TOPEKA Some Kansas representatives claim that a ban on municipalities limiting plastic items has been approved by the Legislature. This will create problems for the state’s ecosystems and violate local control.
Senate Bill 493This would prohibit tax and tariff restrictions on bags, cups and containers as well as other packaging made of plastics, cardboard, glass, aluminum, and other materials. Backers believe the measure will support local businesses and create a uniform policy for containers.
However, opponents claimed that the bill would not address trash accumulation from these items. Rui Xu, a Representative for the bill, stated that even supporters of the bill do not dispute the negative impact plastic bags have on our environment.
They take 400 years for them to decay. They litter our roads. On Tuesday, Westwood Democrat stated that they had lit our waterways. This is a classic example of the tragedy in the commons. The individual’s happiness may not be the best for the environment.
Thursday’s signature by representatives was 74-48. This is exactly one month after the Senate voted 27-0 in favor of the measure. The bill now heads to Gov. Laura Kelly is expected to review the bill and there appears to be insufficient support in Congress to overturn a previous veto.
Fort Leavenworth Republican Pat Proctor, who is also a restaurant owner, stated that the measure would provide peace of mind for businesses facing uncertain times by ensuring plastic bags will not become a future supply issue.
Proctor stated that every commodity has seen a double in price since becoming a restaurant owner. Now what you’re going to do in these municipalities is you’re going to put this additional cost on restaurants where they must use paper boxes. What you’re doing is you’re pricing restaurants out of doing business.
Although Wichita might be considering a ban, Xu said that these are merely task-force conversations and nothing has been finalized. He stated that it is not a good idea to enact something based only on talks.
Rep. Boog Higberger, a Lawrence Democrat said that municipalities were considering bans because the state government is not doing enough to address environmental issues facing Kansas and the rest of the world.
Highberger stated that the city was facing a very serious environmental crisis and is doing nothing. Even though I wouldn’t necessarily support, personally, a ban like this, I think my city government certainly ought to have the right to consider enacting one.
Rep. Brad Ralph, a Dodge City Republican said he didn’t care much about plastic bags but did object to such a clear violation of home rule. He advised legislators to pay attention to the desire of Kansans to keep local control and create policies for their own communities.
Ralph said that only two or three municipalities have implemented bans on plastic containers. This patchwork is not sufficient to abandon a fundamental constitutional principle.
The idea that we would preemptively not trust local government on its face tells us we can’t do this, Ralph said. We were told by the people of Kansas, specifically in this constitution, that we must trust them and must give them the maximum degree of self-government.