State lawmakers are getting ready for the veto session to begin next week — which means a lot of discussion on the state’s 6.5-percent sales tax.
51st District Representative Ron Highland, a guest on KVOE’s Morning Show this week, says part of the conversation will include which food categories are eligible for reducing or eliminating the tax. Another component involves exactly when to eliminate the tax.
Highland says some budget items as discussed earlier were rushed through different committees, but he’s pleased with the redistricting effort at the state level — which had far more agreement than it did 10 years ago. He’s also pleased with the ongoing push to reduce debt, which will continue in the veto session.
Highland also says he continues his work on water policy as the House Water Committee’s chair, but a nearly 280-page bill was “gutted” during the regular session. He says the state has different issues ranging from sediment in the east to uranium and groundwater supply in the west, and he says the state is also being charged storage fees by the federal government. The upcoming budget session could see some money set aside to offset those storage fees.
Highland has served the 51st District since 2013. He says he will make an announcement on whether he plans to seek re-election on the House floor Monday. The 51st District will push to the northeast next year, losing north Lyon County and gaining parts of Riley County including Manhattan.
