Attorney General Koster says Hancock Amendment protects taxpayers from unfair increased user fees.

Jefferson City, Mo. – Attorney General Chris Koster said today that the Hancock Amendment does not allow cities to tack taxes onto "user fees" to avoid the Hancock Amendment’s requirement of a public vote.

Koster said his office filed a brief with that opinion on behalf of the offices of the Attorney General and the State Auditor. State Auditor Susan Montee has released a number of audit reports that identified cities that she found collected excess utility charges that were then transferred to the general revenue of the cities for other uses.

"The Hancock Amendment is clear that cities cannot avoid a vote to raise taxes for other city services simply by increasing the user fees for services such as city utilities," Koster said. "I commend Auditor Montee for identifying this unfair avoidance of the Hancock Amendment. The law says Missouri taxpayers have the right to say when they want their taxes increased and increasing user fees for that purpose clearly is in breach of the law.

Got into a situation once. I ended up boardin’ a horse that was bein’ fought over by a couple gettin’ a divorce. Got a little attached to the animal over six or eight months. Offered to buy the horse, but no deal.

When the eventual owner came to pick up the spirited quarter horse, I knew gettin’ loaded in a trailer would be a problem. I figured that after tanglin’ with the horse for an hour or so the owner might reconsider my offer. I sat on the porch and watched the animal get pushed and shoved, nearly choked with a rope. I finally gave in and went down and calmed the animal and got it in the trailer. I could only hope the owner was payin’ attention.

There are some situations where ya just don’t have much choice.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

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Comparing Traditional Light Bulbs to CFLs

Q: What is the difference between a regular light bulb and one of those new energy-saving bulbs? If I want to replace a 75-watt regular bulb with a new type, is the wattage the same? -- Gladys in Philadelphia

A: Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) are considered the new standard for energy-efficient lighting, as they reportedly use 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs to produce the same amount of light. They last up to 10 times longer as well. It’s estimated that a CFL bulb can save more than $40 in electricity costs over its lifetime. And if you live in a hot climate, CFLs produce about 75 percent less heat, so they can cut energy costs associated with air conditioning.

One of the first things you’ll notice on a CFL bulb is that the wattage is much lower. So, how do you compare the brightness to your standard light bulb? If you’re replacing a 75-watt incandescent bulb, you’ll want to select an 18-to-25 watt CFL. Most CFL bulb boxes have the equivalent wattage printed on them. Dimmers, three-way lights and other specialty CFLs also are available.

Another consideration is the color of light produced by a CFL. If you want the warm glow of your old incandescent bulbs, choose warm white or soft white. For kitchens, cool white or bright white is a good choice. For reading, choose natural or daylight.

CFLs, like other bulbs, do burn out and can break if dropped or mishandled. So be sure to screw the bulb in by its base, not by holding the bulb. CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury, so if a bulb breaks, be careful not to handle it during cleanup. When a CFL bulb burns out, dispose of it according to your city or town’s fluorescent-light disposal instructions.

The Energy Star website (www.energystar.gov) offers a fairly complete guide to CFLs and tips on buying them.

HOME TIP: Be wary of CFL bulbs that sell for significantly less than other CFLs. Look for the Energy Star label, which certifies the bulbs as meeting energy efficiency standards.