Bill would force drug dealers to pay taxes on their "Capital"

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Intro:	Missouri drug dealers would have to pay taxes on their products if state Representative Jeff Roorda gets his way.
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Wrap: Roorda, a Democrat from Barnhart has filed a bill that would force drug dealers to buy state stamps for illigal drugs.

If a dealer is caught with drugs that don't have stamps, they would have to pay a tax penalty on top of criminal charges.

Roorda says that could bring Missouri revenue and help with the state's drug problem.

Actuality:	ROORDA6.WAV
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Description: "We're famous for our methamphetamine problem. In the St. Louis and Kansas City suburbs we've had an explosion of this China White Heroin that is killing kids every day."

A Kansas Department of Revenue spokeswoman says Kansas rakes in about one million dollars a year from tax penalties on dealers in cuffs.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Brendan Cullerton.

Intro:	A state lawmaker wants to tax drug dealers but not legalize drugs.
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Wrap: Democrat Jeff Roorda has prefiled a bill that would force drug dealers to purchase state stamps to sell their illegal drugs.

Roorda says the program will be similar to successful programs in other states.

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Description: "We just modeled that after what other states did. I didn't think it was important to reinvent the wheel here."

Kansas Department of Revenue spokeswoman Jeannine says their program has made Kansas about one million dollars each year, but drug dealers don't buy the stamps.

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Description: "Actually for Kansas, most of who we sell to are stamp collectors."

Roorda says the revenue to Missouri would come mostly from the penalty enforced on dealers who get caught without the stamps.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Brendan Cullerton.

Intro:	Tax day might soon be coming for one group of Missourians previously able to avoid it: Drug dealers.
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Wrap: Democratic state lawmaker Jeff Roorda has prefiled a bill that would force dealers to buy drug stamps.

Anyone caught dealing without the stamps would be forced to pay a tax penalty.

Roorda, who is from Barnhart, says currently, only illegal assets are allowed to be confiscated by the government and this bill would make it easier to to catch dealers.

Actuality:	ROORDA5.WAV
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Description: "It's a civil proceeding instead of criminal proceeding, so the burden of evidence is lower."

Roorda says the bill would allow the state to sieze any assets a dealer has if they are unable to afford the tax.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Brendan Cullerton.