Editorial: Kansas City Citizens For Responsible Government Against Question 1



We know Dan Coffey because he was brazenly kicked out of a KCI meeting for holding a clipboard and because he's one of the rare folks in this town who wants to hold politicos accountable.

Accordingly . . .

CHECK THIS GUEST EDITORIAL FROM DAN COFFEY GOING BALLISTIC ON QUESTION 1!!!

The money quote . . .

"It costs over $2,000,000,000 to find a single cure according to National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. So you can guess what we will get for our dollars. It was noted on several occasions the Research Tax is regressive and will hurt the poor people of Jackson County the most. Jackson County is the poorest County in this region already. The Medical Research Tax would take close to $300.00 per year out of the pocket of a family of three."

Check this missive in its entirety after the jump:

Citizens For Responsible Government On Question 1

It was interesting and quite satisfying to see the response of those attending the CENTER PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL meeting last night.


The Medical Research Tax was debated by Dr. Westbrook ( I believe he was from Children’s Mercy), Jamie Shipman (an attorney with Lathrop / Gage) vs. Linda Vogel Smith (League of Women Voters) and Marcus Leach (Citizens for Responsible Research).

Mr. Shipman pointed out the County would benefit from 20% of the revenue from any successful drug launched from this Institute. When it was noted this language was not in the ordinance nor in the ballot language, Dr. Westbrook said it was in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the parties involved. Mr. Leach pointed out the MOU is not a binding document and therefore irrelevant. No further comments on this issue, it was dead in the water.

 We all are aware if this passes, the County will never see any money. Ms. Vogel Smith pointed out there is a tremendous amount of medical research already going on in Kansas City. This was backed up by others in the audience. She noted KU Medical Center alone is part of a 60 hospital consortium that gets $665,000,000 per year to study Translational Medicine. "It’s hard to believe any world renown scientist would come to an upstart institute that has only $40,000,000 a year to spend. Their reputations are on the line so they go to the better funded research programs” said Mr. Leach. Plus who’s to say these scientists will even live in Jackson County or even Missouri. There are really no guarantees.

It costs over $2,000,000,000 to find a single cure according to National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. So you can guess what we will get for our dollars. It was noted on several occasions the Research Tax is regressive and will hurt the poor people of Jackson County the most. Jackson County is the poorest County in this region already. The Medical Research Tax would take close to $300.00 per year out of the pocket of a family of three.

Voters are already faced with the $14,000,000 annual payment to maintain the P & L District, who knows what this airport will cost the taxpayers before it’s over and the Trolley (if funded) will end up being another tax burden for the voters to bear. Now the State is set to propose a large tax levy for highway and bridges. Where does it end???

Finally, it was noted Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders and his team will be responsible for appointing five boards to over see the operation of the Institute and disperse the funding. This is the same Mike Sanders who got the property taxes of thousands of Kansas City residents all fouled up! Now were supposed to give him $40,000,000 per year to manage? It appears to us, THE ONLY SAFE VOTE ON QUESTION #1 IS …. NO!!

Dan Coffey
Citizens for Responsible Government
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Comments

  1. I am thinking more like 200.00, but he is right.

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  2. Just the rich trying to soak the poor. Again.

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  3. Where's all the less government, free market types now? Huh, Don Hall?

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  4. Why is there no real group of citizens united to oppose all taxes?

    The problem is spending mow and give aways and bail outs not needing more money.

    Why do mature adults not band together to do the no brainer work of opposing taxes and holding govermnent accountable?


    IF YOU HAVE A BRAIN VOTE NO ON NOv 5th

    ReplyDelete
  5. 10:27 Kansas City has very few true free market supporters in the business community. Most are crony capitalists better suited for Argentina than the US.

    ReplyDelete

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