Forum on Taxes Marks a Milestone

Rep. Jay Kaufman's monthly public policy forum reaches a milestone this week, as Thursday's "Open House" marks the forum's 15-year anniversary and 145^th monthly discussion.

The "Open House" series began in 1995, and is held monthly as a platform for residents to discuss with Kaufman and his guests challenges and opportunities in the community and state. It is produced and broadcast through a partnership with LexMedia.

This month's "Open House," at Cary Hall on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., will raise the topic, "How do we pay for public service: a taxing challenge," for discussion. Kaufman has served as the House Chairman for the legislature's Joint Committee on Revenue since his appointment in January 2009.

Kaufman will address a range of questions on the importance of sales and excise taxes, whether taxes are fairly distributed and corporations pay enough, the risks of alternative programs like casino gambling and others posed by audience members.

A second June "Open House" will be held on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the and will explore health care reform and the federal and state health care acts. Kaufman will be joined by Richard Frank, deputy assistant secretary of the U.S.Dept. of Health & Human Services.