Proposition A debate politically framed, not focused on solution

When voters go to the polls to vote between two candidates they weigh a number of issues. Unfortunately, many voters aren’t given a fair shake during the campaigns when it comes to a full and accurate understanding of where a candidate stands on each issue. Although ballot initiatives are usually single issue questions, it’s hardly any easier to weigh the implications. With the mid-term elections next week, many are focused on individual candidates and not as much on ballot initiatives also being decided.

Proposition A has to do with municipalities and their ability to decide whether to implement an earning tax on those who live and work within the city limits. Cities all over the country, both big and small, have a variety of mechanisms for collecting revenue to provide services to their citizens. Kansas City and St. Louis use an earnings tax and are currently the only cities in the state to have such a tax at one percent. Passage of Proposition A would prevent other cities from implementing a similar tax along with require Kansas City and St. Louis to vote every five years on whether to keep the tax starting this upcoming spring.

Proponents of Proposition A could have several reasons for supporting it. Currently, people who don’t live in Kansas City, but commute from surrounding communities such as Platte City, Blue Springs, or Belton to work within the city limits, are taxed at one percent, the same amount as those who live in the city limits. Others may believe the tax is unnecessary and the city’s services aren’t justified with the revenue they collect from it. Also, voters in rural areas may support Proposition A to prevent their city or town from implementing an earnings tax in their area.

Opponents of Proposition A see potentially severe budget problems if the measure passes. The current earnings tax represents about 40% of Kansas City’s total revenue accounting for nearly $200 million to provide a number of city services including trash pick-up, snow removal, street repairs, and emergency personnel such as police officers and firefighters. They believe repeal would require substantial increases in property and sales taxes to make up for the shortfall.

While my description of both sides of the issue only brushes the surface, the debate that should have taken place hasn’t happened yet. The truth is, like most ballot measures, this is political and was placed on the ballot counting on a high turnout among people likely to support it. The issue at hand should not be an argument of anti-tax vs. pro-tax, but more of a discussion of why the current tax hasn’t resulted in quality services from Kansas City and how they need to be improved, not eliminated.

I agree with the idea in Proposition A that other cities in Missouri should not implement earnings taxes because none compare to Kansas City and St. Louis when it comes to their economic impact on the region. People come to Kansas City to work, live, and play. Therefore, they use city services in some form or another. Poor leadership, particularly in recent years, has seen a decline in services, but the idea that the earnings tax is bad for business pales in comparison to the alternatives since the thought that the city will purely cut its budget by $200 million is unrealistic. If anything, increased property taxes will result in a heavier burden for homeowners and businesses because those who lease space for their work or residence are almost always charged for increased taxes that are passed through in the form of higher rent.

While I believe keeping the earnings tax is important not just for Kansas City, but those municipalities surrounding it, I do hope the threat of losing it creates the sense of urgency needed to provide the region’s center of commerce functional and effective services to those who contribute to it.

Veteran legislators Rucker, Schaaf fight for State Senate seat

The 34th Missouri State Senate District continues to be one of the area’s most heated races heading into Election Day. It features two State Representatives from the St. Joseph area fighting to succeed Sen. Charlie Shields, who is term-limited. Democrat Martin Rucker and Republican Rob Schaaf are campaigning to represent the district encompassing both Platte and Buchanan Counties as they hope to become the area’s top leader in Jefferson City. One thing for sure is the area’s next State Senator will be a 1975 graduate of Central High School as both were classmates together.

Rucker, 53, attended Central Wyoming College and Missouri Western State College after high school. He has worked at Silgan Container Corporation for 32 years and is a member of the St. Joseph School Board. He and his wife, LaVell, have four children, Bill, Micah, Michael, and Martin II. Michael is a retired NFL player while Martin II is currently a member of the Dallas Cowboys. Rucker was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2005 and represents southern Buchanan and northern Platte County.

Rep. Martin Rucker

“This election is about values and integrity. As a State Representative I made a point of working across the aisle and representing all the people of my district,” Rucker said. “I felt it was my duty to take the next step, to ensure that all the people of the 34th get the same representation.”

Schaaf, also 53, attended Missouri Western State College and Saint Louis University. He has practice family medicine in St. Joseph since 1985. In 2004 he helped form the Missouri Doctors Mutual Insurance Company where he serves as Chairman. His wife and he have two children in Robert and Renee. Schaaf was first elected to the House in 2002 and represents the 28th District in northern Buchanan County.

Rep. Rob Schaaf

With experience as legislators, both candidates were asked what they believed their top two accomplishments have been. Schaaf responded by referring to the 2004 Missouri Hospital Infection Control Law requiring disclosure of hospital infection rates on the internet and the 2007 Missouri Healthnet reform bill which he says included provisions to help patients.

“As one of the few health experts in the House, I have had a hand in most health related legislation. Now, with the legislative experience I have, I would like to focus on creating jobs by helping businesses through lowered health care costs and tax relief,” Schaaf said.

Rucker replied with the 2005 passage of pro-ethanol legislation that increased incentives for the agriculture community and recently championing the Kansas City Chiefs Training in St. Joseph.

“The economic impact of this legislation will be felt in our communities for years to come,” Rucker said. “It’s nice knowing I can hang my hat on common sense solutions like these.”

As a State Senator, being a leader with ideas is important. So when asked for two unique policy ideas, they presented something other than standard ideological solutions.

“First, we should make our health care system more competitive in order to bring down the cost of healthcare for everyone,” Schaaf said as he mentioned requiring patients be told the estimated cost of medical treatments in advance and abolish the requirement of government permission for constructing new hospitals.

“I’d like to help get Governor Jay Nixon’s ‘Gown to town’ legislation passed, so that we can begin creating competitive job training programs and incentivize small business growth by promoting hard work throughout a student’s educational career,” Rucker said.

This race has grown more heated in recent weeks and it’s obvious when you begin to ask each candidate what separates them from their opponent.

“I have strong family values, the kind of values that would never allow me to vote to cut thousands of seniors, parents, and children off Medicaid,” Rucker reiterated. “I think the integrity and character I’ve served with in the House is what really separates us.”

“His political philosophy is much more liberal than mine. The best way to contrast our differences is to study our voting records,” Schaaf said as he provided a list of issues.

In the end, voters hope candidates make the case for why they should be elected and not why their opponent shouldn’t as the next State Senator will have a large role in providing leadership to the area’s six state representatives and serving as a strong voice in Jefferson City as each attempts to be promoted to the next level of state government.

Trojans control own destiny, playoff future

With their 27-14 win over Oak Park last week, the Park Hill Trojans (6-3) are in the familiar situation of having the opportunity to clinch a district title this week against St. Joe Central (5-4). Not only is Park Hill looking to hang a sixth consecutive district banner, but a win will result in a first round playoff bye for the Trojans who would happily take the time off to rest and hopefully gain players back from injury. Although Central is coming off a tough 37-0 loss to Staley, they’ll try to give the Trojans some problems when it comes to reading their formations.

“They like to run a lot of different stuff, similar to a Missouri Tigers offense,” Coach Greg Reynolds said. “They try to run sets that put you out of position. It’s going to be two physical teams, but they like to spread it out more where we like to pound it a little more.”

Coming off a dramatic late game touchdown to beat top-ranked Staley the week before, it seems the Trojans came out against Oak Park somewhat flat last Friday night. Several penalties along with some injuries incurred throughout the game disallowed either team from getting into an offensive rhythm.

“It’s combination of everything. When you get a big win like we did, you have a high feeling of a victory and it takes a lot to get over it,” Reynolds said. “They’re always a team that causes us trouble. Mentally, in games like that you have to stay focus.”

Park Hill jumped to a 21-0 lead in the first half on the heels of two Trace Norfleet touchdowns (29, 62 yard) with an agile 16-yard score from fullback Blake Downs in between. But the Trojans fell asleep on the last play of the first half when David Wingerson’s 78 yard touchdown reception put the Northmen on the board at 21-7.

Downs added a 2-yard touchdown run in the third quarter before Oak Park added a score in the fourth quarter to bring the final to 27-14. Those 13 points will come in handy for Park Hill in a possible tie-breaker situation. If Park Hill losses this week and Staley presumably beats Oak Park, there will be a three-way tie for the district title broken by each team’s margin of victory. Park Hill currently stands at +16, Staley at +10, and St. Joe Central at 0. Of course for Park Hill, winning next week will avoid that scenario.

Even though the Trojans’ season will likely be extended several weeks, last Friday was Senior Night and, as with any team, it is unique in its own way. With a small Senior class of 17, only about 10 of which have been in the program all four years, their coach says they’re different than other classes he’s had and have done some good things.

“A couple kids sucked it up when they were banged up tonight. They’ve done what we’ve asked them to do,” Reynolds said. “When you’re in a position to go to the playoffs it’s usually based on what your seniors do.”

Fall Roundup: Oct. 18-23

Park Hill Cross Country
Freshman Kim Rau ran away with the Class 4 District 8 meet last weekend at Scottsdale Park in Liberty as she placed first, a whole 18 seconds in front of the meet's second place finisher. Other runners included Brooke Bischof (12th), Maggie Lanham (21st), Chelsey Lewis (24th), Joanna Grauberger (26th), Maddie Bischof (30th), and Maddie Hemphill (31). As a team, Park Hill finished fourth, just a single second on average behind third place finisher St. Joe Central.

The Park Hill Boys finished seventh with top runners including Nathan Huffer (19th), Kainen Utt (31st), and Andy Iverson (39th).

Park Hill Boys Soccer
The Trojan soccer team defeated their most serious threat to the conference title in Lee's Summit West last week 3-0 with goals from Ray Lee, David Zdvorak and Cole Walker. The shutout is credited to Shane VanHooser. Park Hill is 19-2-1 on the season and can wrap up an undefeated conference season against North Kansas City this week. District play begins next week with the Trojans as the top seed. On Tuesday, November 2nd they will face the winner of the #4 Staley/#5 St. Joe Central game from the previous night. A win will match Park Hill against the winner of the #2 Park Hill South/#3 Oak Park game for the district championship Thursday, November 4th at Staley.

Park Hill Girls Tennis
Park Hill's exciting team run to the final four of the state playoffs ended just short of a chance to play for a state title last week as the team fell to Columbia Rock Bridge 5-2 in the semi-finals. Suzanne Barth and Kate Skorija won their singles matches, but Rock Bridge claimed four straight matches to need only one doubles win to clinch the victory. For third place against Parkway Central, Park Hill came out hot winning five of the six singles matches to claim victory at 5-1.

Individually, junior Suzanne Barth's dream of a state title fell short as she saw an early round exit when eventual state champion Lindsey Whitehead of Ladue Horton Watkins won in straight sets at 6-2, 6-3. Kate Skorija and Brooke Barnard also were eliminated by a Ladue team in the doubles tournament as they lost 6-3, 6-2 to Camden Newton and Annie Kopp.
 
Park Hill Volleyball
Park Hill Volleyball's season came to an end on Monday night with a loss to Oak Park in the first round of the district tournament. They fell 2-1. After winning a close second game to force a third 25-23, the Trojans couldn't keep up with Northmen as they fell 25-17 in the final game. They finish the season 14-16-1.

Park Hill Girls Golf
Stephanie Atkinson and Bailey Warlen competed in the State Golf Tournament at Twin Oaks in Springfield October 17th – 19th. Atkinson finished ranked 40th and Warlen ranked 83rd. Atkinson shot a 91 on day one and a 88 on day two for a combined score of 179. Warlen shot a 102 on day one and a 104 on day two for a combined score of 206.