democrat, described feeling tremendous relief, and said she believes many Kansans will share that sensation. “Now we have a source of
Senate leadership split on the vote, with Vice President Jeff Longbine and Majority Leader Jim Denning supporting the override and laying out their reasoning on the floor. Senate President Susan Wagle, without comment, voted no. Denning said lawmakers had known since May 2014 that the tax cuts were leading to fiscal woes and not playing out as intended. He said while he voted for the 2012 changes, he believes in cleaning up one’s messes in life and planned to cast his vote accordingly. “I’m going to mop it up,” he said. Conservative Republican Sen. Dennis Pyle, of Hiawatha, drew on the nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty in his appeal that colleagues uphold the veto. He suggested some lawmakers might think Brownback is like the main character in that poem, but it is in fact the spend-happy legislators who are shattered. “They continue to want more and more,” he said. “They want to interfere in See VETO | Page A4
Couple scrambles to meet demand for shaved ice By SHELLIE SMITLEY The Iola Register
HUMBOLDT — The initial demand for shaved ice has Jessa and Josh Works scrambling between two businesses. The couple opened Frostbite Shaved Ice on Memorial Day. Little did they know there would be a daily line waiting to sample the frozen treats inspired by sno cones the couple purchased in Portland, Ore. Jessa said they figured the new business would be popular, but the response has exceeded their expectations. The cou-
ple also manages their family’s business, The Frame Shop, located diagonally across the street. “We have not been able to keep our regular hours,” Josh said of the new business. “We have sold out of ice every day since we opened.” Working out the kinks of owning a new business, the Workses have had to adjust their strategy for keeping up with the demand. Purchasing additional ice molds and adding another freezer, along with devising See SHAVED ICE| Page A4
Iola Municipal Band — Since 1871 —
At the bandstand Jake Ard, director Thursday, June 8, 2016 8 p.m. PROGRAM
Star Spangled Banner....................................... (arr. J.P. Sousa) The Calliope...................................................... Karalyn Roesch I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls....................... Michael Balfe Beer Barrel Polka......................................... Brown, Timm and Vejvoda Lexington.................................................................... Kari King The King and I.................................................Richard Rodgers Tower Hill Overture........................................ Douglas Wagner Kansas City Star....................................................... A. Liberati Romeo And Juliet....................................................... Nino Rota The Washington Post................................... John Philip Sousa Rained out concerts will be rescheduled for Friday evening.
See BOWLUS | Page A4
“The time is always right to do what is right. ” — Martin Luther King Jr. 75 Cents
Hi: 78 Lo: 54 Iola, KS