The Kansas House of Representatives has rejected a bill that would have exempted private-sector health clubs from property taxes.

The Wichita Eagle reports  that a House-Senate conference committee had earlier removed the proposed tax break from a bill that passed the Senate, but supporters in the House made a last-ditch effort to restore it in a floor vote. They lost on a vote of 16-108.

Rep. Tom Sawyer, a Wichita Democrat, argued the measure was needed because dozens of health clubs have gone out of business facing what he said was unfair competition from YMCAs.

Emporia Republican Rep. Don Hill countered that all kinds of small businesses fail for various reasons and health clubs are no different.
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